Hoist the Colors “Second City” Self-released
Release date: 15 July 2011
Running time: 44:34, 12 tracks
Hoist the Colors is the latest band from the burgeoning Californian scene to release an album in 2011. The 7 piece band from El Segundo has shared the stage with the likes of The Young Dubliners, The Mighty Regis, Brick Top Blaggers and Craic Haus.
Californian punk and influences by bands such as The Pogues, Flogging Molly or even sounds reminiscent from The Men They Couldn’t Hang have been blended with great instrumentation and backing vocals in “Second City”. The album is really enjoyable and the boys have done an excellent work. All the tracks are self-penned songs. Yes, neither traditional material, nor covers. Hats-off!
“The concept of the album is based around the story of one man (Patrick Finnegan) who is met with very difficult circumstances. He is taken from the girl he loves (Isabel), and when he returns, she has moved on. So the songs are about the daily battles in his mind and his struggle to keep some sanity about him which is what love can take away on a very human level.”
The first track on the album is “Second City”. A top-notch Celtic punk song. If you don’t believe me, then you should know that Lexington Field and Hoist the Colors are going to play together next September 17th. Beau Gray thinks that “Second City” is a "great fookin’ song" and he intends to come up and sing backups to “Second City” with Hoist the Colors, and they would join Lexington Field for “Tracy Boys”.
“The Rush” is another song with catchy chorus and excellent backing vocals in which banjo and mandolin take the lead. One of the numbers that reminds me of The Men They Couldn’t Hang.
“Long Lonely Road” is one of my faves. Some Californian punk influences on a song with a Pogues/Flogging Molly ending.
“No Place Like Home” has an acoustic beginning and then all the instruments are added. Top-notch banjo on it and more great vocal harmonies.
“The Dust Finally Settles” is a little bit quiet, sort of a Celtic Punk-pop, but it has good fiddle and guitar work.
“Fatal Fixation” has some cow punk influences and echoes from The Pogues (“The Wake of the Medusa”), The Men They Couldn’t Hang or Seven Little Sisters can be heard. Great mandolin, banjo and guitar.
“When I Left” is, in my opinion, the other single from the album. Josh Linden sings Patrick Finnegan’s part and Alice Ryan sings Isabel’s part: “Oh Patrick Finnegan, I thought the ocean had claimed you and to move on with my life I’m now somebody’s wife, I’m so sorry sweet boy”
“Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” is another Hoist the Colors typical song: clear vocals, good backing vocals, sound based on mandolin/banjo/fiddle and a classic Celtic punk ending à la Pogues with the boys shouting and screaming.
The rebel song number from the album is track no. 9, “Hymn for the Road”. Musically it reminds me of The Lash, the band from Michigan.
“Glen of Two Lakes” is also a track that stand outs. A Flogging Molly beginning, but then the song finds its own identity, a kind of a Polka. That’s maybe how The Dreadnoughts would sound if they were more American and less Eastern European.
The last two tracks show once again the main influences of the band: “When the Tides Returns”, The Pogues Celtic punk from the “Red Roses for Me” era and “Tonight We Drink Tomorrow We Die”, cow punk à la The Men They Couldn’t Hang.
The Californian Celtic punk scene is alive and kicking and Hoist the Colors is one of their main exponents. Forget about The Young Dubliners and The Fenians and focus on real Celtic punk bands like Hoist the Colors.
Tracklist:
1. Second City 3:05
2. The Rush 3:34
3. Long Lonely Road 4:48
4. No Place Like Home 3:02
5. The Dust Finally Settles 3:46
6. Fatal Fixation 4:11
7. When I Left 3:39
8. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 3:57
9. Hymn for the Dead 2:49
10. Glen of Two Lakes (Glendalough) 3:37
11. When the Tide Returns 3:58
12. Tonight We Drink, Tomorrow We Die 4:02
http://www.myspace.com/hoistthecolorsmusic
http://www.facebook.com/Hoistthecolors.music
Click to buy the CD from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Second-City-Hoist-Colors/dp/B005E0QE1U/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314515754&sr=1-1
Click to buy from i-tunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/hoist-the-colors/id452065982
Review by Kinksmarkham
.
Release date: 15 July 2011
Running time: 44:34, 12 tracks
Hoist the Colors is the latest band from the burgeoning Californian scene to release an album in 2011. The 7 piece band from El Segundo has shared the stage with the likes of The Young Dubliners, The Mighty Regis, Brick Top Blaggers and Craic Haus.
