The Pogues - Pogue Mahone

Pogue Mahone (Gaelic for ''kiss my arse'') is the seventh and final studio album from lauded progressive Irish folk pioneers the Pogues. After the departure of Shane MacGowan, co-founder Spider Stacy found himself at the helm, singing and sharing songwrit Album Description

A solid lyrics-based album

There are a few attention-getting tracks on the album, but most of it left me merely absent-mindedly toe-tapping. I was thinking of re-selling it, but then sat down and listened while reading the lyrics: there are near a half dozen strong songs (1,3,6,10,13) plus two outstanding tracks (5,8). Most lyrics are by band members (and Spider sings them understandably), but an extreme case is "When the Ship Comes In": unremarkable music made dramatic by Bob Dylan lyrics.

So not as strong as other Pogues albums, but it's no slacker, especially if you usually pay strong attention to lyrics, and consider passing otherwise. December 7, 2005

3.5 Stars

This album really isn't bad. In fact, its amazing its as good as it is. Keep in mind Shane Macgowan was no longer with the band at this time, and he was the heart and soul of the band, not to mention an amazing songwriter. Putting that aside, this is a good album, and I would probably think of it more highly if I hadn't come to expect so much from this group. There are some really great tracks on here like "How Come", "Living In A World Without Her", "When The Ship Comes In" & "Bright Lights". However, the rest of the album is nothing special. If you are just getting into the Pogues get "Rum Sodomy & The Lash", "Red Roses For Me" & "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" before you even begin to consider buying this album. If you are a Pogues fan and are wondering what the band sounded like without Macgowan, definitely get this over "Waiting For Herb" (which is a terrible album). November 28, 2005

Just don't expect it to sound like Shane...

This isn't as good as earlier Pogues with MacGowan, but compared to other recordings in the Celtic rock genre, this isn't a bad album. Released under any name other than the Pogues I think this would be considered a decent collection of songs. It does still have that same accordion, banjo & whistle driven atmosphere that is a hallmark of the Pogues. In a genre that had & has its share of amateurish bands, you can definitely tell that this is a band of professionals. Of course it's totally predictable that there would be an outcry against a Shaneless Pogues, so resist jumping on the band wagon and enjoy this album for what it is. September 19, 2005

The Pogues swan song.

Pogue Mahone (1995) was the last studio album recorded by the Pogues. In some ways it's a self titled album because Pogue Mahone was the original name of the band.
Spider Stacy, Andrew Ranken and Jem Finer are the only founding members left (long standing member Darryl Hunt is still with the band as well). Four new members were added to round out the rest of the group. Too much liquor and a rift with a possible returning Shane MacGowan caused James Fernaly, Terry Woods and an ailing Phillip Chevron to quit the band. Shane wasn't in any condition to return to the group full time so he bailed out. Spider and company wasn't ready to call it a day so the remaining members went back into the studio to record Pogue Mahone.

Several of the songs on this disc are very enjoyable (Anniversary, When the Ship Comes In, I'll Love you until the End and How Come). The other band members do an adequate job of replacing the departed players. Overall, the album doesn't have the fire and passion of the previous discs. Maybe if the band hung around a little bit longer and recorded another album then they could have been a much more tighter sounding unit. In ways it's a fitting tribute to a band that captured the raw energy of celtic folk music.

Recommended for fans. June 15, 2005

Don't roll your eyes just yet...

Okay, so it's not Rum Sodomy and the Lash (honestly, why people go looking for an album in other albums is beyond me). Pogue Mahone is a good album in it's own right. It's got some gems such as: "Where that Love's Been Gone" (which almost has a Cajun feel), "Bright Lights" and "Oretown". I'll admit that the album as a whole isn't an instant classic, but every once in a while I just have to listen to at least my favorite tracks on it.

It's not better than Rum by any means...but it's just as good as Red Roses For Me. And if some of you pretentious Pogues fans don't agree with me...you can just Pogue Mahone.
April 25, 2005

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