Record Label: Mustard Finnegan’s Shite N’ Onions
Genre: Celtic
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com link

In this Celtic-rock showdown, we’ve got four songs each from Toronto’s Mahones and Australia’s Catgut Mary. My assistant/intern Bryan loves The Mahones, but they’re too folky and forest-clearing-jamboree for me.

I’m not big into Celtic rock to begin with, but some rock bands that are very trad-influenced still manage to appeal to me, like Flogging Molly and even Black 47. But The Mahones sound like hobbits frolicking in Smurf Village. It doesn’t help that the songs are the usual cliches – “Drunken Night in Dublin,” “Celtic Pride,” “Whiskey Devils”… I expect this crap from a third-tier McPunk band of Boston fratboys, but from respectable Torontoans? Rush would not approve.

Catgut Mary have a little more edge, in part from the bad, phlegmy vocals. They too are awfully traditional, with way too many penny whistle solos (jeez), but they have a slightly faster pace and a more nautical/pirate feel. So I guess this CD is hobbits vs. pirates. But as the LOTR and POTC movies have taught us, there are no winners. Especially not the audience.

PS – Bryan, if you want this CD, you have to say in the comments that you are my intern. And I am your master. And Rush rules.

Bottom Line: Penny whistle galore!
Notable Tracks:
Overall Rating: