Good Time Boys II

Although I experienced a rough patch in the mid-‘90s, by the end of the decade things were starting to look up. I completed my master’s degree, the U.S. economy was booming, and in January 1998 I went on a three-week cultural tour of India and Nepal where the only music I had with me were two cassette tapes- Jawbreaker’s 24 Hour Revenge Therapy and The Verve’s Urban Hymns. My life-changing journey through the subcontinent inspired me to join the Peace Corps and even though I assumed I would be going to Asia, my two years serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria were great.

The Verve

Living in Eastern Europe at the turn of the century not only changed my worldview but also began changing my musical tastes. For one thing, MTV Europe was better than American MTV because it actually showed music videos including lots of Britpop artists (they call them pop stars in Europe) like Oasis, the Verve, and Travis. I liked a lot of what I was hearing from the U.K at that time- still do- and when I returned to the U.S. in summer 2001 Coldplay was everywhere.

Pulp

While I’ve never considered myself an Anglophile, during my senior year in college I had three British classmates whose company I often preferred to Americans. I enjoyed their jokes, their shameless thickening of their accents to attract girls, and their secret desire to be as cool as Americans. We shared the same dry sense of humor, cigarettes, love of reading, and a fondness for the Bee Gees- all of which are just some of the things I continue to enjoy about Britpop.

British Sea Power

Whether it was stadium rock or power ballads, bold drama or pastoral charm, it seemed the Brits could do no wrong during those years when Britpop ruled the world. Now, with April coming and the dreary spring weather bringing me down, I find myself listening more and more to Britpop to help pull me through to May. I must say for Brits a lot of these bands actually have great rhythm sections and even ten years after its demise I’m still waiting for America’s musical response to Britpop. Here are some more of my favorites. Enjoy!

Keane

01. Keane – “Somewhere Only We Know” (2004)
02. Delays – “Nearer Than Heaven” (2003)
03. Oasis – “She’s Electric” (1995)
04. Coldplay – “Yellow” (2000)
05. British Sea Power – “Carrion” (2003)
06. British Sea Power – “Blackout” (2003)
07. Travis – “Closer” (2007)
08. Snow Patrol – “Crack the Shutters” (2008)
09. The Verve – “The Drugs Don’t Work” (1997)
10. World Party – “Put the Message in the Box” (1990)
11. Pulp – “Common People” (1995)
12. Athlete – “Hurricane” (2007)
13. James – “Out to Get You” (1993)
14. Coldplay – “The Scientist” (2002)
15. The House of Love – “Christine” (1988)
16. Travis – “Selfish Jean” (2007)
17. Travis – “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?” (1999)
18. The Verve – “Sonnet” (1997)
19. The Verve – “Lucky Man” (1997)
20. Kula Shaker – “Shower Your Love” (1998)

Coldplay with Paul McCartney

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Get a Life

Jawbreaker’s first outing on a major label- 1995’s Dear You- was also the band’s final album; they took their million dollars and then broke up the following year. For those who somehow missed the message of 24 Hour Revenge Therapy, the opening and closing tracks of Dear You put it plainly to the band’s dejected fan base: there is more to life than Jawbreaker so take your head out of your ass and get a life. As a longtime Jawbreaker fan, I actually prefer Dear You to 24 Revenge Therapy. The band sounds tighter than ever and the improved (some might call it slicker) studio production of Dear You is much better suited to the music and Blake’s vocals than the murkier sounding 24 Revenge Therapy.

Jawbreaker fans expecting 24 Hour Revenge Therapy Part II summarily trashed this album when it was released in ’95 but unlike its rougher predecessor I always found Dear You to be excellent and inspiring background music- especially when working on my novel. Despite some dark songs, Schwarzenbach sounds like he’s having fun this time around and there’s not one clunker on Dear You. “Oyster” became my college anthem, “Sluttering (May 4th)” both terrified and enthralled me, and the priceless Christopher Walken sample from Annie Hall on “Jet Black” is still my favorite moment on the album.

