If I Should Fall From Grace With God

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

Every shade of diddly-diddly.

Outstanding album with classics throughout

Oddly enough this album is classified as 'Celtic Punk', which could be due to the band's IRA associations. The punk elements sort of come out in 'Bottle of Smoke' but these guys are punk in the same way the Clash's 'London Calling' was punk - in attitude more so than traditional sound, which I can appreciate - especially when it sounds this damn good. Shane MacGowan is a talented lyricist and vocalist. I love the song 'Thousands Are Sailing', which details Irish immigration to the US. It may be my favorite song here, the accordion-driven melody interluding the verses shines through - painting something equally hopeful and uncertain. While the lyrics on this album are niche and allusive, their vividness can't be understated - they're very evocative and insightful - like on 'Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six', a tribute to the falsely convicted IRA associates. Musically, it's very eclectic and doesn't box itself into sticking to its Celtic Folk roots (despite that sound still being omnipresent all throughout this album) - the horn section on 'Fiesta' oddly reminds me of a Ska song mixed with a Spanish jam and I love the middle-eastern influence on 'Turkish Song of the Damned'. The more traditional leaning and sea-shanty-esque Medley here is another highlight. This is such a sweet, glistening, and soulful record - there is never a dull moment. More than anything though, it's an album that comes off as undeniably genuine and hearty.

I had forgotten all about Celtic rock, but this was awesome. I'm not sure I could listen to this for a long time, but the hour runtime was fun. It's Irish, or course, but it had a surprising amount of depth and sound range. I was immediately caught off guard by the Turkish Song of the Damned. The Medley, Sketches of Spain, and Fairytail of New York were other ones that stuck out to me. I'll give this one another listen next St. Patty's Day.

For it's stupid to laugh and useless to bawl. I don't think I'll find myself in situations where I listen to Irish folk music often, but if I were - this might be the album

Oh, laddie I need a Guinness at the local pub! What a fun album with upbeat music and general enjoyment. Some poignant and topical lyrics with entertaining songs throughout. Diverse music and technicality as well.

classic

I haven't listened to the Pogues in depth before this album. I enjoyed it, some great tracks with a couple of duds(IMHO)

Everyone knows 'Fairytale of New York', but I'd never heard any of their other music. Mainly because I'd been told it was political and that Pogues was part of a phrase that meant something really awful, and that their attitude and music reflected that. Well all I've got to say to that is what a crock of shite. It's folk music, there is always a political element, but the fun and the musicianship far out shone that. I really enjoyed it. I mean, well it's Irish folk music and that is a known quantity and this is certainly it. But it's fun and pleasant to listen to, and yes I'd buy it. It's a four for me.

Love most of it. Great music for drinking, dancing and fighting (although I’m rubbish at all 3 of these activities). Title track, Streets of Sorrow, Lullaby of London and the Broad Majestic Shannon elevate this to a 4 star.

Love The Pogues!!

GREAT Celtic punk, I can absolutely see why this band is so legendary.

Strong

A lot of nice songs

From the instant I hit play, I knew we were in for a good time. This was such a fun album. So many fun Irish jaunts and jigs, so much whimsy, and with a little bit of punk. God this was fun. I could listen to shit like this all day. My only gripe, and why it will get four stars instead of five, is that I kind of got lost in it at a certain point. They all started sounding the same and I kind of just think of it as one big jig. But hey it was a hell of a jig. Four stars. Really wanted to give it five but it just ran too long and got too samey. Standout Tracks: If I Should Fall from Grace with God, Turkish Song of the Damned, Bottle of Smoke, Metropolis, Thousands are Sailing, Fiesta, Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six, The Irish Rover, South Australia

The somber stuff is brutal to listen to, very sad. The upbeat stuff makes my feet all tippy-tappy, great Irish energy. 4.5

Toller Folk/Punk-Mix mit sehr eingängiger Musik.

I like this one. I don’t know if I’ve listened to it before. But I want to dance a jig. 4

Sounds like I should be throwing darts at the pub and getting hammered

Beaucoup plus apprécié que Rum Sodomy & The Lash, je dirais même que c'est probablement la meilleure musique de ce style que j'ai entendu à date. Ça reste un genre que je trouve un peu gimmicky. mais c'était divertissant le temps que ça jouait. 7.5/10

First got to know the Pogues as the band that plays the police wake song as cops are laid on a bar pool table in The Wire. I own a few Flogging Molly albums, so it was nice to visit one of their forebearers. Fairytale of New York has a slur in the lyrics, that took me out of the song pretty jarringly.

I listened to this, immediately went down to Fitzpatrick's Irish Pub, had a few Pints, had a few more, sang, cried arm in arm with a stranger, danced, started a fight, and got my teeth smashed in by that same stranger until they looked like Shane MacGowan's. 5/5 would listen again.

Such a fine album, with lots of variety. Plus, Shane McGowan!

Really liked this. Wavered between "3" and "4" for a while (again, would love the .5 addition), but I'm feeling generous.

Celtic not in my blood. But some crackers on this 7/10

Celtic punk. I’m not very informed on this genre, nor am I with Irish music in general, but the energy laid down here makes this thing such a fun and varied listen. A side note, I wouldn’t be surprised if AJJ was a little inspired by them.

Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

Прикольный салат из всего на свете они намешали в этом альбоме.

Similar in quality to Rum Sodomy & The Lash. Well-made album. Beautiful songs.

Wonderful album. Close to my first 5 star review.

