REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS - "Whiskey Devils - A Tribute to The Mahones" Whiskey Devil Records (2010)

V.A. “Whiskey Devils-A Tribute to The Mahones”
Whiskey Devils Records
Release date: 2011
19 tracks

"Whiskey Devils" is a special release to celebrate The Mahones 20th Anniversary. Nineteen bands and/or artists from both sides of the Atlantic playing eighteen Mahones’ songs.

When a tribute album has to be reviewed, there are always two questions: Frst of all, do the listener miss some bands? And, secondly, is the tracklist exactly what a hardcore Mahones fan should expect?

We could discuss a whole year and perhaps we wouldn’t reach an agreement, but I feel that the answer to the first question is easy: all the bands (five U.S. bands, five Canadian bands, four English bands, three Spanish bands and two Irish artists) are worth hearing and they do a fine job .

Regarding the second one, the answer may also differ from a fan to another. So, I will give you some figures:

• 18 songs (“Drunken Lazy Bastard” is covered twice)
• 11 of the original tracks can be found on “Irish Punk Collection”
• 10 of the original tracks can be found on “Paint the Town Red-The Best of The Mahones”
• 5 of the original tracks can be found on “Draggin’ The Days”
• 5 of the original tracks can be found on “Rise Again”
• 3 of the original tracks can be found on “The Hellfire Club Sessions”
• 3 of the original tracks can be found on “Here Comes Lucky”
• 1 of the original tracks can be found on “Take No Prisoners”
• The other track can be found on “The Black Irish”

If you enjoy the early albums and if you prefer “Irish Punk Collection” to “Paint the Town Red-The Best of The Mahones”, then you will be happy with the tracklist. But if you feel (like me) that “Here Comes Lucky” is their best album and you prefer “Paint the Town Red” to “Irish Punk Collection”, then you will miss songs such as “Dragging the Days”, “When it Comes Around”, “One Last Shot”, “Here Comes Lucky” or “Will You Marry Me”

As I have previously said, all the bands have done a fine job. However, if I had to say which are the best covers, I would choose those songs which have been re-worked and which add something special to the original. I will comment them in normal order, from the beginning to the end.

The opening track, “Drunken Lazy Bastard” covered by The Popes has been a wonderful surprise to me. I didn’t enjoy their last album,“Outlaw Heaven”, but their rendition of that Mahones’ classic is really great. Excellent banjo and fiddle arrangements. And those child voices singing “Get up out of bed….” are the evidence that you don’t need to be raucous to sound angry.

Brutus’ Daughters stand out too. They have really worked on their cover, “Take Me Back”, and added that bagpipes and fiddle duel that is their stamp. One of my faves.

Paul-Ronny Angel from the Urban Voodoo Machine fame covers “London”. The song features harmonica, fiddle, banjo and tin whistle, the rhythm is the right one and his cover is one of the best.

Another “must”, Drink Hunters covering “Take No Prisoners”. Other band that has spent some time to make something special with their song. A Californian punk version with top-notch fiddle and accordion.

Finny says that The Ryan Brothers “Streets of New York” is his all-time favourite version. I understand why. This unplugged version haunts you.

Aaron Chapman (ex Real McKenzies, The Town Pants member) pushes “Cocktail Blue” in the right direction and adds exactly what the song was asking for. Aaron, a new crooner?

Paddy McCallion´s “Back Home” acoustic version is another of the gems of this tribute album.

The first time I saw the tracklist I was wondering why “Drunken Lazy Bastard” had been covered twice. After having listened to this live rendition I must admit that both The Popes and Cabor Toss versions should be included in the tribute album.

For those who prefer the covers that are close to the original, try The Peelers “Rise Again” (great fiddle and accordion), The Roughneck Riot “Across the USA” (the only band that would be able to back Finny in the same way his band does), The Vandon Arms (another band with a great mandolin player), The Bloody Irish Boys “Shake Hands with the Devil” …. There are plenty to choose.

I guess that Finny must be happy with the whole album. The influence of The Mahones on the Celtic punk scene is bigger than some people may think and I feel that this tribute album has been a good opportunity to enjoy the friendship and respect of a lot of buddies.



Tracklist

01 - The Popes - Drunken Lazy Bastard 2:33
02 - The Peelers - Rise Again 3:44
03 - Brutus' Daughters - Take Me Back 3:40
04 - Paul-Ronny Angel - London 4:43
05 - The Roughneck Riot - Across the U.S.A. 2:56
06 - Drink Hunters - Take No Prisoners 2:54
07 - Vandom Arms - Down the Boozer 3:31
08 - The Ryan Brothers - Streets of New York 3:45
09 - Bastards On Parade - Paint the Town Red 3:16
10 - The Bloody Irish Boys - Shake Hands with the Devil 3:48
11 - Aaron Chapman - Cocktail Blue 4:24
12 - Drunken Dru - Is This Bar Open Til' Tomorrow? 3:35
13 - Pladdohg - Whiskey Devils 2:45
14 - Black Friday - There She Goes 3:30
15 - The Gobshites - A Drunken Night in Dublin 3:45
16 - Hit the Bottle Boys - Queen and Tequila 3:04
17 - Paddy McCallion - Back Home 3:14
18 - Cabor Toss - Drunken Lazy Bastard [Live] 2:51
19 - Mark Gilligan - Girl with Galway Eyes 3:02


http://www.myspace.com/mahonestributealbum

http://www.truenorthrecords.com/Albums.php?album_id=719 (click to buy)

Review by Kinksmarkham

.