Search - Shane Macgowan & The Popes :: Snake

With rare exceptions, this is a good CD

Math Ecstatic | Half way to heaven | 06/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I love the Pogues so I was wary of this CD. However, I am inexplicably drawn to all things Shane McGowan so I took a chance. I'm glad I did. I often laugh (and feel sad) as I listen to some of the songs that are overpowered by what I call the "drunken stylings of Shane McGowan." On one song, "A Mexican funeral in Paris", he is so obviously dead drunk, I don't know how he made it through. But...BUT..songs like "That woman's got me drinking" and "Her father didn't like me" the types of "sing loud as you drive" songs that touch a realistic nerve. Others, like "You're the one" and "Haunted" are so beautifully arranged with words so soulful, it's worth all else. Also, it is rarely mentioned that the Popes are a skillful, talented band. It is a delight to listen to their creative, hard driving instrumentation.



This is an interesting CD because I agree with others who say that there are some songs I can strictly do without but the good ones completely eclipse those. And...drunk or not, Shane McGowan is an artist of distinction. That also makes the difference."

I wouldn't call it a classic but...

Corky | 06/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Shane vocally sounds better than he had since "If I Should Fall from Grace of God" which says a lot because the last two Pogues albums his vocals were really weak. Probally due to the substance abuse that was happening then.

There are quite of few excellent songs like Nancy Whisky, Church of the Holly Spook, Donegal Express, Snake With Eyes Of Garnet and so on. He sure missed the mark with the duets with Moya Brennan and Sinead O'Connor it sounds like it was their songs with him thrown in as an after thought. Sorry they are trash! nothing like Fairytale of New York which is composed by Shane and is in his style. I also didn't feel comfortable with the "Rock" based songs like I'll Be Your Handbag, Victoria... He always tried to stay away from cliché sounding guitar rock in the Pogues and now he's doing it (is it because his backup band is rock based to begin with). His songs are good but especially on this album his songwriting abilities aren't up to par with his previous albums they seem to be lacking I think without the rest of the Pogues he lost his muse which challenged him to write well.

Over all if you trimmed a little off of the edges this would be a great album not anywhere his best but a solid album."