I absolutely adore Fairytale Of new York, it's apart from Christmas also an absolutely banger. The rest is Irish folk music: not completely my stuff. As I'm writing this, the death of Shane is 6 months ago.

Ah, the Pogues. The music I learned listening to because of my dad. Even though I want to give this one a solid 5, I think the Pogues have better albums (I'm curious if those will be in this list). 4.3*

It’s the Pogues just that.

very unique and catchy. gets a little old though. 7/10

I used to listen to Celtic Woman and watch Riverdance as a kid. Still haven't made it to Ireland for a visit, but I've always been drawn to their music, and have definitely added Pogues songs to my playlists throughout the years. First listen to a full album though, and I'm not surprised I really enjoyed this. Might be a 5 if I spend more time with the lyrics, but I'll go with 4 for now.

I saw "punk" and assumed I would hate this - but sometimes you get surprised in a positive way. This was a fun and well-done album. It sounds like a blueprint for what a lot of folk metal and folk rock (especially of the pirate/shanty variety) still sound like today (which may be a testament to my long-held belief that these sub-genres suffer from a fundamental dearth of originality and creativity).

upbeat, classic irish punk

Cool album. Standout songs: Fairytale of New York Medley: The Recruiting sgt/The Rocky Road The Irish Rover

Didn’t expect this kind of music on this list!

Pretty good!

If I Should Fall from Grace with God 3.7 Turkish Song of the Damned 4 Bottle of Smoke 3.3 Fairytale of New York 4.5 Metropolis 3.5 Thousands are Sailing 4.4 South Australia 3.4 Fiesta 4 Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races 3.7 Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Woods/Six 3.4 Lullaby of London 3.2 The Battle March Medley 3.7 Sit Down by the Fire 3 The Broad Majestic Shannon 3.3 Worms 3 The Irish Rover (feat. The Dubliners) 4.2 Moiuntain Dew (feat. The Dubliners) 3.2 Shanne Bradley 3.2 Sketches of Spain 3.4 Score: 3.584210526

Have to love the unstoppable optimistic flow of Irish music

This is hard listening for someone not attuned to Irish music. The accents are sloppy and the beats are too fast, both which make the music sound muddled and hard to decipher. I lived in Ireland so had reason to listen many many many times to this and have imbued a drunken respect for it. God bless the memory of Shane. 4 stars

3.5

Classic. Enjoy!

surprising random and fun

Irish punk folk. I dig it

I really liked today's album. Went in not expecting the best but the moment I heard the first song, I knew it was going to be good. All the songs are so lively and make you want to dance. Only issue is it is too long (I know it's the extended version on Spotify but the original is still an hour long). Definitely worth a listen, 4/5

This album has the all-time undisputed greatest Christmas song ever - "Fairytale of New York" has heart, it has shame and regret, it has hopes and dreams, love and loss, venom and loyalty. In short, it's one of the most human songs ever recorded. The record around it is enjoyable, some of the lyrics are completely unreal - but Shane MacGowan is in places nearly unintelligible, like on the masterpiece lyrics from "Bottle of Smoke." I'll have to return to this one to really give it its due, but despite the horse winning at 25-to-1, I don't see this record getting a podium finish.

This album is fantastic, its fun and full of energy. Each song feels like you are going on a journey. This will be played again!! Favourite song: Fiesta, Lullaby of London. Too many to mention. Least favourite: Nothing at all. Album artwork: Great cover

YES!

It brings me no pleasure to share the realization that as The Arcade Fire is to millennials, The Pogues are to generation x. Four stars.

such a fun album

Amazing album, but the worms through me completely out at the end. Creepy Crawly type music

I recognize that it is neither groundbreaking nor virtuosic but my god is it enjoyable.

One of my all time favorites! This brought back great memories of college!

8/10. Nostalgic, fun vibes for me with the Irish tone. Added a few on the 5 star playlist! I enjoyed the album throughout.

So glad I got to see these guys play live back in the day (Shane came on late, and had to be carried off stage before it was over). God bless The Pogues.

After a lifetime of not really Getting It with the Pogues, I’ve started Getting It the last couple years. No one’s fault but my own, but it’s hard for me to detach a lot of European folk traditions from the idea of a like 5th generation Canadian band performing songs in character as their great-x-4-grandfathers or whatever. These guys are the real deal as far as they can be, and I like them and they rock.

Wow i went into this raw and absolutely loved it. A lot of really strong songs. Getting a 4 because there was some weak tracks sprinkled throughout and I probably can’t listen to this album too often or it would probably get really old and annoying lol Stand out tracks were Turkish Song of the Damned, Bottle of Smoke, & Thousands Are Sailing.

Mostly good Irish jigs. Won't listen again.

I enjoyed it. A nice change of pace from all the brit pop and prog rock on this list.

Feels like sitting in an Irish pub. Good but very the same for 19 songs. Not my favorite genre but a good listen

Solid

Ég þekkti Pogues bara í gegnum jólalagið þeirra sem er fínasta lag en svo oft spilað að ég fæ alveg grænar bólur og hef því ekki kynnt mér Pogues eitthvað nánar. Svo kemst ég bara að því að þetta er svona líka hressandi írsk drykkjutónlist sem er með betri drykkjutónlist sem hægt er að hlusta á. Þetta fer aftur á fóninn og líklegast aðrar plötur með þeim (svo ég sleppi við þetta ofspilaða jólalag).

