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The Pogues
Hell's Ditch


4.0
excellent

Review

by DesolationRow USER (80 Reviews)
March 29th, 2006 | 8 replies


Release Date: 1990 | Tracklist


Hell's Ditch is perhaps The Pogues' most dwelling album into the counterculture of mythic piracy and celtic rowdiness. Shane MacGowan, the band's chief songwriter and vocalist provides his usual, uncanny, slurred, drunken vocals, with the help of traditional celtic barroom music behind his vindictive narratives. The lyrical content (I believe as said by Med) is almost completely incomprehendable, yet manages to purvey images exactly of what MacGowan is saying. The history of the Pogues' substance abuse, and rowdy music is an enjoyable listen. Not near perfect (as it is Irish folk music) but it pertains a certain lightheartedness that is fun to listen to, and even more fun to kick the crap out of people to in a pub brawl. Mandolin, banjo, and accordion provide the celtic rapture of Hell's Ditch's sound, while acoustic guitar and simple drum beats (and maybe a hint of bass) simply keep the music on beat and together. The band was 'responsible' for inventing the Celtic Punk genre, and the sound definitely backs that assumption. Their sound is captivated in todays music, and Hell's Ditch is the drunken Pirate persona to its full potential.



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user ratings (69)
3.5
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
tom79
May 14th 2006


3936 Comments


Joe Strummer helped produced this album, which is pretty cool. Nice blurb, i've only heard some off here, but should here more.

DesolationRow
June 29th 2006


833 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Actually, Strummer produced the entire album, if I'm not mistaken.

Zebra
Moderator
June 29th 2006


2647 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Sunny Side of the Street owns. Hands down the best track off the album. This Message Edited On 06.28.06

tom79
August 14th 2006


3936 Comments


Actually, Strummer produced the entire album, if I'm not mistaken.

Yeah, I thought that. I want to get this soon.

ElitistPig
August 14th 2006


146 Comments


[quote=zebra]Sunny Side of the Street owns. Hands down the best track off the album. [/quote]
That's the only one I have heard is the rest of the album far behind Sunny side of the Street?
This Message Edited On 08.14.06

Cygnus Inter Anates
August 14th 2006


721 Comments


The Pogues are so under-appreciated.

britfolkgod
January 8th 2014


16 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

This to me is their best one. Shane sounds tired - down, but definitely not out - but it's got some amazing contributions song-wise by Terry Woods and is a very solid set of music.

rasi
February 29th 2016


100 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I know most consider this their worst album, but I like this one the most.



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