Another of the musical families from Nova Scotia, the Barra MacNeils consist of Sheumas MacNeil on keyboard and vocals, Kyle MacNeil on guitars, violin, mandolin, and vocals, Stewart MacNeil on electric bass, accordion, whistles, and vocals, and Lucy MacNeil on violin, celtic harp, bodhran, and vocals.

Their first album, The Barra MacNeils, is a solid debut effort, featuring a mix of instrumental and vocal music. Their second album, Rock in The Stream, continues the pattern of Celtic instrumentals alongside vocal numbers. Timeframe alternates between traditional and contemporary material with the two types of music slightly at odds. Closer to Paradise continues the swing towards contemporary songs by songwriters such as John Sebastian, Dougie MacLean, Tony Arata, plus some original works by the MacNeils. The middle-of-the-road sound is pleasant, but the infectious quality of their traditional music is missing. The Traditional Album is easily the Barra MacNeils' best album to date. By eschewing vocals altogether, the Barra MacNeils have put together an entirely convincing and satisfying album based on dance music. The Barra MacNeils received the "Roots/Traditional Artist of the Year" East Coast Music Award in 1995.

The Barra MacNeils are a band with a split personality. They are one of the finest traditional, Celtic instrumental bands in Nova Scotia but when the Barras sing their own Celtic-tinged pop music they are, at best, an average pop group without enough punch for good rock or enough vinegar for good roots. And that's the problem with The Question. Despite one charming traditional track, "Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghainn," and a good cover of Shel Silverstein's "Ballad of Lucy Jordan," the rest of the album is a yawner. Unless you're a loyal Barra MacNeil fan, you may want to pass on this one.

The Barra MacNeils
1986 Polydor (314 519 027-2)

Eating Bonnach/Drowsy Maggie/Drunken Landlady; No More Good Times; One for Jeffy/Lovat's Restoration/Jig of Slurs/Angela Cameron/Mrs. George Johnstone of Byker; The Marquis of Huntly's Snuff Mill; Traditional/Traditional/Jenny Picking Cockles; Willie C.; Trip to Sligo/Murdo MacKenzie of Torridon; Highland Queen/Sweep's Hornpipe/Traditional Hornpipe/Devil and the Dirk; Proud Spirit 34:41

Rock in the Sun
1989 Polydor (314 519 028-2)

Rattlin, Roarin Willie; Glenpark Medley; The Island; The Lone Harper; Red Ice; High Bass Tunes; Coaltown Road; Highland Exchange Medley; Kitty Bawn O'Brien; Standing by the Subway; Beautiful Point Aconi 41:58

Timeframe
[no date] Polydor (314 519 029-2)

Banks of the Roses; Flow Time; Didn't Hear the Train; Flower Basket Medley; Song for Peace; Isle of My Dreams; Looking Back; Row Row Row; Ian Hardie Set; My Heart's in the Highlands 41:10

Closer to Paradise
1993 Polydor (314 521 016-2)

We Celebrate; Darling Be Home; When I'm Away from You; Closer to Paradise; Chase the Man; Dancing We Would Go; In the Wink of an Eye; Frostbite; Caledonia; the Dusty Windowsill/The O'Keefe's of Dublin; Mo Nighean Dubh (My Black Haired Girl); Am Pige Ruadh (Mouth Music) 44:33

The Traditional Album *
1994 Polydor (314 523 251-2)

Clumsy Lover Set; Celtic Harp; Tribute to Robert Stubbert; The Visit Medley; The Maids of Arrochar; The Brolum Set; Twice a Year Fiddler; March-Strathspeys-Reels; Memories of Mary Ann MacKenzie; Wedding Party Medley; Toonik Tyme; Twin Fiddles; Neil Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife 52:59

The Question
1995 Polydor (314 529 077-2)

Myopic; Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghainn; The Ballad of Lucy Jordan; Going Down the Road; Oh My; She the Ocean; 17; Turquoise Shoes; The Question; Falling; Part of Me; All or Nothing; Goin' Back 52:39