Reviews (page 5 of 13)
The Pogues have the reputation of a punk band masquerading as an Irish traditional folk band. Really, they're a trad folk revivalist band with just enough of a punk bent to break through to the mainstream in the highly-polished late 80s. Make no mistake: the subjects of their songs would be entirely at home on a Clash or Boomtown Rats album but that's always been the case with folk music: it's frequently about hard times and injustice. Anyway, it's fun and it's thoughtful and its place in the recurring popularity of traditional folk forms is important. Follow music long enough and you'll live through at least one folk revival (in my case, as of 2025, the most recent one gave us Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers, among others). The only thing more interested in staying away from corporate control than punk is trad folk. Not even my favourite folk album but one worth listening to.
Celtic punk, good irish band. I like the accent of the singer and the energy of the songs
Wow! Need to come back to this one. I don't know how I managed to avoid hearing The Pogues all these years.
interesting
I love the pogues
Fiesta and fairy tale of new York make it a 4 on their own. I'd give it 4.5 if I could since I feel it gets a bit samey after a bit. Still really good.
4.1
More enjoyable than I thought it would be.
'tis crew again? Me likey the tunes on 'tis album. If only the boring tunes was killed off 'tis album. Me favorite tune: "Turkish Song Of The MacGowan Damned".
Good Album
I enjoy Irish folk rock, and in addition to this album, have several other albums from the Pogues. In addition, my collection includes the Chieftains, Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys. This style is just fun, though there are of course those tunes with a bit of a deeper, darker message, aren't there. All in all though, good stuff!
Absolutely loved this. I’ve heard their music before but it was a great experience to listen through the chaos of a whole album
Raucous folk punk celebrating life in the face of death. If you just listened to the music while ignoring the lyrics you might think this is a happy album, but far from it. There are lots of songs about death, dying, and uncertainty. But the joyful music adds to the lyrical nuance about celebrating one's culture and family in the face of tragedy. It starts with a bang with the terrific first two tracks, "Fairytale," and "Thousands are Sailing." After that I do think the new ideas wear a bit thin, but the upbeat folk sounds mean it's never boring.
Great album. Not necessarily something I will listen to regularly but I enjoyed this.
I generally get my fill of the Pogues pretty quickly, but I liked this quite a bit. "Fairytale of New York" is a classic, and there's plenty to like on this—though I probably need to be in the mood for it.
- I recognised a lot of the songs and I could even sing along! - Fairytale of New York is a tradition in my house, it's very good on karaoke - There are so many songsssss Ah it was so good and it reminded me of parts of my childhood. I love this album and although there are a lot of songs it is still so so amazing.
i really wasn’t a big fan of Rum Sodomy and The Lash, but this was great
I enjoyed every minute of this
I wasn't expecting to see this on here. Great energy, plenty of great songs, runs a little long though
ba ma asteptam ca dupa primele 4 melodii sa ma plictiseasca teribil dar chiar m-a tinut entertained. solistul ar fi putea face o trupa de post punk and i really appreciate
7/10 Total Listens: 1 (so far) Very different feel from Buckley, of course, which is a reason why I find this website so compelling. First track was fine enough, but the 2nd song was what caught my ear and made me think I might really enjoy this. Some fun tension in the composition that appears and disappears quite quickly but makes "Turkish Song of the Damned" feel just that bit darker, although its outro is a bit dragged out. Another highlight is "Thousands Are Sailing", which has a killer cello(?) riff (for lack of a better word - or is riff the correct word even for non-guitar string instruments?). Some tracks (e.g. "Bottle of Smoke") do kind of feel like they fall a little too much into nonsense Irish babbling for me, but most of the album fortunately avoids this. I'll also say that the B side of the album does kind of blend together for me; everything is either good or okay, but nothing stands out in either direction. Of course, any discussion of this album is incomplete without mentioning "Fairytale of New York", a truly beautiful and quite sad 'Christmas' song. Sure, the setting is Christmas, but it's much more about these characters and their nuanced feelings for one another. Sure, the guy seems terrible, but something about the two of them have kept them together even though they don't seem to want to be on the surface. I'm not here for in-depth discussion, but I felt amiss not to at least give a sentence on this song's lyricism. Its instrumentation is gorgeous as well, of course, which furthers the dissonance of the song as well as making it just a really damn good song.
Dig it
I liked most of the songs. I also like this genre of music and have become a recent fan of this band. However, I feel other people who are not fans of the music genre would rate this less than I.
A wonderful fusion of Celtic inspired folk and punk that gets my blood pumping every time I hear it. I was sadly unaware of the Pogues in the late 80's when they dropped this energy-bomb, but would eventually have it brought to my attention at some Christmastime playing of Fairytale. I fell in love with the song and have listened to it as part of my holiday mix every year since. Hearing that Elvis Costello had worked with them in the past, and they rejected him because of creative and and temperamental differences, just drew me further towards them. This is a great album and I'd be glad to know it would be played at my wake.
Yes
Genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this! Some of the slower songs aren't the greatest. The vocalist can't hit a note in the lower range and it's a little grating.
Surprisingly good album. Once you get used to Shane MacGowan's voice it kind of grows on you. Fairy Tale Of New York and Irish Rover are classic songs.
Good Irish rock blend
Classic.
Great Irish punk sound
Hmmm 2nd Pogues album on the list. I like this one better.
Punk and folk
I’m not sure if I like *Rum Sodomy & The Lash* or *If I Should Fall…* better, but I know I dig both of them, and “Bottle of Smoke” from the latter really hit me on this last listen.
Incredible album. Their best and my favorite of theirs. We’ve now lost both Kristy and Shane. RIP Legends.
396/1001
Pretty good. Irish jig style upbeat music. Just too many songs. 4/5
Great album! I love Irish folk rock. Hard to believe these guys were an 80’s band! They still sound fresh.
This makes me want a beer
Gratis!
