Celtic Thunder: Take Me Home (2009) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Okay, many of the reviews here either pre-date the DVD release, or refer just to the group themselves, not this DVD. Which can be misleading to someone considering this purchase. I'm going to just address the Take Me Home DVD.
The guys sound great on the DVD (unquestionably live this time 'round) and are just as cute and talented as ever, though I do have some issues with this set. Damian needs more mature songs to go with his more mature voice, and Keith fans will be disappointed that he sings nothing new here (the only one who doesn't. And I'm not counting Castles in the Air, since it was included in the Act II cd). The Take Me Home cd has two new Keith songs, which for some reason don't make it into the show. The CD may be more worth your money, as it consists of all new songs, plus a new version of Steal Away, that you do hear on the DVD. As others have said, this DVD seems to just recycle a lot of songs from the first DVD, which is disappointing.
But none of that bothers me as much as the AWFUL production value of the DVD. It looks like someone from a college video class made it. Crazy camera angles, unnecessary zooms, shaky-cam to the point of vomit-cam a couple of times. Bad lighting, strange crowd shots, and even my DVD menu didn't work. I can't do anything in the Song Selection on the main menu. It keeps looping and looping. I have to play the first song, stop, hit menu, and THEN I can select a particular song. At the end of the DVD, if I hit stop, it won't, and then after it plays out on it's own, I again get booted back to the Song Selection menu, which still won't let me select a song. Anyone else having this problem? It is just another example of how this DVD was shoddily made in an effort to cash in quickly on the Lad's popularity. It is insulting to them and their fans.
So, to sum up, Celtic Thunder, the group, get 5 stars. Celtic Thunder, Take Me Home, the DVD, gets a 0. If you are a CT fan, as I am, you'll get this anyway (or even pre-ordered it like me, whaaa) but just be prepared that it is nowhere near as nicely done as the first one.

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A DVD with a running time of almost 2 hours features 13 new Celtic Thunder performances!Since March 2008, Celtic Thunder has spent over 45 weeks at the top of the Billboard World Music Charts, knocking themselves off the number 1 spot with their second CD "Celtic Thunder Act II." Now after scanning close to 400K units and playing to over 200,000 people on their second North American Tour Celtic Thunder presents Take Me Home (filmed at Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada on April21st '09) an all new show on CD and DVD.The event features almost all new material with only three of the most popular songs from the original Celtic Thunder pledge show included. The new songs are dynamic and exciting. Damian (a foot and a half taller with a new deeper voice) has great new songs in "Happy Birthday Sweet 16" and "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" and would give a young Neil Sedaka or Frankie Vallie a run for his money! Ryan's dark destroyer character develops well with a rendition of Sting's "Every Breath You Take", George's personality and sense of humour comes to the fore in "500 Miles", a highlight in the show and Paul's performance of "You Raise Me Up" is not to be missed. Keith, the blonde surfer heart-throb is set to steal more hearts with "Castles in the Air" accompanying himself on the guitar. The guys come together for both "Working Man" and "Take Me Home", as ever their voices even more powerful in these ensemble songs, and in the harmony pieces. "Danny's Boy" A Cappella, has been included due to popular demand after their performance on 5th Ave for "St Patrick's Day" and performing it at the White House that night - the highlight of their success in the USA.Also Available: A new studio CD that features 15 songs/14 never before on CD!

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It's Entertainment Review

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(More customer reviews)I've heard many say they are disappointed with the direction they feel Celtic Thunder is going with the release of It's Entertainment. I say drop all the notions of what you think Celtic Thunder is or should be and embrace this small step in the journey. Change, variation, mixing things up; it is all necessary for growth. Give it a chance and I believe you will be pleasantly surprised. These men have real, raw talent and it shines brighter then ever here!
Damian wows again with his continued vocal maturity and growth, delivering a solid, flawless version of Home. With Standing On The Corner his impish, charming side comes to the front in a playful performance that leaves you smiling.
Paul puts aside the powerhouse ballads for a bit of lighter fare. He enchants with Doo Whacka Doo a rollicking tribute to the good old songs of yesterday, and compels us to dance with the alluring, flirty Sway.
Keith starts out with Hard to Say I'm Sorry which, while pleasant and romantic, does not do his voice or ability justice. When he cuts loose with Surfer Medley it is Keith at his best! It's funky, fun and free, with rip-snorting guitar playing that just makes you want to get down and boogie!
Ryan's Bad Bad Leroy Brown is entertaining and suits his voice but it's in Everything I Do that he really stands out. He puts perfect emotion and passion into the song and the delivery is silky smooth and believable.
George is as steady and dependable as ever. Hello Again showcases his softer, mellower side while Life With You is a lively, lighthearted diversion from his usual ballads.
Neil proves with When You Wish Upon a Star that he is more then an all-star musician, he is a brilliant vocalist as well.
Just Like Jesse James seems a bit out of place here if you have not watched the It's Entertainment show. However, I find myself enjoying it more every time I listen.
The trio of Ryan, Keith and Neil amaze with the stunning Hallelujah. My one complaint-it isn't long enough!
Amazing Grace with all six guys is the best version I think I've ever heard. The movement and blending of their voices is gorgeous and so polished.
All in all this is a wonderful album and I look forward to whatever Celtic Thunder does next!

