Favourite Irish Drinking Songs Vol.2 - 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: A good collection of 20 songs from the 40 years, Good drinking tunes
Disadvantages: Nowhere near a big enough compilation of their best songs.

...superbly and again is another drinking song about a guy trying to get money for alcohol and tobacco. It’s another song with comedic elements but not quite as good as the last track. The Irish bands like the Dubliners excel them self not only in Drinking songs but that is where most of the inspiration points towards. The last song I am going to comment on is “The Irish Rover”, which was probably their biggest hit back in 1987 when they teamed up with the Pogues. This is my other favourite song by the Dubliners. Upbeat again it has a good tempo and is superb for singing along to. The vocals mix well between the Dubliners and Shane McGowan from the Pogues. The song is used for many London Irish occasions as they have added another verse on the end. The tempo is kept up throughout the song and is a great tune for keeping the spirits up... Read review

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Advantages: Makes you think
Disadvantages: some swearing

...in 1984 and 'Rum Sodomy and the Lash' is their second album after 'Red Roses for me', and arguably, but as far as I am concerned, their best album. 'Rum, Sodomy and the Lash' takes it's name from the famous Churchill quote 'don't talk to me of naval tradition, it's all Rum Sodomy and the Lash !', the album cover is very distinct, it copies a famous painting 'The Raft of the Medusa' (1816) a famous shipwreck off the coast of Africa, and depicts dying naked bodies, with the members of the band's faces cleverly superimposed on some of the bodies. The album was produced by the talented Elvis Costello, and is , in my opinion, awesome. *****THE BEST TRACKS***** The album opens with my favourite track..THE SICK BED OF CUCHULAINN This is a lyrical masterpiece, penned by Mcgowan himself, and he sings of the ancient Cuchulainn, who... Read review

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