Reviews (page 9 of 13)
This music has definitely fallen out of grace with god. The Fairytale of New York was an almost impossible listen.
Starts off strong then quickly loses steam. Just like my last marriage.
That's good! Instrumental punk?
Fun, loud, polka tracks mixed with softer and sweet tracks Kind of reminds me of They Might Be Giants It just gets better and better as the album goes on. I'm so glad I got this album and now I need to listen to more.
Rating this album feels like rating people. The Pogues feel so deeply like a representation of a sub group of people at a certain time, rife with culture and texture. After I got over the knee jerk negative of their sound, I felt jealously for what seems like such a tight knit community. It's not my favorite music, but they earned my respect. Maybe just cuz it feels like if someone says a negative word about them get clubbed in an alley.
An interesting album, but one that didn’t catch me all too much. The song quality varied a lot on this album as well, some were much better than others.
хз тяжело такое слушать
Although i somehow feel good whenever some band uses accordions in their works, Irish folk is not something that i like too much. It's too happy (?), and I like things a bit more moody. but i think it's actually ok, as "fairytales of new york" is still a standard for christmas.
Genuine, fantastic and fun.
Now we're talking! And almost nailed the timing with Christmas coming up and Fairytale of New York. Not long ago, they would do a 3-4 night stint at The Fillmore here in San Francisco this time of year and I'm happy I got to catch a show the one time. A master class in blending traditional Irish folk music with the politics and ethos of punk rock. I don't have a single bad thing to say about this album, just go listen to it, and when it's over, listen to it again.
in theory the warm coziness of traditional celtic folk shouldn’t work with the brash unapologetic nature of punk rock. but it does on this album and it fucking ROCKS!!! minus one point for a lack of variety throughout the album however, i guess there’s only so much you can do with irish folk music. but honestly i still loved it 9/10
Not the best release from the Pogues, but definitely one to listed to. Fairytale of New York is brilliant, as are several of the other tracks.
I enjoyed it at times but I don’t think I will relisten
Tvö Írlönd í röð. Fairtytale of New York er ekki besta jólalag allra tíma, því það er einfaldlega ekki jólalegt. Annars er þetta vel unnin pöbbatónlist og góð sem slík, en ekki ætla ég að renna plötunni tvisvar í þetta sinnið.
feestje van eerste tot laatste noot... ook al zijn teksten niet altijd even vrolijk... best plaat van --volgens mij-- beste folk-punkband aller tijden
Instruments are good. Vocals are unique but not in a good way. I understand that this is a Celtic band but the want to sound like a Viking while singing really isn’t it.
Shane MacGowan and the gang have produced a masterpiece here. Listened to it 3 times in a row. A beautiful mix of traditional Irish with some world music and punk. Always liked the Pogues but couldn't get through a full album with my previous music tastes. Now it flows like water. A poetic look into the Irish diaspora experience. 5*
2 great songs but a lot of filler
Love the album, love how this traditional folks mixed with punk voice keep inspiring young bands like Iceage or Black Country New Road. Great deliver. Yo
I don't really like folk, that being said, I quite enjoyed this upbeat, album that sounds like a constant local festival with its acoustic sound.
It’s the Pogues, Irish folk with punk styling, to me, what’s not to like.
Solid upbeat sounding album! I enjoyed the the combination of instruments, the singing all of it worked!
Some good, some bad. A fun experience regardless.
I had to skip Fairytale of New York. I used to really like it until one Christmas it got stuck in my head so badly I wasn't rid of it until - I kid you not - March the next year. I would wake up with it playing in my brain; it was absolute torture.
I didn't like the vocals all that much. Instrumentally it's a good time. However it was too long.
Varied enough to bump this from a 3 to a 4
Ok, but not my favourite Pogues.
The Pogues trad punk was so fresh when they first appeared on the scene. Who would have thought that Shane MacGowen would live as long as he did. His lyrics and style were just incredible, you wonder what he could have done if he got his health together. The love for him when he passed was so lovely to see. All in all a brilliant album start to finish, one to add to the vinyl collection. Stand out tracks: - If I Should Fall from Grace with God - Turkish Song of the Damned - Fairytale of New York - I wish this wasn't played at Christmas as much as it such an amazing piece of work and can be ruined by overplaying - Thousands are sailing - Fiesta - The recruiting sergeant / The rocky road to Dublin / Galway Races - streets of sorrow / Birmingham six - The broad majestic Shannon - The Irish Rover - Mountain Dew - Shane Bradley
For the first time since starting this experiment, I listened to the Extended Album and I’m not mad about it. That’s 5 stars right there.
One star simply for making me listen to Christmas music in the first week of November.
why was this so annoying
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.
It. It’s not that I hate The Pogues. I just don’t like listening to them.
My ancestors are going to bestow a generational curse on me for not giving this a 5, but unfortunately I wasn't drunk enough to enjoy this one. Up the RA.
I really loved the instrumentals on this one . I gotta say I wish I knew what the singer was waffling on about for most of the album. I'm sure this is mostly just me but I couldn't really gel with his singing since I often found myself pondering 'I THINK that's what he said???' The fun tunes that accompany it would be enough for a 4, probably the best folk styled music I have heard so far since it is given a bit more flavour by the punkier elements of the band. I did feel that the novelty of the style did wear out as the album got longer, stretching just above an hour.