Not surprisingly, Jawbreaker reunited in 2017 and my buddy Toast and some of our old friends recently went and saw the band perform live at a sold out show in Brooklyn. Toast said it was fun but people in the crowd- including our friends- looked as though they were having a religious experience while watching the band play. I’m not one for nostalgia tours- I’ll always remember Jawbreaker in the sleazy basement of ABC No Rio- but if the band can somehow arrange to have Christopher Walken get up on stage with them and recite his lines during “Jet Black” then I’m there. Grade: A

Jawbreaker playing in Brooklyn 2018

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Jawbreaker – What’s in My Bag?

24 Year Revenge Therapy

As a punk fan, I’d been following Jawbreaker for years when in 1994 they released 24 Hour Revenge Therapy which basically announced the end of the American underground music scene as we knew it. Jawbreaker’s earliest songs- good, not great- had showed real potential and so my friend Toast and I kept buying everything they released. For me, the sign of a good band is you can’t easily label them though people tried labeling Jawbreaker pop punk, hardcore, or indie/alternative (I think now they were probably closer to classic post-punk music- they even covered the Psychedelic Furs).

In 1992, Jawbreaker (a bicoastal band who traversed between New York and California) released the Chesterfield King EP and I knew it was a game changer. Not only was singer and guitarist Blake Schwarzenbach continuing his use of free verse poetry (not very common in punk music) but the song “Chesterfield King” was light years beyond any pop punk songs of the time. I was excited to hear the band’s growth and in the spring of 1993 Toast and I went to see our first Jawbreaker show at ABC No Rio in Manhattan’s Lower East Side (for some reason we brought along a camera and a tape recorder to document the event- which we did. No one seemed to mind- including Jawbreaker.) The concert took place in ABC’s filthy subterranean basement and there were maybe 50 people in attendance.

When Jawbreaker took the “stage” they looked to be in a bad mood and opened with a catchy new song (“Do You Still Hate Me?”) that got the crowd’s attention. They then proceeded to play other catchy new songs we’d never heard before, and when they broke into “The Boat Dreams from the Hill” I was standing just a few feet away from Blake and- listening to the lyrics for the first time- I felt a thrill because I knew this song was not only amazing but the culmination of everything I ever liked about Jawbreaker.

Boat remembers the carpenter's sure hand
Missing fishy flutter on its rudder
Sold at an auction, on a dolly ever since
Sometimes rainy days drop boyish wonder 

He keeps patching it and painting
Thinking about his pension plan
But the boat is out to pasture
Seems it never had a chance 

I wanna be a boat
I wanna learn to swim
Then I'll learn to float
Then begin again 

I wanna be a boat
I wanna learn to swim
Then I'll learn to float
Then begin again
Begin again 

This was the song we always knew Adam, Blake, and Chris were capable of writing and it clearly blew every person in the audience away that drizzly May evening in New York City. Nine months later, my friend Mike and I drove an hour to buy 24 Hour Revenge Therapy and I was happy to see “The Boat Dreams from the Hill” was the opening track. A month later, Toast and I went to see Jawbreaker again- this time at Maxwell’s in Hoboken- where the trio was in much better spirits and rightfuly celebrating the release of what has become a classic album.

Jawbreaker at ABC No Rio, NYC 1993 (Photos courtesy of Toast)

They say a writer who writes about his own people, his own place, and his own time writes about all people, in all places, and in all times. Whether it’s taking jabs at the political correctness of the punk scene police, undergoing throat surgery in Europe, or experiencing the highs and lows of desire, a weary but confident Schwarzenbach dispenses with superfluities on 24 and connects directly with his audience while tossing off one great line after another: “I believe in desperate acts, the kind that make you look stupid”, “Too old not to get excited”, “I dip my toe into this cold, cold life. I want to dive, but I can’t find your feet.” Who does this NYU punk think he is- a songwriter? So does 24 still hold up 24 years later? Even after removing nostalgia from the equation I’d still say yes.

