2017-12-22 THE BEST OF 2017 CELTIC PUNK / ROCK ALBUMS AND CELTIC PUNK / ROCK EPs AND MINI-ALBUMS

As you're interested in checking out the lists, just a comment: these are, IMHO,  the most enjoyable CDs of 2017.

ALBUMS TOP40

40 albums from 15 countries:

9 from the USA
4 from Canada
4 from France
4 from the UK
3 from Germany
3 from Serbia
2 from the Czech Republic
2 from Italy
2 from The Netherlands
2 from Switzerland
1 from Begium
1 from Hungary
1 from Rumania
1 from Spain
1 from Ukraine

1 - The Peelers "Palace of the Fiend" Review
2 - Celkilt "Stand" Review
3 - The Tossers "Smash the Windows" Review
4 - Drunken Dolly "Alcoholic Rhapsody" Review
5 - Uncle Bard & The Dirty Bastards "Handmade!" Review
6 - Black Water County "Taking Chances" Review
7 - Kilmaine Saints "Whiskey Blues & Faded Tattos" Review
8 - Flogging Molly "Life's Good" Review
9 - Ferocious Dog "Red" Review
10 - The O'Reillys and The Paddyhats "Sign of the Fighter" Review
11 - Sons of O'Flaherty "The Road not taken" Review
12 - O'Hamsters "Gde by ni byvali" Review
13 - Tortilla Flat "Forward to the Past" Review
14 - Craic "Sounds of Vandemark" Review
15 - Cheers! "Daily Bread" Review
16 - Nevermind Nessie "Best of Foes" Review
17 - Cockswain "For the Whiskey" Review
18 - The Downs Family "A Penny's Worth of Pillage" Review
19 - The Vad Vuc "Disco Orario" Review
20 - Potatoe Famine "Drink the Pub Dry" Review
21 - Toxic Frogs "The Mermaid's Song" Review
22 - The Real McKenzies "Two Devils Will Talk" Review
23 - The Feelgood McLouds "s/t" Review
24 - The Drunken Lazy Bastards "Born to be Drunk" Review
25 - Brutus' Daughters "Hueso y Madera" Review and Free Download
26 - McScallywag "Dirty Water" Review
27 - The McDrinkers "Another Drunken Night" Review
28 - Mudmen "Old Plaid Shirt" Review
29 - Irish Stew of Sindidun "City of Grigs" Review
30 - The Scarlet "Hardfolk Shanties" Review
31 - Cassidy's Brewery "One Brew over the Cuckoo's Nest" Review and Free Download
32 - Selfish Murphy "Another Fork in the Road" Review
33 - In for a Penny "One Last Hurray" Free Download
34 - The Babes "Greetings from London" Review
35 - Orthodox Celts "Many Mouths Shut!" Review
36 - Matilda's  Scoundrels "As the Tide Turns"       
37 - Restless Feet "Homeward Bound" Review
38 - Hooligan's Mountain "Dalle strade, dalle valli" Review
39 - The Templars of Doom "Bring me the Head of John the Baptist"  Review
40 - Benjaming's Clan "Sedm Statecných" Review



EPs AND MINI-ALBUMS TOP25

25 EPs or mini-albums from 13 countries

4 from Hungary
3 from France
3 from the USA
2 from Australia
2 from Canada
2 from Indonesia
2 from Russia
2 from Spain
1 from Argentina
1 from Brazil
1 from The Netherlands
1 from Sweden
1 from Ukraine


