Record Label: Rhino
Genre: Celtic
Band Link:
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If I Should Fall from Grace with God has almost been out for 20 years now, but it’s been hard to get any Pogues albums (besides post-MacGowan era) in the States. Thanks to Rhino, the Pogues’ albums are now all being reissued around the world (including the US) and getting remastered as well. But that’s not all kids; there are also a bunch of bonus tracks included at the end of each CD. Many of the bonus tracks you have heard before on various bootlegs, EPs, 7″, and singles but now they are at the end of the reissued albums as well.

IISFFGWG is arguably one of the best Pogues albums, but some might say that their previous album “Rum, Sodomy and the Lash” is better. This album was when the band was at it’s peak, and almost got a number one hit in the UK. But they only reached number two because the Pet Shop Boys did a cover for “Always On Your Mind” and I guess people liked that song more at the time. I don’t really know which album I prefer because I think every Pogues album is brilliant! They started a genre all their own, mixing punk & rock with traditional Irish music. Now you got every band all over the world trying to sound like Shane MacGowan and the Pogues. The band’s frontman MacGowan is a wild singer who’s hard to make out what he’s saying at times. He’s infamous for his teeth, and singing style but underneath all that stuff, you have a person who’s a gifted & talented songwriter and became a legend in the music world. People can’t deny the fact that Shane MacGowan is one of the most recognizable, and talented rock poets. Besides MacGowan, each band member is an extremely talented musician and was born to play this type of music. There’s so much talent in the band and when you combine all these elements together, you get something that you just haven’t heard before.

The album starts off with the title track “If I Should Fall from Grace with God” and you can already tell this album is special just with that song alone. You feel like jumping out of your seat and dancing all over the place. You can just tell that the band sounded a little bit differently with this album. Their sound was sharp, and more expansive since there was more members in the band. Cait O’Riordan left the band to marry Elvis Costello.” Sure Elvis, be producer for the band and then steal a member of the band away. I see how it is haha. Anyway, back to the album…”Turkish Song of the Damned” is a haunting tune and one of my favorite Pogues songs. I’ll be saying that a lot since I have a lot of favorite songs of the Pogues. I believe it was that song or “Fairytale” that got me into the band. Sadly, I’ve only been a Pogues fan for 5 years now but thankfully I saw them play twice already (third time coming up!). “Fairytale of New York” is THE song that most people know from the Pogues and by god, they should! It’s a beautifully sung duet with Shane and the late Kirsty McColl. She ended up doing a lot of live shows and some other songs with the band. She gave the lineup a much needed female presence since Cait left the band. “Thousands Are Sailing” was written by Phil Chevron, who came into the band late to fill in for Jem Finer and ended up staying with the band. The song is about young Irish men and women coming to America. I first heard the song “Fiesta” not by the Pogues, but as a cover by the ska band the Pietasters. So once I found that the Pogues did this song, I was really glad since I loved that song! It’s a Spanish party song that will make you want to get out the silly string & whistles and party in the streets. The band’s road crew ended up being the horn section, and during the live shows I believe some of the Specials filled in for the horns. The Pogues’ songs were also political motivated and they never held back what they wanted to say. A good example of that was the “Streets of Sorrow/ Birmingham Six.” The song got the Pogues blacklisted by the Independent Broadcasting Authority because it was an attack on the justice system. The song “Worms” is very Tom Waits-ish but I can’t help but think of Disney’s Haunted Mansion song “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” I think it’s Andrew’s vocals that make me think of that. To continue, the group also did a fair share of traditional songs on their albums, this one they do “Medley (The Recruiting Sergeant, The Rocky Road To Dublin, The Galway Races), and some jazzy instrumental tunes like “Metropolis.”

The bonus tracks included on this album are: “The Battle March Medley,” “The Irish Rover,” “Mountain Dew,” “Shanne Bradley,” “Sketches of Spain” and “South Australia.” “The Irish Rover” and “Mountain Dew” were recorded with the Irish folk rebel band the Dubliners. To hear Ronnie Drew and Shane MacGowan singing together is a real treat and if you happen to live in Dublin, you might get to hear them sing together again this Christmas. I didn’t like these bonus tracks as much as the other albums but I do love those Dubliners/Pogues tracks though! Another reason to get this reissue album is because the liner notes are quite informative, and there’s an introduction with Steve Earle. Steve reminisces about meeting the Pogues (or the pseudo-pseudonym Terry Woods Quartet) and playing “Johnny Come Lately.” Definitely worth reading the notes when listening to this Cd.

Without a doubt, this is the album to own if you ever called yourself a Pogues fan. If you like Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly and other bands that were influenced by the Pogues and you don’t own this album already; well you better get yourself some money and buy all the reissued albums! If you already own these albums, be sure to get all the reissues since they are remastered and have bonus tracks on them. I HIGHLY recommend this album and “Rum, Sodomy and The Lash.”

Bottom Line: This is an essential Pogues album with many classics on it.
Notable Tracks: IISFFGWG, Turkish Song of the Damned, Fairytale of NY, Thousands are Sailing, Fiesta, Lullaby of London, Broad Majestic Shannon
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