Infectious energy
Some great lyrics about the immigrant experience. Must have been a rocking live show.
Fairytale of New York is one of my all time favorites. Love them.
Amazing Celtic music
Enjoyed this listen. Have heard of The Pogues but never really listened to any of their music.
Tässä perinteistä irlantilaista folkkia(!) ja jonkinlaista punkkia sekoittavaa meininkiä. Oikein menevää riverdancea punk sanoituksin. Ja yks kivoimmista joulubiiseistä Fairytale of New York löytyy levyltä.
👍🏻
Loved it. I think this genre risks all sounding the same but this album does a great job of mixing it up and keeping it interesting. Interesting to read about some of the Spanish and Turkish influences. Title track is great. Turkish song is weird and amazing how they blended the styles in a way that works. Fairytale of NY is lovely.
Rating this a little higher than Rum Sodomy & The Lash. Great album. Good tunes and enjoyed the variety. Def want to be slamming brews at a pub with the boys while enjoying this album. 4.25/5
Pretty good mix of instruments. Cool vocals. I need a Guinness now.
I didn't expect such a wide range of musical styles! A great showcase for how versatile Irish folk can be.
I've played "Irish Rover" at least 500 times, and I still love it; great to dig in deeper to the Pogues canon. PS: What the hell is "Worms"?
Irish people are cool
I heard the first song and I thought I couldn't possibly enjoy it, I was wrong. A couple of fillers but overall a great experience.
Pretty good folk album. Rest In Peace Shane MacGowan. 8/10
Very enjoyable folk/punk album - the majority of the material awards it 3 stars. I'll raise it to 3.5 (therefore rounding up to 4) for Fairytale of New York alone - it's really a perfect Christmas song. 4/5
First full album of the Pogues that I’ve listened to, and it was so worth it. Saturated with an unflinchingly Irish energy towards all of life’s vicissitudes and soaked in whiskey, it’s worth it for Fairytale in New York alone, the best Christmas song of the late 20th century. But others like Thousands are Sailing, Lullaby of London, and If I Should Fall from Grace provide more than enough to make it all a wild ride.
What great energy they have. There is something joyful about this and what’s not to like about that? The opening to Fairytale of New York makes my hairs stand on end. How Shane lasted as long as he did is a mystery. 4 stars
Shane was a true Irish poet. This album is solid and a great example of their music RIP Shane
As good as their other album on the list
One of my favourite Pogues albums. Maybe a slightly less edgy sound, but really showcased MacGowan as a true poet. So many great songs such as The Broad Magestic Shannon, Thousands Are Sailing, If I Should Fall From Grace With God, and of course Fairytale on New York, though does feel a little out of place listening to the album in summer. 4/5
Thoughts before listening: The Pogues are an interesting band to me. They get lumped in with the 80s punk scene, but they sound more like Irish folk to me. I guess their whole schtick is Irish folk being played by punk rockers. Anyway I do enjoy the Pogues so I'm glad to listen to them today. Review: Yeah this is fun. I'm actually enjoying it even more than I thought I would. The punk attitude really comes through on this album, and there are some new to me songs as well as some of the band's most iconic (i.e. the title track and "Fairytale of New York"). That second song is one of my favorites of all time so it's awesome to have a reason to add it to yet another playlist. For all the drunken bluster in his persona, Shane MacGowan was an incredibly effective songwriter and vocalist who had the ability to turn pub sing alongs and sea shanties into anthems. Really good stuff. 4-stars
Irish punk
Thank you, Natalie Ballard Strauhal!!!
Solid album. I've heard a few of these songs, including "Fairytale of New York" around Christmas-time.
Graet fon!
I've already had a soft spot for Irish folk music so this is pretty well up my alley. And this band is damned good at it. It's some really enjoyable music.
I would definitely listen to this again!
I've always been aware of The Pogues having lived in Boston and played in a dart league with several Irish bars in the division. That said, the 1001 has given me a new appreciation for them.
Great album! The music is upbeat and catchy but I'll be damned if I know what the fuck they're saying half the time
This album is great fun! If you have this, you don't need any "Greatest Irish Drinking Songs" compilation, because these are the greatest Irish drinking songs. Except for the last song.
Worth a listen
A great potpourri of anything the members came up with! Feels more like a collection of all their favourite songs than a cohesive album. It's very fun for the most part, with a few slow and a little repetitive tracks. Anyway The Pogues were a pleasant surprise.
Shane McGowan's voice is phenomenal for his band or rogues and rovers. The musicianship was surprisingly adept, and the whole album was a fun listen. "Fairytale of New York" is a beautiful song, despite the unfortunate F-slur. I put off rating this because I couldn't quite put my thoughts together about what I enjoyed, but I keep coming back this record, so clearly, that must mean something positive. It's probably a high 3, but it's re-listeniblity bumps it up to a 4
smooth
Splendid stuff
Sometimes, I get an album that earns a 5 star rating mostly because of cultural impact. A good example of that would be Blackstar or The White Album. I like both of those albums plenty, but their cultural impact is really what brings them up to a 5. This album, on the other hand, feels like it was targeted directly at me. I wouldn’t be surprised if it has a low average rating, but I’m always in the mood for Celtic fusion music, especially when it’s with a genre I typically do not like, such as punk. Favorite Track: Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / Galway Races
This is not my kind of music but I respect the hell out of this.
I like this. Really good. I’ve heard a few of these songs before. Never knew who they were.
I had such a good time with this. There's a real drive and propulsion to it, and it's packed with tons of personality. The musicality is absolutely on-point. I was maybe expecting it to be a bit one-note, and for that to drag over a long runtime, but there's tons of variation here and it whizzed by. It's kind of weird listening to Fairytale of New York in May, but whatever. I enjoyed it so much, I'm going to have to revisit 'Rum Sodomy & The Lash' which I only gave a 3 before. It's funny how these albums can completely change dependent on the mood they find you in - maybe it was one of those. 4.5 rounded down.
