The Langer's Ball "Whiskey Outlaws" TLB006
Release date: February 12, 2016
Running time: 41:03, 12 tracks
The (steampunk) Irish punk rock band from the frozen Midwest The Langer’s Ball released their previous studio album “The Devil or the Barrel” in 2012 and it reached number 11 in our Best of 2012 list. Afterwards they released a 2 track Christmas single in 2012 and an 8 track radio session EP in 2014.
So, even if four years have passed by, the fans are already familiar with some of the new stuff. Three of the songs on the radio sessions EP have made the new album. One of them was also recorded for a Johnny Cash tribute album. And another song was recorded for a Horslips tribute album (extract available on Shite’n’Onions soundcloud).
In the meanwhile, some line-up changes have taken place and Michael (lead vocals, acoustic guitar) and Hannah (accordion, tin whistle, backing vocals) are now backed by Danny Mac (lead guitar, backing vocals), Lance Gams (bass) and Colin McGowan (drums).
Would The Langer’s Ball be able to deliver an album as tight as “The Devil or The Barrel”?. Definitely yes. “Whiskey Outlaws” is a well-balanced album with plenty of songs to please any Celtic punk fan.
The album kicks off with “Whiskey Outlaws”, an amazing self-penned cow-punk/western song that sets the pace for the rest of the CD.
The next song is The Langer’s Ball rendition of Leon Rosselson classic song “The World Turned Upside Down”. This song has been covered by the likes of Billy Bragg, Attila the Stockbroker’s Barnstormer and Oysterband. I’m really surprised by this choice, as the song tells the story of a group of people who tried to farm on common land in England in the XVIIth century. As John Jones (Oysterband) says on the “Alive and Shouting” album to the Danish crowd ”This is a song we would like to make the new national anthem of our country and probably yours as well”. But I digress. The Langer’s Ball deliver a badass cover featuring brilliant arrangements.
The band come back to the western territory with the traditional song “Jug of this” where Hannah plays accordion. It’s followed by an original: “Drinking for Two”. Michael truly knows how to write (and sing) a drinking song and this is one of the best moments on “Whiskey Outlaws”. Kick-ass song with some The Clash influences via Rancid. Hannah plays tin whistle.
“God’s Gonna Cut You Down” was recorded for the Grinning Beggar’s tribute album to the Man in Black. This song features former members on drums (Derek Jaimes) and bass (Drew Miller).
Another drinking song follows: “Bottoms Up”, an addictive number with a Russian chorus where Hannah plays accordion. “Sword of Light” is The Langer’s Ball contribution to the Shite’n’Onions tribute to Horslips album. Once again the old rhythm section recorded the song, together with Trevor Jurgens on guitar. Tracks 8 is titled “The One”, a song written by Christy Moore’s youngest brother Barry Moore aka Luka Bloom.
The traditional song “Mick McGuire” gets the Langer’s Ball’s celtic punk treatment. The music is that of “Hot Asphalt”. Hannah’s whistling is really impressive and she adds “Morrison’s” jig to the song. There is no rest till the end. Firstly, “Cork Dry Gin”, the song that everybody loved when the Radio sessions EP was released. Excellent guitar work by Danny and accordion and tin whistle by Hannah. Secondly, The Langer’s Ball move to the 20’s with a medley of songs by Mort Dixon “I’m Looking over a Four Leaf Clover” and “Bye Bye Blackbird”. The former gets an updated music hall treatment with manic accordion and strong rhythm section and the latter gets a cider fueled polka treatment. Finally the album ends up with “Pigeon at the Gate”, a fast-paced song led by Hannah’s tin whistle. The song features obviously the “Pigeon on the Gate” reel.
“Whiskey Outlaws” was produced by The Langer’s Ball with John Wright, who also recorded and engineered the album at The Villa. The cover painting was made by Michael Sturm and it reminds me slightly of Bad Manners “Return of the Ugly”. The album is housed in a digipack including a booklet with the lyrics to the five original songs, studio credits, song credits and personnel. The back cover photo was shot by Steven R Wolf from Other Side Images.
After listening to "Whiskey Outlaws", I have a wish: if only The Langer's Ball could release an album every year!
There’s a fine review of the album by London Celtic Punks HERE.
01. Whiskey Outlaws 03:19
02. World Turner Upside Down 02:26
03. Jug of This 03:42
04. Drinking for Two 02:27
05. God's Gonna Cut You Down 03:02
06. Bottoms Up (Hапиваться) 04:11
07. Sword of Light 03:46
08. The One 03:57
09. Mick McGuire 03:04
10. Cork Dry Gin 02:22
11. I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover / Bye Bye Blackbird 03:02
12. Pigeon at the Gate 05:20
Website
Facebook
Soundcloud
Reverbnation
Twitter
Click to buy:
Squareup (CD)
Bandcamp (digital)
CDbaby (digital)
Review by Kinksmarkham
Release date: February 12, 2016
Running time: 41:03, 12 tracks
The (steampunk) Irish punk rock band from the frozen Midwest The Langer’s Ball released their previous studio album “The Devil or the Barrel” in 2012 and it reached number 11 in our Best of 2012 list. Afterwards they released a 2 track Christmas single in 2012 and an 8 track radio session EP in 2014.
