This has quickly become one of my family's favorite Christmas albums because it is lively, upbeat, and melodious. The Rovers have a great beat and rollicking voices and they do a terrific job with both the fun songs and the traditional carols. I particularly like Bells Over Belfast for its hopeful message in the current depressing situation with the Peace Agreement but it is also nice to hear upbeat renditions of God Rest Ye Merry, Away In A Manger, We Three Kings, and Silent Night along with less-often-heard All Through The Night, The Christmas Traveller, and What Child Is This. And last, but not least, is Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake, which is a cute addition to the Christmas repertoire. All in all, this CD will leave you feeling good and full of Christmas spirit.

These men obviously had great fun recording this album - there are plenty of upbeat songs including Christmas in Killarney, Miss Fogarty's Christmas cake, Good King Wenceslas and Grandma got run over by a reindeer - but they also show that they are well capable of singing carols with the appropriate respect.

I particularly like Bells over Belfast, a song that one of them wrote themselves, showing that Christmas is a time of peace in that troubled city. Perhaps one day they will be able to sing Happy Xmas (war is over) and mean it, but that could be some years away so it's not included here.

The holly bears the crown is actually the traditional classic The holly and the ivy with a different tune but (I think) the same lyrics, and it works very well.

My favorite song here, however, is Miss Fogarty's Christmas cake, It sure sounds tasty !!!!

There are many other wonderful songs, some obscure, some famous, all with that distinctive Irish flavor.

This is a great, generally upbeat Christmas album which will work as background music, regardless of whatever else is happening, but if you give it dedicated attention, it has plenty to keep you interested.