Song for Ireland is a collection of contemporary and traditional Irish songs drawn from Mary Black's previous albums. Unlike most folk singers, Black is comfortable in modern pop settings such as on the emigrant song "Ellis Island," which features electric guitars and synthesizers. But she is at her best when her backing musicians unplug and she blends her gorgeous voice with their traditional acoustic instruments. Song for Ireland may not be a greatest-hits album in the normal sense of the phrase, but the music here ranks among Mary Black's finest.
