Most of the ballads and work songs that were born in the Appalachian hills have deep roots in the traditional music of Scotland, England, and Ireland, and crying fiddles, ringing banjos, and tales of drunkenness, outlaws, and loss are woven deeply into both cultures' musical heritage. The droning "Katie Dear" (performed by the Gillian Welch and David Rawlings) and Alison Krauss' mournful "Molly Bán" are both heart-wrenching and beautiful, Béla Fleck's banjo rolls on a trio of reels, and the underrated Patty Griffin's turn on the traditional "Whole Heap of Little Horses." The Chieftains are known for their traditional Irish music with subtle contemporary flourishes but anyone who enjoys the music of any of the guests on this release will enjoy this sweet and mournful CD.