TOP10 - ALBUMS OF THE YEAR (2011)

TOP 10 CDs

These are the final results. Remember that the list comes from the votes by fans, it's not my list.

01 - Dropkick Murphys "Going Out in Style"
02 - Flogging Molly "Speed of Darkness"
03 - SIR REG "A Sign of the Times"
04 - Mahones "The Black Irish"
05 - Bastards on Parade "Tales from the Death Shore"
06 - Paddy and the Rats "Hymns for Bastards"
07 - Fiddler's Green "Wall of Folk"
08 - Lexington Field "Old Dirt Road"
09 - Mr. Irish Bastard " Never Mind the Bastards ..."
10 - The Bloody Irish Boys "Old Saint Patrick"

11 - Hoist The Colors "Second City"
12 - The Fatty Farmers "Down in the Streets"
13 - The Fisticuffs "You'll Not Take Us Alive"
14 - Smokey Bastard "Tales from the Wasteland"
15 - The Moorings "Pints & Glory"
16 - Scrum "Killing Time"
17 - The Pokes "High Hopes"
18 - Mutiny Bay "The Second Battle of Vinegar Hill"
19 - Irish Stew of Sindidun "New Tomorrow"
20 - Skontra "Mazcando Miseries"

21 - Bleeding Hearts "Folk'n'Glory"
22 - Firkin "Whup!"
23 - The Skels "Headed for the Knacker's Yard"
24 - Brick Top Blaggers "Coaster"
25 - Icewagon FLU "Off the Waggon Vol. II"
26 - The Roughneck Riot "Night Train with The Reaper"
27 - VA "Whiskey Devils - A Tribute to The Mahones"
28 - Rum Rebellion "Blackwater"
29 - The Galway Hooker Band "Hookers, Hooch & Haberdash"
30 - MoDERN B Beard "1st Log Book""

61 CDs have been voted.

A good list, but unfortunately I cannot agree with no.2. Anyway, that's what the fans have voted :-(

I voted the albums that have topped no. 3, no. 5, no. 6, no. 8, no. 11, no. 12, no. 16, no. 22, no. 24 and no. 45 (Garrahan's Ghost).

NEWS: GARY MILLER AND THE BLOODY IRISH BOYS

(Taken from Gary's Facebook)

(Gary Miller and The Bloody Irish Boys) We're hoping to do a unique collaboration next year performing live on stage together (a mixture of their songs and my songs) for a European tour of clubs and festivals (marking this popular US band's debut tour of Europe). Any interested promoters contact me now to be part of this exciting and unique one-off touring event!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Miller/310510222621

REVIEW - THE BLOODY IRISH BOYS "Auld St. Patrick" Sick Sad Records SSII-005 (2011)

The Bloody Irish Boys "Auld Saint Patrick" Sick Sad Records SSII-005
Release date: 2011
Running time. 43:10, 13 tracks


Six long years. “Drunk Rock” was released in 2005 and “Auld St. Patrick” in 2011. I must admit that the wait has been too long. O.K., back in 2005 The Bloody Irish Boys were a one-man band and a couple of songs were said to be rip-offs. But the album was f*cking good.

The Bloody Irish Boys have come back in a moment in which a lot of interesting bands are fighting for the Paddypunk realm. The question is: have The Bloody Irish Boys been “evicted”? Based on the 13 tracks from “Auld St. Patrick”, they have taken the place they deserved.

Their first album was a big surprise, since Shayne was able to find a new sound. The songs were led by a different fiddle blending punk, bluegrass and metal influences. During these 6 years Shayne has found the right fellows and together they have been able to develop the sound of their debut album. Five musicians plus two part-time members and one guest have recorded “Auld St. Patrick”. As a result the influences are now bigger. For instance, metal is more present and the guitar work is top-notch, particularly in the first half of the album.

If I had to find something that is not perfect, the use of the keyboards is the only thing that, IMHO, should have been avoided in a couple of songs (“The Leprechaun” and “I Just Want to Live”) The keyboards fit perfectly in tracks 5 “An Ode to Columbus” and 13 “The Parting Glass”. However, I have the feeling that they were listening to the Ramones “Animal Boy” album when they arranged tracks 11 and 12. Anyway, a minor defect in a great album.

