Reviews (page 6 of 12)
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)
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
Fairytale of NY is as perfect a song as could be. Not just the perfect Christmas song but probably the most perfect song full stop. The rest of the album is pretty great as well with the folk sound enriched by influences from all over the world as well as punk. The only knock against it is that it’s a bit too long
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
Fun Irish sailor shanties! Sounds like a precursor to Flogging Molly.
When this album started, I thought Irish folk-punk was my newly discovered favorite genre of music because the first couple songs were super fun but as I went along the novelty wore off and I felt like it started to get repetitive. However, the last song was really fun even though it sounds kinda similar to the first one. Overall, I think I enjoyed it more as a one-off novelty album than a new genre of music
I really liked this album. I already like the sound of Irish folk music, and with the addition of the punk spirit in the lyrics and performance a really unique sound is created. I'd like to listen again or read the lyrics at least because I feel like I'd get even more out of this album
Fusing Celtic with punk ass music was one of the very cool things happening in music in the mid 1980s. If someone did this before The Pogues did it would be news to me. Also, "Fairytale of New York" is one of the few Christmas songs I look forward to hearing when Dec. roles around.
After first listen I thought that many of these would have been traditional jigs and reels but it looks like Shane and crew wrote most of them - that said, there's no such thing as an original jig/reel. The song writing is strong. My favourite is Fiesta with it's polka/ska influences. A great band to see in a pub!
A fine album. The extended version goes more traditional Irish than I like, but the main album’s great.
ITs pretty decent all said and done
Remember the Millennium Prayer? 1999, celebrity Christian Sir Ciff Richard recorded a single where he sang the Lord's Prayer to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. His record company EMI declined to release it, at which point it became a cause célèbre among British Christians, with the single being released by an independent and shooting to No.1; Westlife beat it to the Christmas number one. Now, the Millennium Prayer is not a good song, no way José. But could it have worked? Is there a singer who could have produced a credible version of Our Father to Auld Lang Syne? I contend that only one man could have been up to the task: Shane MacGowan. Shane MacGowan is a public school educated turned oikish punk turned drunken Irish poet who somehow has made all those transformations seem natural. This may be due to the teeth: Shane MacGowan famously has the worst teeth in all of showbusiness. But those teeth seem the teeth of authenticity. A man with a smile so broken must be a man of experience, if not necessarily of wisdom. MacGowan formed the Pogues in 1982, seeking to fuse Irish folk music with the spirit of punk (the name is a contraction of "pogue mahone", a transliteration of the Irish Gaelic phrase for "kiss my arse". This happens to be their third LP, and very much a continuation of the Irish Celtic punk aesthetic, with emphasis on the Celt. By which it should be taken that your opinion may vary drastically. If you find Irish folk grating and charmless, then this will just prove an hour-long headache. The more accepting of you lot should find this quite the delight. I tend towards the latter: there's a lot of stuff that elated me, especially Shane's exceptionally shaggy storytelling. Exploring further, If I Should Fall from Grace with God contains the three most famous Pogues songs. Firstly, one has to mention Fairytale of New York, their Christmas duet with Kirsty MacColl. again, the divisiveness the Pogues' style of music comes into play: plenty would say Fairytale of New York is the greatest of all Christmas singles, whereas I also know plenty who'd say it's horrifically overrated and horrifically overplayed. As for me, the voice of sanity, I say it's alright, but the best Christmas single ever is clearly Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody. Secondly, Fiesta has the Pogues try a Spanish party song to quite some success, and it's been in loads of adverts, so you'd recognise it when you hear it. Indeed, the album has quite a Hispanic undercurrent. Everywhere has folk, I guess. But the most interesting song historically is Street of Sorrow/Birmingham Six. The first half, Streets of Sorrow, is a folk song by Pogues member Terry Woods concerning the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The second half, Birmingham Six, declares its support for the Birmingham Six and the Guilford Four, two groups of Irishmen who had been convicted in 1975 over terrorist bombings attributed to the IRA the previous year, and who had maintained their innocence, saying that the police had tortured confessions out of them. When the Pogues recorded the song, the British government had banned Sinn Fein and other loyalist groups from speaking on television and radio in the UK, leading to the absurdity of Gerry Adams and his ilk having their voices dubbed on the news as a means of circumventing the ban. When the Pogues sought to perform the song on TV, the authorities declared such an event unacceptable, due to the lyrics: There were six men in Birmingham In Guildford, there's four That were picked up and tortured And framed by the law And the filth got promotion But they're still doing time For being Irish in the wrong place And at the wrong time. The convictions for the Guilford Four and the Birmingham Six were overturned in 1989 and 1991 respectively. So remember that, for all the album's boozy bonhomie, rowdiness and sentimentality, it's oft more serious and more bitter than the advertised face suggests.