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Overture and beginners please... Strike up the band... Stand by for Celtic Thunder... and It s Entertainment . This stylish and high energy trip through some of the great songs of the last 30 years is pure showbiz! It is a tribute from Celtic Thunder to the legacy they have inherited from the great entertainers of the past, and a mark of how far they themselves have travelled as performers, in a few short years. It evokes an era of big bands and boulevards, top hats and tails and singing and dancin in the rain! It makes for irresistible listening as the principals from this generation pay their respects to the stars of an earlier time. In the true tradition of variety the music covers a mix of styles, of songs and of singers, as the lads salute their musical heroes- from Fred Astaire to Neil Diamond, from Jim Croce to Chicago, from Michael Buble to The Beach Boys!Each member features with two songs, one a serious workout, the other a bit of pure fun and a chance to let the hair down! These lighter choices have George stomping around to The Proclaimer s My Life With You , while Ryan takes on the persona of a Chicago gangster with Bad, Bad Leroy Brown . Keith slips right into character with a Surfer Medley and Damian becomes a bit of a boulevardier with Standing On The Corner . Paul steps up to the plate as an accomplished song and dance man with the rooty-tooty Doo Wacka Doo , specially written by Phil Coulter. One big surprise package is guitarist Neil who not only joins Ryan and Keith in a haunting, close harmony version of Leonard Cohen s Hallelujah but also delivers a superb, soulful solo on the Disney classic When You Wish Upon A Star . The show is rounded off by a couple of ensemble numbers, featuring all six singers, the perennial Amazing Grace and U2 s anthemic Still Haven t Found What I m Looking For . All in all, this is an inspired celebration of wonderful songs and great singers, an uplifting feel-good package that is the perfect antidote to the recession blues!

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Take Me Home Review

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(More customer reviews)I pre-ordered this CD as soon as I saw it was going to come out. Full disclosure, I'm a huge fan, saw the concert in the Fall, own the first 2 discs & DVD. That said, this compilation isn't as good as it's predecessors.
To begin, Damien has obviously grown into his adult voice and in sounding quite mature, vocally, yet is given two 50's/60's era sappy over-produced solo pieces ("Breaking up is hard to do" & "Happy Birthday Sweet 16"). The female background is so grating I've only actually listened to each song once.
Keith is given a stronger position with the opening piece, but the Wichita Lineman seems like it was selected only to provide a stage-y action prompt for the concerts. Even the opening, The Homes of Donegal, though a good song, doesn't ring true to Keith as presented in "Loren & I" which he cowrote.
As for the other three men, it's hit and miss. George's remake of the crappy 80s song "500 miles" is inauthentic and ridiculous. I was hoping against hope that he would sing the 500 miles of Peter Paul and Mary fame, but alas. Paul's remake of the very recent "You Raise Me Up" is also odd because it continues to be a hit for Josh Groban. Even though he sings it well, Paul's version will never be the definitive version. Final note of criticism, Ryan's "Every Breath you Take" also seemed too produced and breathy - as though created for a stage production and not the album.
Negativity aside, there are shining beacons of "classic" (if such a word can be associated with such a young group) Celtic Thunder. Specifically "Because We Believe" "Take me Home" "Working Man" and "Appalachian Roundup"
It seems as though the producers forced the guys into creating another album too soon, although doubtless fans were clamoring (myself included) for more. These guys have worked nonstop for the past year with three albums, two DVDs, two PBS specials w/ fund-drive appearances, and Fall '08, Spring '09, and Fall '09 American/Canadian tours. Creatively, these guys should be given more breathing room and an allowance for more organic growth - but alas, this is just an Amazon review.
This reviewer is looking forward to the long-promised individual albums many of the guys claim to have been working on as part of their Celtic Thunder contracts... but don't rush it like this album seem to have done.
My condensed advice - cherry pick from the album via MP3s because there are gems, but they're definitely in the rough.


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The new studio CD features 15 songs/14 never before on CD! Since March 2008, Celtic Thunder has spent over 45 weeks at the top of the Billboard World Music Charts, knocking themselves off the number 1 spot with their second CD "Celtic Thunder Act II." Now after scanning close to 400K units and playing to over 200,000 people on their second North American Tour Celtic Thunder presents Take Me Home (filmed at Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada on April21st '09) an all new show on CD and DVD.The event features almost all new material with only three of the most popular songs from the original Celtic Thunder pledge show included. The new songs are dynamic and exciting. Damian (a foot and a half taller with a new deeper voice) has great new songs in "Happy Birthday Sweet 16" and "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" and would give a young Neil Sedaka or Frankie Vallie a run for his money! Ryan's dark destroyer character develops well with a rendition of Sting's "Every Breath You Take", George's personality and sense of humour comes to the fore in "500 Miles", a highlight in the show and Paul's performance of "You Raise Me Up" is not to be missed. Keith, the blonde surfer heart-throb is set to steal more hearts with "Castles in the Air" accompanying himself on the guitar. The guys come together for both "Working Man" and "Take Me Home", as ever their voices even more powerful in these ensemble songs, and in the harmony pieces. "Danny's Boy" A Cappella, has been included due to popular demand after their performance on 5th Ave for "St Patrick's Day" and performing it at the White House that night - the highlight of their success in the USA.The new CD of "Celtic Thunder - Take Me Home" is also all new songs not featured on previous CD's. It will have 5 songs that are not on either the Pledge TV show or the new DVD. These are "Homes of Donegal" and "Wichita Lineman" from Keith, "Because We Believe" by Paul, a new original "Midnight Run" with Ryan and all of them in "Green Fields of France." All of us at Celtic Thunder hope that our new show "Celtic Thunder - Take Me Home" available from WLIW for the June Pledge - along with the new CD and DVD of"Celtic Thunder - Take Me Home" as new premiums to offer members are successful for Public Television this June and beyond and help bring in much needed revenues in these difficult times!Also available: A DVD with a running time of almost 2 hours features 13 new Celtic Thunder performances!

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