King Puck (1993)

"A pleasantly mellow Irish folk record, recorded as a result of a collaboration between Christy Moore and the ubiquitous Irish music guru Donal Lunny. Most of the arrangements are slow and easy. Moore adopts a hushed vocal tone throughout; sometimes, as on the mournful "The Two Conneellys," he sings so quietly that the volume has to be raised in order to hear him. Even the faster comic numbers are handled with unusual restraint. Moore picks up the pace on "Johnny Connors" and the subsequent instrumental title track, but never compromises the album's light mood. The 13-minute finale, "Me and the Rose," is a charming and funny bit of storytelling that was clearly written with live performance in mind. In fact, the last verse features an enthusiastic crowd singing along to a well-known Irish folk tune. It makes a fine capper to an album full of gems, like the beautiful cover of Jackson Browne's "Before the Deluge."" (Evan Cater, Allmusic)