Release date: 2 June 2014
Running time: 25:24, 8 tracks
The McGonagalls is a Scottish Celtic punk family band based in Alkmaar (The Netherlands) whose roots are in Dundee (Scotland). Father Dave McGonagall (drums, bodhrán, vocals), his son “Hacksaw” Rory McGonnagall (guitars, bass, banjo, vocals) and his nephew “Fiery” Tim McGonagall have shared the stage with the likes of The Mahones and The Cundeez and they have played in a lot of Dutch venues, including the well-known Melkweg in Amsterdam.
“Greatest Hits Vol.1” is a 8 track mini-album consisting of a couple of originals, a Pogues cover, an Ewan MacColl cover and four standards. The Dundee link is obvious on “Balgay Hill”, since it’s a “Spancill Hill” cover, but all the references are to Dundee places. The two “originals” are Celtic comedy punk numbers on which the band has put music to the poems of William Topaz McGonagall. This Dundee based poet is hailed as the writer of the worst poetry in the English language. Banjo can be heard on “Young Munro The Sailor” and “A Tribute to Dr. Murison” is one of my faves, a fast-paced song with a more aggressive twist. Both “Streams of Whisky” (sic) and “The Fields of Athenry” show the pub side of the band, with totally drunken backing vocals on the chorus. The other three numbers have a punk 77 sound: “Bonny Ship the Diamond” features interesting harmonica arrangements and “Danny Boy” and “Dirty Old Town” are tight punk numbers.
The CD is delivered in a jewel case with a four page booklet with a lot of live pics inside and a drawing of the Scottish bard on the cover, the band’s line-up and the thank-you’s. No lyrics are included. However, everybody is able to sing-along to most of the tracks without them. Regarding the two McGonagall poems, their lyrics can be found at this wonderful site about the poet from Dundee.
I’m looking forward to listening to “Greatest Hits Vol. II” and I expect that the three piece will put music to more McGonagall’s poems.
“Greatest Hits Vol.1” is a 8 track mini-album consisting of a couple of originals, a Pogues cover, an Ewan MacColl cover and four standards. The Dundee link is obvious on “Balgay Hill”, since it’s a “Spancill Hill” cover, but all the references are to Dundee places. The two “originals” are Celtic comedy punk numbers on which the band has put music to the poems of William Topaz McGonagall. This Dundee based poet is hailed as the writer of the worst poetry in the English language. Banjo can be heard on “Young Munro The Sailor” and “A Tribute to Dr. Murison” is one of my faves, a fast-paced song with a more aggressive twist. Both “Streams of Whisky” (sic) and “The Fields of Athenry” show the pub side of the band, with totally drunken backing vocals on the chorus. The other three numbers have a punk 77 sound: “Bonny Ship the Diamond” features interesting harmonica arrangements and “Danny Boy” and “Dirty Old Town” are tight punk numbers.
The CD is delivered in a jewel case with a four page booklet with a lot of live pics inside and a drawing of the Scottish bard on the cover, the band’s line-up and the thank-you’s. No lyrics are included. However, everybody is able to sing-along to most of the tracks without them. Regarding the two McGonagall poems, their lyrics can be found at this wonderful site about the poet from Dundee.
I’m looking forward to listening to “Greatest Hits Vol. II” and I expect that the three piece will put music to more McGonagall’s poems.
Tracklist:
1 - Young Munro the Sailor 2:59
2 - Streams of Whisky 2:50
3 - A Tribute to Dr. Murison 2:42
4 - Balgay Hill 4:10
5 - Bonny Ship the Diamond 2:46
6 - Danny Boy 3:01
7 - Dirty Old Town 2:37
8 - Fields of Athenry 4:17
Interview at Celtic Life International
Contact the band via facebook to buy the CD (7,50 EUR + P&P)
Review by Kinksmarkham
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