3.5/4
I love the punk folk vibes, but main one’s voice is just too far out of musical to be perfect
So much emotion. So much alcohol . So much fun Absolutely loved it
This album made me want to drink a pint (or 3!), spin around, snog a stranger and then fall down.
second day in a row that I am joyful to get an album I love! a college fav! 4/5 #MUSICSKY #ALBUMSKY
Cracking album. What I listened to said extended version which it did feel long. But maybe original had less tracks then I’d say better flow.
Didn't expect to enjoy something like this, given that it's not my cup of tea but it was nicely refreshing
Great album. Who would have thought... traditional Irish music and punk. Now I've got to go listen to some Gogol Bordello. Very different but oddly similar.
yeah
What a refreshing album, very much enjoyed the upbeat music of the Irish! Never heard of this band and not what I was expecting based on the name of the album.
Greit nok, litt masete samlet sett
3.5 ⭐️
Well this album was a fun ride and all over the place! I had never heard The Pogues before, and I think I'll listen to more of their albums. Definitely a good 4 star album.
20+ years ago, I joined a Celtic Folk band that modeled itself more after The Pogues than The Clancy Brothers. Even though I'd never actually sat and listened to The Pogues before this (I've heard bits and pieces over the years), the sound was immediately recognizable and, in its way, comforting. The most well-known song on here is probably my least favorite, at least for the first half of the song (Fairytale of New York). 4 stars.
Music to shut down yer local pub to
Definitely a good vibe. Would listen again.
Banger
Fun listen! Would listen to again
Incredibly I had never really listened to The Pogues beyond what seemed in through radio osmosis. It is certainly a style of music that is not passive to listen to, but I now realized in its place, this is really great stuff. I feel I missed out on this for too long.
Another one I’ve been playing the last few years. Time to check it out fully
I'm a sucker for Celtic Punk bands. They just make me happy. I was already familiar with their bigger hits on this one. Was happy to hear that the rest of the album was also pretty good. A couple duds on their though, so only 4 stars. The titular song will go on the 1001 playlist.
Sounds like a Rancid/Flogging Molly predecessor. Fun instrumentation, too. A fun shanty vibe, this is the kind of fun discovery I'm here for. 4* Highlights: fairytale of new york, shanne bradley
The genre you look for everyday: Irish Punk which is decent
I'll be generous and give it a 4 cause I'm done with classes for the semester. Love the Irish feel and the accent, the songs were fund and interesting. Stories were solid. Felt like the lead dude was forcing his brogue a bit on some of the songs, like trying to lean too deep into it. Otherwise solid.
wasn't sure what "Irish punk" would sound like, but this was a fun & entertaining listen. enjoyed their in your face sound blended with traditional Irish instruments & sounds. it worked for them. slainte
Already loved this
This is what I want whenever people tell me to listen to Dropkick Murphys.
Great album to define the genre. Started well but found too repetitive to go 5 starts. Need to add to my collection
Unique album. I find this one a little hard to rate. I love the unorthodox instrumentation in it. The vocals are... unique, though I liked them more than I thought I would once it got going. 4 stars might be high. Might be low, I'm really not sure, but it's a really neat listening experience.
Fuck I love the Irish. The whole “I’m fooked, you’re fooked, everything’s fooked, so let’s have a drink and giggle and make the best of it” vibe is so beautifully represented in this album. The only Pogues offering I own is a best of Cd. Now I have to own this one.Fairytail of New York is the best known but Turkish song of the damned & Bottle of smoke really hit the mark. There’s not a bad track on it. Why don’t I own this already If Johnny Cash was a drunk Irishman he might have liked this
Nice one
Been listening to the Pogues for 35 years. Very innovative and influential band - blending Irish folk, punk, jazz. Run Sodomy and the Lash and this album are among my favorite albums in the genre. That said, I can’t listen to the style hour after hour. It’s a very nice treat once in a bit in the right environment. Love ‘em and all the derivative artists that copied them.
Broader sound than my personal fav Rum, Sodomy and the Lash - but still a solid record. Fairytale of New York is probably the greatest Christmas song.
Very good
sweet, punk trad!
well executed but not something I would jam to on my own accord
Good stuff. 4 stars.
really fun, reminds me of gma
81/1089 - Good but samey.
Thought this would be all about Fairytale of New York (my favorite Christmas song, btw) but it's actually pretty solid. Sounds like they're having a great time.
Fun Irish
Not at all what I expected. Felt like a cross between The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. Would like to listen to more by The Pogues.
I really like The Pogues, they are on my St. Paddy's day mix, but I don't think I've ever listened to a full album by them and man what an album! This got me moving faster and it just sounded good! Very fast paced Irish music!
I liked the style
Music to enjoy with several pints of Guinness in a Dublin pub! It has one of the top 3 all time Christmas songs along with a fine selection of upbeat songs that I liked.
Great Irish folk music
I’m only aware of this style of music through Flogging Molly. Great to hear the original Celtic Punk - and it’s much better I might add. More folk influences, more thoughtful lyrics, and better musicianship. The energetic songs are fun but the ballads are what sold me.
Nostalgic sound that takes me back to driving around with my Irish grandmother. Love the mix of lyrical and instrumental tracks. Interesting lyrics and topics.
This makes me wish Ireland was a real place :'(
Gotta represent the friends of the motherland. I feel this music in my blood SCOTLANDDDDD FOREVERRRRRRR!!!!!
I had never heard the pogues before besides the one christmas song. and. this is like a 2 or 3 for how much I would normally like this music. but. the pogues are special. the idea of a bunch of Irish punks forming a celtic folk band is something you make a heartfelt christmas movie out of (or the best christmas song ever.) I think it is so wonderful that this band exists.
Awesome album, intense energy, unique sound. You can hear the bands they influenced in their music.