1 - Brick Top Blaggers "The Fury" Review
2 - Black Rawk Dog "Suburban's Folk Stories" Review
3 - Sailors Grave "Baytin the Voyage" Review
4 - The Mullins "Beers & Feelings" Review
5 - Black Anemone "In it for Life" Review
6 - Firkin "Into the Night" Review
7 - Jolly Jackers "Blood Sweat and Beer" Review
8 - Hawthorn "RavenWood" Name Your Price Download
9 - Barleycorn Bastards "Hops & Dreams" Review
10 - Bogtrotter's Union "Old Songs & Stories Vol. 1" Name Your Price Download
11 - Three Finger Shot "Stories from a Small Town" Review
12 - The Black Watch "First Shot" Review
13 - Raise My Kilt "Gaitas y tanos" Review
14 - Rawlins Cross "Rock Steady" Review
15 - McMiners "Tales of Betrayal and Deceit" Review
16 - The Fatty Farmers  "Efecto Farmer"   
17 - Lád Cúig "Nosaltres sols" Name Your Price Download
18 - The Green Duck "2ème EP" Review
19 - Rain in Summer "Discordant Anthem from the Gutter" Review
20 - The Crazy Rogues "Rebels' Shanties" Review and Free Download
21 - Shamrocks "Ye Olde Chariot" Review
22 - Highland Bastards "Let's Folk" Review
23 - BoghZH Celtic Cats "Kazh al lagenn" Review soon 
24 - Zuname "Nothing Can't Stop Me" Free Download
25 - The Dead Maggies "Wild Dogs and Flannies" Review

Other interesting stuff that has been issued in 2017: "Poxmen of the Horslypse - Tribute to Horlips", released by John Murphy (Shite'n'Onions) the second album by Canadian band Morgan, "Morgan Deli" (cow-punk at its best) and Gary Miller "Mad Martins" 50 track triple CD (review in January 2018. Stay tuned! )

 
BTW, don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel!  and listen to our 24/7 streaming radio Celtic Folk Punk on radionomy.

Thanks again to all the bands for sending their stuff and special thanks to my mates Phil (PaddyRock), Scott (Paddys Home and Pub Podcast) and Mark (London Celtic Punks) for their friendship and support.



REMARKS

1) As usual, this post is titled as “the best of”. However, this is not a competition, but a sort of game. Remember that I give neither points, nor stars to the albums that are reviewed. I’d say that, IMHO, this is the list of the most enjoyable albums of 2015.  It's a party!

2) This list is subjective, but not unfair: it covers the albums that I have enjoyed. Other lists are being posted on other sites and they'll be different. And I feel that diversity is good.

3) Important: please remember that it’s a list of albums, not a list of bands.

4) I've tried to be coherent. Everybody should know that I prefer original material to over-exposed standards.

5) Please remember that I'm only a fan. Maybe some albums are technically or musically better than others. I have taken into account catchy songs, fresh approaches, innovation and maybe I've given priority to raucous sounds rather than to polished sounds.

6) Yes, this is a Celtic Punk e-zine. Then priority has been given to Celtic punk bands, but you'll also find quite a few Celtic rock and folk punk bands.

7) Only the albums that have been received for review/airplay purposes and/or that have been shared for free by the bands have been rated. Other recordings were released in 2017, but unfortunately no copy was submitted or they got lost on their way to Spain.

8) This Best of 2017 covers the CDs that have been released from December 2016 to December 2017. As you can see, some CD were released in 2016. I’ve decided to rate them on the 2017 list ONLY after having checked that they were not reviewed on any other Celtic punk / rock e-zine in 2016. I’ve got them in 2017 and I feel that a lot of fans didn’t notice that those CDs were released before having read my review. Then, I’ve considered them as a 2017 release.

9) Neither live albums, nor covers albums have been taken into account. The same applies to compilations/best of albums.

10) To be at the bottom of the list doesn't involve that an album is rather poor. The difference between the 11th place and the 25th place would be a tiny nuance. The same applies to the places going from 26th to 40th.

11) Several songs from these albums have been added to the streaming radio along the year and they are regularly played.

http://www.radionomy.com/en/radio/celtic-folk-punk/index


12) To the fans: feel free to share your comments. No trolls, please!

13) To the bands: it’s extremely difficult to rank every recording and I guess that some people won’t be happy. However, I really appreciate and respect the hard work by every single band. The quality of all of the recordings has been very high!

