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A brilliant title for an album, and a brilliant album by a brilliant band.
I was introduced to the Pogues at University by Dave, Mike and Andrew, and I have liked them ever since. Good grief, I even went out and bought this on vinyl. The Wikipedia article has taught me quite a lot, as has some of the links thrown up in it
One of the most attractive aspects of this album is the folk-rock fusion. I actually really like folk music - up to a point. I like it when it's proletarian and urban, hate it when it's tiptoe-through-the-tulips cowpat music. I like the ethnic Irish sound, and I like the fact that it's not Misty-Eyed-Old-Farts music, but Angry.
Every track on this album is worth listening to its own right, each is quite different from the rest. For example, the Wild Cats of Kilkenny has a wonderful combination of Bodhrán and penny whistle, a combination which ought to make one vomit, but the banshee howling and strident electric guitar - maybe it shouldn't work, but it does! And Cait O'Riordan's vocals on "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Everyday".
There is a good mix of original material by Shane McGowan and intelligent cover versions. It so happens that my two favourite tracks are cover versions, but that shouldn't be seen as diminishing the immense talent of Shane MacGowan - there's something about Shane MacGowan - born in Tunbridge Wells, attended Westminster School - which makes him just perfect to be 'considered one of the most important and poetic Irish songwriters of the last thirty years'.
I have always known Dirty Old Town as a song, but for about 15 years I thought it was a twee tiptoe-through-the-tulips song. Yes, I know that isn't the tradition of the Very Great Ewan MacColl, but it wasn't until I was actually in Salford*, with the Pogues' Dirty Old Town in my ears that its evocation of a very industrial city suddenly struck me - Ewan MacColl was still alive at this point. Of course Salford has changed beyond recognition now and will change more, especially round the Quays and near the Lowry.
However, sometimes an album contains a song so powerful that owning the album is mandatory simply because of that song. I realise that my recent record reviews are becoming increasingly autocratic in insisting that no record collection can be considered proper without certain works.
And the band played 'Waltzing Matilda' is simply one of the greatest songs ever written. The tune is compelling but even more powerful are the words,words made more poignant by the banjo, accordion** and brass. One word of warning - do not listen late at night. I never cry at audio-only performances of music, but listening to this at half past midnight a few days ago, I was in total floods. Even in the light of early afternoon, it is sending a shiver through me. And it makes me angry. Everything about World War 1 makes me angry. Utter waste, sheer evil and completely without any point. Why on earth did Australians end up fighting Turks in Gallipoli, dying and being maimed, just because of posturing by the immoral powerful and unaccountable. I don't know if huge conscript armies could be mustered nowadays, without extreme coercion, but the damage inflicted on an entire generation is incalculable. There are still people alive who fought in that war, we're still fighting it today in Iraq and elsewhere and if pointlessness and near-century long consequences is brought into the reckoning, it must count as one of the greatest evils of human history.
* en route for The Cliff, then Manchester United's training ground
** and how rarely do I praise the accordion, which if it wasn't for bagpipes, ought to be considered the spawn of Satan
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