When I was a wee laddie, I had a subscription to Kerrang! magazine (my taste has since improved) and one of the things as a music geek I’d love was their lists of best of all time. These lists would give me names of bands who’s records I’d go and track down, a sense of smugness as I’d agree with their choices and a sense of superiority as I disagreed with other choices. So, in the spirit of education and being a music snob, here is my list of the best Celtic-punk CDs of all time (subject to change of course).
1) The Pogues: Rum Sodomy and The Lash
The Pogues very best despite Elvis Costello’s production. The original of the species and the best. Without this we’d still be listening to Van Hagar
2) Flogging Molly: Swagger
FMs best and never yet repeated. The band and CD that started the US scene
3) Neck: Sod’em and Begorrah
The world most definite Celtic-punk band, their most definite CD
4) The Tossers: The Valley of the Shadow of Death
Contains the best single Celtic-punk track ever - the Dee Dee Ramone tribute, “No Loot, No Booze, No Fun” and the rest of the tracks aren’t half bad either
5) Blood or Whiskey: Blood or Whiskey
The band that made me open my eyes that there was more out there than just The Pogues
6) Greenland Whalefishers: Loboville
Not a drop of Irish blood and this good - no way - yeah way
7) Shane MacGowan and The Popes: The Snake
Just to prove Shane-O could do it without The Pogues
The Mahones: Here Come Lucky
Contains the other best single Celtic-punk track ever - “The Queen and Tequila”. Finny McConnell proves he’s one of the best song writers in any scene
9) Dropkick Murphys: Warriors Code
I’m Shipping up to Boston – it will have you’re Granny singing along. Nuff said
10) BibleCodeSundays: Boot or no Boots
The future of Celtic-punk and the band that will break through to the stadiums (and redemption for the MacManus clan after elder brothers messing up of the production on 1)
The Go Set: Sing a Song of Revolution
Totally out of the blue these guys showed up in the mail box and blow me away. Totally raw and passionate
Black 47: Fire of Freedom
While not strictly Celtic-punk I wouldn’t be doing this without B47
The Rumjacks: Both EPs
When they get their debut full length out they will be bumping someone off the list
The Rumjacks - I'll Tell Me Ma!
The Rumjacks - The Bold Rumjacker
Black 47 - James Connolly
Black 47 - Livin' In America
The Go Set - The Old Dark Brown
The Go Set - Sing Me A Song
BibleCodeSundays - Irish Londoner
BibleCodeSundays - The Green & Red of Harrow
The Mahones - Queen And Tequila
The Mahones - Going Back To Dublin
Greenland Whalefishers - July Morning
Greenland Whalefishers - Loboville
Blood or Whiskey - Bucharest
Blood or Whiskey - Galway Town
The Tossers - No Loot No Booze No Fun
The Tossers - Goodmornin' Da
Neck - Psycho Ceilidh Mayhem Set
Neck - Blood On The Streets
