by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: The Pogues
Album: "If I Should Fall From Grace With God"
Year produced: 2006

Truly, it is hard to get yourself into more "fun" than The Pogues dish out on an album, and "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" is no exception. "Turkish Song of the Damned" is an all-time favorite of mine with its whirling, swirling middle-eastern, yet somehow still Celtic vibe. Funky, punky and yet unmistakably Irish, you'll forgive the fact that you can't understand much of the lyrics for the reason that the energy and drive of this CD will more than keep you involved.

You'll probably chuckle and want to share the songs with others--that's just what happens when you have a Pogues CD. Beware though--you can wind up tired if you aren't ready for the romp! One track that really stands out is the "Fairytale of New York" with guest vocalist Kristy McColl, which only adds to the appeal of this album.

I once heard The Pogues described as "explosive," and it really worked for me as a way to describe their music. The sound is truly one-of-a-kind, although there have been many influenced by their own peculiar stew of musical styling. If you have not yet heard this band, this CD is a terrific first listen, as every song is stellar. "Metropolis" is a crazy, whirlwind ride, "Fiesta" teases you into thinking it will be a disappointment (but then delivers!), and "Worms" will just plain crack you up with its brief appearance. A must have for Pogues fans and a great intro for the uninitiated.

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among others and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com.

Labels: cd_review_2007

Posted by Marc Gunn, Saturday, January 27, 2007.
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