As a high a three can go without being a 4. I really enjoyed this, but there were definitely a few tracks that were not my speed namely anything that mentions Christmas, which triggers my fight or flight reflex. What a present surprise to have Dubliners features on this. And I’d just like to say there is no way the lead singer of the Pogues is still alive.
She wondering if I should on the Pogues until I fall from Grace With God I hate Gimick shit, power metal, sea shanties, bard-core. This reminds me of that but is actually good Really fucking front loaded tho 7/10 Fav tracks - Turkish Song of the Damned, Bottle of Smoke, Fairytale of New York, Medley, Sketches of spain Least Fav - none really
The instrumentals and the lyrics work fine on their own, but together they just didn't gel with me. Gave this album a few goes and just wasn't able to get into a groove with it. Highlights: Metropolis, Sketches of Spain
Great craic
Das nenne ich ein frisches, ungezähmtes Album voller Ideen. Zwischen Melancholie und Trink-parties wandern die wunderbaren Melodien hin und her. Das ist so gelungen. Hier fällt bestimmt niemand in Ungnade bei Gott.
It's okay in its own way
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!
godDAMN this album is so good!!!!! i was thrilled to see it come up and listened to it like four times. the pogues rock hard and kinda do a clash-london-calling-esque thing here where they meander off into different genres and grooves and it just WORKS. these are the songs of the people!! favorites: pretty much everything. didn't end up adding streets of sorrow / birmingham six, sit down by the fire, or shanne bradley to my liked songs.
Any god that doesn't grace this band, is no god of mine. 4 rounds out of 5
Fun pub vibes
3.7
Classic Irish music
its chirstmas eeevee BAEYBE
I like a lot of this but all at once it is a lot. Many of the songs sound very similar to me.
always great folk punk
fairytale of new york is a great christmas song, but the guys voice gets really annoying
“Fairytale of NY” is one of my favorite Christmas songs and earns this a 5. Besides this we have Irish folk rock, well played and amusing at times though it’s only good for about a half hour with me before I get bored with it
This album is just a ton of fun, I don't know how else to describe it. These guys take all the elements of traditional Irish music and then elevate it to make it feel fresh and interesting. It's just such an interesting mix of Celtic music and folk and punk and a whole bunch of other influences. "Love You 'Till The End" is still my favorite Pogues song (at least for now, and I'm guessing it won't be on this list, but it was one of the two songs I picked to play right after my wedding ceremony, along with The Zombies "This Will Be Our Year), but this whole album is just consistently solid top to bottom. It has a standout song of its own too, with "Fairytale of New York". "Thousands Are Sailing" is a close second, an ode to immigrants coming to the US with a bunch of NYC name checks. I'm not sure if this is actually one of the greatest albums of all time or not, but I also don't know what they could have done to make it better. After so many mediocre '70s soft rock and '80s new wave albums on here, this is totally fresh and unique. They find a way to make the punk spirit live in this traditional genre. No notes on my end. RIP Shane MacGowan. Favorite song: Fairytale of New York Other: If I Should Fall from Grace with God, Turkish Song of the Damned, Bottle of Smoke, Thousands Are Sailing, Fiesta, Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six, Lullaby of London, The Broad Majestic Shannon, The Irish Rover 10/25/24
Lovely variety. Not my type though.
At first, I felt like this just sounded like a less refined Flogging Molly, but both the diversity of music here and the slurring lyricism make it increasingly obvious that there is much more going on here, and that the like of refinement is kind of the point. Despite being yet another punk band, this actually feels like it belongs on the list because Irish punk is so distinct (or at least the Pogues are) as opposed to the thousand and one indistinct and frankly unnecessary iterations of British punk.
"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.
Not for me, apart from Fairytale of New York, all sounded the same!
Tradition Irish music fused with punk is an interesting idea. When it works it's raucous fun. It doesn't always work for me though, and a full album at once is too much.
3+
I loved this one and then went through all of their stuff. I had already gotten their album with Elvis Costello but didn’t like that one as much as this one. It was better relistening today however. What a unique and fun blend of genres. I could listen to it all day Rating: 4.7
All the Irish music you will ever need and then some.
I had really high hopes for listening to The Pogues on this project. Based on what I’ve heard about what they did for Irish Folk music etc. Ends up I think the only style of Irish folk music I know is The Pogues. Relentless! 3.4
I just don’t get it. Good for St. Patrick’s Day, but that’s about it.
I thought this was great. I love the driving energetic punky vibe with the traditional gaelic sounds and instruments. The lyrics sound like modern folk music, with references to sacred music sometimes, and a nice sense of storytelling. It made me want to jump around and drink cider and punch things and hug people.