“Back Where We Belong”, the opener, is an excellent song, not the typical Celtic punk song. The beginning is quite calm, but finally the song turns into a fast-paced song. Then, “Drink’er Up Boys” and “Dirty Little Town” show the evolution of the band, in which the metal influences are more obvious.

“Going Back to Ireland” is a good as the best moments of their debut album.

“An Ode to Columbus” is basically the tune “Tabhair Dom Do Lamh” (“Give Me Your Hand”) with self-penned lyrics dedicated to their hometown. The tune is said to have been written by the Irish harpist Ruairí 'Dall' Ó Catháin and till now the only band that had put lyrics to that tune were The Wolfe Tones. The BIB version, with new lyrics, sounds great.

“Eileen Og” is another Irish song that is performed with metal influences. The song rivals with the Hungarian band Firkin’s rendition.

“Auld St. Patrick” is the Celtic punk number from the album. Listen to that fiddle and that accordion!

“Drunk to Drown“ starts slowly, first an acoustic guitar and later the fiddle joins. More folk than punk, but one of the best moments of the album.

Track no. 9 is called “The Pirate Song”: raucous vocals and fast fiddling.

The next song is “Catch Me If I Fall”. Shayne decided to phone his mate Gary Miller and asked the songwriter from the North East of England to record the vocals. Shayne, you’re my man! A perfect decision. As a Whisky Priests fan, this song is a huge surprise. I have always thought that the North American fans were too focused on The Pogues and that they should pay more attention to The Whisky Priests. I expect that now some of them will be interested in The Whisky Priests and will purchase their old albums.

I enjoy “The Leprechaun” but, as I have previously said, I feel that the keyboards don’t improve the song. The following song, “I Just Want to Live” is a sort of a psychobilly song. It features more keyboards that I find too 80’s. Sorry guys!

On the other hand, the last song of the album is the best “Parting Glass” rendition that I have heard. The Mighty Regis failed to do it and The Bloody Irish Boys have succeeded. Ah, and the keyboards works well in this song.

So, purchase “Auld St. Patrick”, listen to it and then send this e-mail to the band:

“Dear Bloody Irish Boys,

You are kindly requested to release your third album next year. We have enjoyed both “Drunk Rock” and “Auld St. Patrick” and we need more.

Yours sincerely

Celtic punk fans from all over the world”


Tracklist:

01 - Back Where We Belong 3:39
02 - Drink `er Up Boys 3:03
03 - Dirty Little Town 3:09
04 - Going Back To Ireland 3:00
05 - An Ode To Columbus 3:24
06 - Eileen Oge 3:41
07 - Auld St. Patrick 3:03
08 - Drunk To Drown 3:41
09 - The Pirate Song 2:53
10 - Catch Me If I Fall 2:47
11 - The Leprechaun 3:21
12 - I Just Want To Live 3:04
13 - The Parting Glass 4:28


http://www.thebloodyirishboys.com
http://www.myspace.com/thebloodyirishboys
http://www.reverbnation.com/thebloodyirishboys
http://www.facebook.com/thebloodyirishboys



Click to purchase from Interpunk

http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=192142&



Review by Kinksmarkham


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SAMPLER APRIL 2011

01 - THE WHISKEY OF THE DAMNED - Dock Boy (from "Craic Agus Whiskey") 2:59
02 - THE WHISKEY OF THE DAMNED - Skippin' Town (from "Craic Agus Whiskey") 4:50
03 - THE WHISKEY OF THE DAMNED - Burn Your Suicide Notes (from "Craic Agus Whiskey") 2:53
04 - THE BLOODY IRISH BOYS - Shake Hands with the Devil (from "Whiskey Devils: A Tribute to The Mahones") 3:46
05 - THE BLOODY IRISH BOYS - Going Back to Ireland (from "Auld St. Patrick") 3:04
06 - THE BLOODY IRISH BOYS - Auld Sat. Patrick (from "Auld St. Patrick") 3:03
07 - THE ROUGHNECK RIOT - Same Again Tomorrow (from their forthcoming EP) 3:01
08 - IKAT KEPALA - Brigade Suara (Digital single) 2:59
09 - THE CLOVES AND THE TOBACCO - Cornelist Street (Digital single) 3:30
10 - GERAP GURITA - Kembali (from "Pilihan") 3:15
11 - GERAP GURITA - Self Control (from "Pilihan") 2:48
12 - GERAP GURITA - Kepercayan (from "Pilihan") 4:05


This month: 2 bands from the USA, 1 band from England and 3 bands from the Indonesian Celtic punk scene.



