Glen Hansard

Singer-songwriter Glen Hansard got his start busking in the streets of Dublin. Over the course of a career that stretches back a few decades now, Hansard has continued to bring that folk-y element to his albums. His latest effort, This Wild Willing, embraces electronic instrumentation but still possesses a quiet intensity to it, and most of the tracks come off as gentle (and sometimes dark) ballads. It should be noted that Hansard has become known for his epic live shows that typically stretch over two hours and include material from his other bands, the Swell Season and the Frames, as well as much from the 2007 film Once. (Niesel)