REVIEW - WHISKEY WAGON "Sex, Booze, Strings and Accordions" Self released (2010)

Whiskey Wagon "Sex, Booze, Strings and Accordions"
Release Date: 2010
Running time: 31:41, 12 tracks

I love standard Celtic punk bands. I mean, those bands that are clearly influenced by the main bands of the genre. But, at the same time, I enjoy those bands who have their own universe, musically and/or lyrically. Bands such as The Wages of Sin, The Zydepunks, The Staggerers and, now, Whiskey Wagon.

Whiskey Wagon’s debut album, “Sex, Booze, Strings and Accordions” consists of 12 songs about drinking, (difficult) loves, going on tour or missing their favourite venue that has been closed down. A friend of mine would say that there is also a great deal of Canadian self-deprecating humor. The band members play guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, harmonica, accordion and fiddle. The sound is basic, raw and unpolished and Landon Barrowman’s gruffy vocals are the element that welds all of them. It may seem that the band doesn’t care about this sound. However, I feel that they are very intelligent and that they have really worked on that “dirty” sound to get exactly what they wanted: lyrics and sound transport you to a gig at a small dark venue where people drink and smoke. The essence of Rock’n’Roll.

The best songs on the album are probably “Hey Hey Salut!” and “On the Road”, but there are other interesting numbers such as “Dancehall Eulogy”, “St. Augustine” and the final track, the sing-a-long “Whiskey Wagon”. And, if you are looking for more standard Celtic punk songs, listen to "Amazing Grace" (without pipes) or “Drinking Gin”.

The packaging and the artwork are top-notch too: a black and white digipack with an excellent Jack Daniel’s looking artwork and a 12 page booklet (with pictures of every member of the band and all the lyrics)

The Whiskey Wagon has just left from the station. Do you want it to stop at your home next St. Patrick’s?.


Tracklist:

01 - Amazing Grace 1:15
02 - When that Whistle Blows 2:07
03 - Broken Wings 3:00
04 - Drinking Gin 1:30
05 - Mary Andle's Pub 4:47
06 - Hey hey , Salut! 2:50
07 - Signal Hill 3:06
08 - On the Road 2:30
09 - Dancehall Eulogy 1:44
10 - Bathroom Wall 2:37
11 - St. Augustine 3:36
12 - Whiskey Wagon 2:34

http://www.myspace.com/thewhiskeywagon

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/WhiskeyWagon (click to buy)
http://www.amazon.com/Booze-Strings-Accordions-Whiskey-Wagon/dp/B003DPU5TA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297594330&sr=1-1 (click to buy)


Review by Kinksmarkham


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