If I Should Fall From Grace With God

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diddly dee done by the diddly dee masters. 19 songs is far too much diddly dee. my tolerance to diddly dee is about 3 songs, at that point i look for a different pub.

Based Oliver Cromwell.

A fat lip. A throbbing head. A full heart. It is observed that the Tibetan people (whose country and culture remains illegally occupied and oppressed by communist China) are among the happiest on earth, despite their circumstances. Their recipe? A constant contemplation of the everpresent reality of death that becomes their catalyst for the enjoyment of every moment, this moment. It’s all gravy, they giggle. Understand? I’ve found the Irish possessing a similar ability to dance in spite of their shackles, but not of the same fruit of active detachment from the illusionary external world of which the eastern religious traditions bring awareness; rather, the Irish find/choose joy in the midst of their active engagement with the muddy world, as well as the spirits that abide in it: whiskey (ponder why, exactly, alcohol has been classically identified as a spirit), followed by a good dust up, and then another whiskey. At some point, a weeping, snot nosed, good cry is in order. And all accompanied with music and song, dance, and fall. Another round of whiskey! There is an intentional and unwaverable attitude of joy in the Pogues’ music and lyrics, despite the worst that life (or the devil and all his fallen angels, sometimes even God himself) can bring. The Irish don’t raise a glass to celebrate poverty and oppression. They toast the Irish spirit, the human spirit, who rages against and endures the worst that life brings. Who fight it tooth and nail. Whose dying words echo the concluding lyrics of this LP- even when the worms be crawling in and around your brain, ‘Be merry, my friends. Be merry.’ Sweet Mary, Jesus, and all the saints, can’t the Pogues wander, musically: from traditional Irish folk music amped up a might with a punk edge. Celtic sounds pared with Latin flare. When did a Turkish song of the damned ever propel a person to dance a jig to salvation? Or singing 'The Rare Old Mountain Dew' in the drunk tank on Christmas Eve ever transfigure into something as earthly-holy as the feeding trough in Bethlehem in which the baby Jesus slumbered? ‘Metropolis’ even introduced this listener, at least, into the genre of Celtic jazz! Lyrics? Where do we begin? I’ve not heard anyone, other than the Pogues, use both the words ‘fuck (ed, ing, er, etc)’ and ‘Jesus’ in the same song (‘Bottle Of Smoke’) and with reverence for the meaning and importance of both. As expected, there’s plenty of love for the immigrant experience and celebration for the promised land of opportunity in America. Irish are certainly among the most grateful immigrants of the freedom and opportunity America provides. But so are Latinos and Africans, for whom the Pogues also sing. This LP, this band, is so much more than only ‘Irish.’ And yet, nothing less, somehow, too. Hey, what do I know? I’m WUI anyway, from my home, on a snow day in Denver (2 feet and rising.) Is it happy hour, yet, across the Alantic, to the east? My great-grandfather, Papa Hall Delaney, was an Irish immigrant and worked on the western U.S. railroad, eventually settling in San Francisco before he died, forcing my great grandmother, Nanny, to move back to Pasadena, Texas, where she lived out her days in a small apartment above the garage in the backyard of my grandparent’s home. At 29, when this LP was released, I was barely even aware of my Irish roots. I was spirited enough, that’s for sure, and too familiar with spirits, but not yet spiritual, Celtic or otherwise, so I didn’t’ know shite. Over the years, I’ve become more than familiar with the best and worst Irish blood can bring: an unfortunate propensity to the overindulgence of alcohol, an exaggerated and sometimes violent reaction to fear and despair, an uneasy alliance with church and society; but, also, a love of hearth and song, a longing for reconciliation and peace with Creator and creation. Caressing the beads of a rosary in morning devotion, after fishing it out of the toilet where it accidentally fell the night before- the Word became (too?) flesh. This is Irish, for me, in a sentence. Better yet, I believe this lyric in ‘Sit Down By The Fire’ kinda says everything one needs to know about the Pogues, this terrific LP, and the Irish and/or Irish-American experience in general: ‘Remember this place. It is damp and its cold. The best place on Earth. But it’s dark and its old. So lie near the wall and cover your head. Good night and God bless. Now fuck off to bed!’ I’ll conclude with Ireland’s greatest and most loved and loathed (and so, soo Irish), writer, Oscar Wilde: ‘We are all in the gutter. Some of us are looking at the stars.’ And raise your glass (and if you don’t already have one full, we’ll wait………………………………………………………………………………………………………….) for this most famous of Irish toasts: May you be in heaven a full half hour before the the devil knows you’re dead. I love ya all- that’s Jesus and the whiskey talking (and so, me…), Mark.

I don't like folk music. Therefore this isn't folk music. It must be some obscure subset of punk.

This album makes me want to run downhill into battle with nothing but a sock of coins in one hand, and a hurley in another.

