Marc Gunn - Celtic American Music, Celtic Podcaster, and Cat Lover

About Marc Gunn  ;Buy CDs and Music Downloads   Shows   Marc Gunn Podcasts   Booking

 
 

Marc's Free Blog

A master list of journal articles, reviews, features, and news to various webpages around the net. These are my free gifts to you.

Monday, July 11, 2005

The Pogues CD

by Michelle Osborne

Artist: The Pogues
Album: If I Should Fall From Grace With God
Year produced: 1988

I knew nothing of the world of Celtic rock until I was sent a preview copy of Marc Gunn's newly-released compilation, "The Secret World of Celtic Rock." Instantly, I was intrigued and was told to go listen to The Pogues who are highly influential in the Celtic rock world.

The Pogues, who's original name Pogue Mahone means "kiss my arse" in Gaelic, were founded by Shane MacGowan in 1981. Since then, they have shortened their name to the now well-known "The Pogues" (after a DJ discovered what pogue mahone meant) and put out 13 albums and several videos of their performances.

If I Should Fall From Grace With God, released in 1988, was their 3rd album and contains over 50 minutes of some truly great music. One of the highlights of this album is the Christmas anthem, "Fairlytale of New York." After a beginning with a solo voice and piano, it launches into a song that starts idealistic and turns fairly harsh as the couple involved speak of what has happened to their dreams. One can easily hear the youthful idealism that turns to cold pessimism as the song spins around them. Another particular favourite is the "Turkish Song of the Damned." Be ready to crank the volume up on this one! Beginning with a driving beat and a Mediterranean-influenced melody, it continually floats between this sound and a more Celtic-inspired dance tune. Screams and howls punctuate the singing, while the latter portion is a driving revved-up jig. A couple other highlights include the instrumental "Metropolis," which was inspired by Leonard Bernstein's music (no doubt this would be West Side Story), and "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six," a song which shows their Republican leanings and was actually banned by the BBC.

If you're looking for an album of solid Celtic rock, which is both unique and fun to listen to, you cannot possibly go wrong with this album by The Pogues.


   Buy the album: If I Should Fall From Grace With God



Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, is a native to the central New York region. She plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer.

posted by Marc Gunn @ Monday, July 11, 2005

 

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Links to this post:

Create a Link

<< Home

Embrace
Indie Celtic music!

Buy CDs
Buy Celtic T-Shirts
iTunes Music Store
Celtic Songs and Folk Music Downloads

Gunn Runners Club

 

Marc Gunn Merchandise

Celtic Invasion Vacations

 


 


Sponsored Ads
Amazing Gifts from Amazon
Gift ideas for all ages & occasions. The easy way to find great gifts
Fantasy Dragons Gifts
"Dragon Aren't Mythical. Virgins Are!" Gifts for dragon lovers of all ages.


 

Copyright 1999-2015 Marc Gunn's Celtic Folk Songs Downloads
PO Box 4396, Austin, Texas 78765-4396, ph 512.470.4866

· Celtic Music MP3 Downloads Magazine - Irish Music · Celtic Weddings: Celtic Wedding Music · Directory of Free Music Downloads · Celtic Music CDs · A Bard's Celtic Lyric Directory - Scottish & Irish Folk Song Lyrics