Sea of No Cares

Great Big Sea's canny blend of Celtic melodies, acoustic-guitar-driven rhythms, and thrilling vocal harmonies have made them bestselling artists in their native Canada. On Sea of No Cares, they tweak their signature acoustic sound by adding drums, electric guitar, Hammond organ, and even trumpet. But they never stray far from their roots, and even when they crank up the volume on the raucous folk song "The Scolding Wife," the droning electric guitar sounds more like an extra-loud set of bagpipes than a rocker's sonic weapon. Each member of the band contributes to the songwriting, and their output tends to be upbeat in both mood and rhythm, as on the joyous odes to love and friendship "Stumbling In" and "One True Way." As the title song "Sea of No Cares" implies, the music of Great Big Sea is generally positive and sunny. But the inclusion of the old Celtic seafaring ballads act as a reminder that although the sun is shining today, a storm is never far away. --Michael Simmons