The Jean in front of Jawbreaker's van

Every song on 24 is solid, personal, honest and the album captures perfectly that moment when we all realized “the scene” was over. The excitement of pop punk had run its course, Green Day and Nirvana had become rock stars (Kurt Cobain killed himself shortly after the release of 24), and the scene was now awash with bad blood and backbiting. It was just a matter of time before a major label sucked up Jawbreaker and they either became rock stars or got spit out in the trash heap. We were all getting older, leaving home, going to college, starting jobs, and 24 felt like a goodbye party for all of us. It was as if Jawbreaker was saying to us, “See? All these years we always knew we could make a record like this. We’ve made a great album- all of us- so now let’s celebrate and go out in style- with some dignity- before the dream ends.” It ended all too soon. Grade: A

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Don’t Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker – Trailer 

Post-Punk Diary – Part 2

Around the same time Toast and I were absorbing Burning Ambitions, we were also listening to Public Image Ltd (mostly because their lead singer was John Lydon- formerly Johnny Rotten of Sex Pistols). PiL was one of the original U.K. post-punk bands and their music was definitely weird. I even purchased their Metal Box album (which came in a metal canister) and the ghostly, droning music sounded like it was coming from some distant, desolate planet. Now that’s post-punk!

Public Image Ltd

When I was a teen on Long Island in the ‘80s, we had access to a couple of radio shows which featured post-punk and other “underground” music and MTV had a weekly Sunday night program- 120 Minutes- which often showed post-punk videos. In our little town there were also Goth girls- girls who lived and looked like vampires, dressed in black, and listened to bands like the Cure, the Smiths, and Depeche Mode. Goth girls also helped introduce me to post-punk music. I even dated some of them.

Wire

For me, post-punk music has always provided its share of romance and still sounds great while sitting alone in your bedroom at night- or with a friend. Post-punk takes you places and is one of the few alternative music genres that is literate, mysterious, and actually speaks of theology: God, angels, heaven, prayer, and the effects of original sin. New Order continued moving further into synth pop and dance music, the Cure turned into goth pop, the Pixies and the Psychedelic Furs broke up, and by the early ‘90s post-punk appeared to be all but dead. Yet I think there is still much to enjoy and learn from post-punk music- if people will only give it a chance. Here are some (more) of my favorites. Enjoy!

Nada Surf

01. The Psychedelic Furs – “Heartbreak Beat” (1987)

02. New Order – “1963” (1987)

03. New Order – “True Faith” (1987)

04. Tom Verlaine – “Kingdom Come” (1979)

05. Pixies – “Motorway to Roswell” (1991)

06. New Order – “Leave Me Alone” (1981)

07. New Order – “Love Vigilantes” (1985)

08. Wire – “Ex Lion Tamer” (1977)

09. New Order – “Bizarre Love Triangle” (1986)

10. Echo & the Bunnymen – “Do It Clean” (1980)

11. The Go-Betweens – “Spring Rain” (1986)

12. New Order – “Ceremony” (1981)

13. Nada Surf – “Zen Brain” (1996)

14. The Psychedelic Furs – “The Ghost in You” (1984)

15. Frank Black and the Catholics – “Out of State” (2002)

16. Public Image Ltd – “Seattle” (1987)

17. The Fall – “Bingo-Master’s Break-Out!” (1978)

18. The Cure – “Push” (1985)

19. The Cure – “Boys Don’t Cry” (1979)

20. Public Image Ltd – “Public Image” (1978)

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Pixies – “Head On”

Post-Punk Diary – Part 1

Some people say punk music only lasted a couple of years before it became at best an attitude and at worst derivative. Post-punk music- which began in the U.K. in the late ‘70s- has always been more adventurous than punk and one might say more literate. After all, it was mostly college-educated musicians and art students- raised on ‘60s music and influenced by punk- who led the post-punk movement (American post-punk artists are often referred to as noise pop).

