For Love Or Money

For a variety of different reasons, Irish folk music seems to have lost some of its bite of late. Unfortunately, it appears that songs of freedom, passion and politics have (in some circles) given way to tunes centred on trite romances, supported by middle of the road arrangements. Thank whatever deity you pray to then for Limerick man John Leahy and his rabble-rousing album For Love Or Money. On an energetic opus, Leahy’s emotive vocal delivery makes songs such as ‘Same Old Show’ and ‘The Fighter’ fizzle with drama and the production throughout is lush. Indeed, I’d have liked Leahy to push the impassioned choruses even further on the likes of ‘Average Guy’ and ‘Men Of The Ashes’ – but on the whole, For Love Or Money is a strong offering from a skilled songwriter.