This is what's up. Energetic. Happy. Fun. The Pogues are instantly recognizable. That festival/punk/bluegrass/drunk sound. And although I don't regularly listen to them, when they come up, they are rarely skipped, regardless of who's on aux.
This is just glorious. I'm particularly in love with Sit Down By The Fire, but the whole album just sings with a vibrancy that brings a smile to your face. As a descendant of the Irish diaspora my celtic heart beats happily to this. I'm glad this is part of my heritage, as it makes up for skin that burns in an Australian winter. Summer is just a nightmare.
Good song writing and fun album
Good fun, lots of different instruments
Nuclear Irish Punk is how’d I’d best describe this. Loads of energy, heart, and fusion. Akin to the 4/4 version of Bravo Combo’s 3/4 treatment.
There’s so much fantastic Irish Pop Punk. “Fairytale of New York” is an incredible song. Overall there’s some good stuff here. It all sort of melds into a great album from start to finish.
Great album mixing different fusions, folk, Turkish and Irish I’m really impressed
It grew on me
Nostalgia is a strong, sweet force. This album took me back on a glorious romp through my early 20s. Setting aside the nostalgia, I still love The Pogues! I completely forgot how much I love the bodhrán, banjo, and tin whistle especially when it's all jamming together with Shane MacGowan's lyrics that I can barely keep up with. I saw The Pogues May 1, 1988 at the Modernes nightclub in Bremen, West Germany...just a few months after this album came out.
Pogue
A delightfully rowdy take on irish folk
Banger!!!
I always have a good time when the Pogues come on, but never seek them out except for the excellent Christmas themed song on this album. It's surrounded by some quite great tunes and the deluxe edition has some fun classic songs performed with legends.
Geeze, that's a fun album. Not sure why it's on the list but I'm happy to listen to it any day of the week. Is it groundbreaking? No. Does it feature world-class musicianship? Not really. Is it influential? I mean, if you're an Irish pub band, maybe? But, at the end of the day, I don't care. It's fun. A lot of fun. And that's all I care about today.
i didn’t get to finish this album, but the first few songs were great! I love the combination of punk, traditional Scots-Irish folk, and the polka feel. “Bottle of Smoke” and “Thousands are Sailing” stick out to me for their vivid imagery and nice melodies. Will definitely finish this album when I have time.
Folk-Punk is not a genre that I would have thought to be particularly fruitful in terms of good music. The Pogues certainly provide a nice counter-argument to that assumption. The music is fun, mixing traditional Irish instruments with a variety of musical styles. I would lump the Pogues in with Flogging Molly as music that is great to have playing in the background, even if it doesn't sound particularly outstanding in the foreground. I like each individual song, at least as far as I've gotten into the album, but it does get a bit repetitive after a while. Like I said, though, if you put this on in the background while you do something else, it'll keep your foot tapping while you work. 4/5
Have always loved this album back to high school and using Worms in one our first videos...
More than certainly I'm being unfair to the Pogues somewhere. It's just that my ears have to adjust: There's a blurry quality to the music which suppresses the crystal guitars, and the band's range and accessibility dulls the edge of a full-album delivery. I started to understand that halfway into If I Should Fall..., decided to start simply enjoying the strings tying everything together, and heard some wonderful tunes. Both albums of theirs deserve a relisten: These reviews might deserve to switch places.
It has that undeniable pogues sound throughout the album which is great for a while but with an album of this size it does wear a bit towards the end of the album. The stand out song is the fairytale of New York, however it does feel strange listened to it mid-June when it is now considered a classic Christmas tune
This style of music is really fun, and I like how the melody has several layers.
Boisterous and fun all the way through. I’d never heard of this band or any of their songs, but I enjoyed this album. It did start to feel a little long by the end, probably just because this style of music doesn’t lend itself to a marathon listening session, but I thought every song was strong. Probably wouldn’t listen again but glad I know about this band now. I would see them live if given the chance.