I liked this more than expected. It has Fairytale of New York, without doubt the best christmas song ever. The rest is also pretty good, full of energy, fun even when some of the lyrics are sometimes actually very serious. Misses out on 5 stars by a very narrow margin.

I live here now so can't go lower than a 4 to be fair.

Ah yeah sure you know yourself.

3.75

A part of me wishes this album kept the same high energy going the whole way through. The rest of me appreciates the musicianship on the softer tracks. Super fun listen.

Great riffs and sound

This album started off with a bang but fizzled out a bit near the end. Shane McGowan's accent while singing is fantastic. The Christmas song "Fairytale of New York" is here if you know the Pogues from that. There's some great songs to be heard here. RIP Shane McGowan. 4 stars today.

- Kannte ein paar Songs von dem Album. - Ich habe ein riesengroßes Herz für Irish Folk. Ehrlich gesagt eigentlich eher dem FOLK-Folk und weniger dem Irish-Punk und Rock aber auch dafür lass ich mich gerne erwärmen. - Die Pogues waren mir immer sympathisch, weil es wohl keine authentischere und und "rohere" Irish Folk Band gibt. - Das ganze Album ist so schön rund und mitreißend. Bekommt durch den Tod des Sängers letztes Jahr jetzt auch nochmal eine andere Note. - Werde ich in Zukunft auf jeden Fall mal vermehrt wieder anmachen. 4/5

I knew my dad would be happy I listened to this. Plus a surprise from the Christmas song!! Listened to this on a Sunday afternoon while I made some clay things and I had a good time :)

Hell. Yes. I actually learned the term “punk trad” from an interview Chris O’Dowd did about meeting Shane McGowan. I think it’s a pretty good way to think about the influence of music like this on punk rock. Shane presents as a punk, even though the music often sounds like traditional Celtic. It is not a far stretch to link a band like this to a band like Minor Threat or Fugazi. I have a copy of Rum Sodomy and the Lash that I put on on St. Patrick’s Day. And of course “Fairytale of New York” is on regular repeat during the winter holidays. But I really should be listening to this band more often throughout the year. an excellent album!

Bittersweet listen now

It was fun to listen to Irish folk punk again. I could even listen to the Christmas song "Fairytale of New York" at Easter. Sadly, Shane McGowan died too soon in November 2023.

I love the Pogues. While listening to RS&L, my daughter at age 5 said, ‘I like this band…they sound like Pirates!’ And I couldn’t agree more.

I had two main thoughts listening to this album; the first one was, "Oh, this is the band that sings that song that I know, but I don't know why I know that song." The second thought was, "This is Irish Punk music. I hate one genre and like the other, but I really like them combined." Above Average

I enjoy folk and I enjoy punk and I really enjoyed this album. It just went on a little too long. I am starting to feel like an hour plus is too long for an album. The sound gets too familiar and the songs just start to blend together.

Had never heard of these guys... big fan! This is a great album!

Loved it.

This is a great album. It's got that punk edge mixed with traditional Irish music. RIP

I have never heard the Christmas song but it is amazing. The album is very good.

Good Irish

Great folk!

Perfect album for a week ago. I want to dance and drink lots of beer when listening to this. The sound did get old though.

This is some great folky Irish punk, definitely wasn’t expecting the middle eastern vibes of Turkish Song of the Damned. 3.5 stars

Great Irish punk album. This makes me wanna grab some Jameson and beer and get hammered, moshing and singing with arms around my also hammered, moshing friends.

Listened Before? N I've heard of these guys but they never entered my rotation despite going through periods of listening to Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys. This is a little less punky than those two but still in the same Celtic punk vein. I found "Fiesta" especially compellingly unique. I really enjoyed this one. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Fairytale of New York, Fiesta

A great time! Makes me want a pint! Favorite tracks: - If I Should Fall from Grace with God - Turkish Song of the Damned - Bottle of Smoke - Fiesta - Worms - The Battle March Medley - Shanne Bradley - Sketches of Spain - South Australia

This album only misses a 5 rating because it's obnoxious...but in the best way, for the most part. This album is a hoot, and the singer is probably my favorite Irish singer I've heard yet. The music is great, the album moves quickly, and it's just a good, fun, riot. A few mumbly/overly obnoxious songs hold it back, but I highly recommend. Fav tracks: Turkish Song of the Damned, Fairytale of New York, Thousands Are Sailing, Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / Galway Races

Només per fairytale of new york ja li posaria 5 estrelles. És de les meves cançons preferides del món. Però sí que he de reconèixer que, tot i que m'encanten i que l'àlbum té temazos, hi ha parts en les que cansa una mica. Si hi hagués un pèl més de varietat dins de l'estil serien 5 estrelles seguríssim. Expected Lorenzo Rating: 3

Wish I was fist fighting an English guy rn.

Favorites: Side 1.

I actually really enjoyed this album. My dad listened to a lot of Flogging Molly with us as a kid and it brought me back to those times, plus I always love the Irish as its part of my heritage and my visit there was great. Almost knocked it down a star for that Fiesta song which aged just horribly but the nostalgic feeling was too strong

Ballad of NYC and otherwise just enjoyable Irish music.

As an Irishman, I’m obligated to like the Pogues, which is fine with me.

So Irish. Lots of fun to listen, so bouncy and emotional (whether that's happy, angry or sad, depending on the song).