As I already own the iconic "Fairytale Of New York" on a compilation somewhere, I originally dismissed that LP as an unnecessary addition to my record collection, and as record that was probably second to *Rum, Sodomy And The Lash* and its own iconic tunes. Guess the tongue-in-cheek mariachi antics of "Fiesta" also put me in the wrong track here (as it was also the title theme of a very stupid show on French TV when I was a kid, which is probably why I took the whole album derisively when I browsed through it before). But boy was I wrong! And I got this app to thank for allowing me to revise my judgment today. First, there are the killer arrangements. They're just everywhere. I'm not a traditional Irish music buff, so all of this could have left me cold without all the crazy and original flourishes gracing the vast majority of those songs, from the oriental scales of "Turkish Songs Of The Damned" to the dissonant Peter Gunn Theme-adjacent brass of "Metropolis". And then, and most of all, you have the songs per se. Sure, there's the title-track and opener. But what totally led me to lower my guard is the Peter Chevron-penned sea shanty "Thousands Are Sailing", with a killer introduction, a killer chorus filled with all sorts of tense minor harmonies, and then a killer bridge to boot. From then on, I fell in love with most of the other tunes, like the political ballad "Streets Of Sorrow", the topically and musically heavy "Birmingham Six", with its abrasive sounds in the background -- like prisoners grinding the bars of their jail cell -- or the melancholic "Lullaby Of London". Steve Lilywhite's production aged very gracefully considering the time period, and the whole album is a perfect companion to *Rum, Sodomy and The Lash*. Unless it's the other way around. Rest in peace, Shane MacGowan. You were a toothless alcoholic punk and you had poets, pundits and generals waltzing in the aisles at your funeral. A life well-lived. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5 9.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 4.5). Number of albums left to review: 36 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 417 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 243 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 307
8 o 10 canciones te aguanto. El resto es molido o relleno
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
No
A fun album. I hadn't heard it before.
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.
This cultural appropriation is an insult to all pirates out there
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
Great Irish folk album
It's like Lord of the Dance meets punk. It's a fun listen when you're in the mood for that happy-drunk-roudy vibe. My favorite track was the one that featured a guest singer, Kristy MacColl.
My record collection would probably only ever need one Irish Folk Punk album. But, if I ever got one, this would be a solid pick.
Kind of Like the Cramps, this feels like a sub-sub genre I'm not sorry to get exposed to, but is ultimately so thoroughly specific in its focus that unless Celtic punk is your thing, you're probably not going to re-visit. Like everyone else, I enjoyed Fairytale of New York most (the call and response of 'I could have been someone,' and 'Well, so could anyone,' is really wonderful.) But outside of St. Patrick's day, unlikely to listen again.
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.
Not exceptional but nice Irish pub vibes.
Never heard of these guys - but I like 'em!
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.
The quintessential Irish rock album for sure. The album cover embodies the sound where it is obviously very fun/cheeky kind of attitude but authentic/great irish traditions blended in their more modern rock sound. It is a little long but there are not really bad songs on it.
I really enjoyed this, a few duds but overall a good boozy folk punk sesh
Pretty fun but an hour is more than enough
I slept like crap the night before. My coffee didn’t help. But folk-punk was there to save the day.
Raufen, saufen, gröhlen, tanzen und musizieren. Mit den Pogues fällt niemand bei Gott in Ungnade.
Pretty interesting. Not a huge fan of the sound but appreciated it
For me, a little goes along way with this type of music. I would enjoy listening to a selection too in a bar restaurant setting, but this album was just way too long for me.
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.
Wow. Very much not my thing.
It seemed listenable until the “Spanish” number. Oof.
Bitchin'. Beautiful, even.
5/10
Some of these songs do NOT work well with the singer’s voice. The rest are fine, but not my fave.
Fun, not my scene
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.
If you're into Celtic rock or Irish folk music, you'll probably love it. I appreciate it for what it is, it's great music, just not for me. I do like 'Fairytale of New York' and 'Metropolis', though. 3 stars
Ramshackle brilliance
Beautifully powerful, patriotic
There's an album for everyone. This just ain't mine.
Excellent album.
Like a scene from ‘Snatch’..,
Personally, not a patch on the first two albums which benefitted from being raw, but still a pleasant ditty or two
Can see why they had one huge hit and nothing else. Great if you like fiddles and flutes.
I liked it
ehh didn't hold my attention
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.
Feels like going for a nice walk with an old friend
Uninteresting and not terribly original. Not necessary to hear before you die.
Loved this album. My first exposure to the Pogues, and I am upset I have lived this long without knowing about them. I saved If I Should Fall from Gace with God, Bottle of Smoke, Turkish Song of the Damned, The Battle March Medley, and South Australia to listen to often. Loved the use of drums and accordion. Definitely fits the Irish Folk Punk classification, three things I enjoy.
This has aged very, very well in my opinion. Much of that is down to Shane’s poetry. And the production. The drum sound kicks ass.