Bangers on bangers on bangers. 7/10
Early on I elected to review albums subjectively - not as an impartial critic, but as a fan - based on how much I personally liked the music. But there are exceptions. I tire of the accordian-flute-mandolin sound and the sea shanty / pub jig style. But the creative audacity, the commitment by the lot of ‘em to their sound, and the honesty of this album make it undeniably great; regardless of how often I may want to listen to it.
Punk band meets Irish traditional/ folk music with a little jazz thrown in. Great listen, made me want to get up and dance and hang out with a big group of friends. Really enjoyed
Super interesting, nice to see older Irish folk punk. I’d listen a few times, 4 stars
I like both The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly but I've never really listened to The Pogues and I'm learning that this is kind of where the genre started so that's a shame. There's some good stuff on here and I might listen to more The Pogues in the future for sure Standouts Turkish Song of the Damned Fairytale of New York Thousands Are Sailing The Irish Rover 4/5
I'll confess that Fairytale of New York was all I had previously heard but consider this my minting as a new Pogues fan!
Geggjuð hljómsveit og flott plata. Geggjaðir textar og mikið trallað.
Loved this. I was a bit bored about 3/4 through. Maybe slightly long. But a collection of fantastic songs
Love the Celtic jauntiness, but I wish Shane MacGowan's voice was not the one belting out the lyrics. Lyrics are well written but I've always found his voice annoying. The album may be a bit tad on the long side, as hip hop albums do this as well perhaps this added value? Everything else is great about this album. One of the few albums that hipsters and I agree on.
Really good time. Throw on Irish folk music and everyone is in a good mood. I thought it was a tad long and slower to the end so I rounded down.
Need more Celtic Punk in my life....it's like folk meets rock meets bluegrass meets drinking. 4.5 stars.
Enjoyed this more than I expected. Curious whether it just landed in my feed because it was St. Patricks day week.
Really enjoyed this. The guys voice works really well and overall it’s just a fun time the whole way through. 4 stars
Fine album for st Patricks day. Not as friendly as RS&L but does have their biggest hit. It's a bit odd listening to FTONY in march.
I was ready to not like this but I enjoyed it. Upbeat, fun
Enjoyable, jolly, dark at times, but always enjoyable Irish folk music. It has everything you look for when seeking out the genre.
Rollicking and ribald and rip-roarin' generally. One doesn't have to be an expert an Irish (or Turkish [both gestured at and actually pursued] or Mexican) music to appreciate the full-on playing, which sounds awful tight most of the time. "Fairytale of New York" is the standout – "Danny Boy for hipsters, with its all-time opening line – but the title cut "Metropolis" and "Thousands are Sailing" also deliver rich pleasure or rich pathos or a well-balanced mix of both. They are either the Irish Replacements or the Replacements are the American Pogues. Either way, the playing is surprisingly tight at time ... the unit worked well enough for all the mythic drunkenness and debauchery. And has there ever been a better worse singer than Senor McGowan?
Great way to start off St. Paddy’s weekend. It was fun, lively, interesting.
Very accessible despite being a sound/music genre that is new to many. Loved the production and the overall tone was explosive and felt lively. There are themes/lyrics that have not aged well. Lastly this album was a blast and i found myself reading up on the band members other albums.
8/10
It’s the Pogues, bouncy enough to cheer you up but a poignant undercurrent to keep it real.
I had drinks with dinner todaym. its the Pogues!! Fairytale of anew York!!
The Pogues are always a treat. RIP Shane MacGowan.
This is fun, folk, punk, Celtic rock. It's in my blood that I have to like this, and I do! It's for yelling in a crowded pub, beers spilling everywhere, someone is probably going to get in a fight. Plus he's an excellent storyteller, every song reads like a journey over green rolling Irish hills. And as a lover of Christmas music, I can't deny what an all-time classic "Fairytale of New York" is. One of my favorites.
Great Irish Music. Album could've been shorter in my opinion. But Topic-wise and mentality wise its great content. Enjoyed it way more than expected and it was a fun listen. Its nothing i would say has a huge replay value, but each listen will be entertaining.
Great music to work on a ship to. Something about folk punk transcends cultures and it reminds me of a lot of stuff. It rocks.
Pleasantly surprised by this one! The folk instrumentals were cool and there was good variety to the songs.
Very Irish. Wouldn’t add it to a playlist but sounded fun
I had a foggy notion of what the Pogues sounded like but this was better than expected. Highlight(s): Bottle of Smoke/Fairytale of New York Lowlight(s): N/A
You know, I was initially kind of shocked to see The Pogues having two albums on this list. But you know what? I'm not entirely against it. This is for one simple reason. I really liked both of the albums. I enjoyed Rum Sodomy and the Lash when I listened to it back in July 2024, and I think I actually enjoyed If I Should Fall From Grace With God even more. I think that's because this album has a stronger focus on the punk part of their folk punk label, whereas its predecessor is more of a folk album with light punk elements. This album blends the two ideas in a way that really appeals to me. Shane MacGowan's singing fits the vibe perfectly. The songwriting is pretty good too. It's kind of interesting that this album's most popular song, "Fairytale of New York" is somewhat of a Christmas song. I'm not sure I've gotten an album with a Christmas song on it before today (you know, aside from the literal Christmas album). That song's great, and so are the others. This album's just a whole lot of fun. I really like it. High 4/5.
Cool irish folk
Excellent
What a super fun band and super fun album. Hard to listen to and not want to start dancing.
Long live Shane McGowan, and god bless Jem Finer and Spider Stacy
Enjoyed this a lot. Very in my wheelhouse, Celtic roots
Favorite Track: Fairytale of New York
Loved this album. Good old Pogues kept me lively as day.