Californian punk and influences by bands such as The Pogues, Flogging Molly or even sounds reminiscent from The Men They Couldn’t Hang have been blended with great instrumentation and backing vocals in “Second City”. The album is really enjoyable and the boys have done an excellent work. All the tracks are self-penned songs. Yes, neither traditional material, nor covers. Hats-off!
“The concept of the album is based around the story of one man (Patrick Finnegan) who is met with very difficult circumstances. He is taken from the girl he loves (Isabel), and when he returns, she has moved on. So the songs are about the daily battles in his mind and his struggle to keep some sanity about him which is what love can take away on a very human level.”
The first track on the album is “Second City”. A top-notch Celtic punk song. If you don’t believe me, then you should know that Lexington Field and Hoist the Colors are going to play together next September 17th. Beau Gray thinks that “Second City” is a "great fookin’ song" and he intends to come up and sing backups to “Second City” with Hoist the Colors, and they would join Lexington Field for “Tracy Boys”.
“The Rush” is another song with catchy chorus and excellent backing vocals in which banjo and mandolin take the lead. One of the numbers that reminds me of The Men They Couldn’t Hang.
“Long Lonely Road” is one of my faves. Some Californian punk influences on a song with a Pogues/Flogging Molly ending.
“No Place Like Home” has an acoustic beginning and then all the instruments are added. Top-notch banjo on it and more great vocal harmonies.
“The Dust Finally Settles” is a little bit quiet, sort of a Celtic Punk-pop, but it has good fiddle and guitar work.
“Fatal Fixation” has some cow punk influences and echoes from The Pogues (“The Wake of the Medusa”), The Men They Couldn’t Hang or Seven Little Sisters can be heard. Great mandolin, banjo and guitar.
“When I Left” is, in my opinion, the other single from the album. Josh Linden sings Patrick Finnegan’s part and Alice Ryan sings Isabel’s part: “Oh Patrick Finnegan, I thought the ocean had claimed you and to move on with my life I’m now somebody’s wife, I’m so sorry sweet boy”
“Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” is another Hoist the Colors typical song: clear vocals, good backing vocals, sound based on mandolin/banjo/fiddle and a classic Celtic punk ending à la Pogues with the boys shouting and screaming.
The rebel song number from the album is track no. 9, “Hymn for the Road”. Musically it reminds me of The Lash, the band from Michigan.
“Glen of Two Lakes” is also a track that stand outs. A Flogging Molly beginning, but then the song finds its own identity, a kind of a Polka. That’s maybe how The Dreadnoughts would sound if they were more American and less Eastern European.
The last two tracks show once again the main influences of the band: “When the Tides Returns”, The Pogues Celtic punk from the “Red Roses for Me” era and “Tonight We Drink Tomorrow We Die”, cow punk à la The Men They Couldn’t Hang.
The Californian Celtic punk scene is alive and kicking and Hoist the Colors is one of their main exponents. Forget about The Young Dubliners and The Fenians and focus on real Celtic punk bands like Hoist the Colors.
Tracklist:
1. Second City 3:05
2. The Rush 3:34
3. Long Lonely Road 4:48
4. No Place Like Home 3:02
5. The Dust Finally Settles 3:46
6. Fatal Fixation 4:11
7. When I Left 3:39
8. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 3:57
9. Hymn for the Dead 2:49
10. Glen of Two Lakes (Glendalough) 3:37
11. When the Tide Returns 3:58
12. Tonight We Drink, Tomorrow We Die 4:02
http://www.myspace.com/hoistthecolorsmusic
http://www.facebook.com/Hoistthecolors.music
Click to buy the CD from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Second-City-Hoist-Colors/dp/B005E0QE1U/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314515754&sr=1-1
Click to buy from i-tunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/hoist-the-colors/id452065982
Review by Kinksmarkham
.
This CD is a wonderfully executed expression of an epic tale of love, loss and honor masterfully written by Josh Linden. The members of Hoist The Colors weave and layer the music and vocals in an intensity that gets this old man out on the floor and in the circle. And I happen to know that Josh is creating even more stories driven by emotions in his heart set to the the music playing in his head. Second City: buy it!. I am anxious to here the next release from these boys.
ReplyDeleteGreat CD. Great band to see LIVE!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments, I'm sure that the band appreciates them.
ReplyDelete