I grew up close to Boston during the reign of The Dropkick Murphys, so I’m at least acquainted with the sounds and the aesthetics of Celtic Punk, though I’m far from a fan. This said, I’d never given The Pogues a fair shot, largely because I was never won over by their 2000s torchbearers. I’d heard great things, and on paper, it seemed like I could be easily won over, so I went into this listen hopeful with open ears. Those hopes were optimistic, and those ears didn’t need to be that open. At the end of the day, The Pogues are just exactly what you’d expect from the progenitors of Celtic Punk. As the originators, though, I am a bit kinder to the cliches, but not by much. A song like “Bottle of Smoke” or “The Recruiting Sergeant et al.” just doesn’t get me excited. It’s just either sped-up Irish Folk music or punk with folk instrumentation, and while the idea is sound, the practice isn’t something I want to actually hear. Now, I’ll say this– I think If I Should Fall From Grace With God is frankly too long. Not that 51 minutes is long, but 15 tracks, no matter how short, can be an exhausting listen if not every song earns its keep. And I’d say about half of the tracklist sounds like cliches, or, at least, future cliches, and that drags this album out beyond the point where I can tolerate it. That said, The Pogues are capable of writing great songs, and there are great songs on this album. The opening title track does the cliche-setting the best, and “Fairytale of New York” kicked me in the ass, like, holy shit, that’s great songwriting! I’m also good with “Thousands Are Sailing” and “The Broad Majestic Shannon.” There’s also a few tracks that change it up just enough and help give this record enough variety to keep me moving – not even averting cliches of Celtic Punk, but averting Punk cliches in general – like “Streets of Sorrow,” Metropolis,” and “Worms.” I wonder if this is more of what I was expecting from The Pogues, as opposed to the foundation-building of a whole genre, because these songs feel boundary-pushing in a way I’m not seeing on the rest of the album. Regardless, while I appreciate what The Pogues are doing, and I think they can sometimes transcend, overall, this is just the building blocks of a subgenre I don’t really enjoy, so, unsurprisingly, I’m not head-over-heels for If I Should Fall From Grace With God, and find it mostly just okay.
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.
Favourite tracks: if I should fall from grace with god; fiesta; fairytale of new York; streets of sorrow; the Irish rover; Shanne Bradley
anybody who says Fairytale of New York is their favorite Christmas song should be treated with the same contempt as somebody who names Die Hard as their favorite Christmas movie
very jaunty rock music with an unafraid and EXTREME celtic influence. a single track will make you wanna riverdance in a pub where a dozen red-haired thugs chug heavy drinks and get into heated fistfights. all members of the group create quite the hootenanny with their songs, slurry, and dare i say almost drunken-sounding singing and passionate instrumentation make this album stand out among the rest. if you don't like the sound, maybe you should take another drink lad.
You could say that there's a lot of similar sounding tunes here, but most people unfamiliar with a genre could say that. I'm ok with that if I like it, and I like this. Irreverent, joyful, sometimes thoughtful or maudlin, or just abiding. Anyway, listen longer, they are different, in composition and execution. Jigs and ballads and such. Then there's that Xmas song. I listen to that song every year and am not sick of it yet. I wouldn't put this album on very often, but I wouldn't complain if you did. Three skiddly idle diddledum stars.
I love the punk rock / traditional Irish combination. I especially like the tracks featuring the Dublineers. And the female singer in Fairytale of New York.
Fun listening. Interesting variety of sounds
As good as this genre is going to get. Best Christmas tune. 3.75
Gave me sea shanty vibes. Surprisingly, in a bad way
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
One of the greatest albums ever.
So that’s where Fairytale of New York comes from!
Pretty good.
Not a massive fan of this album, has a few good songs in it, largely saved by "fairy tail of new York", other than that the best songs feature a lack of Shane MacGowan's drunken ramblings.
Meni jako zabavan album! Osjecem se kao gusar kad ga slušam XD Ali nis posebno.
Nope, nope. 😂 Možda za popiti pivo u pravom Irish pubu, ali da mi to pili sat vremena u pozadini, počela bih vrištati. Boring, beyond boring! Prvi album koji nisam do kraja poslušala, eto i to se dogodilo. 1 ili 2/10 (jer uvijek može gore).
Nikada ih nisam volio. Nakon slušanja ovog albuma ih volim još manje, doslovce si nikada ne bih ovo pustio, a kad mi slučajno naleti, prebacim. Pada prva jedinica, možda je do ponedjeljka, inače bi bili nagrađeni s dvojčicom.
4/10 Nisam neki fan Irskog folk "punka", niti su mi se The Pogues ikad nasli na nekoj plejlisti, kao ni Dropkick Murphys ili Flogging Molly i slicni. Takodjer, nikad mi nije bila jasna fascinacija St. Patricka u Hrvatskoj. Valjda birtije imaju dobar izgovor za napraviti event gdje ofarbaju pivu zelenom bojom za hranu, ljudi se okupe i pustaju spomenute bendove, pa dobivamo osjecaj da je to neki big deal. U svakom slucaju, prezivio sam album. Cak mi i prva, naslovna pjesma nije bila toliko losa. Nadje se na momente nesto u tom banjou, 'hopeful' polupunk vokalima i zeljom za cuganjem dok slusas. Mislim da je i pomoglo sto se upravo vozim kroz prirodu u busu na oktoberfest i gledam zelena brda Slovenaca (hah) dok slusam ovo. Doseg s njima mi je taman koliko i nasim domacim rock glazbenicima koji su obradili (ili okitili se njihovim perjem) - A Rainy Night In Soho (Pipsi, Postar Lakog Sna) i Dirty Old Town (Belfast Food, Sporki Stari Grad), a to se nece promijeniti skoro, ako ikad. Otisao bi na njih kad bi mi bas netko platio kartu, bocu viskija i sve pive koje cu popiti tu vecer :)
Never erd of The Pogues, album off to a great start. Turkish Song of the Damned caught me and turned to be the best song on the album. OK through the (lengthy) middle. After a while all Irish music sounds similar, but they finished strong with Sketches of Spain and South Australia. It was a little weird having the Christmas song Fairytale of New York pop up after some rockin’ Irish jigs and then bouncing to a Bond-like theme song, but it shows their variety. Overall, comes in at (2.8*s)
You see that accordion on the cover and instant dread sets in, but alas oh diddly dee, this album is surprisingly good! It has wide variety and crosses many different genres in a way that seems effortless. I love a good sea shanty vibe and The Pogues don't slack. They've managed to make some very catchy, energetic songs that somehow incorporate a tin-whistle and a banjo so I'm here for it. Least favorite song was "Fiesta" and you can't really listen to this on repeat since it's already repetitive in itself but I did enjoy. 2.85 for the raucous bunch.
