STYLE: MOR / Soft Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 124491-19103 LABEL: Rosette 2098 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Brendan O'Regan
It's good to hear a popular Irish country singer singing inspirational songs, and Dominic does it reasonably well on this pleasant, melodic, well-produced but ultimately undemanding album. The main problem with the collection is that most of the songs are over-recorded, to put it mildly - do we really need more versions of "Bridge Over Troubled Water", How Great Thou Art", "You'll Never Walk Alone", "Top Of The World", "You Raise Me Up" and "The Old Rugged Cross"? Kirwan's interpretations are standard - to justify their existence they needed to offer something new and imaginative but I just couldn't find that here. As well as the problem of stereotyped song selection, there is also a clear need for more edge and energy in Dominic's smooth delivery. For instance, on the title track he sings, "I'm feeling empty and misunderstood", but the bouncy dance rhythm doesn't convey the emotion. While the style is predominantly middle of the road there's a strong country flavour (two pedal steel players are credited!) on songs like the title track and "Walk Through This World With Me". Kirwan is on more comfortable ground on those.
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