Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Collection ( 44 Tracks )

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

 

 

This is a fabulous offering. The compilation cd is a good place to start if you are new to their music but the real gem is the live cd contained in this package which brings all the atmosphere of their shows straight back. I worked front-stage at some of their gigs in Leeds (UK) in the eighties.If you remember them from then, this is an essential cd for you. The frenzied music,the heat coming off the crushed audience and the stench of sweat.Shane barely able to stand as he drinks and drinks and growls out his wonderful songs.The front rows of the audience 'Shane Shane - give us a drink !!'singing their hearts out to every tune.Most of the classics are on the live cd. 'Rainy night in Soho','Streams of Whiskey' and 'If..' stand out for me.Play it loud and have your spirits lifted every time you hear it.Absolutely brilliant.

While the material on Disk 1 of this two disk set is really just a digitially remastered recycling of pre-released material (and incidentally about the 4th Pogues greatest hits album released), Disk 2, a live CD recorded at the Pogues Reunion Show in 2001, is simply unbelievable.

"Unbelievable" for a number of reasons. First, the sound quality is fantastic, which is not the case for most of the Pogues live recordings issued as bootlegs, etc. Second, Shane MacGowan sounds MUCH more coherent than he has recently on his live solo album ("Across The Broad Atlantic"), or even on his studio albums ("The Snake" & "The Crock of Gold"). It is still the MacGowan sound that makes you wish that you were as drunk as he is, but the lyrics are decypherable. Finally, the song selection is great, including such post-Shane songs as "Tuesday Morning" (written and sung by Spider Stacy).

All in all, a great album, which is a "must" for Pogues fans and a fun, enjoyable listen for new Pogues listeners.

Although there have been many "best of" compilation albums by the seminal Irish-folk punk rock band, this one by far is the most important and exciting one. The first disc, showcases the brilliant songwriting of Shane MacGowan, however, all of this material is found on other Pogues "best of" albums, not to mention their original albums. The compilation album features classic cuts from the Pogues brilliant first three albums, (Red Roses For Me, Rum Sodomy and the Lash, and If I Should Fall From Grace With God,) up to their very good follow-up albums (Peace and Love and Hell's Ditch.) There even is a post-Shane song on this first disc as well. But as before, all of this material can be found on other mediums.
The best feature of this new compilation album, is the bonus live CD of the Pogues in 2001, at London's Brixton Academy. This live album showcases the amazing energy that made the Pogues such an exciting live act in the first place, even Shane seems up to task as well. When listening to this CD, I felt that I was actually there, man what a feeling!!!!!
All in all a very good album, hopefully a new live CD will eventually be produced covering the Pogues 2004 reunion tour. But for right now, grab a Guinness, and drink up lads, its the best of the Pogues.

While no CD can truly capture the energy and excitement of a Pogues show, this is the next best thing. Sure, Shane's voice isn't what it once was, but God bless him, he still delivers. The rest of the band is in top form. Of special note is the one and only James Fearnley. I don't think any other band has more "best of" collections than the Pogues, but don't hold it against the boys. Any long time Pogues fan only wants the live CD, which rumor has it will be released on it's own at a later date. Everything on the first CD has been released several times, nothing new here. This would be a fantastic introduction to anyone new to the band. These are songs that will live forever from one of the best bands in history.

May the ghosts that howled
Round the house at night
Never keep you from your sleep-
May they all sleep tight
Down in hell tonight
Or where ever they may be...

Yes, another Pogues collection. But this one includes their live set from their 2001 reunion. The first disc is a collection of most of their most well knows tunes, no real lost gems or anything. Still makes for a great listen, coincidentally this was released just a few weeks before St. Paddy's day. And also to capitalize on their recent reunion in Dec. 04. As of today they're apparently regrouping to play soem shows in Japan too, so this could the first of a few new release from the awesome band.
The second disc is a great live show from 2001. Great energy and excellent sound make this a must for anybody. Shane Macgowans voice isn't a soulful as it once was, but he still puts out 100%, even though any between song banter is a little hard to decipher. The band are in great form though, and I think/hope they will be putting out soem new material in the next few months. 4 starts just because there's nothing new here.
So, crack open a Guinness and turn this mofo up.
Cheers.