Saw the album cover and title and thought oh no...this is gonna be a rough one. Totally not! This was kick ass. I did not expect an Irish drinking album. The genre is known to be repetitive but I think The Pogues covered some ground here and explored. Lead singer looks like the biggest goober but on the mic he has bollocks. "Bottle of Smoke" being my favourite track but while album was good. There is a classic Xmas song that will get play annually and I think I even heard some Bond Theme? For pure surprise and fun...3.45.
Surprised I had never been exposed to this band. It was a decent album for a while but it overstayed its welcome a little bit. It may be fun to throw on a handful of songs at the right event, but I don't think I need to come back to it.Kind of an odd decision to include a Christmas song in the middle of the album, but it was pleasant enough of a track to work. 2.24 stars
Good but death by fiddle
Just not my jam
It takes a very specific person to enjoy almost an hour of this. I am not that person.
Celtic ACDC with Bon Scotts dad? not bad
I am neither drunk, Irish nor a pirate so this music is not for me. This album is so bad it made me racist against the Irish, fuck bono, fuck Liam Neeson, fuck Thin Lizzy, fuck them all. Fuck Irish independence, should be apart of the UK and most of all FUCK GUINESS
Not a big fan of the British monarch but the Irish deserved the troubles for releasing this shit AND THERES TWO OF THESE FUCKING ALBUMS ON THE LIST
Vraiment le fun, un bon moment que je ne saurais analyser mais que j'ai bien apprécié
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.
I genuinely appreciate this album for what it is. The mix of Celtic music with some punk influence mixes in is unique and interesting. There's really not a bad song on the album. All that said I can't find myself listening to this much. I don't even think of it as a novelty, but the vibe is so specific I can't think of a context for it.
The blend of traditional music and punk is a good idea, but this sound is just not my cup of tea
Sheesh! Brutal to hear lyrics rhyming “maggot” with the F-word (not f*ck, the other F-word) in a song about Christmas bells in New York.
The big one for The Pogues. Most U.S. listeners first heard of The Pogues from this album, after it became a darling of the alternative rock stations. It contains their most recognizable song, Fairytale of New York, which is often played as part fo Christmas playlists. This is hilarious because it's anything but a nice Christmas song. Like so many Pogues songs, it's a story song about disillusionment and addiction. It's a rollicking album full of high energy folk-rock and sad ballads. It's predecessor, Rum Sodomy and the Lash, was more raw, and it's successor, Peace and Love a hot mess. If I Should Fall From Grace With God is Pogues at peak.
The Pogues' If I Should Fall From Grace With God is a spirited and rousing collection that documents a supposed peak in the band's musical trajectory in spite of losing key band members. With the addition of the unexpected holiday classic Fairytale of New York, this album has plenty to enjoy if one favors barreling Irish jigs. Favorites: If I Should Fall From Grace With God, Turkish Song of the Damned, Fairytale of New York, Metropolis, Thousands Are Sailing, The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races, Sketches of Spain, South Australia.
1.5/5
I’m sorry but I just can’t handle these vocals. Fairytale of New York is really good but the vocals are so painful at the beginning I can’t even sit through it. It’s a shame because a lot of the instrumentation is catchy and fun.
Fairytale is overplayed, but it's nice to hear Kirsty MacColl for the second time in three days. The rest is good enough listening, but it's not what I would go out of my way to listen to.
Probably decent but my boss played this on repeat at work and now I can't listen to it anymore...
Fairytale of New York slaps
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Lyrics are great and important Standout tracks: Thousands are sailing - 4/5
I thought I already paid my penance for this type of music when I listened to Flogging Molly in high school.
This is definitely not for me. Nope.
Pretty good, but not as good as I remember. I had this album in college and really enjoyed it back then. Although it hasn’t aged as well as I thought it would.
I’d only heard the Christmas song before, and the rest was decent but it all kind of sounded the same. If possible, you should hear Fairytale of New York karaoke with Ian singing the Kristy MacColl parts.
I don’t like Irish punk bands with banjos and accordions. (I see you, Dropkick Murphys) It all sounds the same to me and I don’t like how it sounds. Also, I have been forced to see so many Dropkick concerts, that I’m done with it.
Love it, no notes
It's a long one. As much as I've enjoyed The Pogues in the past, I was surprised to find a lot of the songs on this album flowed into the next.
