The Pogues: Streams of Whiskey - Live in Leysin, Switzerland, 1991
review by Owen
I just bought a new album, "The Pogues: Streams of Whiskey - Live in Leysin, Switzerland, 1991" The week it came out in Canada. I have seen the Pogues live, back in '96, about a month or two before they called it quits, but never with Shane MacGowan. Needless to say, I have always wanted to see MacGowan, because I have a huge soft spot for Singers who Can't, and he's the best(worst) of them. This album confirmed at least one of the things that I thought about Shane: His vocal warmup consists of a few drinks and the first couple of songs in the first set. After wincing through "Streams of Whiskey" and "If I should fall from Grace With God" The groove settles down very nicely through many Pogues Classics before ending with an all time favourite of mine, "Sally MacLennane."
What can I say about this album? It is a must have for die-hard Pogues fans, but for the average person who just likes rip-roaring music, I would pretty much reccomend heading down to the local used CD shop and getting one or all of the following for the same price as buying this album:
- Red Roses For Me
- Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash
- If I Should Fall From Grace With God
Every one of them is a better album, with real production values, and fantastic songs.
But if you have never seen Shane in concert, and you're afraid he'll kill himself before you can, this is still a pretty good album. I dunno, though... I'm kinda hoping that the Mahones will put out a live album some day. That would probably be a lot more meaningful for me, since it is a band that I know and love live.
Anyway, Long story short, three and a half pints of Irish Style beer brewed in London and hidden in the basement for ten years before being re-discovered, making you wonder how good it would have been if you had been there to drink it when it was fresh.
Score:  
|