Fuck, thats bordering a 5 So much good energy. Fuck it, it was funny as hell

I love the Irish and sea shanty vibe, an album to put on for adventures and light-hearted pillaging :)

As a disaffected youth, I got interested in my Irish background and asked for an album of Celtic music for Xmas one year. I got a James Galway album. Now, no disrespect to Mr Galway or the person who gave me that gift, but they can póg mo thóin, especially after I realised that this album could’ve been my Xmas present that year.

Celtic instrumentation and themes melded with punk style and enthusiasm? Yes, please!

I'm obligated culturally to give this at least three stars, but the extra two stars are for its incredible quality as a piece of music.

I gave up drinking a few months ago. For the last 20 years, I’ve gone hard on the piss – I don’t have the full-time alcoholic gene, but I fall very easily into a pattern of spending all my spare time either drunk or hungover. As a result, giving up alcohol at 38 has left a vacuum in my day-to-day life where lots of things just aren’t the same anymore. If I Should Fall from Grace with God is one of those albums that’s basically perfect on every front. The songs are incredibly well written – IMO the worst song on it is the hit single – and the band manages to sound both sloppy and tight at the same time, which is a huge achievement. MacGowan’s more of a wordsmith than a lyricist. It runs the full gamut of working-class existence, from working a shitty job, to having a punt, to going on a cheap holiday… drinking yourself stupid the entire time. It somehow celebrates its own misery. I can’t explain it any better than that, but it makes Springsteen seem like a 3rd-grader by comparison. To tie these points together: my entire adult life I’ve idolised this album and Shane MacGowan. More accurately, The Pogues have been the house band to a life spent mostly sozzled. It’s one of the few times you can feel genuinely good about being a stinking-drunk piece of shit. “I’m not a wastrel! I have the soul of a poet!” and so on. I don’t have many “oh my god, I wish I could crack a beer right now” moments, but hearing this album for the first time since going clean sorta brang one on. It didn’t worry me; mostly it simply drove home just how legitimately excellent the album is. But it is also a bittersweet thought: despite what they tell you, not EVERYTHING improves when you give up drinking. 5/5.

It takes a very specific person to enjoy almost an hour of this. I am not that person.

Booze-soaked Irish fighting music plus one improbable Christmas smash and one God awful novelty hit.

I got both Pogues albums generated back-to-back on my weekend days, which I usually save for Monday listening. So it is Monday morning now, and I have listened to Irish folk-punk for 2 hours straight... it was fine but that's probably enough of that for the next 5 years

When this music lands, it lands woth aplomb. When it misses, it's just kinda a soft flub.

Really fun for about 4 songs, and then it's very difficult to listen to. There's only so much Irish pub a man can take.

Second album by The Pogues on the list, and I'm guessing it won't be the last. From here on out all Pogues albums will be getting a one from me. I'm not big on Irish folk music to begin with, but Shane MacGowan's drunken wailing makes it absolutely insufferable.

This was the second Pogues album I listened to after hearing about Shane Macgowan’s death just over a month ago. The first was of course Rum Sodomy & The Lash. And as such I’m incredibly pissed off at the British public for, well most things really, we are a bunch of bastards, but specifically making Last Christmas the number 1 Christmas song this year. George Michael died in 2016, 2017 would have been the year to commemorate him, but you feckless pricks streamed Ed bloody Sheeran instead. There is however something fitting about The Pogues not hitting No.1, being always No.2 (or No.6 in this case.) Last Christmas was always going to be big. It was designed to be big. Shane MacGowan helmed a crew of motley, unruly, drunken underdogs from either Eire herself or Kentish Town who interspersed tradition folk songs with drinking songs and genuinely beautiful bits of music about losers, migrants, love, revolution and everything inbetween. They were not supposed to get anywhere near the chart, let alone number 2. So it’s easy to see the success of Fairytale of New York and of the band themselves as a grassroots movement. They are the real music of the people, not of record execs and worried parents. The filth and grime and ragged nicotine stained vocals, the humanity and empathy and sheer fucking beauty of the music, who could listen to the chorus of Thousands Are Sailing and not feel moved? This is humanity in all our sweaty, dirty, intelligent, creative, and majestic brilliance

Love this album beyond words. Absolutely raucous fun, extremely tight instrumentals, perfect singing voice for the feel, a myriad of feels covered from front to back. This album feels like it was singularly made for me. Excellent, excellent, excellent. RIP Shane. Favorite tracks: Metropolis; Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / The Galway Races

always love the pogues 🤍

In your face and annoying as all fuck. Couldn't wait for it to end. A stinking pile of shite from a genre I abhore.

i will always love the pogues, especially in their earlier days. there's hardly a poet out there who measures up to shane, and i hope the music always hits me right in the heart. i still love rum, sodomy & the lash more than this one, but they're both 7-star albums in my book.

One of my all time favorite albums.

This is just a completely classic album in every respect, with some absolutely historic songs. It's intensely replayable, and I really liked some of the deep cuts, like South Australia and Thousands are Sailing. Just completely HITS the Irish Diaspora that one. Some weird choices with the Spanish-themed tracks? But I dig it all.

