The Pogues – If I Should Fall from Grace with God LP

Description

IfRum Sodomy & the Lashcaptured the Pogues on plastic in all their rough-and-tumble glory, If I Should Fall from Grace with God proved they could learn the rudiments of proper record making and still come up with an album that captured all the sharp edges of their musical personality. ProducerSteve Lillywhiteimposed a more disciplined approach in the studio thanElvis Costellohad, but he had the good sense not to squeeze the life out of the band in the process; as a result, the Pogues sound tighter and more precise than ever, while still summoning up the glorious howling fury that madeRum Sodomy & the Lashso powerful. AndShane MacGowancontinued to grow as a songwriter, as his lyrics and melodies captured with brilliant detail his obsession with the finer points of Anglo-Irish culture. “Fairytale of New York,” a glorious sweet-and-sour duet withKirsty MacColl, and “The Broad Majestic Shannon” were subtle in a way many of his previous work was not, “Birmingham Six” found him addressing political issues for the first time (and with all the expected venom), and “Fiesta” and “Turkish Song of the Damned” found him adding (respectively) faux-Spanish and Middle Eastern flavors into the Pogues’ heady mix. And if you want to hear the Pogues blaze through some fast ones, “Bottle of Smoke” and the title song find them doing just what they’ve always done best. Brilliantly mixing passion, street smarts, and musical ambition, If I Should Fall from Grace with God is the best album the Pogues would ever make. -All Music Guide