I did not expect to like this as much as I did. Very interesting music but definitely will listen to more

The Pogues are, to me, like the auditory equivalent of that first sip of a malty, slightly warm pint of beer while resting your bones next to an Irish bar fireplace on a chilly Saturday night. I've always appreciated Shane MacGowan's gruff, whiskey-soaked vocal delivery and have known and enjoyed Fairytale of New York every Christmas season since I can't remember how long. IISFFGWG was a really rewarding first-time listen that delivers some sharp lyrical content with impressive Irish folk rock that didn't have me thinking about the skip button once. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia: *Many of the songs' lyrics return to familiar themes in Pogues songs, such as emigration from Ireland or returning to the country and having to adapt to the changes that have taken place after a long absence, but other tracks dwell on Irish political history or protecting children from the issues encountered as adults. *(Pogues frontman) MacGowan explained the lyrics (of Turkish Song of the Damned) as being a mixture of pirate and ghost story "about a guy on a Turkish island who deserted a sinking ship with all the money and all his mates went down – I'm not totally sure about this – he's haunted and he's dancing around with all this Turkish music in his brain ... Then his best mate comes back, and all the crew, to drag him back down to hell or wherever they are." The song ends with a rendition of the traditional Irish jig "The Lark in the Morning". *"Fairytale of New York" remains The Pogues' best-known and best-selling single. It was named after J.P. Donleavy's 1973 novel A Fairy Tale of New York which Finer had been reading in the studio when the song was first written.[8] The song dated back to 1985 when Finer had written the original melody and lyrics, about a sailor looking out over the ocean, but he admitted that his lyrics had been terrible and MacGowan had come up with a better storyline of a couple arguing in New York City at Christmas time. *Despite never being released as a single, the track "Thousands Are Sailing" has since become one of The Pogues' most popular songs, and according to The Irish Times, it is "recognised as one of the finest songs about Irish emigration". It was written by the band's new guitarist (Phillip) Chevron, and although he had written many songs before as the frontman of his previous band the Radiators, he admitted that for a long time he had felt unsure about putting his song forward for consideration as MacGowan was the recognised songwriter in the band. It was only when (Pogues multi-instrumentalist) Terry Woods offered to help him out with the track and MacGowan showed his approval of the song that Chevron gained the confidence to complete it. Featuring what has been described as a "heartfelt lyric, soaring tune and compelling chorus on the theme of emigration from Ireland to America", "Thousands Are Sailing" inspired the 2012 Derek McCullough graphic novel Gone to Amerikay. Although Chevron also contributed other songs to later Pogues albums, "Thousands Are Sailing" remains his most popular composition, and it was played at his funeral when he died of cancer in October 2013. *"Fiesta" was inspired by a riotous party, which lasted for several days, that the band had during their stay in southern Spain while filming Straight to Hell. (Bango/sax player Jem) Finer based the melody of the song on a fairground-style tune played by fast-food stalls which the band kept hearing everywhere in Spain, and which Finer said he found it impossible to get out of his head. Standout Tracks: If I Should Fall From Grace With God, Turkish Song of the Damned, Fairytale of New York, Thousands Are Sailing, Fiesta, Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six, Sit Down by the Fire

I did not understand a lot of it (probably because I'm ESL) but you can't deny the wonderful flow of Irish. Great stuff.

The Pogues, had it not been for homie who died last year, I would not have know these guys. The christmas song he did about new york was cool. And since it is now March, fitting band to kick off the month. Oh and that song is on this album! I like the sound of the flute in this. Apparently it's called a tin whistle. But yeah the tin whistle and banjo unmistakable sound of Irish music. Metropolis is cool! with the brass in there. I was suprised how diverse the songs were in this album. I rather enjoyed it. It was very upbeat and happy. 4 stars.

I enjoy the Pogues when in the Pub or a song hear and there when the mood strikes. This is a great album but I can't listen to a whole thing in one sitting.

4+ stars (12/15)

Really liked it, added to library

Paving the way for bands like Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, this album does an excellent job of blending traditional and modern styles. Occasionally felt like a collection of singles rather than a cohesive piece, but still entertaining throughout.

Great album, some good tracks and a few great ones The Pogues never dissappoint

A party you could hear from three blocks away. 4/5

The album was nome stop from beginning to end. There is no doubt what the lyrics were meant for to say. Brought me back to Irish bars.

The album was nome stop from beginning to end. There is no doubt what the lyrics were meant for to say. Brought me back to Irish bars.

Had a smile on my face all through the album.

Aggressive Irish punk music is semi-redundant to say, but that's the best description for the Pogues I have. I had heard of the band but never actually listened to them. I usually exercise when listening to whatever album I get that day; I simply wish I had been running rather than the strength work I was doing.

The Pogues are a unique band - Celtic folk with punk sensibilities. "If I should fall from Grace With God" is their most successful album, commercially, and may be the best of their studio work. It is a combination of a range of styles - their Celtic background, with Turkish and Spanish elements that the band learned while touring. Through all of the various styles, Shane MacGowen's compelling storytelling ties the songs together into an incredible, danceable, heartfelt collection.

Irish music with a hint of punk, extended tracks are far more traditional

Quite a lot of variety in this, which at least kept it interesting. Generally enjoyed it, and while it is a Christmas song, Fairytale of New York is genuinely one of the best songs ever in my opinion.

Some lovely Irish sounds, along with some rogue Spanish ones.

