Record Label: Honest Don’s
Genre: McPunk
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The problem with Irish/Scottish punk is its predictability. You know there will be songs about drinking whiskey in the pub, missing the homeland, being proud of the working class, and a day in history when the British massacred a bunch of people. You know there will be traditional drinking songs, either speeded up to punk/oi! levels or slowed down in a melancholy “the bottle has ruined me life” way. And you know that most often than not, these bands are third generation Americans who don’t drink whiskey, have never been to the United Kingdom, never held a hard labor job, probably don’t actually hate the British, and can’t keep up the fake gaelic accent, let alone be a master of Ireland/Scotland history.

That said, the Real McKenzies totally fucking rock.

Out of the whole crew of Filthy Thieving Tossing Flogging Dropkicking Bastards, these guys are a standout. Or this album, I should say. Their first one was too punky and way too loud and obnoxious with the bagpipes to be enjoyed. Thankfully, their sophomore album has reduced the punkiness and bagpipe droning to a perfect level, while placing greater emphasis on the vocals and pop-punk sensibility.

The album explodes with “Cross The Ocean” (best song on the album), slows down a bit midway with songs of the type mentioned above, and then picks up steam again with the title track and rocks out until the end. This album is so fun to listen to, it’ll make any cynic of the genre come around. Highly recommended.

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