Today officially starts my last year of this project. On one hand, I can't believe I've reviewed 724 albums so far, but on the other hand, having only 365 albums left to review feels like such a small number. Anywho, on to the album on hand: I've heard of The Pogues before, but I don't think I've ever listened to any of their music. I tend to enjoy different takes on folk music, so I have a feeling that I'll enjoy this album. I don't know why I didn't think of Flogging Molly when I was reading the description for this album, but that was immediately what I thought of when this album first started up. I had a period of about a year or so after college where I was listening to Flogging Molly quite a bit, and I really loved them during that time. Even though this album reminded me of Flogging Molly, I thought the Pogues were much better. The songwriting on this album was really good, and it was a unique contrast to have such somber and serious lyrics alongside such upbeat and uptempo musical arrangements. As far as the music goes, I thought these songs were really diverse in sound, but without sacrificing the overall sound of the album. The only mark against this album is that it's not really my personal taste, but objectively, I think it's very good, and I'm curious how I'll feel about the other Pogues album that I have yet to review.
Tiene vibe de pirata, me encanta
Another Pogues album that I should have listened to before now. It's a lot more diverse than "Rum, Sodomy..", still very Irish but with other Celtic influences from Spain and the Balkans. When it's good, which is much of the time, it is excellent, at moments it is merely OK, but a very listenable OK.
I have never enjoyed listening to The Pogues before. I thought they were tuneless, drunken, sloppy musicians. I sighed when this album showed up. But it has surprised me. The musicianship is top notch. The songs are excellent and performances full of energy. I think I 'get' The Pogues now!
Very very good
refreshingly different. liked it a lot
Nothing quite like Irish Folk-Punk. Good stuff.
I am extremely unlikely to ever listen to this again, but it was fun to cosplay as an Irish folk singer for an hour
Irish bangers. 4/5
I raise a glass in salute of these inheritors of the Seisiún, the 2:30 am serenaders of the street, those boys the Clancy's, the Makems, the Chieftains and more. You wear centuries of grief on your sleeves and stay longer to entertain. Sláinte. 4.5/5
If I could give 4.5 stars I would, I'm sorry I'm a xmas hater even if the sound is fun pensive emoji
Great Celtic music that would be perfect for St. Paddy's day. I really enjoyed the title track, Fairytale of New York, and Metropolis. Landed at about 3.5 stars, but with my Irish heritage it would be blasphemous not to round up to a Low 4.
i didn’t know there were this many people in the pogues. very interesting. i also think so far this is made for spring and summer, apart from the lovely addition of my favourite christmas song!! it’s funny, i never thought to listen to the pogues even though i love two of their songs and hold them dear to my heart. this is a great album so far and i’m really enjoying it.
They do good work. It’s fun and he has the best punk voice. Probably not anything I’ll be adding to any daily playlists, but it was enjoyable.
3.5 - a fun listen but gets repetitive.
Great album. Fun to listen to
Great energy!
:D!
Overall: 8/10 Quite possibly the best band I've heard fuse traditional Celtic folk music with the raw intensity of punk. I love the instrumentations so much and the slurring, drunken vocals add so much energy to an already energetic style of music. I also enjoy that they tried to include different styles of folk into this album as well, it shows that they had a love for folk in general and I really respect that. My Poppy would have loved this. (RIP) Fav Song: Metropolis Least Fav Song: Fairytale of New York
Very interesting!
What a jubilant party with celtic rock! 4/5
Rough and gentle, punk and traditional, hardened and sensitive - this album is full of juxtapositions. It reminds me that there is a special place for the bad boy who cleans up for Christmas, tattered sweater, coiffed hair and all. There are some real gems in here, but specially the line “I could have been someone, but so could anyone”. The unapologetic vibe, mixed with the embrace of traditionalism is a nice blend.
I do enjoy this 😁
Good fun and good musicianship. You have to be in a real bad place not to enjoy this on a Friday afternoon.
Finally, some good wholesome Irish music amongst the Brit heavy list. Though I prefer Rum, Sodom and the Lash, this was a welcome album.
Not my style, but I liked 1 song
Would've been a more fitting album 3 weeks ago. I've really warmed up to Shane MacGowans drunk and mumbled singing over the time. Effortless blend of punk and folk presented here. I get a really warm and cozy feeling listening to this album, the recording quality is crisp yet quite intimate sounding. Just a jolly time all round and playing along with the Dubliners is a nice bonus in the bonus tracks.
So much more than Fairytale of New York. That song is damn good too though. This album makes me want to drink a couple pints with the lads. Just pure fun. Favorite songs are the title track, Fairytale of New York, Thousands Are Sailing, and Medley.
So fun to listen to Fairytale of New York in its own context instead of overstimulated in the queue at John Lewis
Great Irish sound with a punk attitude. A staple in all Irish bars haha
The album art is perfection. Seriously, how surley are these guys? Usually when Spotify serves up an "extended" version it is bad news, but not this time. Love the whole album top to bottom.
- You get what you expect with this album - Great Christmas track with Fairytale in New York - It seems to have been written in a bit of tumultuous time for the group, with tensions flaring between them and their previous producer, Elvis Costello, and their bassist, which explains some of the animosity littered throughout the lyrics - This is a class album with many sing-alongs
Controversial opinion: this is commonly seen as their crowning achievement, and FONY is of course the one song that everyone knows. Thousands are Sailing is perhaps their finest single moment. But over a whole album it can't keep up with Rum, Sodomy....
Entertaining Irish folk with decent drums, 3.6
I liked this, but it doesn't really feel like the kind of thing I'd listen to at home. It probably belongs in a bar or something. Bumped up from 3 to 4 stars because it has Fairytale of New York on it, which will always be a Christmas favorite.
Excellent.
This is like the original Gogol boedello but Irish lol - it was like fun drinking songs I liked it
I love being Irish
I too love being Irish
I liked this album and the songs are some that I remember hearing. See Hozier’s coincidentally playing the one song on SNL this past weekend
I feel like Steve Martin in the jerk hearing polka music for the first time when I listen to this
Brought back memories of jigging with toilet paper around my head when they were at Reading circa 90. Can't beat Shane's voice (for some reason). It's got just the right amount of anger or joy or angst in these songs. Has also got the best Christmas song ever.
