Various Artists - ‘Whole Lotta Live’: Numerous gems amidst this charity compilation

There will always be a certain amount of filler on any charity compilation, but this one – drawn from Today FM’s live session archives and in memory of the late Tony Fenton – has less padding than most.

There are numerous gems amidst these 30 original tracks and covers by both Irish and international artists, from The National to David Gray.

Bell X1's swoonsome take on Roy Orbison's She's a Mystery to Me, underrated Cork artist Marc O'Reilly's bluesy Wayward Shepherd and Hozier's slinky interpretation of Led Zeppelin gleam.

Foy Vance's acoustic cover of the Theme from Cheers is a real standout that loses none of the original's charm. All in all, you can't begrudge this solid collection for a great cause.

[ TodayFM.com ]