This album rocked, really fun vibe reminded me of Flogging Molly. Favorite songs were: 1. If I Should Fall from Grace with God 4. Fairytale of New York 10. Lullaby of London 9/10
very fun hihi
Lekker Pogues album, wat rauwer hier en daar, maar ook beter geproduceerd
i’ll admit i can only take so much of this at once, but that’s not a judgement on the achievement
Pour une fois, le générateur m’a surpris. D’la musique de riguedon de marin irlandais punk? OH QUE OUI DANS LA BALTRINGUE
irish sea shanties with layers of different genres.
So far really enjoying this! Lots of upbeat music. Makes me want to get up and dance a jig. Wishing I could rate using half stars, because so far I would give it a 3.5/5 After listening to the second half of the album - I am giving it a final score of 3/5. I loved some of the songs, most were forgettable.
Partly heard before Saved 3/13 Top track: Fairytale of New York
Celtic punk? It's definitely unique...The Dropkick Murphys were definitely influenced by them... Highlights: "If I Should Fall from Grace with God", "Fairytale of New York" (lol at some of the lyrics...), "Medley" (a bunch of traditional songs done generally traditionally), "The Broad Majestic Shannon" Notable: "Fiesta" (wtf? 😆 🤣 😂)
This just doesn't do it for me. Too much of the same thing for over an hour (Wee wee, womp womp, ding ding). I can see this being a hit in an Irish pub, but listenimg to an entire album was extremely challenging for me.
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.
It’s a no from my, dawg.
OK in small doses!
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.
1988 fue año plagado de estupendos discos y este de lo Pogues fue de los mejores. Aclamado por crítica y público, contiene algunos de sus mejores y mas conocidos temas: Fiesta y Fairytale of NY especialmente, que se convirtió desde su publicación en un clásico imperdurable. Cierto es que el revival flokie tenía en los Waterboys un puntal ese año, pero la mezcla de Punk-Folk y el carisma de Shane los hacía irresistibles. Con Rum, Sodomy and the Lash habían logrado la aclamación de la crítica (que no les perdía la pista desde su estupendo debut) pero la exhuberancia y equlibrio de If I Sholud hacen de este un disco especial. Arranca como un tiro con la canción titular y sigue con brío Turkish song of the dammed. La banda está en plenitud y se nota, Shane está inspirado como nunca (como siempre). Bottle of smoke no baja el pistón un milímetro y llega el pelotazo de Fairytale. Después de esto cualquier cosa es posible. En este caso, la instrumental Metropolis, compuesta por Finer. Termina con Thousands Are Sailing de Phil Chevron, otra gran canción. La cara B comienza a ritmo de pachanga con la inigualable Fiesta (de letra en muchos momentos tan incoherente como su vídeo musical), que transmite una alegría exuberante. De vuelta a la raíces con el medley de The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / Galway Races que continua con Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six , esta últimamente censurada por la mismísima BBC. Lullaby of London es un bonita balada que nos lleva al ritmo acelerado de Sit Down by the Fire y con The Broad Majestic Shannon retornan las melodías de Fairytale con aires más folkies, gran canción y acabar con la lúgubre tonada tradicional Worms. Posteriores ediciones incluyen temas extras, como la versión charanga de Sketches of Spain, o la 27ª versión del tradicional Irish Rover con los Dubliners (grabada con ellos un año antes). UNa maravilla. Otros grandes discos del excelso 1988 fueron: Public Enemy con It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back ,Pixies con Surfer Rosa, Daydream Nation de Sonic Youth, Lovesexy de Prince, Green de R.E.M. ,Talking Heads con Naked, el debut de Tracy Chapman, Eric B. & Rakim con Follow the Leader, Tender Prey de Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Morrissey debut con Viva Hate , I'm Your Man de Leonard Cohen, el debut de The Sugarcubes con Life's Too Good, Bug de Dinosaur Jr, Pet Shop Boys con Introspective, Vivid de Living Colour; Prefab Sprout con From Langley Park to Memphis, 69 de A.R. Kane, Run-D.M.C. con Tougher Than Leather, The House of Love de The House of Love, The Serpent's Egg de Dead Can Dance, Barbed Wire Kisses de The Jesus and Mary Chain, 101 de Depeche Mode, Bummed de los Happy Mondays, Bummed de Happy Mondays, Songhai de Ketama, Sex & Drugs & Jesus Christ de Christian Death, Birth, School, Work, Death de The Godfathers, el debut de L7, Stronger than pride de Sade, G N'R Lies de Guns and Roses, Only life de The Felies, Today de Galaxie 500, Fisherman's blues de Waterboys, 16 Lovers Lane de The Go-Betweens, Spirit of eden de Talk Talk, Watermark de Enya, Cocteau Twins de Blue Bell Knoll, Peepshow de Siouxsie & the Banshees, Idlewild de Everything but the Girl , Conscious Party de Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, The First of a Million Kisses de Fairground Attraction, People de Hothouse Flowers, Straight Outta Compton de N.W.A, It Takes Two de Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, Nothing's Shocking de Jane's Addiction, Ancient Heart de Tanita Tikaram, La pistola y el corazón de Los Lobos, Talk Is Cheap de Keith Richards, Everything de The Bangles, el Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, Look Sharp! de Roxette, El Ritmo Mundial de Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Shaday de Ofra Haza, Straight out the Jungle de The Jungle Brothers, California de American Music Club, The Trinity Session de Cowboy Junkies, Isn't Anything de My Bloody Valentine, Pata Negra y su Blues de la frontera No digo ya cosas como Robert Palmer, Eight Wonder, Boby McFerrin, Tiffany, New Kids on the Block, Jean Michel Jarre, U2, Martika, Milli Vanilli o Womack and Womack, que tuvieron su gracia.