I'm not a big connoisseur of Celtic music but if I am ever in the mood for the genre, I go to the Pogues. They weave punk in with the folk and more traditional styles so well. 'Fairytale of New York' in particular is probably my favorite Christmas-themed song. In general a very fun, listenable album. Standout Tracks: If I Should Fall from Grace with God, Bottle of Smoke, Fairytale of New York, Fiesta, Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six, Lullaby of London, The Broad Majestic Shannon

The Folk completely kills all the excitement of the Punk. Pretty boring.

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

I went through a slight Pogues phase when I was maybe 20, and listened to their albums now and again across my 20s. Listening to this album now does not compel me to listen to them more. I found the album dull. Drunken lads doing drunken lad things, battles, male sadness. The Pogues did expose me to the first time to traditional Irish music, and I appreciate that; sometimes today I do listen to traditional Irish music. But I find the Pogues wallow in the music a bit too antic, and often tedious. Not for me.

I've known this forever, thanks to a friend's Dad who would play it in constant rotation with Van Morrison and Christy Moore. Still get a little flash of excitement when Kirsty MacColl (probably the most famous person ever to make me a cup of tea) starts "They've got cars big as bars, they've got rivers of gold.." even on the 1000th hearing. "Thousands Are Sailing" could be mawkish in other hands but rings true and serious here. "The Broad Majestic Shannon" is their finest moment, a MacGowan original (as far as I know) showcasing his talent for creating what could be a folk tune that has been passed down for centuries. Planxty all involved.

Listening to If I Should Fall from Grace with God by The Pogues is like being catapulted into the most riotous Irish pub you’ve never dared enter—only this time, you’re thrilled to be there. The music grabs you by the collar, shoves a whiskey in your hand, and dares you not to spill it. Every track is a perfectly chaotic blend of drunken revelry, heartfelt poetry, and the kind of energy that makes you feel like you could take on a rugby team in a bar fight and win. By the time “Fiesta” blared, I was clanging pots and pans in my kitchen like a deranged one-woman mariachi band. And don’t even get me started on “Fairytale of New York.” It’s a holiday song, but the kind of holiday where you burn the turkey, chug mulled wine, and cry over your ex before making up and singing carols together off-key. I don’t know if Shane MacGowan wants me to feel like a poetic brawler with a heart of gold, but that’s where I am. Let’s just say this album has me ready to down a Guinness, challenge a stranger to arm wrestling, and write them a heartfelt sonnet afterward. This isn’t just an album; it’s a lifestyle. So, if you’re not ready to fist-pump, dance like a lunatic, and maybe throw a chair (with love), then you’re not ready for The Pogues. But if you are—well, sláinte, my friend. This is your new anthem.

(4/5) My wife and I have been to Ireland a few times and we've had the privilege of seeing quite a bit of the country (it's not THAT big). All of the tourist-y places we went seemed to play some variation (or maybe it WAS this) of this style of music. That's not a knock -- just an observation. It's sprightly, Celtic folk/country/punk with a drunken Irishman's attitude and inflection. I liked it quite a bit, and appreciate it further for it's links to American folk. One track in particular stood out -- "Mountain Dew" -- was a near direct link to the past and the shared culture, and a damn fun row as well. Lots of 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures (common in Celtic folk music) and just a blast overall. If anything, the slower stuff was the album's worst material IMO. The "Fairytale of New York" (apparently a hit, but it skipped me) was not that good in comparison to the rest. I think I'll be back to this and give it some more air time.

Another review referred to this album as "far too much diddly dee." by I found it to be just the right amount of diddly dee for me. A load of fun that I'm sure would be an absolute blast live (in a tradition that bands like the Bastard Bearded Irishmen are keeping alive and well), this one had me ready to pack my bags for Ireland (or at the very least commit to attending next year's Dayton Celtic Festival). filled with rowdy, rambunctious fun, and with just the right amount of punkish fist shaking, it's a easy 4/5 that I'll no doubt return to and may increase in time.

This album would be on here of it only contained Fairytale of New York. The Pogues are great.

A poppy, accessible and musically upbeat take on traditional Irish folk. The album incorporates a lot of other styles, but all somehow within an Celtic folk rock framework, which holds it together. A couple of ubiquitous classics - Fairytail of New York and Fiesta. A fun album, but with depth. A triumph. 4.5/5

I great influential album but can't be listened to on repeat

Jolly nonsense that has no specific need to be in anyone's collection in my view.  It's perfectly reasonable music, but I just don't need it.  It's a bit like Morris dancing, it has a reason to exist but doesn't mean I want it.  I mean if I was in an Irish pub with a live band like this, I would at least be over the moon as it's a cool craft in that context (unlike Morris dancing that I NEVER need to see. I will also ignore I can hear an accordian, else things will go downhill with this review). We get silly with Christmas songs and what we allow into our music collection in the name of festive spirit but ironically The Pogues stab is a good one.  And on that confusing note this album is an oddity I will enjoy and let it pass me by, I think. Happy summer all.