Love and Rockets

When we were around 15 years old, my friend Toast purchased the compilation Burning Ambitions: A History of Punk which was- and still is- a gold mine of early punk music. Besides being a blueprint for our band Twinkie Force, Burning Ambitions also gave Toast and me our first taste of post-punk music from Thatcher era U.K. bands like Wire, the Fall, and SpizzEnergi. These bands taught us post-punk doesn't have to be all serious and gloomy- it can also be crazy, cheeky fun.

Burning Ambitions: A History of Punk

After entering college, I started getting into ‘80s American noise pop bands like the Pixies whose rock based brand of post-punk music inspired a generation of ‘90s bands including Nirvana. In the past decade or so, I've been rediscovering other post-punk bands I somehow missed the first time around like Sugar, the Go-Betweens, and the Psychedelic Furs. Punks in spirit but musically and lyrically all over the place, post-punk artists put the art back in artist. With similar influences, similar problems, and nothing to lose, the post-punk artists are not afraid to take chances which can result in some really bad but also some really great music. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!   

Sugar

01. The Psychedelic Furs – “Love My Way” (1982)

02. Pixies – “Rock Music” (1990)

03. Nada Surf – “Happy Kid” (2002)

04. Pixies – “Wave of Mutilation” (1989)

05. The Psychedelic Furs – “Heaven” (1984)

06. Wire – “Mannequin” (1977)

07. Pixies – “Here Comes Your Man” (1989)

08. Pixies – “Havalina” (1990)

09. Sugar – “If I Can’t Change Your Mind” (1992)

10. Pixies – “Down to the Well” (1990)

11. Brandon Flowers – “Crossfire” (2010)

12. The Psychedelic Furs – “House” (1989)

13. The Go-Betweens – “Love Goes On!” (1988)

14. Wire – “Outdoor Miner” (1978)

15. Sugar – “A Good Idea” (1992)

16. The Psychedelic Furs – “Pretty in Pink” (1981)

17. Nada Surf – “Popular” (1996)

18. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – “Babe, You Turn Me On” (2004)

19. Love and Rockets – “No New Tale to Tell” (1987)

20. SpizzEnergi – “Where’s Captain Kirk?” (1979)

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Pixies – “Velouria”

Alternative Grab Bag III

Spring has arrived- the season of flowers, lovers, and birdsong- and perhaps in order to defend myself against the upcoming depression, desolation, and allergies associated with April I seem to be armoring myself lately with lots of ‘80s new wave, post-punk, and neo psychedelic music from the U.K. and even Australia as they seem to know how to embrace the pain and bleakness of this dreadful season and still turn it into something sweet- sort of like Mary Poppins, I guess.

The Psychedelic Furs

As a Christian I observe and recognize the hope of the Easter season but ever since I was a child I’ve never cared for spring. Twice when I was a young man I fell seriously ill- both times in spring- and I have sad memories of convalescing in New York and despising the false promises of April- that cruel, bitter month which gets your hopes up only to continue to disappoint you with her cool dreariness, damp days, and sickly looking foliage struggling to be born. She brings life, yes, but also pain to people like me.

The Church

I usually start to feel better in early May and by June I am back to my old self but April will always be an annual struggle for me. So come join me, the Jean, as we rage against the spring and pull out some of my favorites from indie/alternative, garage rock, post-punk, Britpop, and new wave. We’ve even got some Yanks in the mix. It’s the return of the alternative grab bag. Enjoy!

Travis

01. The Church – “Lost” (1988)
02. The Vines – “Winning Days” (2004)
03. The Lemonheads – “Into Your Arms” (1993)
04. The Dukes of Stratosphear – “Vanishing Girl (2001 Mix)” (1987)
05. The Psychedelic Furs – “Pretty in Pink” (1981)
06. Scott Walker – “Butterfly” (1969)
07. The House of Love – “Christine” (1988)
08. Ultravox – “Reap the Wild Wind” (1982)
09. The Human League – “Don’t You Want Me” (1981)
10. Reigning Sound – “Time Bomb High School” (2002)
11. Love and Rockets – “No New Tale to Tell” (1987)
12. Travis – “Selfish Jean” (2007)
13. Sugar – “A Good Idea” (1992)
14. The Mountain Goats – “Love Love Love” (2005)
15. The Psychedelic Furs –“Heartbreak Beat” (1987)
16. Liz Phair – “Why Can’t I?” (2003)
17. Dead or Alive – “You Spin Me Round Like a Record” (1985)
18. Coldplay – “Yellow” (2000)
19. The Church – “Tear It All Away” (1981)
20. Depeche Mode – “Enjoy the Silence” (1990)