2017-02-12 ALBUM REVIEW - THE PEELERS "Palace of the Fiend" (2017)

The Peelers "Palace of the Fiend"
Release date: January 3, 2017
Running time: 52:40, 13 tracks

For all of you that belong to the Shite’n’Onions generation, The Peelers are a living legend. The boys from Glengarry County (ON, Canada) delivered a kick-ass mini-album in 2002, “Boots & Suits”, and then a proper debut album in 2004, “Liquordale”. The album was chosen album of 2004 by Shite’n’Onions and fans will remember songs like “I’ll Meet You at the Bottom of a Bottle”, “Plastic Paddy” and “Savannah”. However, after the release of this must have album, The Peelers went on hiatus. The band moved to Montreal and played the odd show there, while rumours of an upcoming album were spreading. They covered “Rise Again” on the “Whiskey Devils – A Tribute to The Mahones” album in 2010. But no The Peelers album arrived in the following years. Fortunately, the band begun to record their new album in October 2013 and the recordings were finished in October 2015. The new album was announced last year on Facebook and finally “Palace of the Fiend” has been released at the beginning of January 2017.

A gap of 12 years and a half between their previous album and the new one is too much time. Would Dave Barton and his band mates be able to meet their fans expectations? I daresay that “Liquordale” is a must have album and “Palace of the Fiend” is an essential album too. I’ve been listening to The Peelers previous works. Producer Pierre Pineault did a great work on “Liquordale”. He has recorded, edited, co-arranged, mixed and mastered “Palace of the Fiend” and the final result is even better!!! Let alone the line-up. Old band members Dave Barton (lead vocals, guitars),  Eric Diamond (tin whistle), Christos “Zeus” Smirnios (drums), Tim Duggan Walsh (guitars, bass, banjo, mandolin) and Ewen McIntosh (mandolins, ex-The Crofters, ex-The Glengarry Boys, Hadrian’s Wall) and new members Jonathan Moorman (fiddle,  ex-Bodh’aktan, guest on several The Mahones albums) and Christopher Monaghan Stewart (mandolin, drums) have been joined by Sean “Riot” Ryan (electric guitar, Irish Nails, The Mahones) and guests Johnny Fay (drums, The Tragically Hip, producer of The Mahones third album), Micheal O’Grady (accordion, but tin whistler on The Mahones), Neil Emberg (backing vocals), Finny McConnell (vocals on “Going Down  Swingin’ ", The Mahones), Lorraine Muller (vocals on “Beggars, Rats and Boozers”) and a horn sextet.

“Palace of the Fiend” starts off with “New York”, a kick-ass Canadian Celtic-punk anthem that proofs that The Peelers are alive and kicking.

“Bastard of the Bunch” is the next number. The song was advanced on Soundcloud and it was enjoyed straightaway by fans missing The Peelers previous stuff.

Track no. 3 is titled “The Black-Eye Blonde”. Great traditional sounding intro based on fiddle, tin whistle and accordion. “Julia Delaney’s” is played at the end of the song.

The following cut is “Going Down Swingin’”, a Flogging Molly infused song featuring Finny McConnell. You can watch the video for this amazing song HERE.

“The Dark Path” has inherited the same DNA of the “Liquordale” songs, while “Five Roses” is an awesome number with a Johnny Cash twist featuring organ. References to The Clash can be heard on that song: ““Breakin’ rocks in the hot sun” / While singin’ about a White Riot”.

“Beggars, Rats & Boozers” is a song sung by Dave and Lorraine Muller, who also guested on the band’s rendition of “The Fields on Athenry” from the “Boots & Suits” mini-album.

If the quality of the CD was top-notch so far, 6 brilliant songs are played in a row before the album finishes up. “A1 A FLA” is an upbeat number that any Celtic punk fan will love. Track no. 9, “Farewell to Clean and Sober” is stuck to “A1 A FLA” and it’s the catchiest song on “Palace of the Fiend”: “In the morning  the mornin’ see you in the mornin’ / Meet you up the boreen wher the cold north winds blow / In the morning  the mornin’ see you in the mornin’ / We ask for part and whiskey but they still say no”. Once again, references to The Clash can be heard: “Joe is on the jukebox / ‘See it gets to Jimmy Jazz”.

The beginning of “I’m off to Kill the Devil” reminds me of Goats Don’t Shave second album. Although I thought that it was an instrumental number, it’s a badass song.

“Stand down Cleary” features an audio excerpt from Boxing Championship Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard from July 4, 1919. The song is about an Irish stand out boxer from Co. Tipperary. Needless to say that The Peelers give Flogging Molly a run for their money.

