- Whatever Makes You Dance
- Like Jesus Did
- Joy-Robbers
- Kneeling
- Window in the Wall
- Shush
- I Treasure You
- I'm Not Dude, I'm Dad
- If God Was Chocolate
- Say Yes to You
- Shut Up and Pray
- Breastplate of St. Patrick
- Die Trying
- Truth or Trouble
A pity that Ceili Rain doesn't get more recognition for all they've offered over the last decade. Bob Halligan Jr. has the plaintive, tender vocal of John Lennon and the melodic sensibilities of Paul McCartney. Both Beatle-esque qualities match well with the band's love of Irish music, giving equal weight to violin, accordion, and whistle with guitars and rhythm. Now that they've added alto sax to the mix, Ceili Rain further demonstrates they're not confined to one sound, capable of jamming like Dave Matthews Band or early Big Daddy Weave.
What's sadly most overlooked is Halligan's way with words—as a songwriter, he's not unlike Sara Groves and Keith Green. But people seem to be taking more notice with the band's latest,
Lest you think Halligan is focused on a single topic, he also offers playfully challenging songs about sanctimonious piety ("Joy-Robbers"), living love out loud ("Shush"), listening to God in prayer ("Shut Up and Pray"), and establishing loving parental authority that reflects our heavenly Father (cute-but-awkwardly titled "I'm Not Dude, I'm Dad"). "If God Was Chocolate" may seem silly in imagining what it'd be like to experience God through the forgotten sense of taste, but give it a chance to discover how smart it really is.
That's but a sampling of Halligan's strong songcraft, which can sometimes seem underdeveloped ("I Treasure You"), opaque ("Window in the Wall"), or simplistic (worshipful and catchy "Say Yes to You"). However, more often than not, Ceili Rain remains one of the more thoughtful and unique Christian bands around, seemingly on its way to earn more attention.