I'm hard-pressed to explain my affinity with Great Big Sea and their use of water as their primary subject matter, especially considering that when it comes to a body of water any larger than a hottub full of Dixie Chicks, I'm a Great Big Wuss.  Maybe it's their unapologetic straightforward renditions, right down to the tin whistles, of traditional sea shanties,  not unlike Pentangle or even, perhaps, Steeleye Span, in spite of their being closer to the Irish Rovers than to either of those other two bands. More likely, it's their occasional forays into Gordon Lightfoot territory ("Sea of No Cares", "Stumbling In") by way of The Cyrkle ("Clearest Indication"), all the while not appearing to take themselves too seriously while somehow infusing in their material both the joy and sorrow of the life of a sailor. That's why it's such a hoot when the title track begins with the same drum pattern as Aerosmith's "Walk This Way": by the time the listener recovers from the shock, things have quieted down. The boys, having had their little jape, get down to business in their unplugged manner, content to let their enthusiasm for what they are doing, rather than amplification, provide the energy behind their music. That's not to say that there isn't energy here. GBS has plenty of it, whether digging into obscure traditional sailing songs ("A Boat Like Gideon Brown") or composing new classics for the genre ("Widow in the Window," "French Perfume").

The return to the sea for subject matter is not an idle affectation for Great Big Sea. The band hails from St. John's, Newfoundland, an area where the water is not a matter for speculation or idle contemplation; it's a way of life, for both the giving and the taking. It's no small accomplishment that Great Big Sea has managed to make this music commercially acceptable, however marginally. It's taken a  combination of live shows, a careful selection of material, and extremely well-arranged tunes supporting lilting harmonies to acquire the small but exponentially growing audience that has been following the band the past few years.

I've no doubt that Great Big Sea can continue this pattern for as long as they wish. They have carved a niche for themselves that they are presently occupying quite comfortably; they have undoubtedly discovered that being not only a big fish in a small pond, but also the only fish in that pond, has its benefits.