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Depeche Mode – “Enjoy the Silence”

The Vines – “Winning Days”

Faves 2012–2018 – Part 2

When I was a kid, keeping up with new music was easy since we had MTV and Top 40 radio telling us what songs and artists were new and hot. Things have changed since then but some people are still crazy for new music and like staying connected with what’s current- until what is current gets replaced next week by something newer and hotter. I like music- obviously- but I can’t keep up with all the new stuff (I think I gave up trying some time in the late ‘80s).

Dropkick Murphys

I admit I’ve become much pickier with my musical selections in recent years and, like many of us, after amassing a private music collection I have become my own radio station. With the rise of the Internet and music streaming it seems the days of radio and MTV bringing people together through music are finished and we’ve all separated into different musical camps. Perhaps we need another musical revolution- something universal- to bring us all back together again as music fans. Is the Internet killing music? Am I just becoming a grumpy old man? Where’s Paul McCartney when we need him?

Darius Rucker

I feel like new music is a bright, shiny wagon racing down the street and people are chasing after it. Then I come walking up the rear, taking my time, seeing what the wagon has dropped along the way. I pick things up, examine them, and any thing worth keeping I throw in my bag. For better or worse, I’m definitely behind the times when it comes to new music but what is in my bag will hopefully take me the rest of the way to the finish line. Here are some more of my favorites. Enjoy!

Echosmith

01. Paul McCartney – "Wanderlust (2015 Remix)” (1982)

02. Dropkick Murphys – “4-15-13” (2017)
03. The Pogues – "Streams of Whiskey (2013 Mix)” (1984)
04. Paul McCartney – “On My Way to Work” (2013)
05. Dinosaur Jr. – “Watch the Corners” (2012)
06. Echosmith – “Bizarre Love Triangle (Live)” (2015)
07. Paul McCartney – “Only Our Hearts” (2012)
08. The Darkness – “Nothin's Gonna Stop Us” (2012)
09. Darius Rucker – “Wagon Wheel” (2013)
10. The Killers – “Runaways” (2012)
11. They Might Be Giants – “Tesla” (2013)
12. Paul McCartney – “Here Today (2015 Remix)” (1982)
13. Alejandro Escovedo – “Farewell to the Good Times” (2016)
14. Greg Graffin – “Millport” (2017)

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Faves 2012–2018 – Part 1

Recently I was discussing music with an old friend from my hometown who asked if I had any new music recommendations. New music? I think I lost touch with new music a couple of decades ago. I still enjoy researching and discovering music from the past but as for new artists and releases I’m afraid I’m not much help. In my defense, I combed through my blog and found some featured songs from the past six years or so. Granted most of these artists are not new but I guess I just want to prove I’m still open to new music. Is it possible there is no good new music anymore? Maybe I’m just becoming a dad. Enjoy!

Superchunk

01. Superchunk – “What a Time to Be Alive” (2018)
02. James McMurtry – “Long Island Sound” (2015)
03. Ray Davies – “Poetry” (2017)
04. Bob Weir – “Ki-Yi Bossie” (2016)
05. Butch Walker – “Stay Gold” (2016)
06. The Pogues – “The Battle of Brisbane (2013 Mix)” (1984)
07. Paul McCartney – “Early Days” (2013)
08. Rebelution – “Fade Away” (2014)
09. Easy Star All-Stars feat. Morgan Heritage – “High and Dry” (2016)
10. The Rolling Stones – “Just Your Fool” (2016)
11. Mac McCaughan – “Happy New Year (Prince Can't Die Again)” (2016)
12. Screeching Weasel – “Hanging Around (25th Anniversary Remix)” (1993)
13. Ramones – “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment (40th Anniversary Mix)” (1977)
14. Sonny & The Sunsets – “Green Blood” (2013)

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Punk Saint Patrick’s Day!