“Company of the Saints” is a true gem: fab song featuring a horn section that will make you think of Shane MacGowan’s best moments.

The album is over with an excellent version of the traditional song “Cunnla” (sic). “Cúnla” was the first cut on Planxty’s second album “The Well below the Valley” (1973) and The Dubliners recorded their rendition featuring Stockton’s Wing on their “25 Years – Celebration” double album in 1987. Hats-off guys! Great choice and better rendition.

Regarding the packaging, The Peelers “Palace of the Fiend” comes in an eight panel digipack including all the lyrics to the songs, studio credits and thank you section.

2017 is going to be an epic year. The heavyweights of the genre are back with their new albums. Will they be able to meet the fans’ expectations? The Peelers have already done it. If you love real Celtic punk, grab your copy of this album.

Track listing:

01. New York 3:55
02. Bastard of the Bunch 3:16
03. The Black-Eye Blonde 4:34
04. Going Down Swingin' (ft. Finny McConnell) 3:51
05. The Dark Path 3:45
06. Five Roses 3:36
07. Beggars, Rats, & Boozers (ft. Lorraine Muller) 5:34
08. A1A FLA 2:18
09. Farewell to Clean and Sober3:16
10. I'm Off to Kill the Devil 4:12
11. Stand Down Cleary 4:25
12. Company of Saints 4:12
13. Cunnla (for Ger) 5:47

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Review by Kinksmarkham

2017-02-01 VIDEOS - DANGEROUS FOLK, THE PEELERS, UNCLE BARD AND THE DIRTY BASTARDS

Three new videos added to our YouTube channel :

The Dangerous Folk single (a new Aussie band from Brisbane), a song off the new The Peelers album and a lyrics video off the Uncle Bard and The Dirty Bastards sophomore album.

The Dangerous Folk - Sum of All My Fears

 

The Peelers - Going Down Swingin'

 

Uncle Bard and The Dirty Bastards - Gypsy Geezers

BOOTLEG : THE CROFTERS

The Crofters were a band from Glengarry (Canada) founded by the bothers McIntosh, Ewen and Stephen, who have played in bands such as The Glengarry Bhoys, The Peelers and The Mahones.

This Recording of Independent Origin includes some tracks that were available at their website: two tracks at a radio show, one track live and one demo track.


"The Crofters were a trapeze act. Widely regarded as one of the hardest working bands in Eastern Ontario, the group played too hard, drove too hard, lived too hard, and ultimately fell from the heights they so quickly scaled. The latest release “It Was Easier When We Were Kids” is a reflection from the band’s founder and principal Ewen McIntosh on the years spent scrambling blindly towards fame and fortune.

“It came as no surprise to many that the Crofters have come to where they are today.” says Ewen, “I started the band so I could play my songs live, but it all changed. It really was easier when we were kids. It just became too difficult to move forward, and we could all see our impending stratification.” Currently facing a lineup re-tool and two albums’ worth of material gathering dust, the Crofters are a skeleton screw not unlike their early days.

The idea to start the Crofters began in 1997, when brothers Ewen and Stephen McIntosh began to explore and push the limits of the traditional Scottish tunes passed down to them through a long ancestry of Glengarry musicians.

In 1998 Ewen offered his services to well known Celtic performers ‘The Glengarry Bhoys,' and played bass with them for three years. During that time he traveled much of the U.S. and Canada, performed on their third release 'The Gathering' and provided musical direction as co-producer on their fourth record 'Exile.' His yearning to share music on his own terms grew over time, eventually marking a part with the Bhoys to pursue his own creative aspirations. With a basement studio, much coffee and little sleep, Ewen self-recorded 'Unit no. 1'. This first solo effort is a collection of original songs and a few traditional tunes; all of the instruments on the recording were played and mixed by Ewen, thus achieving a truly 'solo' work.

Stephen, meanwhile, had been playing bass, mandolin, tin whistle and bagpipes with celto-ska-punkers 'The Peelers,' and had shared the stage with many Celtic acts, notably as support for the Mahones on the Eastern leg of their Canadian tour. Both Stephen and Ewen have played on various Peelers recordings.