So, even if four years have passed by, the fans are already familiar with some of the new stuff. Three of the songs on the radio sessions EP have made the new album. One of them was also recorded for a Johnny Cash tribute album. And another song was recorded for a Horslips tribute album (extract available on Shite’n’Onions soundcloud).
In the meanwhile, some line-up changes have taken place and Michael (lead vocals, acoustic guitar) and Hannah (accordion, tin whistle, backing vocals) are now backed by Danny Mac (lead guitar, backing vocals), Lance Gams (bass) and Colin McGowan (drums).
Would The Langer’s Ball be able to deliver an album as tight as “The Devil or The Barrel”?. Definitely yes. “Whiskey Outlaws” is a well-balanced album with plenty of songs to please any Celtic punk fan.
The album kicks off with “Whiskey Outlaws”, an amazing self-penned cow-punk/western song that sets the pace for the rest of the CD.
The next song is The Langer’s Ball rendition of Leon Rosselson classic song “The World Turned Upside Down”. This song has been covered by the likes of Billy Bragg, Attila the Stockbroker’s Barnstormer and Oysterband. I’m really surprised by this choice, as the song tells the story of a group of people who tried to farm on common land in England in the XVIIth century. As John Jones (Oysterband) says on the “Alive and Shouting” album to the Danish crowd ”This is a song we would like to make the new national anthem of our country and probably yours as well”. But I digress. The Langer’s Ball deliver a badass cover featuring brilliant arrangements.
The band come back to the western territory with the traditional song “Jug of this” where Hannah plays accordion. It’s followed by an original: “Drinking for Two”. Michael truly knows how to write (and sing) a drinking song and this is one of the best moments on “Whiskey Outlaws”. Kick-ass song with some The Clash influences via Rancid. Hannah plays tin whistle.
“God’s Gonna Cut You Down” was recorded for the Grinning Beggar’s tribute album to the Man in Black. This song features former members on drums (Derek Jaimes) and bass (Drew Miller).
Another drinking song follows: “Bottoms Up”, an addictive number with a Russian chorus where Hannah plays accordion. “Sword of Light” is The Langer’s Ball contribution to the Shite’n’Onions tribute to Horslips album. Once again the old rhythm section recorded the song, together with Trevor Jurgens on guitar. Tracks 8 is titled “The One”, a song written by Christy Moore’s youngest brother Barry Moore aka Luka Bloom.
The traditional song “Mick McGuire” gets the Langer’s Ball’s celtic punk treatment. The music is that of “Hot Asphalt”. Hannah’s whistling is really impressive and she adds “Morrison’s” jig to the song. There is no rest till the end. Firstly, “Cork Dry Gin”, the song that everybody loved when the Radio sessions EP was released. Excellent guitar work by Danny and accordion and tin whistle by Hannah. Secondly, The Langer’s Ball move to the 20’s with a medley of songs by Mort Dixon “I’m Looking over a Four Leaf Clover” and “Bye Bye Blackbird”. The former gets an updated music hall treatment with manic accordion and strong rhythm section and the latter gets a cider fueled polka treatment. Finally the album ends up with “Pigeon at the Gate”, a fast-paced song led by Hannah’s tin whistle. The song features obviously the “Pigeon on the Gate” reel.
“Whiskey Outlaws” was produced by The Langer’s Ball with John Wright, who also recorded and engineered the album at The Villa. The cover painting was made by Michael Sturm and it reminds me slightly of Bad Manners “Return of the Ugly”. The album is housed in a digipack including a booklet with the lyrics to the five original songs, studio credits, song credits and personnel. The back cover photo was shot by Steven R Wolf from Other Side Images.
After listening to "Whiskey Outlaws", I have a wish: if only The Langer's Ball could release an album every year!
There’s a fine review of the album by London Celtic Punks HERE.
Tracklist:
01. Whiskey Outlaws 03:19
02. World Turner Upside Down 02:26
03. Jug of This 03:42
04. Drinking for Two 02:27
05. God's Gonna Cut You Down 03:02
06. Bottoms Up (Hапиваться) 04:11
07. Sword of Light 03:46
08. The One 03:57
09. Mick McGuire 03:04
10. Cork Dry Gin 02:22
11. I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover / Bye Bye Blackbird 03:02
12. Pigeon at the Gate 05:20
Website
Soundcloud
Reverbnation
Click to buy:
Squareup (CD)
Bandcamp (digital)
CDbaby (digital)
Review by Kinksmarkham
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