Это шикарно;) Даже не знаю, что мне понравилось конкретно, потому что сложно назвать это новаторской музыкой или альбомом с запоминающимися хитами. Тут вряд ли можно найти и эксперименты, достойные внимания. Но...под эту музыку хочется напиться Гинесса и плясать ирландские танцы в пабе. Что и делал фронтмен этой группы. И он крутой мужик, судя по Википедии. 7 из 10
can imagine slipping on a beery dancefloor to this
A good fun rollicking album. Certainly one worth further exploration. Fave: South Australia
first listen well this was a real fun ride, love accordion
The best celtic folk we've had so far, good songwriting. It does get a bit much after an hour or so, but still very enjoyable.
Diferente y muy chulo
Really good! Never felt like it had too many dips, I quite liked the feeling of nation-hopping, and it made me want to listen to more Pgues.
Fiesta and *that* Christmas song are both brilliant. I have Rum, Sodomy and the Lash five stars - I'm giving this four because there hasn't been a ton of development... But it's still a joy! Also, there's an extended edition with the Irish Rover on it too which would have lifted it to five, but I feel like I have to review the album as it stands!
I dig it. +1 star because Fairytale of New York reminds me of raging at an Irish wedding
Delightful.
Surprised to any form of Celtic music on here. Pulling from Irish folk music specifically, The Pogues put a heavier, modern spin on the old sounds of folk music (tin whistles, accordion, and bodhrán accompanied by electric bass and rock drums) while also punching up a few traditional songs. They also do the classic Christmas tune Fairytale of New York, though I could do without the unnecessary use of the slur FAGGOT. It also feels out of place, given the rest of the album's tone. I admittedly have a soft spot for these tunes because I heard a bunch of these (or songs like these) growing up. It's fun to hear the full collection like this, and I feel the traditional Irish folk influence is refreshing. My grievances with the album fall with Shane MacGowan's strained vocals, but it's made up for the chorus when they come in to back him up. A fantastic bunch of lads here, this album is a party.
Glad for an excuse to listen to the pogues. Love the traditional Irish elements on top of the more standard punk rock instruments. Gladly Shane MacGowan's voice doesn't sound as limp as it does in later recordings. Great brass, shouting and energy in 'Fiesta'. 'Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / Rocky Road To Dublin / The Galway Races' is fantastic! Passionate lyrics, singing, drumming and yowing.
Folk music
Brave
Loads of fun!
Fairy Tale of New York is of course an all time classic. You forget that you're guanteed to hear every year and still enjoy it. Liked this more than their other album, fell off a little towards the end.
Flogging Molly! Never heard of these guys, but now I know where the sound comes from.
While it is not entirely relevant to this record, I remember the first time I heard the Pogues and the person who introduced me to them. They were so unique, like nothing I had heard before. Without The Pogues, it's hard to imagine there would be a Dropkick Murphys, or a Flogging Molly, or a Gogol Bordello, or maybe even the contemporary "old punk rocker with an acoustic guitar" genre. This record is full of Celtic folk-punk bangers. The music is upbeat, the lyrics are either beautifully mournful or gunning for a scrap , it all just makes you want to raise a pint and dance until your feet bleed.
How can anyone not love this? Even if it didn't have one the best Christmas songs (that makes me cry) ever on it, I still would.
Sound good
A very lively album with some banging tunes and enough variety to keep me interested. Shane McGowan may not be the best singer but he brings lots of passion and gets into character. I especially enjoyed the exotic numbers like Turkish Song Of To The Dammed and Thousands are Sailing. Cool album cover by the way.
I hadn't listened to the whole album before, thoroughly enjoyed it! In a small way I felt that Fairytale of New York distracted from the rest of the album, it's become too popular and overplayed.
Nice vraiment bon,jai le folk irish pop, ca sonne vraiment bien et je reecoute. Je me tanne pas . 4.85
OG Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly
Folk punk en la seva millor expressió. Un tercer LP amb la inspiració en cotes màximes, recull de temes que barregen la tradició irlandesa més alcohòlica amb l'actitud punk i nihilista de Shane and co. Conté, a més, una de les cançons més boniques de la década
It was seeing the album cover as the music started that cued me into an openness to the band. I've heard them before but sort of dismissed them as an irish/polka-type group. Seeing how many members, and acknowledging how much more complex they are, and aligned to my past music interests (like ska) has flipped how I thought about this group.
