Red-Letter Day

Having cracked the Irish Top Ten with the upbeat glossy folk pop of Worse Than Pride, Kieran Goss returned two years later with Sony Music Ireland distribution and a lighter sound that seems something like a more mature and polished version of his first two albums. Red-Letter Day is dominated by quiet — almost easy listening — folk pop that provokes comparisons to Mary Black and James Taylor. Goss' pretty melodies are sung in an almost whispered tenor over simple arrangements of softly picked acoustic guitars and judicious string embellishments consisting of resonant viola and cello solos. There are only two songs ("Moments in Time" and the title track) that step up the tempo enough to resemble the Crowded House- and Toad the Wet Sprocket-influenced acoustic pop of Worse Than Pride. But even the faster songs, which stand out amid the quiet material and help to balance what might otherwise be an overly homogeneous record, are produced with a sensitive restraint that preserves the unity of the album. Some fans may see the album as a retreat to the mellow sound of Brand New Star and New Day, but Red-Letter Day has a grace and polish that those records lacked. Goss stays clear of the earlier piano and keyboard arrangements that seem somewhat unnatural in retrospect. This album might not have the international marketing potential of Worse Than Pride, but it is nonetheless a strong piece of work.