The album is what I imagine Lucky Charms would sound like if it was a band. There is a lot more accordions than I’m used to, but it makes for a fairly upbeat album on average. It would probably be great to listen to in a Boston pub, but a little too frantic for a work day listen. Overall, the album is a little too “sea shanty” for my liking, and I stopped at “Worms” as per the original album…didn’t go into the “expanded version” stuff.

I just can't stand The Pogues

Blind Five! Having never heard of these guys before today let me just say this was great fun! The mix of punkishness and Irish/Celtic traditional worked so well for me. There was an energy to the songs that kept up throughout. As fun a find for me as I’ve had on this project. Honestly, not much more to say about this one. I found myself just dancing along to it all day and didn’t even read up in it which I usually do for each album. 5/5

In 89 or so, my friends and I went to see The Pogues at the Boston Opera House. We sat about a mile from the stage, but I remember that the show was fantastic, though the details are a little hazy. After the last encore, we ran around to the back of the building hoping to catch the band on their way to the bus. Sure enough, after a while, Shane McGowan came out, a little unsteadily, vomited like he was used to it, and climbed into the bus. Even in those days, I could see that this was sad.

My ("original release") CD of this only has 15 tracks, for what it's worth. Anyway, I'm struggling a bit with how to rate this, but I think I'm going to go with my heart, and give it 5 stars. Not all of the songs are great, but most are either great or very good, plus I love the Irish-ness of it, and Shane MacGowan's voice (it took me a little while to get used to it - but that was a long time ago), and the mix of traditional and modern music and instrumentation and styles. And the stirring, and fun, tunes. At the time (when this came out, and when the Pogues first started to become known), I really hadn't heard much of anything like this (the blend of traditional Irish music with a more modern - almost punk - edge). This also came out around when Granddad started leading tours in Ireland (I went with a group -- which also included Gary and Debbie -- in 1990), and was thus part of me starting to become more aware of modern Ireland, and Irish culture. 5 stars!

Ways to see if someone has a soul: see if they don’t have a reflection in a mirror and see if they don’t start tapping their foot or humming to this.

#55/1001 🇬🇧🇮🇪 I was starting to feel a bit down about this after a week of mediocre albums and one downright awful one, but The Pogues are of course my saviour. So good to hear this record which i have spun so many times in the past. I love the way they fuse punk with traditional Irish sounds, and this record takes on other influences - from the all out riot that is Fiesta to the mournful Streets of Sorrow, this is packed with brilliant tunes. Best Tracks: Thousands are Sailing, Streets of Sorrow, Turkish Song of the Dammed, Faiytale of New York, The Broad Majestic Shannon.

My wife is obsessed with Christmas music. She plays nothing but Christmas songs from December 1st through to the 26th. And her favourite Christmas songs of all-time are a photo-finish tie between Fairytale of New York and How to Make Gravy (by Paul Kelly. Australians all know this song by heart, but for everyone else, go check it out, it's another wonderfully evocative piece of story-telling in song). Fairytale is an amazing track; the details of the deft story-telling, the changes in mood, the balance between love, loss, disdain, humour, and genuine pathos in four and half minutes is extraordinary. We all love to sing along, bellowing out the traded insults (special mention to Kirsty MacColl who absolutely owns her part). But I always tear up a little at Shane McGowan's final lines; accused by the woman of stealing her dreams from her, he replies: "I kept them with me babe I put them with my own Can’t make it all alone I’ve built my dreams around you" It is a beautiful moment of vulnerability and regret. Moments like that are rare and precious. 'If I Should Fall From Grace With God' is the Pogues at the peak of their songwriting and performing powers. There are a songs for the ages here -- Fairytale of New York and Thousands are Sailing being the real highlights. Folk is too often played like museum pieces, but this album takes the energy of punk and applies it to the folk genre to show what folk can be at its best; music for drinking, singing, dancing and weeping. God bless the Pogues, in all their rough and ready glory. Four stars for being a rollicking good time throughout, plus an extra star for having two bonafide classics.

Celtic punk rock is pretty cool. Not much else to say, its loud, brash, but not muddied up with layers of distortion. Fairy Tale of New York is now one of my favorite christmas songs.

Jaaa beetje iers

Amazing

If I Should Fall From Grace With God I loved Rum, Sodomy & The Lash, and really enjoyed this, carrying the same sense of ramshackle, charming and exuberant celtic-punk energy, although the playing is perhaps a bit tighter on this one. I think his vocals are slightly better on this than RS&L too, they still have the idiosyncratic and characteristic slur, but they seem fuller and brighter, with a better sense of melody Stylistically it's a bit more all over the shop, but in a nice way, even though whichever way they kick off a song, whether with middle eastern sounds on Turkish Song of the Damned or Jazz and Salsa on Fiesta it often just turns into a full-bore Irish stomp. As on RS&L they manage to pull the same trick of putting heartfelt tracks next to the ebullient jigs and reels, eg Bottle of Smoke moving into the sourly tender Fairytale of New York, or Metropolis transitioning into the empathetic and brilliant Thousands Are Sailing, or Streets of Sorrow and Lullaby of London following Fiesta and the medley of The Recruiting Sergeant, etc. I don’t think it's because of the presence of Fairytale of New York, but this feels like a wintery album, all hot, rammed, sweaty pubs and stumbling out into the cold and wet street. I gave RS&L 5, so I think it’s fair to give this a 5 too. Although I think I might just about prefer RS&L this feels like a progression, while still maintaining the charm and excitement of that one. ✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️ Playlist submission: It’s Fairytale of New York, even if it is now only really tied to Christmas.

