In Brief

* * * Black 47, “Black 47,” SBK. An Irishman in New York, singer-songwriter Larry Kirwan updates the tradition of exile-rebel songs on this group’s promising debut EP. The five Celtic-rock songs cover political rebellion (“James Connolly”) and personal foibles (“Maria’s Wedding,” a hilarious apology for the singer’s boorish behavior)--each addressed as letter home, assuring those he left behind that he hasn’t given up the fight.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).