Boorishly listens to your young people's music

Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 3795 Location: Gotham City

Sleep is all about reconciling bonghits with the realities of norse mythology

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:51 pm

Boorishly P. Foundry wrote:

This is Paul Simon.

He's all like:

"RECONCILING YOUTHFUL IDEALISM WITH REALITIES OF MIDDLE AGE LIFE"

Spot on. Despite the fact that you can guess the subject matter (of some, but not all the songs) it really is a truly excellent album.

The young people are all over it. My 14 year old cousin was talking about it the other day, and she mostly listens to Rap.

Christmas came early Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 9225

i like to pretend andrew is talking about Graceland.

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:47 pm

BOORISHLY LISTENS TO YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S MUSIC

I was going to post this tomorrow but I am working late tonight so what the heck.

Artist: Dropkick Murphys
Album: The Meanest of Times

Boorishly sez: I don't really know if you young people listen to this band or not, but it sounds like the kind of thing you should be listening to. And I heard them on college radio which you would think is mostly run by young people, but I think the DJ for that particular show was probably an old person. Anyway, this music is loud and fast and might make you want to beat up Protestants (all good things -- I really hate those Protestants and their stupid work ethic). I guess this is what you would call "pop punk" or something like that. I'm not good with music genres, but it sounds like punk but probably somehow isn't actually punk, so I figure saying "pop punk" is safe even if it sounds stupid.

Why: I like rock songs with bagpipes and fiddles, both in concept and in practice, so it was kind of a no-brainer.

But: I guess there is not a whole lot of variety. The album really picks up every time the traditional instruments come in (I think I heard bagpipes, fiddles, banjos, and accordions, but I am no expert in folk instruments) and starts to get boring whenever they go away. In fact, the typical "boo authority" kind of songs are usually the worst ones. I already have too many John Mellencamp albums, so it's not like I need more straight-up rock songs about thumbing my nose at the man. But thumbing my nose with fiddles in the background -- that is a different story.

I am pretty sure the brawling boozey Celtic Catholicness is largely an affectation, but I don't really care. It's a fun affectation and as long as they are singing about getting drunk and beating people up, or getting drunk and being brothers, or getting drunk and beating their brothers up, then I am happy. Also it is hard to resist a band that rhymes "rectory" and "sacristy" with "goddamned travesty".

I was going to say that I wish there more slow songs -- since that would give some variety -- but the couple that are already there make me think it's a good thing that there aren't any more. They are fine songs and all, but slow stuff is not really their strong point.

Best song: The best song is "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" and it is awesome. I also really dig "(F)lannagan's Ball" despite the annoying parentheses in the name.

Would I buy more albums by these people: I like this album and it's fun to listen to, but do I need another one that sounds the same? Probably not. I would maybe be more interested if they did a collection of traditional songs though.

Final grade: B

Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 3795 Location: Gotham City

Boorishly P. Foundry wrote:

I like rock songs with bagpipes and fiddles, both in concept and in practice, so it was kind of a no-brainer.

Eluveitie

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:12 pm

Isn't Flogging Molly the Irish band that all the kids are digging these days?

And isn't Dropkick Murphys that awful band that sings that awful Screamy McScream song from The Departed?

Christmas came early Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 9225

while dropkick murphys don't have a lot of 'tabb cred' as far as i know, i'm sure there is a contingent here who have at least a few of their hoodies and t shirts.

boorishly you may also be interested in Gogol Bordello, which is the eastern european variation on that same "punkish music with traditional instruments" theme

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:15 pm

Ok so I just listened to the 30 second preview of the Dropkick Murphy songs that Boorishly mentioned, and it is like somebody took The Pogues, took away the awesome and added screaming.

Blech.

Christmas came early Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 9225

steve you are hardly youth so what do you know

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:17 pm

And "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" is just the Clash's "English Civil War," but really really shitty.

Seriously, Boorishly, a B- for Vampire Weekend and a B for this swill? I may be out.

Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 8409

I am a Pretty Huge dropkick fan and that is so their worst album :(
Johnny I Hardly etc and (F)lannigan's Ball are probably the two most Dropkick-ish tracks. Their live album is p.gud as far as production quality/song selection. they do a killer cover of Fortunate Son. as far as studio albums go, i think do or die is their strongest album. traditional songs Scotland the Brave, Finnegan's Wake, The MTA Song, as well as Dropkick classics Barroom Hero, Never Alone, and Boys on the Dock, with a bunch of other p.strong tracks thrown in. Its pretty different from The Meanest of etc.

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:24 pm

we had guns and drums and drums and guns HAROOO HAROOO

2/5 pretty enjoyable wouldn't listen again

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:24 pm

And I just re-listened to English Civil War, and that's not even a good Clash song. It's just Johnny Came Marching Home played fast with typical Clash class-warfare lyrics.

Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 8409

the baber wrote:

boorishly you may also be interested in Gogol Bordello, which is the eastern european variation on that same "punkish music with traditional instruments" theme

Gogol Bordello is great too, try "Gypsy Punk - Underdog World Strike" by them. they were probably the best live act i've ever seen.

Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 8409

Dropkick - Finnegan's Wake http://www.last.fm/music/Dropkick+Murphys/_/Finnegan%27s+Wake

Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 3764 Location: Beat City

Andrew wrote:

Eidam wrote:

Boorishly, I know this album is kind of dated (by about 5 years or more), but can you review Blueberry Boat by the Fierey Furnaces?

Yes, please do! I still don't know what I think of it, myself.

I think I love it, but I'm not sure.

Oh that would be neat.

I guess I say neat now huh.

Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 3764 Location: Beat City

Oh yes and the thing about Vampire Weekend was very good! I guess I will maybe wait on that one for a while.

Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Posts: 220

eastern european chic? try Beirut - they're pretty sweet. (specifically Gulag Orkestar)

I've only heard one Vampire Weekend song. it was pretty okay.

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:56 pm

archway wrote:

eastern european chic? try Beirut - they're pretty sweet. (specifically Gulag Orkestar)

The man speaks the truth! A lot different from Gogol in that most of the songs are slow and plodding and they are not dance songs they are just beautiful thank you Beirut.

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:57 pm

Professor Stevie Freezie wrote:

Isn't Flogging Molly the Irish band that all the kids are digging these days?

I have a passing familiarity/appreciation for Dropkick Murphys, and they're pretty OK, but for my Celt-core dollar Flogging Molly is a better buy. So Boorishly if you're looking for maybe something similar but mostly a lot better, Flogging Molly is a good bet.

Also I do really like Dropkick's version of Finnegan's Wake.

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:05 am

Professor Stevie Freezie wrote:

And isn't Dropkick Murphys that awful band that sings that awful Screamy McScream song from The Departed?

Man, whatever. Screw that noise, I loved Shipping Out to Boston.

Also, just for the record, my dear Matthew, I personally don't care that much for The Fierey Furnaces, but I do want to see your reaction.

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:08 am

On one of those "Gettin' Those Pedophiles" news shows, they pulled a sting operation on a guy who was wearing a Dropkick Murphys shirt, featured prominently as they chased and wrestled him to the ground.

I always kind wondered how the band felt about that.

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:09 am

They were taken quite aback, but they'll find another drummer any time soon.

Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 8409

Miles wrote:

Professor Stevie Freezie wrote:

Isn't Flogging Molly the Irish band that all the kids are digging these days?

I have a passing familiarity/appreciation for Dropkick Murphys, and they're pretty OK, but for my Celt-core dollar Flogging Molly is a better buy. So Boorishly if you're looking for maybe something similar but mostly a lot better, Flogging Molly is a good bet.

havent heard their new album but Flogging Molly is a lot more folky, a lot less protestant-stomping

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:36 am

They are heavier on the "Irish-sounding" that's true. And I guess I haven't noticed a lot of Protestant-stomping.

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:00 am

I enjoy both Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly.

Vampire Weekend bores me. I am glad they are becoming known and liked by the indie crowd because I needed a band like that to mock without worrying I'd be missing out on something I'd actually like if I gave it a chance.

I am turning 19 this week, so I qualify as a youth.

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:26 am

happy friggin' birthday Cap'm!

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:37 am

dropkick murphys, flogging molly, and vampire weekend are all terrible bands

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:30 am

Professor Stevie Freezie wrote:

Ok so I just listened to the 30 second preview of the Dropkick Murphy songs that Boorishly mentioned, and it is like somebody took The Pogues, took away the awesome and added screaming.

Blech.

I actually really wanted to buy a Pogues album instead but their last studio album came out in 1996 so they are Outside The Scope of this project. After I found that out, I said, "Well what is a similar thing?" and then bought the Dropkick Murphys platter. True story.

Though also on the car ride to work today, I heard a song by Shane MacGowan and Sinead O'Connor about being haunted by the ghost of love or something and I really really really wanted to like the song because it seemed like the sort of thing I could dig but the guy's voice was so bad that I actually said to myself outloud, "This is horrible!" Also a true story.

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:43 am

Miles wrote:

They are heavier on the "Irish-sounding" that's true. And I guess I haven't noticed a lot of Protestant-stomping.

Also there is no inherent Protestant-bashing in the Dropkick Murphies either. I think it probably just makes you want to beat up people you already want to beat up but more. And, strangely enough, Irish people but only because it makes it seem like they'd enjoy it.

And boy this is a pretty good discussion. I was afraid this one would just kind of drop flat but there are more people who like/hate this band than who care about Vampire Weekend I guess! Good comments everybody except Steve. (I am just kidding buddy. It would be a pretty big shame if you left now! Who else would set the kids straight?)