1) THE WHISKEY OF THE DAMNED (Milwaukee/Whitwater, WI, USA)

The band of the month. Three tracks that are available at their sonicbids page.

http://www.myspace.com/thewhiskeyofthedamned
http://www.reverbnation.com/thewhiskeyofthedamned
http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=310998&source=fb_artist_profile
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Whiskey-of-the-Damned/92082034243

Members:

Eoin McCarthy - Vocals, guitar
Blaine McQuinn - Vocals, fiddle, banjo, bagpipes
Mike Favaro - Vocals, mandolin, and keys., accordion
TJ McQuinn - Drums
Chaugn Hoffman - Vocals, bass

Discography:

"Craic Agus Whiskey" 2010


2) THE BLOODY IRISH BOYS (Columbus, OH, USA)

This superb band has just released a new album. The tracks are available at their own website.

http://www.thebloodyirishboys.com
http://www.myspace.com/thebloodyirishboys
http://www.reverbnation.com/thebloodyirishboys
http://www.facebook.com/#!/thebloodyirishboys
http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=23412
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=288850&content=music
http://www.purevolume.com/thebloodyirishboys

Members:

Shayne Underwood - Vocals, fiddle, mandolin
Travis - Electric guitar
Chad - Bass
Mikeal - Acoustic guitar
Josh - Drums

Part-time members

Joshua - Electric guitar
Aaron - Accordion, keyboards

Discography:

"Drunk Rock" (13 tracks, 2004)
"Drunk Tonight" (4 track EP, 2005)
"Auld St. Patrick" (2011)

Click to buy.

3) THE ROUGHNECK RIOT (Warrington, England, UK)

Another excellent band from England. They were the band of the month in January. The Roughneck Riot are working on their new EP, this track was shared free recently.

http://www.theroughneckriot.com
http://www.myspace.com/theroughneckriot
http://www.reverbnation.com/theroughneckriot
http://www.facebook.com/theroughneckriot

Members:

Matty Humphries - Vocals, Mandolin
Ryan Taylor - Bass, Vocals
Simon Cowley - Drums
Jade Franklin - Accordian
Caitlin Costello - Banjo
Chris Green - Guitar, Vocals

Discography:

"Night Train with the Reaper" (10 tracks, 2010)

Click to buy

4) IKAT KEPALA (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Another new band from Indonesia. The link to this track can be found on their Facebook page.

Members:

Mr. Rama - Vocals
Mr. Adnan - Guitar
Mr. Yoga - Drums
Mr. Ondi - Banjo
Mr. Rikky - Bass
Mr. Rabin - Fiddle


http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100000821453958


5) THE CLOVES AND THE TOBACCO (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

Yes, the Celtic punk scene in Indonesia is growing very fast. Another band that is sharing one track. The link can be found at their Facebook page.

Members:

Adit - Vocals
Piztt - Fiddle, acoustic guitar, violin
Abey - Electric guitar/back Voc
Bagus - 4 String banjo
Gay Aji - Tin whistle, acoustic guitar
kojack - Bass
Koro - Drums and percussion


http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cloves-and-The-Tobacco/401343270121


6) GERAP GURITA (Jogjakarta, Indonesia)

They opened the way to the new bands in their country. The tracks have been sent by the band. One of them was already included in a previous sampler.

http://www.myspace.com/gerapgurita
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerap-Gurita/44838424134


Members:

Anom Rokhi- Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
A-inx Misuari - Accordion, vocals
Graha Wicaksana - Vocals, electric guitar,
Dandun Tejo - Bass,
Andreas Agung - Drums,
Armira Syahnas - Fiddle,
Ignasia Keke - Sax
Franciskus Indra - Tin whistle

Discography:

"Bersama Kawan" (6 track EP, 2007)
"Pilihan" (13 tracks, 2011)

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?xhlz073p8ltxqpo

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