Une véritable kermesse est cet album des Pogues. Les morceaux sont truffés de claque-doigts, de sandwichs à la merguez ou encore de spectacles d'enfants très mal mis en scène… On en sort ravi.
"Bury me at sea Where no murdered ghost can haunt me If I rock upon the waves No corpse shall lie upon me" (If I Should Fall From Grace With God)
This? Not Rum, Sodomy & the Lash?
I am familiar with THE POGUES, but not the album IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD. I have and listened to the album RUM, SODOMY & THE LASH which I like very much. After listening to IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD, which is a very good album, although popular because of the Christmas hit "Fairytale of New York". I found it interesting that the instrumentals are a very strong part of the album, but I feel that RUM, SODOMY & THE LASH is a better and stronger albumin comparison. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, THE POGUES’ RUM, SODOMY & THE LASH is also listed along with IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD Is the only album listed. Rate Artist: THE POGUES (6.0) Rate Album (Year): IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD (UK 1988 Original) (4.0) Rate Album (Year): IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD (US 2004 Expanded) (4.0) Ranking of THE POGUES - IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD songs No. Title Length Ranking 01. "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" 2:20 09.0/10 02. "Turkish Song of the Damned" 3:27 09.5/10 03. "Bottle of Smoke" 2:47 08.0/10 04. "Fairytale of New York" 4:36 09.5/10 05. "Metropolis" 2:50 09.0/10 instrumental 06. "Thousands Are Sailing" 5:28 08.0/10 07. "Fiesta" 4:13 07.0/10 08. "Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races" 4:03 07.0/10 09. "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six" 4:39 07.0/10 10. "Lullaby of London" 3:32 08.0/10 11. "Sit Down by the Fire" 2:18 07.0/10 12. "The Broad Majestic Shannon" 2:55 08.0/10 13. "Worms" 1:01 07.0/10 Original UK 1988 Release 104.0/130 = 8.00 / 2 = 4.00 Bonus tracks No. Title Length Ranking 14. "The Battle March (Medley)" (B-side of "Fairytale of New York", 1987) 4:10 08.0/10 15. "The Irish Rover" (A-side single, 1987; with THE DUBLINERS) 4:08 08.0/10 16. "Mountain Dew" (B-side of "The Irish Rover"; with THE DUBLINERS) 2:15 09.0/10 17. "Shanne Bradley" (B-side of "Fairytale of New York") 3:42 09.0/10 instrumental 18. "Sketches of Spain" (B-side of "Fiesta", 1988) 2:14 09.0/10 instrumental 19. "South Australia" (B-side of "Fiesta") 3:27 09.0/10 US Expanded 2004 Release 156.0/190 = 8.21 / 2 = 4.11
This is definitely a mood thing. If you are willing to embrace the style, and revel in the rawness, sweat and dirt, this is a great ride with both frantic energy and passionate ballads. Just awesome.
great fun like irish rock
It feels like going through some Celtic RPG or watching a Celtic series...
Ovaj album je za day-drinking ili općenito pijenje alkoholnih napitaka uz pjevanje. Od početka do kraja sa dobrim stvarima, možda 2 pjesme mi nisu sjele, ali ostatak je dost dobar i imaju dobar streak pjesama koje su bile odlične. Pogotovo prvi dio albuma. Preporuke ako ste za seltički rok.
Nonni, tässä levyssä parempi yhdistelmä irkkukansanmusaa ja rokkia eli enemmän sinne kansanmusasuuntaan. Myös kiva kuulla positiivissävytteinen levy taas hetkeen. 4/5, nautin.
Good album.
A high energy, well-arranged folk album with a rock twist. 'If I Should Fall From Grace With God' (album) benefits from being lyrically upfront and vivid, complementing its easy compositions. On the side of pure listening, one would find only joy getting lost in a culturally prevalent atmosphere.
Really enjoyed this, title track, bottle of smoke, thousands are sailing and, of course, fairytale of new york, were my favourites. Really good to listen to it in Mid-december too, a strange coincidence of the list
Christmas Song, sonst die Irish Songs gefallen mir nurmässig
It's got one of my favorite Christmas songs, so there's that. Love the Pogues, though. Classic band and a classic album here. Perfect? Naw. But a unique sound (for when they were doing it) that holds up pretty well.
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.
The Pogues are amazing. Great Celtic prunk
I liked some of these Celtic style selections. I'd like to explore further and add some to my playlist.