There's another version of me in the multiverse who's favorite album is this and he's probably doing better

Celtic jazz? Spanish guitar?? Christmas ballads!? All cemented together via drinking-fighting Irish belters??? "Be merry, my friends. Be merry". It's bloody hard to be anything else listening to this. Top craic

So, my only real experience with The Pogues up to this point has been Fairytale of New York, which I think is one of the greatest Christmas songs. However, seeing that on here I wasn't sure if the rest of the album would be like that too, and I could have seen myself getting a bit bored with a whole album of that sort of thing. I was pleasantly mistaken! This proved to be a wonderful Celtic punk album with plenty of that Irish folk flair but also with a bit of Turkish and Spanish influence in a few songs. It was rocky enough to keep me hooked, but that wonderful Celtic folk instrumentation paired with Shane McGowan's gruff voice makes me want to find a cozy village pub with a warm fire, have a couple of drinks and simply celebrate my place in this big scary world. This was a really pleasant album that I liked a lot more than I was initially expecting. Favourite: Bottle of Smoke

Super album…

Excellent album, so good I listened twice back-to-back.

Me encanta este estilo

218. If I Should Fall From Grace With God - The Pogues (1988) 9.28.26 Variety: 4 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 3 Emotionality: 5 = 4.4 rounded down to a 4 "So lie near the wall and cover your head/ Good night and God bless, now fuck off to bed" I've always had a fond spot for the Pogues, but I', not sure where I first heard them. I imagine it must have been on the soundtrack of some movie or another. I know most recently "Fairytale of New York" was used in a Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas special, so that'll probably be the first one a LOT of people heard. By the early 2000s though, Rum Sodomy and the Lash was in pretty heavy rotation, and it's an album I still love to this day. It's also the only other Pogues album on the list, so we'll get to it when we get to it. Would have been nice to listen in order, but oh well. This one I don't have as much experience with except for a couple of listens when I was making my way through some recommended albums by the group. I never made it past Peace and Love, so I can't say they became an absolute favorite. But I'm not sure I've heard a song by them that was complete garbage or anything. This one I remember not liking nearly as much as the previous one, as I felt it was maybe a bit too big and slightly overproduced. It's not like it hurts them very much or anything though. Been a good twenty years since I've heard the whole thing, but I'm sure this will be a good time. THE TRACKS "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" - We start off in very familiar territory with an upbeat bit of Celtic Folk punk, and it's very on brand for these guys. This is a damn good hoedown, and a lot of fun. Like a lot of the best Irish music in the tradition, it does a great job of making you feel like you're having a good time, in the worst of circumstances. This song had me wanting to crack open a bottle of whiskey and maybe go read some Garth Ennis comics. The very definition of a toe tapper. Everyone is great, but loved the accordion work on this. "Turkish Song of the Damned" - Awesome stuff here. We get some middle eastern sounds on this nautical horror tale. It's full of dread, and doom, and when the traditional Irish folk jam kicks in at the end we've been on a hell of a journey. I'm almost always impressed with these guy's lyrics and this one does not fail to deliver. A track that belongs on any Halloween playlist worth its salt. "Bottle of Smoke" - I love how many of these sound like they could be traditional songs that were maybe massaged to sound more modern. I don't know enough about the Irish folk tradition to know if this one was based on anything in particular, but you could have lied to me and I would have believed it. This one's a pretty funny tale about what seems like a ( probably) drunken bit of good luck, and while it's not exactly any sort of warning about over celebration in the face of that good luck, you get the implication that this dude is going to fall hard. Cause when have things ever really worked out in these guys' world view. There's lots of bright spots and real humanity, but a kind of optimism in the face of an ever present cynicism. The world's gonna beat you down, sure, so why not spit its eye by having a good time all the way down. "Fairytale of New York" - This guy's horse only came in at 18 to 1, so not the same guy from the last song, but maybe, just maybe they're cooling their heels in the same drunk tank. Those good times can be costly. We get another pretty funny tale, this one romantic, about a couple who descend into addiction and , some pretty vitriolic hatred, and back again to end on a sweetly romantic note. The circular nature and jokey nature of the back and forth ( a great preformance by the late Kristy MacColl) do nothing to dampen the bittersweet (emphasis on the sweet) emotional vibe of this thing, and it's no wonder it'sone of the most playe dmodern Christmas songs ( at least in the UK - though it has picked up a lot of steam over here). A confession - I used to HATE this song. Well, at least the idea of it. I still thought it was pretty funny and well done. It just felt like a stretch for the band that was too out of character, and a very conscious attempt at a Christmas hit. Well, turns out it was apparently. "Athenticity" and "selling out" are concepts that have mostly faded from my worldview by this point though, being a young man's game to care about that sort of thing. I put much more value on how well the artiface is constructed now than anything else, and this is some fucking good shit. It'll never be my favorite by the band, but I can't deny how well it does what it sets out to do, and it's plenty dark and funny, so what was I even complaining about. The fact that they got this on mainstream radio is pretty punk rock. ( edit: I did have to check, and yes the Guardians of the Galxy special does use the edited version). This belongs up there with "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis" by Tom Waits in the canon of great untraditional Christmas songs. "Metropolis" - This instrumental number starts off with some spritely, upbeat, if rather generic Irish dance music. It then bizarrely dips into a jazzy bit of 60s spy film score pastiche. This gave me very strong high school marching band vibes. You like the medleys you might here from one of those top notch ones that get to play at the Macy's Thanksgiving parade or big national sporting events. Well done, but not for me, and felt out of the blue, and off brand. "Thousands Are Sailing" - This one feels very sad to me, but it's a lot more serious and has none of the nonchalant, roguishness that I like in a lot of their music. Which is fine. It's just not my favorite sort of thing. I think maybe this one touches on homelessness, and the whole stranger in a strange land feel that all the New York imagery evoked. This felt, tonally, like something more