I'd like to start with an observation on faire music packaging. As a general rule, festival releases are done on a budget and they have a tendency to show it. Whether it is home burned CDs or slim-line cases and minimal packaging, a great many faire releases share several traits. "Three Quarter Ale" is probably the sharpest and slickest festival related release I've ever seen. While packaging is not a reason to run out and purchase the CD, it was certainly a pleasant surprise.  

The CD itself is a pleasant mixture of old traditional songs, original music and wonderful bits of business... and the music is a slick as the packaging (and THAT is a reason to run out and purchase the CD).

"Now is the Month of Maying" is a perfect example of how crisp this group is. This is one of the more complex songs sung at faire and Three Quarter Ale hits this dead on while managing to slip in a few subtle extras (apologies to Sir Thomas Morley).

Among my favorite tracks is "(It was a) Lover and his Lass", which nicely shows off the vocal talents of each member of the trio. This strikes me as a showoff song, a "look what we can do" sort of song. Of course, collaborating with William Shakespeare is always a risky venture at best... and they really pull it off with style. 

"Two Magicians", a song that I simply cannot hear enough of, is another real treat. I've always loved this song and it certainly isn't played at faire often enough for my tastes. 

Of the original tracks on the CD "Shalom and Farewell" really stands out. The song inspires a certain wistful feeling , reminding me of closing day at faire and the trip to the next. Dolph Amick's voice carries the right tones of tired maudlin and regret to make the lyrics of the song come off as very sincere and honest.

Following "Shalom and Farewell" is the slickest and richest track on the CD. Featuring no less than twelve guest artists one cannot help but be carried away by the upbeat temp of the song. While the Steeleye Span version of the song is still my favorite I must say that with that single exception this is certainly the best recorded version from the past decade or so. If the Georgia Renaissance Faire isn't using Three Quarter Ale and company for their faire close-out, they are really missing the boat.

$12 from CD Baby. Don't miss this CD!