Liked this one much more than I was expecting. I thought it's surprising more exotic influences were it's strong points. Good to get a festive song in there also - there probably aren't *too* many albums in this list with Xmas songs on..
Drifted into mediocrity in places but still edges a 4 from me. Always loved a bit of the pogues, though a “best of” serves me perfectly well
Top tier folk. Fun, creative, soothing and adventurous.
Oyriș
This album was a JOURNEY.
I've been a fan of Flogging Molly and The Dropkick Murphys for many years, but I'd never really checked out The Pogues so I'm glad they came up here. This was some really solid Irish stuff, and I'm glad they paved the way for later bands. I also really enjoy the guy in the top left corner gently holding his...according to Wikipedia: probably a tin whistle. 4.1
An excellent record that I don't listen to very often, but it's good to keep around.
Legends. Elvis Costello ran off with their lady member before this I guess but Kristy Mcall does them right. Tragic life. Maybe less so for shane but yung boy's the true electric poet, good story teller. Christmas eve, babe
Thousand are sailing is my favorite track. Lots of goodness in here.
Songs i knew: 3 Songs i liked: about half Starts strong, great vibe to it and some bangers swear I've heard that bottle of smoke somewhere before. Either way it's a great track. Starts to tail off massively towards the end, culminating in an absolute butchering of South Australia, give me the fisherman's friends version any day. Just about scrapes a low 4. Listening to this album was definitely educational. Here's my learnings:: I didn't know pogue mahone is gaelic for kiss my arse I didn't know the bassist in the band ended up getting married to costello I didn't know they were muckers with the dubliners I always thought he sang a rare old mountain tune, turns out he was singing the mountain dew
Really like this. Think I may have heard it before but because it’s quite long it blurs together a bit. the tunes and lyrics are undeniable - great fun but with something to say and high energy throughout, sounds like it was recorded live. It’s so very Oirish in a good way. Some of it’s proper silly, like Fiesta. Some of its dead touching like Fairytale of New York. That song gets massively overplayed but it still slaps. Never realised quite to what extent yer Dropkick Murphy’s, yer Flogging Molly’s were complete rip offs of these guys. But they’re complete rip offs of these guys. Overall, thought this was great. Just way too long, and it gets a little samey. The Broad Majestic Shannon is just FONY with the BPM turned up. Best track: Fiesta, FONY, Turkish Song of the Damned, If I Should fall from Grace with God.
You know exactly what you are going to get with a Pogues album and this doesn't disappoint. Although I was surprised by the Turkish Song of the Damned. Wasn't expecting the middle-eastern sound. Tin whistles for days. Sounds like it was recorded in the corner of a trad irish pub during a folk session and thats a good thing. Really fun album if not a bit long. Got to mention the elephant in the room that is Fairytale of New York. Feels obvious to say but it's quite mad how good this song is. Played to death every Christmas but hearing it within the album makes me realise just how special it is. The bum, punk, old slut on junk combo will never be topped. Highlights: If I Should Fall From Grace with God Fairytale of New York Fiesta (F-Troop play this on the boombox after a goal and everyone goes nuts so will always like this) Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six - Up the fucking RA Lullaby of London Lowlights: Very difficult to pick one so I won't. A lot of the upbeat jigs kind of merge into one though. Great fun and RIP Shane. Easy to mock and just see him as a drunk but his storytelling and poetry was incredible. If I was Irish I reckon these would be my favourite band.
This album makes me want to drink a pint or 6. This one had plenty of energy and plenty of fun instruments. Pretty simple review, but I wasn't listening too closely. This one hits the 3.5 star mark very well for me. Giving it a bump cause of the Celtic energy.
I have definitely heard this band before the singer sounds familiar. Think they may have a song in Tony Hawk or something. This album took me a while to get hooked. I thought from the first few songs that it would be a weird cheesy album, but I was completely wrong. This album had me bumping around the whole time. Such an upbeat fun album. This Celtic Punk really makes me want St Pattys day to come. Fairytale of New York was a weirdly beautiful song with the extremely different singers. Something about the combination of them and the instrumentals was really good. Metropolis was an intense Irish instrumental which could get me hyped to drink about 100 Guinnesses Worms was a strange ending.
One of the originators of Celtic Punk? I haven't heard of them before, but I love the genre. Grew up with Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys in my musical rotation. Glad to add another band to my arsenal! Good album overall, with a lot of variety to the songs, which sometimes celtic punk can lack.
Helt vildt fedt, masser af energi, god variation. Dejligt dejligt med noget der ikke fra UK eller USA. Kan godt forstå hvorfor Vera kan lide sådan noget her. Bliver lidt enformigt til sidst, men det var også et langt album jeg hørte halvanden gang
Love good Irish music, and I’ve listened to the Pogues here and there before. Not my favorite with the gravelly vocals but really enjoyed the how the influences taken from other cultures (Turkish, Spanish) meshed. Also enjoyed the collabs with the Dubliners as I’ve listened and enjoyed their music as well. ‘Fairytale of New York’ looks to be their biggest hit, also adding the traditional ‘Shanne Bradley’ to my playlist, just beautiful. 4.25/5
Good, but not quite as good as "Rum, Sodomy & The Lash".
That hit way harder than expected
Hurjaa menoa lauleskellaan niin vinkeällä lärvillä aijaijai molemmista poskista kiinni kyllä te ootte hauskoja
So good. Of course, if you don't like the fiddle, squeezebox or tin whistle, then it won't be for you, but the combination of punk-era aggressiveness and "Irish" folk inspiration is simply magical. Yes, we all get a bit sick of "Fairytale" from time to time but bloody hell this is good stuff. Pour a big glass of whisky and jig round the house whilst roaring along to Irish Rover. Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on.
That's good! Instrumental punk?
Although i somehow feel good whenever some band uses accordions in their works, Irish folk is not something that i like too much. It's too happy (?), and I like things a bit more moody. but i think it's actually ok, as "fairytales of new york" is still a standard for christmas.
