50 Irish Singalong Favourites - Sean O'Neill Band (The)

Advantages: Wide range of music, superb musicians
Disadvantages: Accents may take time to understand, IRA references may offend

...to bring our own interpretations to it. However, the real pearls are the rebel songs; songs that recall the Irish attempts to oppose English rule. Some may misleading read these as simple celebrations of the IRA but to do so would be to ridiculously simplify the songs. They are personal narratives like Patriot Games which tells us of a rebels frustration with broken promises or Off to Dublin in the Green which tells the story of a simple ploughboy frustrated by his lot who joins the IRA. Indeed the Dubliners song capture the history of Ireland. It documents in its own way the migration of the population, the hard toil of its men as it built roads and buildings. As well as pondering every day matters like love in the moving Banks of the Roses. *** Listings *** Wild Rover Chief O'Neill's Favourite The Rocky Road to Dublin... Read review

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Advantages: fast and exciting.A few stunning tracks
Disadvantages: All a bit samey and one dimensional

...The Hives released their debut album in Sweden in 1997,but only acheived recognition through this compilation released on Alan McGee's Poptones label.'Your new favourite band' collects a selection of tracks from the albums 'Barely Legal' and 'Veni vidi vicious' as well as the 'a.k.a I-D-I-O-T' ep.There is also a b-side from the 'Hate to say I told you so' single. The Hives are a five piece clearly influenced by 1970's rock and punk.There's more than a hint of Mick Jagger in the vocal, but the music mainly resembles Iggy and The Stooges,The Buzzcocks and even Sham 69.All five members of the band where identical black and white clothing and have names like Dr Matt Destruction and Chris Dangerous.So as you can guess they don't take themselves too seriously. When The Hives are good they are very bloody good indeed.'Hate to say I told... Read review

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Advantages: loud, brilliant, upbeat, pure genius perhaps
Disadvantages: a little on the short side, if you dislike loud music chances are you won't like the Hives

...Okay - so the title is a little lame. But heck, I'm only the second person to write about 'Your New Favourite Band' and the title just seemed apt. I've bought several cd's of late, some old, some new, and of all of the cd's I have purchased, I find it is The Hives who are back in my cd player again and again. When I first played the cd, my sister (she of no discernible musical taste) asked what that 'noise' was. When I responded, and quite enthusiastically I might add, that that 'noise' was my new favourite band, she simply gave me a withering look and asked if I could kindly keep it down, if not actually change the cd. I probably could see my sister's point of view. Your New Favourite Band is definitely a very 'loud' album. Loud drums are a prominent feature, the vocalist does not so sing so much as shout and the pace... Read review

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