akin to what U2 or Bruce Springsteen would have been doing. "South Australia" - This was another barnburner of a track, and a welcome return to the sound I like best. Full of life and with some cool pounding bass drums that propel it forward out the bar doors and into the streets. An old sea shanty, it lives in that twilight area of feeling traditional enough, but with enough piss and vinegar, and muscle applied that it fits right into the exact moment it was recorded. "Fiesta" - This one starts all slow, and jazzy and then a party breaks out and the band continue the trip around the world they started in "Turkish Song of the Damned". Only this time we're all the way across the world, down in Mexico territory for some Irish mariachi stylings. The trumpets were a nice touch and this was a bit of good fun, if not too deep. "Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races" - We get exactly what it says on the label - a medley of three traditional Irish folk tunes, the first our first martial ballad on the album with it's WWI imagery and anti-English sentiments. There's a raucous instrumental middle section that leads into the last bit, which has a focused and seriously epic feel despite the celebratory lyrics and more tales of a day at the tracks. This one did maybe the best job of any track yet of giving the feel of attending a live show. "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six" - We get serious again for a very cleareyed and political song about issues so current and controversial, that the song was banned by British broadcasters, which is no surprise considering the light in which the British government is portrayed. Which is to mean accurately, from all I've read. It starts off sad and quiet, and then explodes with a vibe that is righteous and full of fury is it's anything, and full of a determined energy that hits really hard. A MUCH better take on a serious subject than "Thousands Are Sailing". "Lullaby of London" - The title of this one suggests it's a sister song to "Fairytale of New York". It has a much sadder feel to it than that one though, and there's a sense of longing for one's home and it's some very beautiful stuff. A nice companion, and full of much of the same bittersweet feelings, but much more gentle, and no need for humor. "The Battle March Medley" - Another martial number medley, this one felt much more cinematic ( with what sounded like some sound effects and crowd noises added in) and somber for the first part, but then turned into a bit of a Riverdancey number halfway in. This would have been a fine piece to score the retaking of the Shire, had it been filmed for Lord of the Rings. "Sit Down by the Fire" - My favorite track on the album, no nice I played it twice. Another awesomely energetic and danceable little number that gives us possibly the best bedtime story ever. The idea of someone sending their kids off to bed with visions of faeries or goblins or shades or whatever the hell they are coming out of the walls at night probably should not make me laugh, but here we are. Another great one for the Halloween playlist. "The Broad Majestic Shannon" - This one seems to be a broadly optimistic take on pulling yourself up and looking on the brighter side of things, and the tone and very pretty melody during the chorus really enforces this. There's more than a bit of nostalgia infused into this one as well, and it's one of the more gentle tracks, even with McGowan's three sheets to the wind vocals. "Worms" - I can't properly how much I like this song. There are a zillion versions of it, but the little goth in me has loved it since I first read it in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz as a kid. That book was monumental for me, and this song played no small part in making it so. Creepy and funny at the same time, and many kudos to Andrew Ranken, the Pogues' drummer for providing the appropriately Karloff-esque vocals. Yet another mandatory Halloween playslist number. * Not going to get into them here as this one's already pretty lengthy, but the bonus tracks are well worth your time if you liked any of this stuff. HIGHLIGHTS - "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" - "Turkish Song of the Damned" - "Bottle of Smoke" - "Fairytale of New York" - "South Australia" - "Fiesta" - "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six" - "Lullaby of London" - "Sit Down by the Fire" - "The Broad Majestic Shannon" MIDLIGHTS - "Metropolis" - "Thousands Are Sailing" - "The Battle March Medley" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS Elvis Costello was quoted as saying about producing the Pogues' previous album - Rum Sodomy & the Lash - that his task was" to capture them in their dilapidated glory before some more professional producer fucked them up." I can sort of see what he was talking about here, as this one does sound a lot more polished and mainstream than their previous ones. But that's not really a bad thing, as even that slight bit of shine doesn't remove the warm and genial vibe throughout. It's not like this is their Let's Dance or something. They still sound like themselves. Just more... presentable. The band has the great talent to be able to straddle several genres without ever sounding like intruders, or pretenders, and this album is maybe even more a testament that than the previous, as much as I like it as an overall more cohesive sound. We get a lot more variety in the sound here, even if the traditional folk is the fallback default. I honestly don't recall much of the next one, but I think it strays even further away from that sound and incorporates a lot more jazz, which they did dip a toe or two into on this, however briefly. Overall this was a real good time, and I heartily recommend this to anyone who is into modern Celtic folk music. I'd also recommended it to anyone who's into more melodic, punky rock like the Clash as well. These guys are the perfect middle ground, and also have a ton of mainstream crossover appeal. I know 100% that I like the previous album better though, so I have to grade on the tinest of curves and give this the lesser grade, fun as it was. There are a few tracks that, while perfectly fine, either felt out of place, or a bit generic so I'll use that as my main excuse. Otherwise, no notes. Possible turn-Offs might include: - strong language and a general rowdiness of character - lots and lots of folk music - casual references to drink, drugs, and other unsavory activities You Might enjoy this if you: - aren't a party pooper - really dig Irish folk music, sea shanties, and the like - are into accordions PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - nah FURTHER LISTENING Precursors: - A Drop of the Hard Stuff by the Dubliners - The Cheiftains 4 by the Chieftains - The Long Harvest by Ewan MacColl - Below the Salt by Steeleye Span - London Calling by The Clash Contemporaries: - Night of a Thousand Candles by the Men They Couldn't Hang - Life's a Riot with Spy vs. Spy by Billy Bragg - Comedy by Paul Kelley and the Messengers Descendants: - Rise Again by the Mahones - by Sing Loud, Sing Proud! by Dropkick Murphys - The Mainstreet Sword by Greenland Whalefishers - The Mary Wallopers by The Mary Wallopers

