Rum Sodomy And The Lash - The Pogues

The Pogues have always been an odd band to pigeon hole, punks with folk instuments, folkies with a punk attitue, bar room boozers, who knows, but thats really not the point. The point is that the Pogues kick out a great range of Irish folk with an attitude and stance that takes no prisoners. Even though they share some common ground with more traditional celtic folk bands such as the Dubliners and the Chieftans, they also are not a million miles away from bands such as the Clash or the Sex Pistols. The title of the album comes from a quote from Churchill "dont talk to me of naval tradition, its all rum, sodomy and the lash", and the cover art work ...  Read the complete review

Possibly the best ever fusion of folk and rock, the habitual drunkard Shane MacGowan’s lyrics and vocals are damn near perfect on this record, while the rest of the Pogues provide great backing. From the melancholy ‘Navigator’ and ‘The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ to the raucous opener ‘Sick Bed of Cúchulaínn’, and equally hyperactive ‘Sally Maclennane’, this is for the most part sheer genius. TRACK BY TRACK REVIEW 1. ‘Sick Bed of Cúchulaínn’ – Musically, absolutely incredible, played so fast you swear the start of the tune is gonna overtake the end – or something like ...  Read the complete review

I remember, back in the eighties, my Uncle, whom I lived with for a while, bursting into the house, fresh from a trip to Ireland, and proclaiming with a gleam in his eyes "I have got something here that is gonna blow you away !" With that he strode over to the sound system, thrust in a cassette, cracked open a few beers (no fine wines in those drunken days of rebelliousness !! Hee Hee) and cranked up the sounds to full volume ! What followed opened up my senses to a whole new type of music for me......The Pogues. How to describe them..well there's a thing...they do not fit into any existing category as far as I am concerned. Their music is a mix of ...  Read the complete review

There arent many poets in this world. Sorry. I meant to say there arent many good poets. There are even fewer in popular music. People who can chose words that even before they are put to music, already have a melody of their own. People whose words come from their souls, their musical souls. Shane is one such poet. Capable of the most beautiful words you could ever find in a song. Not just the slow songs but the fast songs as well. "So sad to see the grieving of the people that his leaving and he took the road for good knows in the morning" "He soothed the souls of psychos and the men who had the horn and they ...  Read the complete review