Miskatonic University Monograph: The Curious Sea Shanty Variants of Innsmouth Mass.

My third Miskatonic Monograph had two tough acts to follow. The volume itself was in every way up to the high standards of the series, a sound and engaging mix of Lovecraftian lore and real-world research. And then there's the CD of the shanties themselves!
The reading matter is a good introduction to the types of shanty in general, nicely referenced to the Innsmouth stories. As a folk music follower from way back, and a fan of the likes of England's "Fisherman's Friends" I can happily listen again and again to the Innsmouth shanties, beautifully and professionally performed.

The sea shanties are a must have. The monograph has the lyrics and what the shanties are about, as well as how to sing along! And if you like Black Flag or Pirates! You can turn down the in game music and have a blast!

A beautifully-prepared academic-style booklet from Miskatonic University Press, with its accompanying sea-shanty recordings by the University’s Men’s Chorus (named for the booklet’s deceased lead author, Dr. Connolly), create a new angle from which to view Innsmouth. The booklet’s appearance, derived from genuine 1920s monographs, never misses a beat, with colour-printed maps and cover scrimshaw illustration. As in Lovecraft’s stories, real-world information and fiction is blended throughout the text, so readers may find it benefits their understanding of elements like the ship types mentioned without explanation in “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”, and provides some insights into genuine navigation by the stars, for example. We also learn how close Dr. Wilmarth came to never meeting Henry Akeley, thanks to his curiosity in investigating the practices of a certain Innsmouth Esoteric Order... Lyrics for all the recorded songs are provided too, not always entirely accurately, as sea-shanties are living works, ever subject to fresh interpretations. That recording is itself flawless, the shanties performed in a suitably robust, lively fashion, much as one might have expected of 18th-19th century sailors. The CD has a memorial card insert for Dr. Connolly, and the disc’s printed side looks like an actual gramophone record. Then there’s the partial Devil Reef ceremony and chant, preserved from a since-lost wax cylinder recording, the perfect ending. Simply wonderful!

It took a lot of work to make this academic paper. High quality writing, very believable. Then there are the lyrics for the various songs on the CD. This is far more than I was expecting, thank you.

...combined, they're something special. The monograph is cleverly constructed, and would make an excellent prop for somebody running a Call of Cthulhu campaign; it and the songs also feel like they were written by someone who knew something about sea shanties. I listen to the album regularly, and peruse the monograph every so often. I would buy more of this sort of thing.