Manoverboard "Port Towns"Release date: September 3rd, 2011
Running Time: 33:48, 10 tracks
Manoverboard is a “pirate” band from Eugene, Oregon. This is their second album and it was released at the Portland Pirate Festival at the beginning of September.
The album has a couple of standards (“The Foggy Dew” and the medley “Whiskey in the Jar/Whiskey Yer the Devil”) a Shane MacGowan’s cover (“Paddy Rollingstone”) and 7 self-penned songs.
Taking into account that the band is labeled as “pirate” one could expect a different kind of vocals. However, the lead vocals and background vocals are well balanced. Moreover, the sound of the band is based on flute/tin whistle, fiddle, mandolin and guitar, together with bass and drums.
The traditional songs are well performed. The “Whiskies” medley sounds like a drunken version of the Canadian band Spirit of the West. The band pays tribute to one of its main influences on “Paddy Rollingstone”, a great Celtic punk version with a Blood or Whiskey attitude.
Regarding the original songs, my faves are “Port Towns” (excellent whistle and mandolin on a song influenced by Flogging Molly or The Killigans), “Here and Now” (a fast paced Celtic punk track with excellent mandolin and flute) and the last two tracks. At the beginning I felt that they were the same track , since they are stuck together. “Someday” is a catchy punk folk short number à la Whiskey Wagon and “Pollywogs and Whale Tails” is musically close to The Skels or even The Peelers.
Other tracks on the album are “Cut Throat Crew” (which is THE pirate song of the album and “The Ravens Perch at Gallows End”, a superb flute led instrumental. When I listen to this tune, I recall Gwendal’s best moments.
Pirate bands are normally enjoyed live. Fortunately Manoverboard have been able to create that live atmosphere on their second album. But, at the same time, this CD is the evidence that their Celtic punk side is as big as their pirate side. Even bigger.
Tracklist:
01 - The Foggy Dew 5:29
02 - Port Towns 3:15
03 - The Ravens Perch at Gallows End 5:19
04 - Cut Throat Crew 4:05
05 - Here and Now 2:22
06 - Drink a Pint 2:33
07 - Whiskey in the Jar/Whiskey Yer the Devil
08 - Paddy Rollingstone 5:40
09 - Someday 2:14
10 - Pollywogs and Whale Tails 2:25
http://www.manoverboardmusic.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/manoverboardpirates
http://www.myspace.com/manoverboardpirates
http://www.facebook.com/manoverboardpirates
http://twitter.com/#!/MOBPIRATES
Contact the band to purchase the CD
Review by kinksmarkham
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