"The brilliantly-named Christian Bookshop are an acoustic folk duo in the classic mode, with a decidedly lo-fi approach. With just the sparest of backing, these ten songs, recorded over a two-week period in a Co. Mayo pantry (it’s true!), showcase a burgeoning talent. There is real substance here… "
Hot Press
"Christian Bookshop is Jimmy Monaghan’s duo with Aisling Walsh, making the kind of gorgeous harmonious folk-pop that sweet couples sing at parties over a guitar while exchanging secret smiles."
Harmless Noise
"Rather charmingly, these timeless folk songs were recorded 'over two weeks in a pantry in Belmullet, Co Mayo'. The domestic setting seems to have imbued them with a comfortable feel, like they’ve already been embraced hundreds of times. Plus, there’s something very familiar about these tracks; like I’ve heard them before, but in the best way. The sometimes salty language gives a bit of a jolt now and then, while the songs are at times appealingly rough-around-the-edges."
Sweet Oblivion
"Recorded in a pantry in Belmullet. That’s right. Picture it. Do swinging folk singalongs, bordering on chamber pop in places, come to mind? No? Not to worry. Let Christian Bookshop show you the way.
Last month, the duo provided Conor with “one of his songs of the year”, in the shape of the sublime ‘Singin’ Freebird’, which came with an equally cool-but-not-full-of-it video. Now their eponymous debut album sees the light of day. The overall tone tends more towards a slow build than the bracing ‘Singin’ Freebird’ might suggest. The enjoyably caustic ‘Folk singer’ and the muted, campfire-friendly psych-pop of ‘A million stars (These kids)’ are a couple of other highlights."
We Are Noise
"Christian Bookshop might be my favorite bandname of the day, and we've had some fucking doozies, most notably "fucking Doozies" from Palo Alto, California. The sing song sing a long sing sang of 'Singin' Freebird' is probably the perfect introduction to a band I've never heard, from a country I've never been to (but share a percentage of a lineage with), toting a genre I've never considered listening to. What's the genre? Peep their bandcamp, they call it fucking campfire bro. Christian Bookshop is a campfire band bro.
I love this shit."
SYFFAL