Bouncy folk-rock with an charming roughness. But I had to skip Fairytale; I've heard that song far too many times and I hate how overexposed it is. It's probably the weakest track on the album as well.
Clearly inspired flogging Molly and other Irish punk rock. Pretty cool, better than expected!
A lot better than I had expected
This wasn't what I expected. I thought I knew what The Pogues were. I was wrong.
If you want an introduction to the Pogues this probably the album to start with. If you don't like this album you won't like the Pogues. True it does stray from the strictly Irish folk song paradigm and adds some middle-eastern rythms and an Iberian flavour on one song but they maintain their folky feel and traditional acoustic instrumentation, that still feels classic Pogues. Shane still dominates and sounds as gloriously drunk and loose and above all poignant as ever. And, of course, this album contains The Pogues most iconic and perhaps most beautiful (though that's debatable, song; Fairytale of New York. Can you tell that I love this album? 4.5 🌟
Love the Pogues. Great range of Irish rock, traditional jig, and one favorite Xmas carol. Great vocals and music from winds, accordion, strings and percussion. Bottle of smoke, fairytale, streets of sorrow, Irish rover
I really like this band, can’t believe I’ve never heard about them before
Raw folk poetry of the highest order.
Mixed folk content from everywhere performed by one band - sounds bad, but it's not bad at all.
Very upbeat.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Turkish song of the damned, Thousands are sailing, Medley,
How to appreciate Celtic music. The fusion of Celtic instrumentation and style with punk music creates a distinctive identity that carries the spirit of Irish music to a more accessible audience. It's danceable, upbeat, full of some amazing and creative tracks, not to mention that the tracks flow perfectly well from one to the next. "Metropolis" sounds like James Bond infiltrating the IRA. Love how the albums retains the spirit but slows down like an after-party following the medley. Favorite tracks: Thousands are Sailing, Fiesta
Good stuff.
Ska en clave de música folk, estilo punk y algo de música celta. Divertido de escuchar. Optimista e instrumental a partes iguales. Un género muy digno de escuchar.
i liked this!!! childhood memories
I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. This is very emotional musically, sometimes uplifting and full of joy and life, and other times full of woe and sadness. I feel I should have got into The Pogues many years ago but something always stopped me diving right in. I think I might be ready to take the leap now.
This was actually a lot of fun!
This albums fun as hell
4/5. First listen to this album but I do know a few of the songs already. And their style is unmistakable. Favorites: If I Should Fall From the Grace of God Fairytale of New York South Australia, Fiesta Streets of Sorrow Lullaby of London
Jag hoppar på tåget direkt när musiken börjar, och det känns som jag hoppar på tåget när det är i rörelse. För det är snabbt, mycket instrument och jag tycker mig kunna känna smaken av irländsk glädje. Dom har helt enkelt inte tid att stanna för att plocka upp mig. Det är något med instrumenten som känns väldigt festligt. Ett dragspel som ligger och myser i bakgrunden, lite sköna banjo-riffs som ligger fint i öronen och den där lilla flöjten, det är den som tar hårdast grepp om mig. Bäst: "Fairytale of New York"
Fun. Clearly influental. Great upbeat punk'ish irish folk.
Not the best Pouges album but a lot of bangers
Love it, celtic punk. Very Piratey
Music to jig to.
Not all what I was expecting when I started to listen. I was pleasantly surprised by the album. Sone really great Celtic rock.
Another great album, raucous, energetic and rich, with full steam song like The tile track and Fiesta mixed with really moments over beauty and the classic ballad fo Fairytale of New york.
I had only ever heard fairytale of New York by this band, which I don't love, bit the rest of this album was great!
A little patchy but overall a great listen. The energy on this record is incredible. Fantastic arrangements set against Shane MacGowan’s unique vocals. Hairs on end stuff.
Very Irish, very good.
This was a real treat to come back to from a brief holiday-enforced hiatus (would you believe there are other things than listening to old albums on a list someone made up?). The Pogues have such a singular sound in popular music; lyrical, filthy, raucous, tender and always always stories stories stories. Reaching into the past for comment on the present, and into the present for comment on the past. Compared to Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (it’s only fair that we compare them, right?) I feel like the expanded musical palette on show here didn’t quite allow for the same eternal quality that the earlier album has. Still hella good though. God I can’t remember how these review things work. Is this thing on??