Noisy. I like it. Always loved Irish music. On the fence about the singer's voice, but mostly I don't mind. Might need to revisit this later for a deeper listen.

good start...cool first impression. i like the sound ACTUALLY, ngl. hm i like this guy's vibe. OHHH my god this is the band that sings Fairytale of New York I KNOW THAT SONGGGGG. completely forgot i know that song omgomgomgogm great, nice album

Fun, dance-able, bouncy

Spacey

Mu gustó, la instrumental es muy buena. La voz es algo mala pero le da un buen toque Rock.

I’m a sucker for Irish music!

Pretty great album, better than expected and flows well.

I’m a big fan of Flogging Molly so I’m surprised this has escaped me for so long. I love Shane’s voice. All these songs are right up my alley. This album is just a fun time.

Not my style but I really enjoyed listening to this album. Fairytale of new York is a phenomenal song.

My family has a xmas eve tradition that includes singing the beat xmas song ever (my wife routinely calls me a bum and a punk year round). I enjoy an occasional wack fol the do fol the diddly idle ay maybe more than I should. I like this album. So buy yourself a drink, turn up the volume, dance, cuss, sing loud, and enjoy this beauty from Shane and the lads. If you like it, join me on November 30th every year by hoisting a glass, listening to this album, or Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash. RIP Shane.

This album is fantastic. I'm a big fan of Irish traditional music as well as Celtic punk and the Pogues were at the forefront of bringing traditional music into punk to perfectly encapsulate the politically charged feeling of the time. We unfortunately lost Shane MacGowan last November, but his voice and sneer are immortal can carry with them the anxieties and anger of a generation caught in a generational colonial struggle. The music is diverse and ranges from straight punk/post-punk, traditional Irish music, jazz, and even incorporates middle-eastern motifs.

fun, fairytale najdraza

I was familiar with the Christmas song on this album, but had never heard much else from The Pogues. Now I’m more of a fan! I can say that I will be throwing this album on every St Patty’s Day from now on for sure!

Aquí está "Fairytale of New York" y ya eso lo convierte en un disco especial. Con la reciente muerte de Shane escuchar este disco ha sido algo diferente. Además de recordar "Fiesta" de cuando salió este disco y que era una canción diferente de lo que era la típica "música irlandesa". La verdad es que tuvieron un gran momento musical internacional y llevaron esta música más allá de sus fronteras naturales. Un gran disco que merece ser escuchado por lo que es y por lo que significa.

This album is FUN

I feel bad only pulling these guys out on March 17. Good stuff.

Excellent example and great performances. I wish I liked this kind of music. It's great to dance to, but I'm not a fan of just listening to it.

Love the Pogues! I hadn’t listened to this album in full as far as I know. Great collection of songs with a slightly expanded sound from the Sodomy album I’m familiar with.

Loved it

Always fun to listen to these guys.

Full of classic songs.

Highlights: Turkish Song of the Damned, Bottle of Smoke, Fairytale of New York, Fiesta, Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races, Sit Down By The Fire. In a nutshell: raise your glass and sing it proud. The gritty and dirty Pogues make a polished album, one of the best of the decade. I recommend you have the lyrics nearby before pressing play, sometimes Shane's singing voice renders some songs incomprehensible (jury is still out if it’s the thick accent or if it’s alcohol induced) After you finish this album, Google "Rockwiz Fairytale of New York". This live cover - featuring Tex Perkins, Clare Bowditch and backing band The RocKwiz Orkestra - is sentimental to many Australian music fans. You might just fall in love with Tex, Clare, the backing band or all of the above. Overall: 7/10

Nah cause why's this actually really good.

The Pogues are the inspiration of a lot of punk/ska bands from the 90’s and this album proves that. 19 songs is it a little much but each is enjoyable. Irish rock kinda rules when you take the departure from st pattys in Chicago Flogging Molly and Dropkick tunes.

Ja the pogues man, ik geef vier sterren om niet te vaak vijf sterren te geven maar wat een legende.

Idk this is pretty cool. I mean, there was a period where I did kind of like Dropkick Murphys and a little Flogging Molly, and this band is clearly a huge influence. It really hits home in a way. This is a good album! For me, I like it quite a bit more than the Waterboys. I’m going 4.

I LOVED! This album! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this group. I don’t think this will go on the rotation at parties or anything, but maybe gym/running music.

Irish Folk Rock. Passt perfekt im Pub

Jos multa kerran saa tähtiä sen perusteella, ilahduttaako levy, tää sais ensikuulemalta 3 tähteä. Ja tää ei ollut ensikuulema. Jopa instrumentaalit ilahduttaa. Kritisoin tosin reippaasti levyn pituutta: melodiat alkaa kuulostaa samalta. Mut sit välissä tulee eri.

Shanen jo tuhoutuvan äänen salaisuus on siinä, miten hän käyttää konsonantteja mitätöimään laulunsa heikoutta: sanan alkuun oikealla tavalla sylkäisty S tai P tekevät vireestä irrelevantin, ja nostavat lopputuloksen osaamisen ja osaamattomuuden käsitteiden yläpuolelle. Mitä tulee musiikkiin, levy kärsii siitä, että Shanen bändikaverit ovat ottaneet yhtyeen "demokraattisuuden" liian tosissaan. Fuusiokyhäelmät käyvät hyvin nopeasti vanhoiksi (erityisesti lähes kuuntelukelvoton Fiesta). Olennaista on kuitenkin se, että myös Shane-vetoisille, näennäisille täytebiiseille on jätetty tilaa. B-puoli on Medleystä lähtien täyttä, odottamatonta kultaa, ja jokainen biisi liikuttaa. Samoin levyn avaukappale, hitti sekä - mahdollisesti kaikista koskettavimpana - Bottle of Smoke (hevosen nimi).

