Most underrated Pogues Album/Song

[Pyro]

I think mr. Finer had very distinctive style - when I listened to Night Train with lyrics in my hand I though - hey, would Shane write something like:

Night unfolds, a coal black shroud
Across the hard and stony ground

Flaming steel swift as wind
Wires hum the rails ring

Steam hissed up, the hot coals glowed
The furnace blazed, the wheels they rolled
On tracks of iron, straight and cold

and so on...?

It reminded me of Oretown in many things of which I knew it was written by Jem.
So I looked - and indeed.

I think Shane wrote about completely different environiment and things.

[David B.]

Yes, I've always felt that the Pogues had not one but two great songwriters (and you could make a case for Mr. Chevron as well on the strength of "Thousands" alone - classic ballad, I'm betting it will be one of the most enduring songs the Pogues ever recorded.) Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Jem penned the lyrics and Shane the music on many of their best known songs, including "Fairytale" and "Sunnyside." Given these and many other MacGowan/Finer collaborations, plus songs like "Misty Morning" and "Wake of the Medusa," I think Mr. Finer's songwriting excellence is firmly established (which only leaves me wishing he'd wrote more.) As long as we're on the subject of what's underrated, everyone recognizes Shane's lyrical abilities, but I think his overall musicianship, especially his musical innovation, has been overlooked, while on the other hand, Jem has been underrated as a songwriter.

[Simon Maguire]

I think Raniy Night In Soho is quite unnderated by non-Pogues fans. I'd class it up there with Fairytale Of New York as being as good or even better than it.

[CraigBatty]

I think Raniy Night In Soho is quite unnderated by non-Pogues fans. I'd class it up there with Fairytale Of New York as being as good or even better than it.

One of my favourites.... contains one of my all-time favourite lyrics "Some of them fell into Heaven, some of them fell into Hell...", I mean fecking Milton-esque or what?

[Heather]

I think Raniy Night In Soho is quite unnderated by non-Pogues fans.

Well it's definitely in my list of favourite love songs.

[James]

Jem Finer's written some great songs. Bastard Landlord is the first one to come off top of my head.

[BoabyBhoy]

Jem Finer's written some great songs. Bastard Landlord is the first one to come off top of my head.

I never knew Jem wrote that great tune always thought it sounded like somethign shane would wirte.

[Paddy Rolling Clone]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Jem penned the lyrics and Shane the music on many of their best known songs, including "Fairytale" and "Sunnyside." Given these and many other MacGowan/Finer collaborations, .

I thought it was mostly the other way around, well at least it was with Fairytale.

Don't know about Sunnyside of the Street, I always thought that was a Shane lyric too? Same with Turkish Song of the Damned. Anybody?

[Irish Rover]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Jem penned the lyrics and Shane the music on many of their best known songs, including "Fairytale" and "Sunnyside." Given these and many other MacGowan/Finer collaborations, .

I thought it was mostly the other way around, well at least it was with Fairytale.

Well for FoNY, i thought that Jem had written a song, but then Shane took it and changed the lyrics to set it in New York.

[philipchevron]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Jem penned the lyrics and Shane the music on many of their best known songs, including "Fairytale" and "Sunnyside." Given these and many other MacGowan/Finer collaborations, .

I thought it was mostly the other way around, well at least it was with Fairytale.

Well for FoNY, i thought that Jem had written a song, but then Shane took it and changed the lyrics to set it in New York.

Generally speaking, a MacGowan/Finer credit indicates a MacGowan lyric with the music constructed from a MacGowan piece and a complimentary Finer tune. There are exceptions where the song was more collaborative than that, and "Fairytale" is one such, which is why Jem understandably gets a bit peeved when people refer to it as "Shane MacGowan's Fairytale Of New York". I once saw Jem challenge Christy Moore on this and, though Christy was suitably contrite, he has apparently continued to perpetuate the falsehood ever since. Credit where it's due, I always say. Jem explains the writing process in some detail in the BBC4 film "The Making Of Fairytale Of New York" from last Christmas.

People make assumptions that are frequently wide of the mark in respect of collaborations. Eileen Brennan has frequently been overlooked as a vital writing partner in Tom Waits's work. I blame Yoko and Linda.

[Michaelo]

I think The curse Of Love is another Finer classic worthy of mention here. There are some great lyrics on that song, such as:
"The bottle's empty, I've drunk it dry,
But still I feel the pain,
And all we had is lost now,
Like teardrops in the rain"

[DzM]

"And all we had is lost now,
Like teardrops in the rain"

I never noticed that before. Jem must be a Bladerunner fan.

[cougar]

"And all we had is lost now,
Like teardrops in the rain"

I never noticed that before. Jem must be a Bladerunner fan.

Wow, good call. That was a great scene.

[Rich]

I've always thought that Jem's "Train of Love" is a terrific little song. I love the way the drums and particularly the guitars emulate the chugging of a train.

My favorite Jem solo composition is "Misty Morning, Albert Bridge," but several of my favorite Pogues tracks are Shane/Jem collaborations, and "He Never Mentioned Love," the song Jem and Kirsty MacColl wrote for her Electric Landlady album, is one of my favorite songs ever.

[Revsta]

House of the Gods

I am loving this song after rediscovering Hell's Ditch after a slight hiatus. Not typically Irish, but then again neither is this Album. Great song, I love the "sea of green..." part. Great accordion and really tight. I like the ooohs in the background too. Sorry if I ramble...