Genuine, fantastic and fun.
Now we're talking! And almost nailed the timing with Christmas coming up and Fairytale of New York. Not long ago, they would do a 3-4 night stint at The Fillmore here in San Francisco this time of year and I'm happy I got to catch a show the one time. A master class in blending traditional Irish folk music with the politics and ethos of punk rock. I don't have a single bad thing to say about this album, just go listen to it, and when it's over, listen to it again.
in theory the warm coziness of traditional celtic folk shouldn’t work with the brash unapologetic nature of punk rock. but it does on this album and it fucking ROCKS!!! minus one point for a lack of variety throughout the album however, i guess there’s only so much you can do with irish folk music. but honestly i still loved it 9/10
Not the best release from the Pogues, but definitely one to listed to. Fairytale of New York is brilliant, as are several of the other tracks.
Love the album, love how this traditional folks mixed with punk voice keep inspiring young bands like Iceage or Black Country New Road. Great deliver. Yo
It’s the Pogues, Irish folk with punk styling, to me, what’s not to like.
Solid upbeat sounding album! I enjoyed the the combination of instruments, the singing all of it worked!
I had to skip Fairytale of New York. I used to really like it until one Christmas it got stuck in my head so badly I wasn't rid of it until - I kid you not - March the next year. I would wake up with it playing in my brain; it was absolute torture.
Varied enough to bump this from a 3 to a 4
It’s good, it’s interesting, I’ve got no real complaints. Not one that I would have gave a listen without it popping out of this list.
Liked this a lot better than the previous Pogues album i got. Maybe I was just in the mood for it today? This was a bit more fun and a bit more punk than I expected based on the last entry.
Just a very fun collection of songs with great Irish folk melodies with that drunk punk spirit. Listening to Fairytale of New York in October felt wrong but I’ll allow it. Fiesta is incredibly catchy and has such wonderful energy. I thought the album was lagging a bit towards the end but then realised it was the deluxe edition and I was halfway through the bonus tracks so yeah, the actual core album is great (though the B-side Sketches of Spain is also well worth a listen)
i went into this without any prior knowledge and got the shock of my life listening to that opening track. i initially thought, "what the fuck?" but by track 2, i was jammin and boppin my head. this isn't the kind of music i'll reach for on my own, but i enjoyed my time with it!
Any god that doesn't grace this band, is no god of mine. 4 rounds out of 5
always great folk punk
Lovely variety. Not my type though.
"If I Should Fall from Grace with God" is the third studio album by Celtic folk-punk band the Pogues. The Pogues added three new members: Darryl Hunt replaced Cait O'Riordan on bass and added Phillip Chevron (guitar) and Terry Woods (cittern and other instruments). The band moved away from their folk/punk roots incorporating other styles including Turkish and Spanish influenced. The lyrical subjects included emigration from Ireland, returning to the home country and adopting to changes, Irish history and protecting children. The album was their best selling hitting #3 in the UK and was also critically acclaimed. The self-titled song "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" starts fast with an accordion. It's happy music. Great drumming and banjo picking. Shane MacGowan screaming. The band sounds like their having a party. The band brings a Middle Eastern/Turkish flair to "Turkish Song of the Dead." There's an edge to the music and I hear a lute. It's about a pirate who abandoned his ship, took the treasure and has a pay back coming. Singer Kirsty MacColl joins MacGowan in the wonderful duet "Fairytale of New York." Strings and piano. It's about a couple arguing at Christmas time. Apparently, this has been the most-played Christmas song in the UK in the 21st century. Guitarist Phil Chevron wrote "Thousand are Sailing." An anxious piano intro. The band kicks in. The fiddle blaring out. A great chorus. MacGowan at his best. Irish emigration to the US. It's been the most played Pogues-song that I've heard on US radio. The band fuses their folk style with Madness and Spanish/Mexican music in "Fiesta." Horns and the band is having another party. The Pogues go back to their traditional Celtic folk style in "The Broad Majestic Shannon." A man returns to Ireland after a long time away and finds that everything has changed. This is a fabulous album. The band starts fast and really never lets up. They're tight and appear to be having fun. MacGowan probably at his best. They tackle and add different styles. There are still a few traditional folk songs. Everything works for me. A high recommendation.
Very jolly!
Not really into Irish type Punk, but this album was fun
This is a folk album for my boyfriend, he listens to it all the time. Not my cup of tea, but he loves it. So I like it.
2nd best album behind Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
They may be most known for the 100-mile-an-hour, music-for-pirates hoedowns. But it's the slow airs that get me. Greatness is here if you care to look for it.
the nice parts: - it feels like a journey through European folklore music; as a Balkan-ish (Romanian) I identified similar sounds and it felt good, in a bit of a nostalgic way - you would not expect this kind of album to be on a must-listen top, but I feel like it deserves its spot; it's a nice mix and I enjoyed listening to it the not so nice parts: - the drunken-like voice kind of annoyed me, but I get it
83.08% Track by track this is an amazing album, I just wish Costello had produced this album too, it would have been a spectacle.
Interesting fusion of folk and punk, but not something I’d really listen to. A bit too much of the trad diddly dee for me. Definitely gets a boost for having Fairytale of New York.
An Irish Celtic folk-punk is everything I wanted, but I didn't know how to ask for it.
The band that the Dropkick Murphy's wanted to be. Great poetry and a blend of Irish Folk and post punk. Shane McGowan taken too early. Bloody loved it
Sort of uneven album. Has some of their best songs but also has some stuff that is merely good. I prefer the first two. Maybe it's the extra musicians, maybe it's Steve Lillywhite's slightly more commercial production. Still great though. I also like that The Pogues and Steeleye Span are only a twig from each other on their respective rock family trees.
I really enjoyed this, a few duds but overall a good boozy folk punk sesh
This was fun. Didn’t know what to expect but I found this engaging and enjoyable. There were a few iffy lyrics, but overall this was good. I can also definitely hear its influence on other artists.