I have sadly never listened to a full album from these guys so was happy to have finally done so. Certainly one of the best Christmas songs from any band out there. I also quite enjoy the mash up of trad music with the punk singing style of Shane MacGowan.

A fun listen. A roaring burst of Celtic energy. Always enjoy the blend of folk pride with anthemic hooks. Some may be surprised that I enjoyed the rough-edged vocals. It works here.

Again I fail to give the Pogues the time they probably deserve, a sign that I’m dommed to admire them without conviction. They bring the fire, yet I can’t help hearing the cliches that trailed. Fortunately, I have a cheat code in that I get to read comrade Simon’s review ahead of mine, telling me where to return and listen better (Shannon, especially). A placeholder 4 this time

I’ve only known a couple of Pogues tunes and this was cool to listen to on the ride home from a long day at work. This is what this list should be about. Good music with variety, not another Dylan album.

Finally some good fucking food. “Turkish Song Of The Damned” really set the pace for this album being intentional, colorful, energetic, and often about hardship. But “Fairytale Of New York” was really when I locked in, I’m a sucker for a sappy piano ballad. This albums take on that type of song is really cool, taking the soft piano part into a more galavanting Irish jingle. “Metropolis” has my favorite instrumental, it’s very tense and suspended right from the get go. “Fiesta” was fun because it almost veers into ska-punk territory! “Sketches Of Spain” shows the breadth of styles the band is willing to cover and infuse with their signature Irish-folk sound. This is such a cool fusion of two distinct sounds. Loved this project for how intentional it is, how much all the members sold out to deliver energetic performances across the track listing. Emphatic 4/5 from me!

Bury me at sea Where no murdered ghosts can haunt me.

A glossy and successful version of of the Pogues, with some great songs though arguably not their best. For those, go to Rum Sodomy and the Lash.

Nice ti ho back to my days in Ireland 💕

So much energy here. Didn’t really care for the bonus tracks on the expanded version, but that’s not what I’m reviewing here!!

Ive always liked Shane's voice and the traditionalish style. The lyrics were always fantastic.

After writing a novel yesterday about The Wall, I’m taking a bit of a break today, but make no mistake, this is a *fantastic* record. The Pogues’ blend of traditional Irish music and their wild punk spirit is perfect - no notes.

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

This style of music is really fun, and I like how the melody has several layers.

Close enough, welcome back Dropkick Murphy's. There are some bops on this--I really liked Bottle of Smoke and Fairy Tale of New York (which is the reason, I'm guessing, why Spotify recommends Celtic Christmas music in the More Like This section under the album) and Mountain Dew. I think the downside to this is that after maybe the fifth accordion track you want to take a break from the accordion. But I agree, more songs should have flute in them.