I couldn't listen to the whole album, I hated it.
Would go crazy in pirate times
I love Irish music and this one is fantastic. Loved it’s upbeat, fun tone!
Meh
Easily in my top 10 all-time. I was lucky to get into the Pogues with this album. I was able to go backwards so to me they evolved into a more punk band before becoming a great all around band.
Irish Rock Party Musik!
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.
I love when traditional music steeped in history is combined with more contemporary instruments, so this is right up my alley. Energetic, traditional and modern at the same time. Skipped Fairytale of New York as it’s September but I already know what it sounds like and love it. One of my favourite Christmas songs. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard any of the other tracks before. I really liked it, more than I expected. Highlights: If I Should Fall from Grace with God Turkish Song of the Damned Fairytale of New York Fiesta The Recurring Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / Galway Races The Broad Majestic Shannon
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
Ok i guess. 2.5
Irish light jiggly punk like Dropkick Murphys.
As tedious as this is to me after about 20 minutes, I recognize how exciting it is and I've always loved Shane's voice. It's like he forgets the lines just before singing and is always a bit behind the rhythm.
I am always struck by how much I love this album. I might just be a sucker for banjo. Overall just really fun. 4.5/5
My 2nd Pogues album from the generator. Another enjoyable album full of bangers. Could've had a few more tracks with Kirsty MacColl singing, her tune was a highlight. Makes me wish I was in a pub in Ireland, non stop dance 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.
Fairy Tale of New York is the all time great Christmas song and its so nice to have an albums worth of context for it. The Progues are expert story tellers and even though this album has some real stinkers the highs defiantly outweigh the lows! Favourite track: Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / Galway Races.
I've heard of this band but not any of their music. I actually did not think it was this type of music. Thought they were more 60's-oriented. Very cool.
The Pogues have been on my list to deep dive for quite a while. Fairytale of New York is in my top 5 Christmas songs, so I was excited when this came up. I loved it. I've also been on an Irish music kick that started when Shane McGowan died a few months ago, so thay definitely influenced things. Album cover: A-
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.
A tad orally assaulting. That being said, it has a unique sound, and the fairy tale of new york gets a start itself.
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.
NO
Ah, here's the reminder that I need more Irish folk music in my life
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
a bit too consistently . erm. irish for me i think…. highlights: bottle of smoke, thousands are sailing, sketches of spain (aug 17 2024)
I like this kind of irish punk/folk. Second album from The Pogues already.
While the accordion and mix of a jig in the background, reminds me of the Weird Al songs, but with a lot more swearing instead of fun lyrics.
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.
The celtic sound of this album felt like a nice change of pace. Fairytale of New York and The Broad Majestic Shannon bumped this to a 3.
The only thing better than this album was their prior, Rum, Sodomy and the Lash. Love them. Loved this.
normalize making shitty albums under an hour (this isn't an example but i'm just so fucking done)
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.
Can see why this would appeal some people, but it just wasn't for me. Sorry.
I got two Pogues albums in a row. Love the sea shanty vibe, but it got a bit boring. BUT, if I were to have to listen to Celtic music, I would put on the Pogues
I think I like this more than I should, and yet not as much as I want to. I like the punk aspects of this; I kind of like the Irish folk; I think they work well together, but it just doesn't click as much as I want it to. 3/5
You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot, "Happy Christmas" your arse, I pray God it's our last Fuck it, è stato un bellissimo ascolto
8.5/10
Celtic Punk is such a funny scene to me. This was a decent listen. One I never would have chosen, but I did like it.
Thoroughly Irish with a fun big band made this a great listen despite the niche sound. Send me to the Ring of Kerry.
I enjoyed this a lot. Good unique instrumentation and really fun and upbeat. It’s not something I’ll listen to all the time. It’s more of a novelty for me. Some of it was super interesting though. 3.4
Interesting, but a whole abulm is a lot. Not my taste but i do appreciate the musicianship. The band sounds like they are having a blast.
Sea shanties turned up to 11. Hints of Zydeco. Lots of energy. All while being thoroughly Irish. It has an experimental feel some of the time when it’s not doing a straight Irish ballad, lament, or drinking song. I really enjoyed Fiesta as a real mix of styles. It gets tiring listening to a whole album but there’s a lot of songs that could be mixed in to a good playlist to change the energy. 2.6
Killing
3.5☆/5 08.10.2024
non ho sinceramente capito cos'ho ascoltato, ma mi sono divertita da morire
You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot, “Happy Christmas” your arse, I pray God it’s our last Fuck it, è stato un bellissimo ascolto
Every shade of diddly-diddly.
diddly i diddle o BOND IS BACK diddle i diddle o
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 was not prepared for Fairytale of New York in August. It was all a bit much - I can imagine going to a gig and enjoying the vibe, but not putting it on at home.