First, this is a very good Irish band doing both standards and newer songs. Much of their new work is hard-edged, gritty but very honest. They are a very talented group with a voice that you do not want to ignore. This CD is an excellent example of their best work providing two different but similar versions of songs. This duplication is one of the strongest reasons to purchase this set, CD 1 is the studio version, CD 2 is a live performance. You instantly understand the value of having the two songs in one set as you hear the differences in presentation.

On CD 1, The Irish Rover is performed with The Dubliners. This is almost worth the price of the set, being one of the best and most rousing renditions of this song. Fairytale of New York, featuring Kristy MacColl, is one of the bands best songs. The CD two versions are not equal to but are still worth hearing. The rest of the duplicated songs will showcase their talents as a live band, giving you the feel of being there.

The Clancy Brothers, The Irish Rovers, The Dubliners, The Chieftains and The Coors have all drawn on and contributed to the music of Ireland. These contributions have produced an electric lively interesting sound. The Pogues are building on this heritage and expanding the sound. This is a band with something to say and is worth hearing! They have a sound that is a combination of Irish music and punk rock that attracts and beguiles.

If there is little or no Pogues in your collection, and there most certainly should be, this could be a great place to start, as disc one gathers all their most influential material; the singles, key album tracks and even a B-side (The Repeal Of The Licensing Laws), while the soul of the band is laid bare on the second disc, the previously unreleased reunion concert that took place over two legendary nights at the Brixton Academy on the lead up to Christmas 2001, with Shane MacGowan back with the band for nearly all the lead vocals (so far as I can tell Spider Stacy takes the lead on Tuesday Morning, Terry Woods sings Young Ned of The Hill, Phil Chevron sings his own Thousands Are Sailing and Lila MacMahon guests with Shane on a rousing Fairytale Of New York), and the band themselves, augmented by the Fiesta Horns, on excellent, sometimes riotous form.

The only obvious omission that I can see is their first single, Dark Streets Of London; however as this is on Red Roses For Me, which you will doubtless be acquiring shortly after playing disc one, this is not a great problem. It would have been an idea, though, to have included the original single as this differed from the album version and is hard to find.

A few notes about which versions have been used where more than one exists: Rainy Night In Soho is the remix that first appeared on the CD release of the Poguetry In Motion EP (the original vinyl mix seems to be unavailable on CD). The Irish Rover, If I Should Fall From Grace With God and A Pair Of Brown Eyes are all the remixed single edits; The Boys From The County Hell is the cleaned-up single version. Only Rainy Night In Soho is duplicated on the expanded editions of the parent albums.

Can't really say what hasn't been said previously and say it better, so in short, yeah, the best of is pretty much a toss off if you have all of the albums or one of the many best ofs available in import and domestic formats. The real treat here is the live reunion disc, squashing the inferior, band-disowned _Streams of Whiskey_ like the corn that went into many a bottle of Jameson's that's gone down MacGowan's throat. And when Shane goes off for a break (read: drink), you get Spider Stacy's beautiful post-Shane "Tuesday Morning." Buy it and listen to it 'til we see El Maria once again.

Signed,
epsteinsmutha

Those beer hall singers and prodigal sons of Ireland have been most excellently packaged into what is indeed an "Ultimate Collection," not only of their greatest hits but of a live performance at Brixton Academy. The songs travel far and wide, with hints of Zydeco, Bluegrass, as well as homages to the old country with the gruff voice of Shane MacGowan. Some called this Anglo-Irish band Celtic Punk, others Celtic Fusion, but whatever you want to call their inimitable style of music, it is just plain fun. The band has been around since 1982, originally known as Pogue Mahone. If you know a little bit of Gaelic, you will figure it out. There is plenty to draw from in this collection. For those new to the Pogues this is the best place to start.

I'm new to the Pogues but bought this CD after reading reviews on Amazon and Band biographies on other sites. I'm not disapointed. Shane is a tormented soul but obviously a highly talented singer and songwriter. This is Celtic music with an edge...lovely and razor sharp all at once...buy it and enjoy over a dirty pint of Guinness and a sip of Bushmill's.