Despite the validity of artistic interpretation...
...and the reputation of Hal Willner, neither can account for how well over half of this album is nigh-unlistenable. If it wasn't touted as being produced by two well known people who made a very traditional pirate movie, then I could accept the decidedly non-traditional nature of the majority of the songs.

Traditionalists: Stay away, or find the handful of songs that are salvageable elsewhere.

Non-traditionalists: Stop ragging on the traditionalists for griping about this badly mis-marketed album. That's fine if you like it. I and many others don't.

If you like sea shanties, don't buy this.
A lot of research went into finding the songs to go into this album, so it's a real shame that almost every one of them is completely massacred by the performing artists, if these songs were sung in the way they are supposed to be, i.e. without pop intro's and melodic background music, then the album would probably be fine.

If you are a fan of sea shanties, or if you are just interested in what they sound like, don't buy this album, the well-known names are all a gimmick and the music is unfortunately just awful. Enough to put you off for good.

Freaks Gallery
I love this! Okay, so it isn't a traditional collection of chanties and sea songs, but it is a great bunch of modern interpretations by a group of freaks. I would love to have been in on the recording session which had Johnny Depp, Nick Cave, Loudon Wainwright, Gavin Friday, John C Relly, the Carthys and Sting all in the same room. There are only a few disapointing tracks. Couldn't someone have thought of a better way to treat Drunken Sailor? That aside, I have been listening to this for 4 days straight. It has also prompted me to read up on some old chanties. Great stuff!!

A great introduction with modern interpretations
To the Devil with the traditionalists!

"Rogue's Gallery" is a very well produced, distinctly modern interpretation of sea chanteys with some very traditional songs mixed in. I don't take issue with the approach and congratulate the producers for being open-minded about it, since many people who have come to chanteys are fans of the "pirate genre" and this CD evolved from Gore Verbinski's Disney movies, and may not appreciate a straight up traditional approach, which--face it folks--wasn't exactly a topic lighting up the world in 2006!

As a double CD, you will find some songs you will adore and others you can skip over. Overall, it's a wonderful introduction to a genre that deserves a fresh look.

A Pirate's Treasure
An extremely entertaining and somewhat inappropriate Pirate Masterpiece. (That is what we like about pirates. It is politically correct for pirates to be inappropriate!) The musicians paint vivid pictures with their lyrics. It was also fascinating to read how this album was pulled together. Not only will the pirate in your life enjoy this collection, the mermaid will too!