This one was interesting. I don’t normally go for Celtic-punk albums because they tend to lack variety, but I did enjoy this one. Not sure if it’s worth adding to my regular rotation, but it was a great vibe and deserves a little respect to gain global recognition with an unpopular genre

I'm torn when it comes to the Pogues and Shane- their wit, energy and foot-tapping infectious music are a joy to listen to. This album has some great songs- one very famous and a couple of well done traditional covers. However I'm not keen on their credentials or some of their more extreme politics. At the end of the day the music wins.

Very fun listen. Hard not to smile and bop along. Boys loved it too.

Rennfest music. Ok

This album really surprised me. I think the last combo I would ever come up with is Irish folk punk, but it works so well. Almost every song on this album is just so fun to listen to. Not many really stand out, but they’re all equally good, it’s very hard to choose a favourite. So far, I believe this is the only punk album I’ve enjoyed, though everything kind of started to feel samey eventually. It’s all just music I can imagine hearing in a bar. 8/10 Top 5: 1. Thousands Are Sailing 2. Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six 3. If I Should Fall from Grace with God 4. Fairytale of New York 5. The Irish Rover

Very good Irish tunes, album just a bit long

Ah yeah sure you know yourself.

This was an extremely fun album with amazing traditional Irish instrumentation. The vocals were very fun and I loved the political lyrics of resistance. FUCK ENGLAND IRELAND FOREVER!!

High tempo tour de force, even with the Xmas song thrown in there

Thousands are sailing is a great tune. Enjoyed this album.

The Pogues are great. I always expect that I am not going to like them all that much, but then I listen to them and it's great. This album is great and is probably their most interesting and their best.

Surprisingly good Irish drinking song esque

Surprised by this one. Enjoyed more than I thought I would.

This shit rules, very fun to listen to Having a decent day today, didn't have any bad interactions with people. Had a good meeting with Megan, need to work on my supplemental essays a lot but everything feels possible right now.

Didn't know they covered sea shanties. FoNY FTW

I feel like I should be sitting in a pub drinking a pint of Guinness while listening to this record. Better than I was expecting. In fact, it was rather enjoyable, but I definitely have to be in the right mood when listening to Irish Folk-Punk.

On first listen I really like it - I mean The Pogues are legends for a reason. I've always had some disdain for Fairytaile... because it's a good song that's ruined by the Christmas setting. It fits neatly into this album, though. And having it on the same album as "The Broad Majestic Shannon" really highlights that. Toying with so many different genres really paid off as well, it's not a predictable album at all.

Is "Celtic punk" a genre with more than one member? I suppose I night be surprised. Not always a fan of what McGowan voice (or punk inflections generally) add to what is often essentially traditional music. But itnis exactly what it means to be and the musicianship is first rate.

This is so much fun. This entire album was probably injected by a comically large syringe labeled "FUN". Craving some potatoes right now. The only issue is that this album is too long. Just very slightly too long.

It’s a difficult and mostly thankless task to take a genre that’s centuries old and form into a style that’s digestible for a modern listener, but The Pogues are next to none when it comes to Irish folk music. I didn’t expect there to be much range and wasn’t shocked, but what was surprise me was how much intensity and emotion these guys put into these songs. Best enjoyed when singing and clapping along. 4/5

Interesting stuff. Never really listened to The Pogues before. My wife’s family is almost 100% Irish and I have a son with a very Irish name. So I have to listen to this and enjoy it. I don’t think it is a full 4 stars for me, but it is more than 3 stars. So I think I will go 4 stars because I would listen to this again.

Given the heavy amount of stomping around, my downstairs neighbor should consider herself lucky, that I was on holiday while listening to this.

I really want to give it 5*s for Fiesta and Fairytale of New York, and for being such strong influence in the Celtic/folk punk world. But there's a bit too much filler. Any normal person would have come away with a serious brain injury after Shane and Spidey's performance of Fiesta when we saw them in Manchester. Just a standard Saturday night for those 2. Rest in Pieces, you crazy, crazy man.

Man I wish I'd heard fiesta years ago. So many B side bangers.

I enjoyed this more than I expected to maybe a few too many filler tracks near the end but that’s to be expected for a 60 minute + album

Super fun! Gonna have a bunch of these stuck in my head.

folk punk! upbeat and lively, tis a genre that is fun to experience in a live setting. shane macgowan and his signature accent, while often making the lyrics indecipherable, definitely adds to it he music’s charm. while i had sporadically heard a pogues song here and there, this was my first time to hear an entire album. great listen and i need to explore more of their catalog. highlights: “turkish song of the damned”, “bottle of smoke”, “sit down by the fire”.

Solid stuff from a great band. Not my favorite Pogues album but great nonetheless.

Fun,dance album

As someone who isn't a fan of the current Irish punk bands that are currently very popular (Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphy's, etc), I didn't expect to really like this album very much. I found it to be pleasant, though I don't know if I would revisit the album often. This album was very clearly influential on bands today and so it deserves a spot on this list.

Excellent Irish album, be lovely for a good drinking night / patio day.

That was surprising and delightful!