That was fun!
Before diving into this record, the only song I was familiar with was the Christmas classic duet “Fairytale of New York” with Kirsty MacColl. I’ve always been aware of The Pogues as a sort of Irish version of The Replacements but never listened to them despite my love for their American counterparts. From the first note of the title track, I feel like I should be drinking a Guinness or an Irish whiskey. Accordions and banjos are flying recklessly over this track. “Turkish Song of the Damned” adds a middle eastern influence to the band's heavy Irish sound. The band pushes the pedal to the metal on “Bottle of Smoke” as Shane MacGowan spits out lyrics at a feverish pace while adding howls between the verses. Flutes, horns, and a throbbing bass drum propel the instrumental “Metropolis.” This song completely threw me for a loop. It's a curveball I didn't see coming. The party atmosphere comes to a brief halt with “Thousands Are Sailing.” A tale of immigration that adds a hint of melancholy to the Irish stew. Despite its boozy opening, the party atmosphere returns with “Fiesta.” Horns and McGowan’s howl make this song irresistible. For their next trick, The Pogues pull out an Irish medley of “The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to London/Galway Races.” I love the band’s ambition, and they wholly lean into this with abandon. But wait, there’s another medley. Featuring a quiet acoustic guitar, “Streets of Sorrow” is the first hint of a ballad before doing a 180 with “Birmingham Six.” Bagpipes welcome “Lullaby of London.” Although it's hardly a lull in The Pouges’ hands, it's about as close as they get on this record. Accordions and relentless percussion on “Sit Down By The Fire” will hardly have anyone sitting. “The Broad Majestic Shannon” sounds like a retread of “Fairytale of New York” and seems to be the record's first misstep. Unfortunately, the album ends on a whimper with “Worms.” The minute-long track is about as bunch fun as knowing you just finished your last Guinness. This is not a Monday night album. It's strictly for the weekends after a few drinks have been consumed. As my wife said, “it’s rowdy.” I have no idea why I have avoided The Pogues for so long. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, this record is the drunken brother to their fellow Irishmen The Waterboys “Fisherman’s Blues” which was released the same year. Definitely two sides to the coin.
A little patchy but great verse and musicianship and overall a great listen. The energy on this record is incredible. Fantastic arrangements set against Shane MacGowan’s unique vocals. Hairs on end stuff.
Wonderful stuff
Great album, really enjoyed that
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: If I Should Fall From Grace With God, Metropolis, Thousands Are Sailing, Fiesta, The Broad Majestic Shannon Cutting Edge: Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races Overall Notes: This was probably a better and more varied album than the other Pogues album on here (Rum Sodomy and the Lash) but I preferred the punkier punchier sound of the older one. That being said, I'm still going to round this 3.5 up to a 4. Also The Pogues scoring an "All I Want For Christmas Is You" level smash Christmas hit with a full f-slur in the lyrics is hilarious.
Pure nostalgie. Alleen metropolis was nogal een kakafonie.
A continuation of form from the first 2 albums. The same punky drive as the first two but with a developing knack of a poppier tune. Clearly the timeless classic that is Fairy Tale of New York sits centre stage but is accompanied by a fine array of other songs ranging from Turkish Song of the Damned to Thousands are Sailing.
Jaunty
pleasant folksy ska-y times. A relatively clean sound compared to Dayz n Daze or something.
really enjoyable
Raucous. Experimental. Joyful. Melancholy. Some missteps but probably my favourite so far.
After going through it and relistening to a couple songs I think in the end I really enjoyed this album. Very wild and fun at times but also hit on someone serious topics Favorite Tracks: “Fairytale of New York,” “Medley:...,” and “The Irish Rover”
I have a hard time taking it seriously, but it sure is fun. Vocals are horribly sibilant at times which can be an annoyance.
Fun album! Love the Celtic Punk.
I was pretty blown away by this. I expected to like it, but I was not expecting the level of quality and diversity of the music. I was thinking the Pogues were just a bunch of drunken punks, but they are really good musicians as well. 4 stars.
Irish classic feel good mixed with some American blue swing- love fiesta. Great fun and energy
Fun, folk music
A fun, varied, and at times emotional album. Competent musicianship meets clever arranging and songwriting. Reminds me of the Levelers a bit.
I actually really enjoyed this album!
Great Irish folk-punk. I should have listened to this long ago since I love fairytale of New York
Loved this!