Irish rockers Thin Lizzy released their latest album, “The Acoustic Sessions,” on May 9, 2025. The album features previously unheard versions of popular Thin Lizzy songs sung by the late Phil Lynott with fresh arrangements and guitar work by Eric Bell and original drum takes by Brian Downey.
The album features songs from the band’s first three albums with a more intimate take. It scales back the other “stuff” and features just vocals, guitar, and light percussion. It adds a new feel and interpretation to the songs. It allows listeners a closer listen to Lynott’s voice and emotion behind the songs in ways the
It takes skill to have hits across one style of music and to rebrand them to feel so different. Thin Lizzy is known for their rock music, but the acoustic reimagining of these classic songs gives them new life and meaning. They take on a whole new feel, and listeners will be able to interpret the songs in an all-new way. This is perfect for old fans and new fans alike. Old fans can revisit their favorites in a new light, while new fans will be able to be introduced to these tracks in a way they have not been able to before.
While it is understandable for long-time fans of Thin Lizzy to be apprehensive about how acoustic versions of classic rock songs will sound, they have nothing to worry about with this album. The acoustic versions allow listeners to hear the raw emotion of the songs without the flair of the added rock music. Lynott’s emotions in these versions are palpable and raw, which long-time fans will appreciate.
Personally, the song I was most looking forward to hearing the acoustic version of was “Whiskey in the Jar.” As someone who is a Celtic music nerd, I have heard several renditions of this song. In my experience, Celtic Thunder’s version is the closest I have heard to Thin Lizzy’s rendition. Keith Harkin was one of the two vocalists when Celtic Thunder covered the album. I saw Harkin live in Philadelphia in March of 2025, and he did an acoustic version of the song. His version lined up so well with this acoustic version in the best way.
Overall, this album is a perfect reimagining of classic Thin Lizzy songs. Long-time fans will appreciate Lynott’s never-before-heard vocal renditions of the songs, while newer fans can be introduced to these songs through more intimate and scaled-back versions. These versions of the songs showcase the band’s ability to cross musical styles well. Solid songwriting allows songs to be interpreted strongly across styles and vibes, and these classic songs hold true to this fact.
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