Review by Doug Cornell

To begin a review of Flogging Molly, a group of Americans who mix traditional Irish instrumentation and melodies with modern punk, it is necessary to mention the Pogues, as they are the originators of this blending of styles.  Since the Pogues are largely a band of the 80's, their sound is is simple, with a drunken Shane McGowan leading a band pipes, pennywhistles, guitars, and banjos through rowdy Irish melodies.  Whether the were singing about war heroes, hard times, or lost loves, albums like "Rum, Sodomy and the Lash" and "If I Should Fall From the Grace of God" belong in every serious music collection.

Since Flogging Molly are from California, not Ireland, their sound is decidedly more "North American" sounding.  The band favors a dense So-Cal punk style, with accordion, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and percussion piled on top of each other.  Lead vocalist Dave King's voice is recorded LOUD in the mix, and at times he sounds oddly similar to Jello Biafra (without the warble).

"Screaming at the Wailing Wall" opens the album with a massive punch of hard edge Irish punk.  The chorus melody is a stunner, and once heard, incites involuntary humming and whistling.  The band rips into a pirate jig with the rocker "The Seven Deadly Sins," then slows the tempo in "Factory Girls," which features singer Lucinda Williams in this delightful duet.  "To Youth (My Sweet Roisn Dubh)" is a slam-bang punk sing-along, while the ballad "Whistles the Wind" offers a pleasant contrast.  The album continues with rockers drenched in Irish melody ("The Light of a Fading Star," "Queen Anne's Revenge"), but it's the more traditional Irish fare that sets this band apart ("Tobacco Island," "The Wrong Company").  You'll hear a zydeco influence in "Tomorrow Comes a Day too Soon," and pennywhistle provides a sweet introduction for "The Wanderlust," which is actually a rowdy pub-rocker.

The album closes with two stunners. "With a Wonder and a Wild Desire" is one of those tunes that combine tempo, melody, singing, story, and instruments into a song that will be revered through generations.  A deceptively simple chord progression propels the song along at breakneck speed, while the chorus demands a group sing-along.  For the final track, "Don't Let Me Die Still Wondering," Dave King sings "Take my advice, you'll have to bury me twice, 'cause the first time I won't rest easily," in this funeral-tempo ballad - and you believe him.  This song really hits a nerve, as it it asks, "Don't let me die still wondering what it was I left behind."

"Within a Mile of Home" is one of the true high-points in this decade of mediocre releases.  As Flogging Molly has matured, they've allowed themselves to be true to both their punk and Irish sensibilities.  Good for them.