January is an absolutely diabolical time to assign me an album with the best Christmas song ever

This album is so Celtic, it gave me a bar of Irish Spring soap. This album is so Celtic, it split the G with me. This album is so Celtic, it gave me a weird knot as a gift. This album is so Celtic, it gave me red hair and freckles. Top tracks: "Fairytale of New York," "If I Should Fall From Grace With God," "Fiesta"

Raucous and sarcastic Irish folk punk

This really does have some good stuff on it, but I'm just not usually in the mood for it.

I have never personally heard of The Pogues before, nor have I ever considered listening to a Celtic Rock album but I guess that is what the 1001 Albums to Hear before I die challenge wants me to hear. This unapologetically Irish album is quite a trip to my American brain as the compositions here are so weird and yet oddly fitting for the album and overall performances. The only track I seem to have had any familiarity to was Fairytale of New York, which I personally don't remember hearing at all. If you don't like Irish music or Folk Rock as a whole I would suggest avoiding this album as those are some pretty heavy elements used all throughout this album. The lyrics are simple and to the point and are sang in a way that really bounces off the instrumentation from The Pogues to make a very fun and cheerful listening experience. While I am not super huge on this album, I can appreciate the craft and effort put into making this so unique. Maybe I will return to The Pogues someday, but I think for now I have definitely had my fill of Celtic Rock for the time being.

Folk Rock, 1988 -> 3

fun to listen to but definitely not my style

Parę skipow

If i were to think of Irish punk folk music, The Pogues is exactly what I'd think of. The songs have beautiful melodies, and the rock pairs well. That being said, after about five songs, I had my fill.

It is very fun, and they are very talented musicians, but there's only so much of this sort of stuff you can listen to, you know?

You can't deny that this album sounds different. It's competently executed by the band, has some elements of punk and celtic music, but, for me, it sums up like a low budget Jethro Tull. Ok album, but it's not a bunch of songs that I would come back to listen.

An odd little morsel of an album. On its surface, I don't think I should like this. But the combination of the grunty-broguey-singing, flutes, drums, and fiddles works in an unexpected way. I would have given another star if it was about 25-50% shorter.

Fucking idontlikerap snob bri/ish music Bullshit but 1-2 good tracks 2/5

OOh, for the love of god! I am so happy I am not Irish and have to listen to this as part of my heritage! I van take one or two songs... Max!

For me, The Pogues are best when experienced in small doses... one or two songs. A full album was a bit relentless.

Fairytale of New York slaps

Too jittery.

Don't care much for The Pogues in general and Shane McGowan in particular. Love traditional music, but not in a punk style. I like my traditional music traditional.

1988. Punk was dead, new wave was out of gas, so I can understand that people were scratching around for somewhere to go next. But honestly, banjos and accordions? Really? That was the way forward?

There are a lot of "representative" bands....The Pogues are the best representative of "Celtic Punk" so they make the list. Sorry, Celtic Folk Punk...that's a ridiculous genre. It feels like a gimmick, but I guess there are people that love this or the Dropkick Murphys and Bastard Bearded Irishmen wouldn't exist. Fairy Tale of New York is the hit, that's kind of impressive for what has now become a Christmas song. Super overrated, although listening to it outside the context of Christmas, I guess I can appreciate that it's a song with Christmas as context, not a Christmas song...like the Die Hard of music. These guys love New York. And Christmas. I bet Mumford and Sons love these guys. The lead singer sounds like Dr. Teeth on Fiesta. Accordion is another one of those instruments that shouldn't really be on a "punk" album. Irish guys singing in Spanish...makes sense, and feels like a Clash rip off. Cementing their place as a novelty act, they close the album with Worms.

Very difficult to make it through this one. Would rather listen to circus music.

I will never like the pogues.

I went a week without listening to an album because I could not finish this absolute shit

No. Not for me.

i like the celts

album poznat (i obožavan) otprije! koja albumčina... teško mi je uopće izdvojiti vrhunce. nakon klasično solidne naslovne pjesme, »turkish song of the damned« jednostavno kida, »bottle of smoke« standardno dobra, nakon čega slijedi možda najbolja božićna pjesma uopće. nakon zanimljivog instrumentala ide možda najtužnija pjesma od pougza, »thousands are sailing«, pjesma koju bih, da moram, izdvojio kao najbolju na albumu. druga je strana možda mrvu slabija, ali i dalje jako jako dobra, jako mi se sviđaju zadnje dvije stvari, posebice posljednja, u poruci pomalo barokna »worms«, genijalan način da se album završi. premda su mi neki njihovi albumi draži (uvijek sam volio nešto raznovrsniji no objektivno slabiji »peace & love«, a »hell's ditch« je jako blizu ovom albumu po kvaliteti i dosljednosti), ovaj je vjerojatno ipak najbolji. džinovska petica!

The universe is looking out for me whenever it gives me the chance to listen to an album of Celtic punk music. :)

Fun and energetic. 5/5

Great need on this list. So glad they chose this album from the Pogues. An absolute must listen for any music fan. In my opinion, a full on 5-star effort but can certainly understand those who don't appreciate the stylings.

Excelente, tradicional combina rock, alegre, folclorico