If you don't like bagpipes, read no further. You'll hate this album. As a fairly recent convert to the Cult of the Pipes, I remember enough of my prior musical tastes to know I formerly would have considered this CD an auditory nightmare.

Now, since my conversion, I quite like it!

The twenty tracks, almost all of which feature at least one bagpipe, were recorded at Ceilidh '97 and comprise a complete live set. The Rogues are accompanied by the Tartan Terrors, who add singing and some comedy to the Rogues' music. (Dancing, too, although that doesn't really come across well on a CD.)

Most of the Rogues' pieces are medleys of traditional tunes, mostly dances -- reels are three of the tracks, and many jigs, flings and other dances are also included. I enjoyed hearing some old favorite melodies arranged and performed with the pipes, particularly when they are combined so skillfully with melodies new to me. The arrangements are well done and interesting, and the transitions nicely chosen and handled.

I particularly enjoyed the arrangement of that bagpipe standard, "Amazing Grace." The harmony of the two pipes was haunting, and the transition from it to "Foxhunter's Jig," then "Foxhunter's Reel" was unexpected, but intriguing and enjoyable.

The vocal pieces pace the piping well, and are lovely in themselves. "Dark Island" is beautiful! "Amazing Ian" is a spoken piece, and indescribable; it combines Jimmy Stewart, haggis and the definitely non-traditional song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" to odd (but amusing) effect.

The liner notes list the musicians, the names of the tracks, and the songs that make up each medley, and not much else; of course, that's really all that's needed here.

This CD is a lot of fun! Remember, though -- it's for bagpipe fans only.