“A lot of people feel the Sex Pistols were just negative. I agree, and what the fuck is wrong with that? Sometimes the absolute most positive thing you can be in a boring society is completely negative.”

– John Lydon, Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs

Saint Patrick’s Day and punk share a lot in common. Both have traditionally celebrated the working class, the underdog, and fighting for your rights. To me punk music fits in well with the cold and miserable March weather here in the Northeast: the dead trees, the filthy windows, the harsh sunlight falling on brick and concrete- sometimes gritty scenery calls for gritty music.

Sex Pistols

Back in my hard living days, Saint Patrick’s Day was all about drinking with the boys and nothing brings guys closer together than chugging beer and listening to punk rock which is not just a musical genre but an attitude. Like the Irish, punk sings of the struggles and triumphs of everyday life, calls it like it sees it, and believes in doing it for yourself. But the punks- like the Irish- also know there is strength in unity, laughter can be the best medicine, and in the end fellowship is what it’s all about- or else what the hell are we doing it for? Here are some of my favorite punk songs in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day. Enjoy!

Johnny Rotten and Johnny Ramone

01. Rancid – “Journey to the End of the East Bay” (1995)

02. Rancid – “Wrongful Suspicion” (1998)

03. The Clash – “Rudie Can’t Fail” (1979)

04. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones –“The Impression That I Get” (1997)

05. The Mr. T Experience – “Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend” (1994)

06. Descendents – “’Merican” (2004)

07. Greg Graffin – “Millport” (2017)

08. Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon – “Love Me, I’m a Liberal” (1994)

09. Rancid – “Civilian Ways” (2009)

10. The Vandals – “My Girlfriend’s Dead” (1998)

11. The Mr. T Experience – “So Long, Sucker” (1989)

12. Dropkick Murphys – “4-15-13” (2017)

13. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – “Hope I Never Lose My Wallet” (1989)

14. The Undertones – “You’ve Got My Number (Why Don’t You Use It?)” (1979) 

15. Screeching Weasel – “I’m Gonna Strangle You” (1993)

16. Screeching Weasel – “I Can See Clearly” (1991)

17. Ramones – “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment (40th Anniversary Mix)” (1977)

18. Sex Pistols –“God Save the Queen” (1977)

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John Lydon Is Proud to Be an American

John Lydon – Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs

Kiss Me I’m Irish – Part 2

Growing up in New York I had many friends of Irish ancestry and their families were quite proud of it. The Irish part of my European heritage comes from my father’s side (French and Irish) but I never felt any connection to Ireland save for my family’s devout Catholicism (mom converted after she married dad) and my father was more interested in Italian culture than anything else. My maternal grandfather was of French and Russian ancestry but since he was born on March 17 we always celebrated his birthday with a Saint Patrick's Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage and a Cookie O’ Puss ice cream cake from Carvel. Such was my Irish-American experience.

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem

Saint Patrick’s Day- like most holidays in the United States- became commercialized a long time ago and while some may still celebrate the stereotype of the happy-go-lucky Irishman with a drink in his hand, I’ve always been more drawn to the darker and sadder aspects of the Irish experience: the rain, the gloom, and famine; the tragic romances, scary folk stories, and strict interpretation of Catholicism; the diaspora, the Troubles, the anti-Irish sentiment, and the Kennedys. Criminy, it’s enough to make anyone want a drink. Here are some (more) of my favorites from Irish artists. Enjoy!