After having gained much experience both on the road and in the studio, Ewen formed the Crofters in early 2002. He recruited obvious-foundational member Stephen to handle the challenges of a mulit-instrumentalist role. They recruited long-time friend (there's baby pictures to prove it) William McKiver to play drums and Jeff Dewar for bass duties.

With this preliminary lineup, The Crofters quickly tore up the Canadian bar scene with their reckless renditions of traditional Celtic tunes. Shortly after their first summer, the band added Kenton McBean to their roster to help cope with Stephen's absence (both Ewen and Stephen bore full-time university schedules at the time). Throughout the fall of 2002 and spring of 2003 the band's reach grew, leading to longer road trips and extended days away from home.

Stephen’s return from school in the spring marked Kenton’s departure and the band began a more fervent tour schedule as well as rehearsals for their next album. One late night in Fredricton, New Brunswick, the band overheard some testosterone-laden bravado that became the title of the record: Hold My Beer While I Kiss Your Girlfriend. Armed with such a catchy (if not cheeky) title, the band’s release went on to sell over 2000 copies worldwide. Their version of “Scotland the Brave” is rated as one of the most popular selections on Apples’ Itunes.

Everything seemed to be looking up for The Crofters, but the band caught a number of snags shortly thereafter. Ewen and Stephen lost their father, Donald, to lymphoma on September 30th. The fall was tough; Ewen had previously signed on to play tours with Universal Music’s “The Mahones” on both their Canadian and European tours. After the brothers’ loss and Ewen’s grueling tours, the Crofters had trouble returning to the party antics for which they had become known. This change also brought to light more subversive problems plaguing the band. The Crofters were no longer a vehicle for Ewen’s music, and the expectations for the band became scattered.

The band soldiered on into 2004 armed with a new record, a new van and a hundred thousand kilometers of tour dates. Their popularity grew over the spring, and by summer of ’04, the band was playing sold-out shows at home and abroad. While they enjoyed the benefits of their success, the blank stares on the faces of both leader and bandmates during performances told otherwise.
Pushed to grow their faithful fanbase, the group toured the US in the fall of 2004. After a successful tour, the band tried to go into the studio to complete their first full-band recording (prior to this Ewen did most of the studio work). After some efforts the record was mothballed. Thinking that touring would reignite some enthusiasm, Ewen steered the band back into the road for 2005.

The pattern of growth continued in 2005; the boys played to thousands across the countryside and continued to spread their name. They found themselves on Ottawa and Kingston radio stations, as well as interest from major-label distributors. The overt incline did not balance the inner decline, however, and Ewen decided to end the cycle by July. Chris Benton and Willie McKiver started the now-popular “Casting Fadora.” Ewen went into his home studio and recorded “It Was Easier When We Were Kids” in the fall and released the album in the dying days of 2005.

The original members- Ewen, Stephen, Jeff and Willie- got together to play a New Years Eve show at D’Arcy McGee’s in Ottawa. The 250-seat show was a sold out affair. The band played a full night from 10pm ‘till 1am, and covered their entire 80-plus song catalogue as well as selections from the new album.

Currently Ewen is writing new music that will build the basis for the new incarnation of The Crofters. Jeff and Steve hang around, eat chips, and nod in approval."

Discography:

"Hold My Beer While I Kiss Your Girlfriend" (10 tracks, 2003)

"It Was easier When We Were Kids" (13 tracks, 2005)

(click on the title to purchase the CDs from CDBaby)



www.ewenmcintosh.com/2005.htm (The Crofters' website)



"About 120 nights a year, Ewen plays mandolin and bass in a bunch of Folk and Celtic bands in Eastern Ontario and from time-to-time writes and records his own songs and then plays them live.

A while back he played bass for Terry Woods and Phil Chevron of The Pogues and toured Europe and Canada with The Mahones. Before that he toured a couple times across the US with The Peelers and The Glengarry Bhoys.

Ewen founded The Crofters, a band that logged in about 330 nights across Ontario, Quebec and the Eastern Seaboard of America. They made two records, one of which was written and recorded entirely by Ewen.

During the day he teaches kids to play better than what he can muster from his lead hands as a high school music teacher. "


http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/Ewen-McIntosh


DOWNLOAD:

www.mediafire.com/?3duygdmdmnz
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