The Dubliners - The Dubliners At Their Best (2008)

This compilation album presents 27 performances by the Dubliners, most of them drawn from the group's trio of initial live albums, The Dubliners, The Dubliners in Concert, and Finnegan Wakes, representing their stint at Transatlantic Records. Whether the selections represent the Irish outfit "at their best," even for the brief period of 1964-1966 included, is a matter of opinion. For example, such notable tracks as "The Patriot Game" and "The Woman from Wexford" are missing. But almost any collection of the Dubliners is bound to feature a good representation of the band's excellent instrumental work and the multiple vocalists singing songs in their heavy accents of sailing, drinking, loving, living, and suffering the indignities of English oppression. This one does, just like others, and as such it provides a good sampling of what is best about the Dubliners and justifies the title to that extent. © William Ruhlmann