The Divine Comedy

01. U2 – “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (Live)” (2005)
02. The Dubliners – “Whiskey in the Jar (Live)” (1974)
03. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová – “Falling Slowly” (2007)
04. Tommy Makem – “The Butcher Boy” (1961)
05. The Cranberries – “You and Me” (1999)
06. The Cranberries – “Ode to My Family” (1994)
07. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem – “The Rising of the Moon (Live)” (1962)
08. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem – “Whiskey, You’re the Devil (Live)” (1962)
09. The Divine Comedy – “Absent Friends” (2004)
10. The Smiths – “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” (1984)
11. The Smiths –  “Rubber Ring” (1985)
12. The Smiths – “Asleep” (1985)
13. Sinéad O’Connor – “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
14. The Cranberries – “Linger” (1993)
15. Them – “My Lonely Sad Eyes” (1966)
16. The Smiths – “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” (1986)

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Kiss Me I’m Irish – Part 1

The United States is a nation of immigrants but most Americans will never know what drove our ancestors to come here. I’m pretty sure my ancestors from Ireland came here for work and although they were illiterate my Irish great-grandparents- one Protestant, one Catholic- worked hard and became small business owners in New Jersey where they were able to provide a better life for their children.

Sinéad O'Connor 

On Saint Patrick’s Day we remember not only the millions of Irish who helped build this country but all our brave ancestors- wherever they came from- and what they suffered and endured to get us here: the land of milk and honey. In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, here are some of my favorite songs from artists of Irish heritage. This round is on me. Enjoy!

U2

01. Sinéad O’Connor – “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” (1992)

02. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – “Everyday I Write the Book (Live)” (2011)

03. Van Morrison & The Band – “Caravan (Live)” (1976)

04. Sinéad O’Connor – “The Emperor's New Clothes” (1990)

05. Snow Patrol – “Open Your Eyes” (2006)
06. Van Morrison – “Saint Dominic’s Preview” (1972)

07. U2 – “Miracle Drug” (2004)

08. Van Morrison – “Tupelo Honey” (1971)

09. U2 – “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own (Live)” (2005)

10. Elvis Costello – “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” (1978)

11. Oasis – “She’s Electric” (1995)

12. Snow Patrol – “Run” (2003)

13. The Divine Comedy – “Have You Ever Been in Love” (2010)

14. Sinéad O’Connor – “Mandinka” (1987)

15. The Irish Rovers – “Nancy Whiskey (Live)” (1966)

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Van Morrison & The Band – “Caravan (Live)”

Mac’s Back

After getting sacked by the Pogues in 1991, The Snake was Shane MacGowan’s comeback album and included guest stars Sinéad O'Connor, Johnny Depp, and even a couple of Pogues. I remember buying the CD in 1995 or so and listening to it with mixed feelings. It was similar to the Pogues’ music but more basic- like a veteran bar band playing rock music in a smoky Irish pub. Unlike The Rare Oul’ Stuff, there are a couple of duds on The Snake (different versions of the album exist with slightly different tracks) but most of the songs still hold up pretty well including three winners not included on The Rare Oul’ Stuff: “The Church of the Holy Spook”, “A Mexican Funeral in Paris”, and “Haunted”. Grade: B+

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Shane’s Gold

In addition to being a good summation of what Shane MacGowan was up to in the ‘90s (after the Pogues fired him), The Rare Oul’ Stuff  is a bawdy, amiable party album sure to please Pogues fans. More rock than jig, the songs on this compilation flow together like a river of whiskey with MacGowan’s playful charisma the star of the show (you’ll even forgive his attempt at a Christmas croon, proceeds of which Shane says were donated to children’s charities). (Note: Spotify doesn’t have his cover of Neil Diamond’s “Cracklin’ Rosie” but you can find it on my Youtube playlist.)

