Christy Moore A Terrible Beauty
Christy Moore's A Terrible Beauty arrives as a measured, politically charged collection where traditional songwriting meets urgent empathy, and critics largely agree it succeeds. Across two professional reviews the record earned an 82/100 consensus score, with particular praise reserved for quieter centrepieces such as “Boy in The Wild” and “Sunflowers” that critics identify as the best songs on A Terrible Beauty.
Reviewers consistently highlight Moore's intimate delivery and spare arrangements as the album's strengths, noting how protest and remembrance sit alongside plainspoken tenderness. Both At The Barrier and KLOF Mag point to the opening stretch - and especially “Boy in The Wild” - as among the strongest work in his catalogue, while tracks like “Lemon Sevens”, “Lyra McKee” and “The Life and Soul” reinforce themes of loss, social injustice and political commentary. Critics praised the record's capacity to balance tradition and activism, calling attention to moments where Moore's voice swings between razor and feather.
That consensus is tempered by some reservations. At The Barrier finds the album's second half less compelling and occasionally dispensable, signaling a slight unevenness across the tracklist. Even so, reviewers agree the collection is worth listening to for its standout tracks and for Moore's sustained combination of protest, remembrance and personal delivery. The critical consensus suggests A Terrible Beauty is a quietly powerful statement in Moore's later catalog, notable for its empathy and songs that linger long after they end.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Boy in The Wild
2 mentions
"The album opens with the beautiful Boy In The Wild"— At The Barrier
Sunflowers
2 mentions
"A gaunt and daunting tone poem, he gives a chilling ode to the fallen of Ukraine"— At The Barrier
Lemon Sevens
2 mentions
"The second Brannigan song is Lemon Sevens, an avant-trad ballad"— At The Barrier
The album opens with the beautiful Boy In The Wild
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Boy in The Wild
Sunflowers
Black & Amber
Lemon Sevens
Broomielaw
Cumann na Mná
The Rock
The Life and Soul
Lyra McKee
Darkness Before Dawn
The Big Marquee
Palestine
Snowflakes
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Th
Critic's Take
Christy Moore in A Terrible Beauty is at his most affecting on tracks like “Boy In The Wild” and “Sunflowers”, the former opening with Moore's low, ember-like voice and the latter delivering a chilling ode to Ukraine. The reviewer hears Moore's peculiar instrument swinging between razor and feather, and praises the centrepieces - the intimate “Boy In The Wild” and the stark “Sunflowers” - as the best tracks on A Terrible Beauty. Side one, especially the first five songs, is declared as strong as anything in his catalogue, while the record's flip is judged weaker and occasionally dispensable. Overall the album is a potent mix of political weight and traditional tenderness, with those standout tracks making it worth seeking out.
Key Points
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The best song is "Boy In The Wild" for its gorgeous low-register delivery and emotional weight.
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The album's core strengths are Moore's delivery and the mix of political weight with traditional tenderness, especially across side one.
Themes
KL
Critic's Take
In his characteristically measured, quietly passionate voice Dave McNally argues that Christy Moore's A Terrible Beauty still finds its power in tenderness and political urgency. He lingers over tracks like “Boy in The Wild” and “Black & Amber”, noting how intimate vocals and spare arrangements make those songs the best tracks on A Terrible Beauty. The review foregrounds Christy’s ability to marry protest and compassion, so the best songs - particularly “Boy in The Wild” and “Black & Amber” - land as both personal and political statements. McNally’s steady, appreciative tone insists this is as good as anything Christy has done before, sustained by empathy rather than grandstanding.
Key Points
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The best song, "Boy in The Wild", is best for its tender vocal, hushed piano, and emotional father-son lyric.
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The album's core strengths are its empathy, political commitment, and tasteful, understated arrangements.