The lovely thing about this list is that while I knew about the Pogues (and I have previously been assigned Rum Sodomy & The Lash), I would never have put this on without this exercise. This is better than the other one and their sound, which seems to me truly unique, is this amazing mishmash of cultural styles that keeps entertaining. And their skills are much better since the other album as well. I even made it through the "extended version" of the album before I realized it was coming over.

Love me some Pogues anytime of the year

I was shocked at how diverse the album was. I love the Pogues, great album and it was cool to see the Dubliners on there too. 8.5/10

The first three tracks get me drunk without alcohol ever passing my lips. After the mad dance, I have to sit down to catch my breath, and a beautiful, heartbroken fairytale is waiting for me, telling me about life's hopes destroyed by alcoholism. OK. I've caught my breath. Back on my feet! Not much inspires me to dance-oh.

Lovely Irish rock

Można się poczuć jak w irlandzkim barze.

Celtic Punk hell yeah

I liked this.

Flogging esk

Never really listened to these beyond the two obviously massively famous ones both connected to a MacColl. Ah, Fiesta - they used this as a music bed on the radio so heard this all the time. Banger. I did though used to listen to the Levellers a lot in the 90s. So really I should have been listening to these instead. Faves. Bottle of Smoke, Thousands Are Sailing, Fiesta.

I can really appreciate the Pogues' radical art of stitching the spirit of punk through traditional Irish folk music. I love Irish folk music and really appreciate its beauty and history but one of the parts I love most about it is the story telling and I find it such a shame that I don't hear the lyrics in most of the Pogues tracks because they are extremely poetic and beautiful when I read them. But then I love the idea of punking up the Irish folk music and love the execution. It's so fun to listen to and makes me want to dance. Not loving the Christmas tunes just as the first signed of Spring begin to show outside haha but I'll forgive that for the Pogues. I love how rebellious and outrageous their music was in the mid 80s, it has great energy and spirit which I really click with. Never normally listen to their music in albums like this and would much prefer to go and see them perform live and do some very extravagant and free dancing hahaha!

Some craicing tracks on this one...

Different from what I would usually listen to but it's fun! I don't think I'll listen to this very often though.

devo dire che apprezzo molto questa musica

I liked this a lot, but it did go on a little long

I played the original release, ending with 'Worms'. A great mix of rock, punk, and Celtic styles. Being a fan of the Celtic music style, and of the Irish Bar Band scene of the 80s and 90s, this fit right in with my preference.

Fun irish spin on old school punk.

Celtic punk is awesome and this album just so happens to have the best Christmas song ever written (barring the second verse).

Asskolli hresst og mikið flipp. Það þarf ekki að líta langt þegar man spáir í hvar Ljótu hálfvitarnir hafa fengið 95% af sínum innblæstri.

This is good.

Why would anyone listen to Dropkick Murphys when the Pogues exist

Some more Irish-flavoured pirate shanties that is fun all throughout. Nothing as such stands out - but the entire record is good - so... a good album.

It’s not as good as Rum, but still has some wonderful moments.

I shouldn't have been surprised that I enjoyed this so much, really; I've always had a thing for traditional Irish music. There are lots of irresistible Celtic (& other European) rhythms to dance or yell wildly along to here, plus some grit and substance to the lyrics. Also, though it's easy to disregard on a February day such as this, there's one of the most iconic Christmas songs ever on here too. Which has to be worth something, no?

massa o folkzao irlandes

I loved each song individually, but the album as a whole is a little to chaotic to get a full 5 stars from me. Top tracks: Turkish Song of the Damned, Bottle of Smoke, Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six, and South Australia

For the longest time, I thought I didn't like The Pogues because their most famous song ("Fairytale of New York") is kind of lame. Turns out it's not representative of who they are, and I'm glad I didn't have to wait until now to figure it out. Anyway, they're the kings of Irish Rock for me. You can keep the other bands. This is where it's at. Best track: Turkish Song of the Damned

Best Song: Bottle of Smoke. The raw, biting, polk-funk atmosphere is thickest on this track. Worst Song: Fairytale of New York. Cheesy and overwrought. This feels like the sentimentality of a drunk at the end of a long night, when they think they're being thoughtful and articulate and sweet but really they're just being cliché. Overall: A bit too long, but nicely broad ranging, with a mix of folk classics and heavier originals. Works best when the energy is high.

I think I said this in my last Pogues review, but I can’t get over how Shane McGowan isn’t even Irish. He’s from Kent! My mind is blown every time I hear him sing. Songs I already knew: Fairytale Of New York, Fiesta Favourites: Fiesta, Turkish Song Of The Damned I don’t think I’ll ever decide whether I like Shane McGowan’s voice. I’m always airing towards saying no, but then again the Pogues would sound bizarre with a perfect singer. The tracks here don’t really feel as strong as on Rum, Sodomy & the Lash with a few exceptions (Fiesta is such a good song), but that’s not to say it’s bad by any means. Of course, Fairytale Of New York needs a mention, although I do think that radio play at Christmas has pretty much ruined it at this point. If any radio DJs ever read this… moderation!!!

Good Ol’ Irish fun, lots of familiar tracks on here.

Nobody told me the Pogues were awesome

much better than I expected, the blend of Celtic and folk rock worked well. vocals were not annoying at all, and I can see this growing on me a lot on subsequent listens

Can dig. More Celtic stuff please.

