I mistook this band for The Fables when I pulled the disc from a box of unreviewed CDs, so I was pretty eager to give it a listen. The Fables is a delightfully fun Celtic rock band from Newfoundland I have thoroughly enjoyed in the past, although I haven't given them much attention lately. Fable, it turns out, is an American folk band, based in Maryland, that boasts classical, country, Celtic, rock and gospel influences.

I don't love it. To be honest, I didn't enjoy the CD much at all.

John Crafton, who sings and plays guitar, banjo, piano and keyboards, has been leading the band since 1977 and he wrote or co-wrote (with guitarist Keith Backman) all 11 tracks on the album, but the songs don't pull me in. They don't encourage multiple listenings. Even deeply meaningful songs, like the anti-war "Have You Had Enough" and the 9-11 remembrance "Flight 93," failed to hook my interest. I'm sorry, John, but I don't love the vocals, and the arrangements are bland. They're probably a lot more fun at a live performance.

Besides John Crafton and Keith Backman, the band is Tom Schurr, Scott Evans and Don Henson on bass, Lisa Blaney, Arial Bodman and Richard Crafton on harmony vocals, Samuel Salsbury and Joyce Elliot on violin and Nick Darrow on sax.

I think I'm going to dig out one of my old Fables CDs to cleanse my palate.