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
Loved this album. I knew a handful of Pogues songs, but had never listened to an album, but this is one of a handful of albums from this project that I have put straight back on after the first listen. Brilliant. It did feel odd listening to Fairytale of New York in August, though.
Elsker irsk
One of the great albums in the history of The Pogues. Wonderful collection of great songs!
If I Should Fall from Grace with God Fairytale of New York Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six
Пока слушал - у меня юбочка появилась
I can almost taste the whiskey while listening to this album. Great atmosphere, gives me a uplifting boost. But it’s a tad long, and I wouldn’t play the album again anytime soon.
Didn't quite hit the consistent high on their other album we've gotten. Still enjoyed it as I like this type of music. Fairytale of New York is a Christmas classic and definitely one I will be coming back to.
My new favorite Christmas album. Varied yet cohesive and a fun plot twist at the end.
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)
Nope. Celtic music ain't my thing.
The problem with Irish music it sometimes it all blends. A few months ago we reviewed “Rum Sodomy & The Lash“ by the Pogues, and I gave it a 3/5 then. I am going to make my life easy and give myself an easy day and give it the same. I enjoyed the Fairytale of New York with the Kirsten MacColl and the Sir Down by the Fire because they sounded unique for them. Actually. This album deserves a 3/5 anyway!
Do I lose my Irish heritage if I say I find the Pogues just meh? I don't really like or dislike this. I'd play it on St. Patrick's Day but probably not reach for it otherwise. I also don't turn to "Fairytale of New York" at Christmas but also won't skip it. I think people like the idea and spirit of The Pogues more than the actual music.
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.
The Pogues. I remember hearing 'Dirty Old Town' then 'The Irish Rover' and thinking, this is a bit mad. Then this came out, which was an improvement on 'Rum, Sodomy and the Lash', this features one of my favourite tracks 'Thousands are Sailing' and so many more quality tunes. It's punk played with traditional Irish instruments, it shouldn't work, but it does and so well. Everyone loves 'Fairytale of New York' , like the rest of it, it's bittersweet stuff. Well maybe apart from 'Fiesta' it brings a huge smile to my face when I hear it. A 5 star effort deserved by a band firing on all cylinders, before the wheels fell off a short few years later.
Love The Pogues!!
I love the Pogues. It's like getting a big fuzzy hug from your sarcastic grandmother. Keepin' it real, keepin' it jaunty.
Has some bangers, songs kinda blend together
lo and behold it's one of the best albums i've ever heard and my entryway into a new genre! like side b is great but side a is maybe the best run in the history of music hufdhufdj...baroque, poetic, vibrant, melancholic, warm, amazing 10/10
Really like the title track and really really like thousands sailing. Metropolis is a cool instrumental. Fiesta and New York fairytale both deserving of being hits. Not a huge fan of the genre but didn't mind this, respect the talent and skill of the album. Closing thoughts - I thought the album was incredibly well made, the high points of the album were great, just not a fan of the genre
3.25
A lot of fun. Love the genre term "Celtic punk." I wish I'd been in a better mood when I first listened to it; if you're feeling grumpy, this can be kind of a lot, and it overstays its welcome a bit at some moments. All the performances and songs are totally there, though. I don't meant to be reductive, but this would go nuts at a Renaissance festival. Another album I'd give 3.5 stars if I could; alas, I must round down to be honest about my listening experience. Highlights: If I Should Fall from Grace with God, Fairytale of New York, Thousands Are Sailing, Medley
Honestly, not my kind of music, but it has the utterly timeless "Fairytale of New York" and that alone rises it above a lot of other things.
Pretty good, love the energy. But at over an hour long it gets tiresome.
Perfect album loved every second
GREAT Celtic punk, I can absolutely see why this band is so legendary.
This is the one male stereotype I allow myself to have - fucking love this shit
Irish/Celtic punk rock me boysss
One of the best albums of all time and contains my favorite christmas song ever. 5/5
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
Oh dear. No. I can't do this. Yuck. I may be of distant Irish descent, but I can't take this album seriously. Is it a parody? Even if I was on vacation in Dublin in the 70's and Phil Lynott happened to buy me a pint or two, I couldn't handle this as the background track. Who wrote this book!
The somber stuff is brutal to listen to, very sad. The upbeat stuff makes my feet all tippy-tappy, great Irish energy. 4.5
Felt like I was in a. Irish pub…
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
Combining punk with Irish folk music was pretty ingenious and this had more variety than I would have expected. Wouldn’t listen to it if my own volition though.
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.
maan. Cool in a movie but no
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.
Methheads perform carnival music.
Such a fine album, with lots of variety. Plus, Shane McGowan!
Probably not in the top 20, but still better than a 4.5.
Really liked this. Wavered between "3" and "4" for a while (again, would love the .5 addition), but I'm feeling generous.
Entertaining, for a while at least
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.
Pretty lively album, if not really my style 3/5
Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash will always be my favourite The Pogues album, but this one has to be up there, too. It's a little odd listening to "Fairytale of New York" when it's not Christmas, but it's a great song on a great album.
When its good, its really good.
I was aware of the Pogues' reputation, but I didn't click with this album at all.