This is a great take on traditional Irish folk music. The high energy and fun lyrics are an absolute blast to listen to. I'm not too familiar with the ins and outs of what makes Irish folk music good, but to my ears, this is a terrific example of it. 4.5 stars

Really big fan. The fusion of Irish folk with punk rock sensibilities works so well on all of these tracks. An album that I found gets better and better upon subsequent listens.

82 / 1069 Somehow had not heard this album. Fantastic Celtic Rock. As someone who loves Flogging Molly you can see where they got their inspiration from!

What a roller coaster of sounds in this album. I cannot understand some of the Irish accent, but it was still beautiful. I loved the latin influences in fiesta and the Spain one.

Just their shambolic best. Love this

As always, Celtic influenced rock/punk is just a banger. This one is no different, very entertaining album that only suffers from being a bit too long and generally the songs sounding very similar

Some really great songs in between some obvious filler. Something about the blending of rock and Irish traditional music that is just pleasant on the ear. The lyrics are biting and sorrowful, adding contrast to the bouncing and infectious instrumentation.

Great vibes for Christmas, especially Fairytale of New York.

This album was quite great. Often times the Celtic instrumentals are too intense for me to enjoy for long periods of time, but I was in the UK while listening to it, so it only enhanced the vibes that the Pogues were trying to convey, and I say this with a positive tone. I would have to be in a very specific mood to listen to the entire album again, but it's definitely gone into my library and I think I liked almost every song I heard.

I have a strong feeling this one is a 4. I don’t have a real strong feeling why. I simpy find myself awash in it. In its storybook lyrics, its melancholy sound, its working class folksiness, its heritage and ancestral pride, and the way in which it brings that heritage right to your doorstep in New York and London and everywhere immigrants have been. The punkiness—which would ordinarily be the main course for me—is honestly just the cherry on top. There is so much more to love about this album. So much to get lost in. The song “Fiesta” threw me at first, but there’s a certain championing global beauty to it. And “Fairytale of New York” is just stunning.

Ooh I wish I had more time with this one! I love me some Irish folk-punk. I think Flogging Molly did it best but they definitely took a lot of their cues from The Pogues. Shane McGowan can sing the hell out of anything, even Latin rock?! I was not expecting this album to be such a melting pot of global music! But at its heart it's very very Irish. I listen to this album and I'm especially mad that my Finley ancestors are English. But especially glad that my mom took me on a legendary trip to Ireland when I was 20 where I got to wear a lot of tweed and meet some puffins. Getting off track here. This is a very solid album that I'll be returning to again and again.

Oh boy, I grew up on The Pogues and I’m so glad we got them. This is a 4/5 for me, no doubt. Some of these songs were new to me. Like what the hell is happening on Metropolis?! I feel I’m playing a Batman 66 pinball machine while traveling through a black hole. I guess anything that bridges Fairytale of New York and Fiesta is going to be a little odd. Speaking of Fairytale of New York, this is one of my favorite Christmas songs of all time. Also a great potential Karaoke 🎤 choice for the future… This album is all over the world, it’s incredible. Who knew this is what I’d be listening to on my Frontier Flight to Cincinatti? So far no one has sat in my row and I’m hoping the Pogues will continue to provide good luck. I’ll admit, I can’t understand most of the lyrics (even when they’re singing in English) without following along on Spotify, but there’s nothing wrong with that. I love the two tracks with The Dubliners, another quintessential Irish Folk band. Overall I’m so pleased with this album, no one else has sat in my row, 4/5.

This makes me want to go fast, drink beer and hangout at the pub with the wee ones who guard pots of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I’m a sucker for traditional Celtic music and Irish pub music. So The Pogues mashing that up with punk and folk rock is terrific. Shane MacGowan doesn’t have a “good” voice, but it’s a voice that is fitting for the style of music. He sounds like he has spent his life drinking and smoking in those Irish pubs (and apparently he started drinking Guinness at age 5), and The Pogues feels authentic as a result.

Really enjoyed this.

Really loved it. Was worried it was going to be kind of one note but thought there was a lot of exploration on the album.

Unapologetically Irish. I was already a fan of Fairytale of New York thanks to the film Basquiat and had always wondered what other Pogues songs were like. This album had the same folk-gypsy energy as Gogol Bordello's work & I bet Pogue live shows were pretty amazing. Gonna take a deeper dive into this band.

Rowdy and loud Irish music bordering on punk rock. What's not to love. Makes me proud of my Irish heritage.

My 3rd favorite Pogues record, and goes in some new directions with a more refined and diversified sound. MacGowan’s song writing is brilliant. RIP Kirsty MacColl.

I really enjoyed this album. Mostly loud and fast (but with a few slower songs that also are great.) No surprise that someone who likes Flogging Molly or Dropkick Murphys would like this one, too.

Enjoyable!

A roaring stomping Pouges record, what's not to love. MacGowen is at his slurriest and swaggeriest and the band are as frenetic and folky as ever. Plus its got Fairytale of New York, scientifically the most Christmassy thing in existence. A great record.

Pater Moeskroen on steroids. Feestmuziek met een ruw randje.

Vrolijke festivalmuziek

Fun

The pogues are definitely the pogues. They’re pretty hit or meh for me. I’ll never hate a bit of shanty punk. This album’s direction as more ballad-centric is not particularly to my taste, but still a solid album overall

this mashup of punk vocals and very country instrumentals shouldn’t work, but it really really does. that’s ireland for ya. not a 5 because it wasnt very polished

16 year old me probably would have been obsessed with this album. Still enjoyable.

only listened to the first 4 or 5 songs but pretty dope