David Keenan – ‘Modern Mythologies’ album review: Several new chapters in the Irish folk story
No matter how many influences from other pockets of the world manage to creep in, music from Ireland will always naturally have a sprinkling of the country’s rich traditions present. On singer-songwriter David Keenan’s fourth studio album, Modern Mythologies, the nods to his culture and the country’s history are bountiful.
The Skinny: The Irish love to tell a good story, and given the very nature of the album’s title, Keenan appears to be full of them on Modern Mythologies. While the ‘modern’ aspect might seem contradictory towards the ‘mythology’ side of things, it’s important to remember that folk stories are simply stories of people, and that these are the sorts of tales that are bound to grow, develop new elements and continue to move through time.
What Keenan is doing on this record is adding a new canon to the deep-rooted heritage of Irish storytelling. Some of his tales here may be rooted in fiction and spun in fantastical ways, but many of them remain rooted in real life, where he tells us vivid recollections of his experiences growing up in Dundalk, with smatterings of grief, joy and self-discovery to provide a tapestry of emotional shifts for the listener to digest.
His approach to lyricism has a classic feel to it, taking cues from traditional folk and poetry, with the narratives unravelling through the most gorgeous turns of phrase. At times, these will have you grinning with their wit, and others will render you an emotional wreck. ‘Lives Left Out To Dry’, for example, blends the mundane with surrealist observation, whereas opener ‘Amelioration’ is a more direct cry for help from someone feeling lost and at odds with their place in the world.
There’s also a warmth to Keenan’s vocal delivery throughout the course of the dozen tracks, and the production is a true delight with so many layers to pick apart in some tracks. However, with a generous helping of more subdued and sparse songs appearing later on the record, these give Keenan’s voice the space to be the centre of attention.
There are times where the musical elements of the songs are a little predictable and don’t quite have the qualities to stand out, and with the album boasting a relatively lengthy runtime, a bit of culling in places may have made the record an overall tighter listen. On the whole, Keenan’s abilities are flaunted in abundance, and it’s a welcome return from an artist who is deserving of far more recognition for everything he’s doing to keep the storytelling tradition of his homeland alive.
The Verdict: It’s by no means perfect, but what Keenan has managed to come up with over the last three years is perhaps his strongest set of stories and compositions, and boasts some of his most evocative performances to date. In an era where guitars seem to be dominating the Irish music scene, it’s a gorgeous reminder of how strong the folk music from this part of the world can be when approached with care.
Defining track: ‘Suriname or Bust’
Release Date: November 21st, 2025 | Producer: Gavin Glass, Peter Baldwin, Cian Synnott and David Keenan | Label: Good Form Recordings
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