No ‘Show Me Heaven’ or ‘If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)’ and some frightfully uncomfortable moments in which Ms Mckee makes some none-too-successful attempts to warm and cajole a fairly square and unresponsive crowd. Not what you deserve. Not what she deserves. We do have a version of that sexy ‘Lone Justice’ number ‘Shelter’ but apart from this one fair-to-middling example, ‘ Acoustic Tour 2006 Live’ is by no means a ‘hits’ album. Not that it has to be, of course, but because the arrangements are so monotonously minimal and informal (a voice, a guitar, an occasional piano) it really does warrant something quite so frivolous as giving us what we want. That Maria has a stunning voice goes without saying, but the showcase here is so needlessly showy and indulgent that not even the light and encouraging ‘A Good Heart’ (a hit for solo Undertone, Feargal Sharkey) sounds heavy, laboured and painfully mournful.
A ‘for fans only’ album is oft an acceptable indulgence for talents as striking and comprehensive as McKee – but on this occasion that exclusivity is not so generous.