From a Whisper to a Scream

Although "Whisper to a Scream" has been used as a song title by more than one artist, the best known entry in the rock arena is surely Icicle Works' "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)." Of course, Icicle Works hailed from Liverpool, England, not the Emerald Isle, but that's not terribly important, since boundary lines are regularly blurred throughout this scattershot, uncritical paean to Ireland's contributions to rock 'n roll. Hosted by Niall Stokes, this 30-year-plus survey opens with an overview of the "show bands" from the late '50s and '60s (American r&b copycats and Beatles knockoffs, essentially) before embarking on the chronicle of notable Irish talents, beginning with Them, fronted by one of the greatest names in all of rock 'n roll: Van Morrison. Other major rock/pop artists include Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, the Boomtown Rats, the Pogues, Sinead O'Connor, Clannad, the Cranberries, the Corrs, and the Riverdance phenomenon, as well as the reigning kings of rock 'n roll, U2. The impressive array of interviewees include U2's Bono and the Edge, Boomtown Rat turned Nobel Peace Prize nominee Bob Geldof, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, author Patrick McCabe, and filmmaker Jim Sheridan, among others. Unfortunately, the commentary is almost purely on the level of Lawrence Welk's signature accolade ("wunnerful, wunnerful"). Still, rock aficionados will find historical tidbits of interest and enjoy the archival footage, even if a disproportionate amount seems to be of Irish rock's fallen legends Rory Gallagher and Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott. More of a whisper than a scream, David Heffernan's episodic review of Irish rock is still a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)