Rated the previous Pogues album with 4 stars more than 3 years ago. I have not listened to it since, and it has been even a longer while since I listened to If I should fall from grace with god for the last time. In any case, this is still a great album, close to 5 stars.
Very entertaining folk: great song material and the vocals work really well.
Ramshackle brilliance
Beautifully powerful, patriotic
Excellent album.
Rating a 4 as I know it is good. But I doubt I'll return, at least in full. It gets a bit samey-samey for me.
Hang on just a minute, this is the second Pogues album in three days! Surely it's going to be more of the same sort of stuff as Rum, Sodomy and the Lash? Do the Pogues really merit two albums in this list? Well, lets give this a play... I think the production is a bit smoother than on Rum, Sodomy and the Lash. The songs seem strong, and I particularly like Fairytale of New York. The cover's rather good, better than the US version. On the whole I think I prefer this to Rum.
Just an excellent folk album with the perfect amount of edge.
01) If I Should Fall from Grace with God - 7,5 02) Turkish Song of the Damned - 7,5 03) Bottle of Smoke - 7,5 04) Fairytale of New York - 10,0 05) Metropolis - 7,0 06) Thousands Are Sailing - 7,5 07) South Australia - 7,5 08) Fiesta - 10,0 09) Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races - 8,0 10) Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six - 7,5 11) Lullaby of London - 8,5 12) The Battle March Medley - 7,5 13) Sit Down by the Fire - 7,5 14) The Broad Majestic Shannon - 8,5 15) Worms - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,90 (79/100) Current ranking: 124/316
So that’s where Fairytale of New York comes from!
God Bless the Irish. Ordinarily I’d groan to see I had a punk-alt-prog album in excess of an hour’s duration- but when it’s Irish you just know it’ll be good and the Pogues don’t disappoint.
very fun hihi
Lekker Pogues album, wat rauwer hier en daar, maar ook beter geproduceerd
Pour une fois, le générateur m’a surpris. D’la musique de riguedon de marin irlandais punk? OH QUE OUI DANS LA BALTRINGUE
For this review, I am only looking at the original LP tracklisting, and will not factor in the bonus tracks with the 2004 re-release. I've heard of the Pogues before, particularly their song "Body of an American". They represent the niche subgenre of Celtic punk, which I'm glad got representation on this list. The only other groups I've heard of before in this style are the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. If I Should Fall from Grace with God is the Pogues' third studio album, and is often considered their best work. I can see how given the fine balance they strike between fast-tempo rollicking guitar-driven tunes with bleak lyrics related to their Irish background. They even threw in some additional styles to boot with excellence, such as the Middle Eastern vibe of "The Turkish Song of the Damned" or the Christmas folk ballad of "Fairytale of New York". That said, this album is rather long for this style of music and my enjoyment started to lower towards the end. Not helping matters is that they close out on "Worms", an arrangement of the traditional "Hearse Song" that ends on a rather odd note with its slow stomping beat, bellowing vocal delivery and the trombone alternating on two low notes. Still, I had an overall fun time with this album, and it comes with a solid recommendation.
I’ve known of the Pogues, but never listened. I really liked this, and will listen to more. Gabriella, you are wrong about them.
After the first two songs I thought “Okay I most likely won’t like this one because it’s folk”, but it turned out to be pretty interesting overall with elements of punk, ska and other sounds.
Would go crazy in pirate times
Never listened to them before. Although the music can get repetitive, it's easy to get into , and the album passed by quickly. I would listen to more of their music.
Always a nice jaunty beat, and the Pogues' bitter enthusiasm is generally delightful. "Fairytale of New York" is, of course, a classic. "Metropolis" has a great, instrumental energy; ditto "Sketches of Spain."
Fiery tradition And modern punk’s sweet embrace Makes fun folksy jigs
Very fun listen overall. I don't think the topics of the songs were necessarily cheery or anything but the instrumentation was quite colorful and fiery. Vocals were great and never wavered in passion either. I just thought this was a really enjoyable album overall and definitely wasn't something I would have listened to outside of this list.
I listened to this album on a car ride so I don't have any comments on specifics song. I really liked it a lot. It's like Dropkick Murphy's but actual irish people, and way better. It ran a little long and repetitively for my taste, but the songs were great and got me pumped up on my ride. 8/10
Surprisingly enjoyable, full of energy, and has possibly the best Christmas song ever made on it. Unsure how much I'd enjoy listening to this album regularly, but it is certainly fun to experience.
On the surface this is just fun drinking Irish jigs, but the songwriting is also really great. Awesome album, now I am going to go have a pint.
I didn't know this existed. Not this album literally (even though I didn't know about it), but like I didn't know something like this existed. Celtic folk punk? Such a strange combination, but genuinely filled with such fun energy that I felt really made it an enjoyable listen.
i have a weird feeling they are irish or irish leaning.
Absolutely yes, this is my jam! Including the greatest Christmas song ever recorded.
Sounds like a great pub band playing California punk. Liked it a lot!
Enjoyable and focused style, peak Progues. Late 80's Celtic punk
I like this kind of irish punk/folk. Second album from The Pogues already.
Wasn't expecting to find an album from the Pogues on this list, but I'm happy I did! I thoroughly enjoyed this album all the way through, even did a few hearty jigs along the way. The Dubliners collab, the Medley, and Fairytale of New York were my faves from this one.
I’m starting to understand the appeal of the Pogues’s brand of Celtic punk. The musicianship here is undeniable. I want to cry everytime I hear “Fairytale of New York”, it’s such a perfect blend of irreverence, schmaltz, sarcasm & heartbreak.
8.5/10
Thoroughly Irish with a fun big band made this a great listen despite the niche sound. Send me to the Ring of Kerry.
3.5☆/5 08.10.2024
non ho sinceramente capito cos'ho ascoltato, ma mi sono divertita da morire