I’d been struggling to say something original about Smash the Windows, the new, just about to be released Tossers album. Having reviewed multiple releases by the Tossers over the last 16+ years and loving every single one, it’s hard to be original with a review – of course the album is really first class Tossers but that’s a given. Then on the umpteen play of the bands interpretation of the ballad The Foggy Dew, something struck me and it was Tony Duggan’s Luke Kelly style perfect diction as he sang t – The Tossers are the true inheritors** of The Dubliners throne – they are the tradition, they live the life and are 110% authentic, no fake Irish here. The Tossers are not merely punks playing Irish ballads but like The Pogues and The Dubliners they are the living, breathing real deal and Smash the Windows proves it.
Cranky George sees Pogues accordion player (and now purveyor of the finest Irish Whiskey) regroup with the Mulroney brothers from his 1990s band the Low and Sweet Orchestra along with Sebastian Sheehan Visconti and Brad Wood. Cranky George is musically closer to the Low and Sweet Orchestra then the Pogues. Accordion heavy sounds that evokes the imaginary of pre-civil war Spain or smokey French wine bars then the dark streets of London. If a Pogues reference is needed then it Waiting for Herb or Pogue Mahone (a very under rated album). True Pogues fans will dig this as will fans of Gogol Bordello.
The term Mucker is “Dublinees”. It’s short for Muck Savage which in Dublin terms is anyone in not from Dublin city. These Muckers are from Atlanta, Georgia, so I guess that qualifies them as Muckers in US eyes.
The self titled, self released CD mixes fiddle lead Celt-punk’n’roll with sea shanty’s, Gypsy punk (anyone remember the Domolites folks?) and just a touch of blue-grass. In short (and aren’t all my reviews) a strong debut.
Highlights include a great cover of Jackdaw’s Molly (fiddler Jeff Shaw is a transplanted Buffalo bhoy) and New York Girls. Eddie Connies is another standout and soon to be classic.
Sisters of Murphy are neither a Celtic-goth outfit or a girlie version of Dropkick Murphys but a highly polished Celtic rock seven price outta Rochester, New York. Working Stiffs United is the sisters (though with only one gal in the band) debut full length (two EPs proceed) with 11 original songs in all ~ tight, high energy, hook filled fiddle rock with great lead vocals and strong supporting harmonies. Reminiscent of Great Big Sea and The Prodigals at their best.
Must hear tracks: L.O.V.E. 40 Days At Sea – a Great Big Sea style sea shanty Jack Heggarty – some Celtic waltz Katie Dear – their number one single or so they claim
The Led Farmers are a new band to me, though the Switzerland based, Irish born band are onto their second album with Katie. Katie is everything Celtic-rock should be – high energy, great musicians who are tight as the proverbial duck’s arse. Think of a modern day Clancy Brothers meets The Great Big Sea.
…and now for the bit that may get me into trouble……The Led Farmers come across as just a wee bit manufactured – it may be just the boy band style picture on the cover of Katie or I’m just cynical to the whole made for the American market of Riverdance and Celtic Woman stuff. Hoping to be proved wrong and a cynic.
25 Years of Irish Punk celebrates, well, 25 Years of Irish Punk from our favorite Canadian hooligans, The Mahones. Whats cool about 25 years is its not just a collection of loved Mahones classics remastered but actually re-recorded by the current line up (including Mr. Scruffy Wallace). The whole album has a great consistency and a live in the studio feel – except Wild Rover which is live-live. 25 years also includes great covers of The Undertones (Teenage Kicks) , Stiff Little Fingers (Alternative Ulster) and Rancid (Last One to Die). Available online and in stores internationally via The Whiskey Devil Collective (Canada), eOne (Canada), Sailor’s Grave Records (USA) and Wolverine Records (Germany).
Sleeping Rough is the latest and greatest album from Sydney boot-boys The Rumjacks. Following quickly on the heals of 2015’s Sober & Godless we get another shot of pure Celtic-punk. Like Sober & Godless, Sleeping Rough with the exception of the single ‘A Fistful O’ Roses’ has noting immediately that grabs your attention like say ‘Uncle Tommy’ or ‘Irish Pub Song’ on the bands debut Gangs of New Holland but like Sober & Godless if you invest the listening time you will be duly rewarded with another classic. I want also to give a shout out to Frankie McLaughlin’s lyrics, he continues to be one of the finest wordsmiths on the scene combining a gritty realism à la MacGowan with the tough-guy romanticism of Lynott. In short, a very fine album that continues to get better with every listen.
The Whistle Before the Snap is the long awaited and much delayed album by Boston’s greatest Folk’n’Irish band The Gobshites. Now, while some bands claim to be influenced by the Ramones, some bands wear Ramones shirts, some bands even sing about the Ramones, well The Gobshites manage to have a Ramone (Ritchie) sit in on drums for the whole album. The Gobshites are famous for taking old punk rock standards and giving ’em the Irish treatment so of course we have Somebody Put Something in My Drink given The Gobshites once over as well as Mojo Nixon‘s ode to Shane’s Dentist. But unlike before everything else is original (though if you want split hairs four of the songs were originally recorded by head Gobshite Pete Walsh’s punk band Meat Depressed – written with the Gobshites in mind I’m assured). How does it sound? Great! slightly chaotic, tipsy to sloshed, pub-punk sing along’s with off color self effacing humor…….and oh yeah even a touch of maturity on a couple or three tracks (That’s why I drink, Hidden Meaning & No Fairy Tale)
Standout tracks: The Evil of Drink Happy Everything Cheers
My Drinkin’ Ain’t Done is fast’n’rowdy Celtic punk meets Gypsy from the Netherlands. Low, growling lead vocals, all the bhoys on the piss gang vocals, accordion, banjo, mandolin and dirty sleaze-rock guitars with a Bastard attitude. Reminiscent and obviously influenced by the Dropkick Murphys, Blood or Whiskey and the Dubliners and for spice the junkyard sounds of Tom Waits and early Dolomites and The Zydepunks. A strong debut from a band with a great promise.
Modern Day Disgrace is the fourth full length from Swedish (and Dub fronted) Celtic-punks Sir Reg. Sir Reg are one of the leaders of the new wave of Celtic-punk and are very much snapping at the heals of the original scenesters (that’s you Flogging Molly). No surprises on Modern Day Disgrace when compared to the bands previous albums – and that’s a good thing – head banging speed Celtic punk with a strong Flogging Molly influence. The album kicks off with three new classics End of the Line, Boys of St. Pauli and Drinking Like a Dane and continues through till they Call it a Day. Special mention to Dubliners influenced “The Wrong Bar” – Luke and Ronnie would be proud of yea lads and the afore mentioned Boys of St. Pauli which will be ripping up jigpits from Stockholm to Solna and Södertälje shortly. Highly recommended.
Shite'n'Onions 