by FAY Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:03 pm
The Outlaw Paul McGuinness - Andy Wilkinson on the Popes new offering 'Outlaw Heaven' and why sometimes if you fight the law you get some work done. - September 2009 / The Irish Herald
Sorry, there is no electronic version. The Irish Herald/The New Irish Gael is a free, monthly California paper. Andy Wilkinson is its music critic and has written favorably in the past about Pogues American Tours, Radiators album review, etc. Overall, it's a positive review in favor of Paul McGuinness and his music, but less-so of Shane's performance.
(Oh, well. But, good for Mad Dog and Co.)
Andy writes, "...Featuring Shane Macgowan, as it appears on the sleeve here, will undoubtedly sell a few more copies, as his return to the Pogues will sell tickets to their October North American Tour. For those looking forward to those shows - they will be good nights out, I'm sure. For those looking forward to this album as a return to the glory days of The Snake- too much vodka and soda has flowed under the bridge..."
(And, I thought Shane was a gin and/or wine man? And, yes! I'm looking forward to (atleast) the 2 shows in SF!)
He goes on, "...There's a brilliant chorus, too, and a bit at the end where Paul and Shane freestyle over the groove, naming various dead people they admire, from James Joyce to Janis Joplin. I would list more but I can't make out hardly any of the names Shane grunts. Spider Stacy's on there too - singing that is, not in the list of the dead people, but if he hangs round with these two for too long he might well be."
(I've met Spider a few times recently and he's doing just fine, thank you very much!)
And, offers, "...The album closes with the third song featuring Shane Macgowan- this one a solo lament entitled, 'The Loneliness of a Long Distant Drinker.' It sounds like it should be great, except that Shane's vocals don't sound like they used to. I mean, Johnny Cash, when he was dying- on American Recordings V- he still sounded pretty damn good..."
(Apples to oranges.)
Finally, "...don't buy this because it features Shane Macgowan- you will be disappointed." But, he does insist, "...Buy it because Mad Dog went to prison and got a lot done."
(I would buy it if it was offered on vinyl.)
So, there you have it, folks. Personally, I'm happy that Shane and Spider are actively participating in new, studio recordings together again, but discouraged by the assumption that reviews such as this are indicative of - albeit, one of several reasons - why the others are non-comital about a new recording.
(Rick Rubin, please call Pogues Management pronto. Help me, Rick Rubin. You're our only hope.)
Anyway- inevitably, there is likely to be a feature/announcement/review of the 2009 West Coast Tour in upcoming editions of the Irish Herald and I'll be sure to share it with you all.
See you in October, Pogues!
[i][b]The Outlaw Paul McGuinness[/b] - Andy Wilkinson on the Popes new offering 'Outlaw Heaven' and why sometimes if you fight the law you get some work done.[/i] - [b]September 2009 / The Irish Herald[/b]
Sorry, there is no electronic version. [i]The Irish Herald/The New Irish Gae[/i]l is a free, monthly California paper. Andy Wilkinson is its music critic and has written favorably in the past about [b]Pogues[/b] American Tours, [b]Radiators[/b] album review, etc. Overall, it's a positive review in favor of [b]Paul McGuinness[/b] and his music, but less-so of Shane's performance.
[i](Oh, well. But, good for Mad Dog and Co.)[/i]
Andy writes, "...Featuring [b]Shane Macgowan[/b], as it appears on the sleeve here, will undoubtedly sell a few more copies, as his return to the [b]Pogues[/b] will sell tickets to their October North American Tour. For those looking forward to those shows - they will be good nights out, I'm sure. For those looking forward to this album as a return to the glory days of [i][b]The Snake[/b][/i]- too much vodka and soda has flowed under the bridge..."
[i](And, I thought Shane was a gin and/or wine man? And, yes! I'm looking forward to (atleast) the 2 shows in SF!)[/i]
He goes on, "...There's a brilliant chorus, too, and a bit at the end where Paul and Shane freestyle over the groove, naming various dead people they admire, from [i]James Joyce[/i] to [i]Janis Joplin[/i]. I would list more but I can't make out hardly any of the names Shane grunts. [b]Spider Stacy's[/b] on there too - singing that is, not in the list of the dead people, but if he hangs round with these two for too long he might well be."
[i](I've met Spider a few times recently and he's doing just fine, thank you very much!)[/i]
And, offers, "...The album closes with the third song featuring Shane Macgowan- this one a solo lament entitled, 'The Loneliness of a Long Distant Drinker.' It sounds like it should be great, except that Shane's vocals don't sound like they used to. I mean, [i]Johnny Cash[/i], when he was dying- on [i]American Recordings V[/i]- he still sounded pretty damn good..."
[i](Apples to oranges.)[/i]
Finally, "...don't buy this because it features Shane Macgowan- you will be disappointed." But, he does insist, "...Buy it because Mad Dog went to prison and got a lot done."
[i](I would buy it if it was offered on vinyl.)[/i]
So, there you have it, [i]folks[/i]. Personally, I'm happy that Shane and Spider are actively participating in new, studio recordings together again, but discouraged by the assumption that reviews such as this are indicative of - albeit, one of several reasons - why [i]the others[/i] are non-comital about a new recording.
[i]([b]Rick Rubin[/b], please call Pogues Management pronto. Help me, Rick Rubin. You're our only hope.)[/i]
Anyway- inevitably, there is likely to be a feature/announcement/review of the 2009 West Coast Tour in upcoming editions of [i]the Irish Herald[/i] and I'll be sure to share it with you all.
See you in October, Pogues!
