still in a class of their own (Peace And Love - Pogues)

Member Name: thesvenhunter

Product:	Peace And Love - Pogues
Date:	16/07/02 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: too good to miss out on

Disadvantages: long and has a few low points

this album is generally seen as the beginning of the end for the pogues but then, i'm sure that came as no surprise at the time, following their critically acclaimed 3rd album and what with Shane Macgowan's deteriorating health. It is the first of the really democratic albums and it shows a broader range of influence and experimentation which has its benefits and its drawbacks as would be expected. this is probably the least conventional of all their albums, although some of Shane's finest work (not to mention that of Finer, Chevron and the others) can still be found here.

1. Gridlock
the intro instrumental track. Sounds a bit like the theme from an american spy film. very good but not very pogues.

2. White City
one of the best songs the pogues ever recorded, still played live. a sad tale of the closure and destruction of a dog racing track. fantastic instrumental chorus.

3. Young Ned of the Hill
a traditional tale brought togethewr in its entirety for the first time here, i believe. a good irish protest song but not necessarily as well crafted as some of Shane's numbers.

4. Misty Morning, Albert Bridge
one of the rare tracks where somebody else writes the music and Shane sings. it works well here with this slow, swinging tune being up there with Rainy Night in Soho and "the christmas song".

5. Cotton Fields
weird as hell but i love this one. It's a very dirty sounding number with excellent grunting and mumbling vocal style from the lads. it's very scary to hear them proclaiming that "they're gonna crucify you" in such a nast way.

6. Blue Heaven
haha. Shane absolutely hates this particular Chevron song but if you are a fan of cheesy musicals then you'll find a place in you heart for it.

7. Down All the Days
a small, but moody Shane piece. one of his less dynamic and memorable songs, but still sounds really nice.


8. USA
this is like a much longer and weirder version of cotton fields. i've read several reports of this song by clever sounding people but they don't seem to be in agreement on its subject matter. it's either the tale of a returning vietnam war vet or another immigration song apparently. it feels like being stinking drunk already by saturday afternoon and being on your last 2 quids worth of drink and not being able to finish it.

9. Lorelei

the other chevron track here. i think its a lovely, mystical, meandering one, i also think kirsty maccoll sings backing vocals (maybe cos her then husband Steve Lillywhite produced the album). However some people think its overblown and watery.

10. Gartloney Rats

the only track i don't particularly value. it's just an average boring pub band song in my opinion.

11. Boat Train

strange that on an album which many pogues fans ahve never even heard, such a typifying song as this exists. This is an old traditional tune sped up to four times the speed. And it works very well with some
unique Shane style lyrics

12. Tombstone

am eerie haunting number that feeds well into the next track somehow even though it was written by a different band member

13. Night Train to Lorca

this one takes a few listens to get into because it's not too catchy but it has become one of my favourite pogues songs. the melody is simple and subtle and beautiful and the lyrics are pure poetry.

14. London You're a Lady

a strangely jolly way to close a generally dark album. Typical pogues but a bit jauntier and perhaps not as exciting

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