REVIEW - FLANNERY "Happy Days" (2015)

Flannery "Happy Days" self-released
Release date: June 27th, 2015
Running time: 39:20, 9 tracks + 1 bonus track

At the beginning of February 2013 I got an e-mail from a Dutch band that had shot a video for a kick-ass song. The band was Flannery and the song was titled "The Epic Beer Song". Two years have gone by and the guys from the Lowlands have finally released a fine album full of Highlands infused bagpipes rock songs.

Several CDs coming from The Netherlands have been reviewed in 2015. "Happy Days", Flannery's debut album, follows a different path, since their sound is not rooted on the Flogging Molly (or Dropkick Murphys) sound, but on the likes of Wolfstone or Prydein. 

Fans enjoying piping hot numbers will love the band's instrumentals "Brossie" and "Standfast". Apart from those tracks, there are quite a few amazing songs: the catchy "Flannery" with a great fiddle intro, "Happy Days" with the gang vocals and the pipes solo, "Whiskey Games", a song based on the "Hot Asphalt" tune featuring fiddle and guitars and the Ramones-que sing along "Uh Oh Goodbye".

"The Real Musicians" is another interesting number, featuring a well-known pipes theme, and "Divided" is a Celtic reggae track. Even if Flannery are more Scottish than Irish, they deliver their own rendition of "I'll Tell Me Ma". And the album includes their hit "Beer Epic Song" as a bonus track too.

"Happy Days" packaging is a four panel digipack stating the band's line-up, studio credits, thank-yous and band pics. The lyrics to the songs have not been included.

The Dutch Celtic punk/rock scene has broken through in 2015. There are a lot of bands to pick up and all of them have been able to release enjoyable albums. Flannery "Happy Days" is an awesome CD and the proof that Benelux bagpipes punk/rock bands are worth hearing.

Tracklist:

01 - Brossie 3:25
02 - Flannery 3:20
03 - Divided 3:04
04 - Tell Me Ma 3:35
05 - Standfast 3:17
06 - The Real Musicians 4:09
07 - Happy Days 5:09
08 - Whiskey Games 5:21
09 - Uh Oh Goodbye 4:11
10 - Epic Beer Song (Bonus Track) 3:44

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Review by Kinksmarkham