MacGowan is no fool- he wrote most of these songs- and The Rare Oul’ Stuff will definitely turn your next cèilidh into a Celtic rock party (just keep in mind Shane is prone to spouting expletives after a few drinks, though you may not understand what he’s saying anyway). My only complaint with this package is it’s missing some of my favorite tracks from The Snake (“The Church of the Holy Spook”, “Haunted”) and one can’t help but wonder how much better the songs on this collection might have sounded with seven Pogues backing him instead of what- at times- sounds like a wedding band. You don’t have to drink to enjoy this album but it probably wouldn’t hurt either. Grade: B+

Shane's 60th birthday party (with Johnny Depp and the President of Ireland) 

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Shane MacGowan & Máire Brennan – “You're The One”

Shamrock! – Part 3

“April is the cruelest month.”

 – T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land 

I like all the Pogues’ albums- even the last two without Shane MacGowan- and each one has special memories for me particularly the later albums which helped me get through some tough times during my college days in New York. People say Ireland is green and beautiful- I’ve never been there- but the pictures I’ve seen remind me of April in New York which for me is a miserable time of year and used to make me depressed when I lived there (for 25 years). The cold, damp air, the rain, the clouds, the bare tree branches, the soggy grass- it all made me long for May.

Perhaps like me Shane MacGowan- with his Irish blood and poet’s heart- is genetically predisposed to that uniquely Irish depression which seems to attack and thrive in springtime and maybe it takes one Irishman to console another after the joy of Saint Patrick’s Day has faded and summer seems so far away. That time for me is the Waste Land. That’s when I listen to the Pogues. 

In college I used to listen to the Pogues while working on my novel and for me it was great inspirational music to have playing while typing away in my bedroom. I like the way- in addition to geography- the Pogues are always good for a history lesson and Shane MacGowan is a gifted storyteller. “Turkish Song of the Damned” is a rousing ghost story that still terrifies me and “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” still brings tears to my eyes. Here are some more of my favorites. Enjoy!

The Pogues and James Joyce

01. The Pogues – “A Pair of Brown Eyes” (1985)

02. The Pogues – “Down All the Days” (1989)

03. The Pogues – “Tuesday Morning” (1993)

04. The Pogues – “Misty Morning, Albert Bridge” (1989)

05. The Pogues – “The Old Main Drag” (1985)

06. The Pogues – “If I Should Fall from Grace with God (Live)” (1991)

07. The Pogues – “Turkish Song of the Damned” (1988)

08. The Pogues – “Bottle of Smoke” (1988)

09. The Pogues & The Dubliners – “Mountain Dew” (1987)

10. The Pogues – “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” (1985)

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My Left Foot

Shamrock! – Part 2

Although the Pogues formed in England (where most of its members were born), I think most people assume the Pogues are an Irish band mostly because of lead singer Shane MacGowan whose Irish heritage and love of Irish culture permeates the Pogues’ music (especially their early stuff). Over the years, the Pogues’ music has become an integral part of Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations all around the world and MacGowan has garnered international acclaim as a genuine Irish poet.

Listening to the Pogues is like traveling around the globe- you never know where you’ll end up- and I respect artists whose lyrics make listeners get out the map. They may have started out as an Irish inspired band but the Pogues were not afraid to experiment with other styles of music. They eventually grew into something of a world music band with the other members assuming more of the vocal and songwriting duties especially as MacGowan’s role in the band diminished due to personal demons (they finally showed him the door in 1991). Perhaps it’s my own Irish heritage (on my father’s side) but every year around this time I find myself taking out my Pogues music and getting thirsty for a pint. Here are some (more) of my favorites. Enjoy!

01. The Pogues – “Bright Lights” (1995)

02. The Pogues – “The Battle of Brisbane (2013 Mix)” (1984) 

03. The Pogues & The Dubliners – “The Irish Rover” (1987)

04. The Pogues – “Boat Train” (1989)

05. The Pogues – “The Body of an American” (1986)

06. The Pogues – “The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn” (1985)

07. The Pogues – “Lorelei” (1989)

08. The Pogues – “Dark Streets of London” (1984)

09. The Pogues – “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” (1988)

10. The Pogues – “Streams of Whiskey (2013 Mix)” (1984)

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The Pogues & The Dubliners – “The Irish Rover”