Flogging Molly - Within a Mile of Home ( 13/09/04 SideOneDummy) - Album Review

Flogging Molly
Within a Mile of Home
(13/09/04 SideOneDummy)

Possessing the folk-punk style and poignancy of The Levellers and to a lesser extent The Pogues, as well as being blessed with that little extra something they term heartfelt enthusiasm gives this well traveled; Los Angeles via Ireland Septet that curiosity usually reserved for the voting at the Eurovision song contest. The illuminating of voice Lucinda Williams who makes a guest appearance in ‘Factory Girls’, rubs along nicely with the sharp Irish tones of Dave King (ex Fastway) to provide one of the highlights on this fifteen track firecracker of an album.

Dave’s almost Roddy Doyle narrative style vocals in the acapella track ‘The Wrong Company’ illuminate a tale of a fugitive, alcohol and an unwelcoming cellmate. This coupled with the alluring acoustic number ‘The Spoken Wheel’ represent rest periods in the midst of fascinating folk and punk mayhem. For those of you who found Stiff Little Fingers authoritative, enjoyable and entertaining are directed to the title track that can be classed as a neat reworking of ‘Harp’, as well as the frenetic finale of ‘With a wonder of a Wild Desire’ , incorporating defiant and inspiring lyrics;

“Drag not your strength from government, but from the voices they abuse.

So with a wonder and a wild Desire I will crawl from under every weight.”

‘Within A Mile Of Home’ is the third full length album from Flogging Molly and it is certainly a feast of entertainment fit for, and provided with help from a King.

www.sideonedummy.com
www.floggingmolly.com

David Adair