Customer Reviews

Swagger

5 star:		(92)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been going to FM's shows for almost three years now and have never been disappointed. SWAGGER -- their much awaited studio album -- is a fantastic alternative to seeing them live, doing much more justice to their set than their previous live album (besides, the lineup had changed a lot since then). Their music is a close cousin to such Irish Punk as The Pogues, combining traditional instruments like fiddle, accordion, and tin whistle with a pounding momentum. Dave King's high-pitched snarl brings considerable character and humanity to the proceedings, and the rest of the band (there are 7 in all) plays an integral role in pulling it all off. A must buy if you have ever called yourself a fan of Irish Rock and / or The Pogues.

A friend played "Devil's Dance Floor" on the jukebox at a bar one night. It is so infectious I went and bought the Swagger cd. Truly this is an enjoyable and overall very smooth flowing bit of music. There are no songs on this that you will skip over. Everyone will have their favorite songs off this, mine happens to be Worst Day Since Yesterday, Selfish Man, Salty Dog, and Life in a Tenament Square but all of the songs are good and toe tappingly enjoyable. The sound is great and you can only imagine what a room full of drunk people singing these would sound like. Splendid music with now low points in the entire album.

Raucous and fun, Flogging Molly's album SWAGGER brings a new twist to punk rock. Following in the tradion of the Pogues, this Los Angeles octet has secured a spot on the upcoming Warped Tour, opened up for Stiff Little Fingers, and played with the likes of Rocket From The Crypt, X, and The Real MacKenzies among others. This Steve Albini-recorded album marks their first studio release, and is nothing short of excellent, loud, sloppy, powerful music. Fast paced songs like "Salty Dog," "Selfish Man," "The Likes of You Again," and others have a distict stomping step-beat that marks them as an Irish punk band, yet the combined instrumentation of drums, bass, electric and acoustic guitars with accordion, mandolin and fiddle place them with a folky sound as well, which allows this talented band room to breathe: "The Worst Day Since Yesterday" has a country feel to it, "Sentimental Johnny" has a Mexican influence, and the closing lament "Far Away Boys," with faint banjo in the backgound, is one of the most touching songs on the album. Be on the lookout for these guys. They're making a lot of heads turn here on the West Coast, so watch out for them when they come to your town this summer!

I haven't listened to the CD yet but I saw them live in San Francisco at the Vans Warped Tour and thought they were so great I drove to Boreal Ski Resort the next day to see them again. Irish music complete with tin whistle and fiddle mixed with hard rock and punk makes this band one of the best I have heard in a very long time. If the CD is one tenth as good as they are live, I'm going to be in for quite a treat.

Sometimes you can always find what your not looking for! I had never heard of Flogging Molly, nor was I looking for them. My O My how things change! I was looking for a Shane MacGowan book though Amazon, and they had the section called "customers also bought..." I saw the name of a band called Flogging Molly. It was next to The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, etc. So I read the reviews and was impressed and went out to get the album, 'Swagger'. The first track "Salty Dog" opens up with some agreeable traditional celtic fiddle, then crashes into an upbeat absolute perfect drinking/pirate song! The singer Mr. King belts out "anarchy!" midway through the song, and i was content with the CD already! I later found out the accordian player is also a professional skateboarder named Matt Hensley. The best tracks are "Salty Dog" "Likes Of You Again" "Devil's Dance Floor" I was told to see them live, and within a month I lucked out. I looked in the local paper and sure enough they were coming that same weekend! I saw an amazing show, and was happy to have such great timing. I think the references to Shane MacGowan are a little much, but it's the best thing you can compare to. I think they are a perfect mix of traditional celtic meets punk pirate pub music. the drum beats crash throughout the entire CD, and make you get up, spill your drink and dance!

First off, whoever thinks that Dave King has a faux Irish accent needs to a) have their head examined and b) do a little research before deciding to shoot off at the mouth about something they know NOTHING about.

That being said, this is a FANTASTIC album. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys being happy. Seriously, this is music that makes you want to jump around with a big smile on your face. Sure, you'd look goofy but this band will coax the best of emotions out of you. If you have not seen them live, you MUST. I live in LA and have had the good fortune to see them live MANY times over the last few years, and while the album is great, it doesn't even do them justice. If you like good punk mixed with traditional celtic a la the Pogues, you'll LOVE Flogging Molly.

This cd rocks, pure and simple. Which isn't to say that the entire cd is fast and furious, but all of it makes me ache for Ireland and my roots. I don't like punk, and I really don't consider this punk. It's more of a cultural band than asimple genre of music. You can put this cd on, crack open a beer and be completely blitzed halfway through it. Make no mistake, this is the definetive album for drinking.

There isn't a single song on this album that doesn't fit. "Swagger" was my first step intro to Flogging Molly so it holds a special place for me. I must have listened to this cd continuoiusly in my car for at least 3 weeks, which is amazing for me as I cycle cds out like clockwork.

My personal favorite songs are "Selfish Man" with it's humorous and slightly meloncholy lyrics. "Every Dog Has it's Day" for equally humorous lyrics but a bit more on the upside. Oh hell, I like them all! This cd seriously rocks. Every selfrespecting Irishman should have this album in their collection. You will not regret it. Truely one of my favorites of all time. Everytime I listen to it, it feels like the first. Extremely catchy and emotional.

Although this excellent recording calls to mind images of the Dropkick Murphys and the Pogues, almost equally fantastic bands, the boys (and girl) are undisputedly in a league of their own.

The disc kicks off abrasively with "Salty Dog", the balls-against-the-deck pirate number featured on "Punk-O-Rama 5", which sparked my initial interest in the band. I was grateful enough to find this CD at a local record shop, took it home, and fell in love with all 13 songs.

"The Worst Day Since Yesterday" starts off in a very Parisian, baroque style; "Life In A Tenement Square" carries off where Dropkick Murphys' "Tenement Enemy #1" left off in tin-whistle and punk grandeur, and songs like "The Ol' Beggars Bush" and "Sentimental Johnny" make beautiful use of theaccordion.

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Do yourself a favor and snag all the records you can find and by [goodness], see them live. They deserve your presence.

I have long been a big fan of traditional Celtic music and never thought I would find myself liking music that is often classified as Punk. I got turned onto Flogging Molly accidentally on the internet and was instantly addicted to the driving beat mixed with awsome lyrics and more than one surprise per song. I immediatly bought this album and have never regreted it.

I shall never lend this CD to anyone!!! but you really should buy one for yourself.

Heading out to the warped tour, I was incredibly excited about seeing acts such as The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Green Day, I had no idea that I would leave the day singing a song called "Delilah" with a copy of a CD called Swagger. Flogging Molly was one of the first bands to perform and were BY FAR the most impressive. I picked up Swagger, and since it's been STUCK in my CD player. It's just...wow. I can't even tell you how AMAZING this CD is. It's one of those CDs you can listen to, from start to finish, and you don't skip ONE song. When it's over, you want more. Songs like "Devil's Dance Floor" (my personal fvorite)and "Salty Dog" will have you up doing a jig, where as songs like "Worst Day Since Yesterday" and "Grace of God Go I" will have you singing along, belting out the words, "crying into your guiness".

Just buy the darn CD...you'll be SO GLAD that you did!