(DL22) -
Greenland Whalefishers - Songs from the Bunker
Review by:
Ox-Fanzine
Oh Herr, Odin an der Fiddle! Das
reicht dem einen schon aus, um diese norwegische Celtic-Folk-Truppe per se
abzufeiern. Ich gestehe der Objektivität wenigstens einen halben Durchlauf im
Player zu, um schließlich gnadenlos „Yes!“ zu rufen. Nicht wegen Odin, sondern
wegen des großartigen, verwegenen Sounds, der aus den Boxen kommt.
Das klingt wunderbar knarzig und prototypisch – „Red Roses For Me“ (POGUES) ist
hier die Hausnummer. Sieben Norweger, darunter eine Dame (an der Tin-Whistle)
schütteln elf gelungene Lieder zwischen POGUES, DUBLINERS und DROPKICK MURPHYS
aus den Ärmeln.
Zu diesen gesellen sich noch vier „?“-Songs – so zumindest offeriert es die
Tracklist –, die zwischen Vocals und Pipes pendeln. Warum eigentlich verpasst
man sich aber ein dermaßen schnödes, einfallsloses Coverartwork? Wenigstens
haben sie an die Texte gedacht.
Schade. Bei „Red Roses For Me“ überzeugte die pure Musik, nicht die Verpackung.
Das ist so auch hier der Fall. Die Songs sind durchweg erstklassig und bestechen
im Gegensatz zu dem zahllosen Fiddle-Punkrock dieser Tage durch ihre
Wesentlichkeit und animierenden Charme.
Ausrasten, wild tanzen und feiern – bitte schön! Die eingängigen Melodien –
getragen von Banjos, Mandoline und „Fidel“ – werden mit maximal halb verzehrten
Gitarren und charakterstarkem Gesang zu kleinen Hymnen unter anderem über die
Härten des Lebens („The guest“), Polizeigewalt („Police chief inspector“) und
natürlich die Liebe („Drunk vs.
lovesick“). Harmonien und Refrains sind schnell im Ohr und den meisten
Lebensfrust vertreiben die flotten Stomper „Waiting“ und „Back up man“ sowie der
Titeltrack (Schunkel-Ballade). Wem SIR REG, FLOGGING MOLLY etc.
zu modern und poppig sind, sollte sich nicht vom Walfangverbot abhalten lassen
und sich dieses kurzweilige Album angeln. Rettet die Wale!
Lars Weigelt
© by Ox-Fanzine / Ausgabe #95 (April/Mai 2011)
Wertung:
(DL22) -
Greenland Whalefishers - Songs from the Bunker
Mustard Finnegan @ 8:10 pm June 19,
2010
You’ll probably read the Shite’n'Onions list of the best Celtic-punk CDs of all
time and will obviously have taken note of Greenland Whalefishers ranking. In
fact, of all the CDs listed, GWFs raised the most comment - not that a bunch of
Norse men made the list, but the choice should be Down & Out not Loboville. I
still stand by Loboville as their greatest and I’m sure my detractors will stand
by Down & Out. I’m also willing to stand by the fact that SONGS FROM the BUNKER
is the best GWF release since Lobville and I’m will to bet my detractors are
willing to insist SONGS FROM the BUNKER is their greatest album since down and
out etc.
(DL22) -
Greenland Whalefishers - Songs from the Bunker
The
latest Greenland Whalefishers album is finally here and fans of the Norwegian
Celtic band will be pleased! We may never get new material from The Pogues but
there’s always the Greenland Whalefishers to fill in that void for us!
Songs From the Bunker contains 15 tracks in all, but some tracks are just intro
& segway tracks. I don’t really get why bands waste space with short tracks that
are only 8 seconds but I’ll let this go since GWF are awesome. Besides the 15
tracks, the album also contains the music video for “Waiting,” which I assume is
the band’s single?
The new album starts off with a minute intro that sounds pretty good! Then
something jumbled and incoherent from Arvid I presume. “The Guest” and “Waiting”
are the beginning tracks, and definitely stand out from the rest. The band sound
top notch as always, with Arvid sounding growlier this time around. I actually
don’t mind that at all. It’s Celtic punk rock after all; this isn’t American
Idol or something. The fast tracks are always fun to listen, but I also love
their slower tracks. This album, “I Just Saw You” is an instant favorite of
mine. It makes me want to sway back and forth with my girl. Their older songs
like “Thirsty Cave” and “Hole in Our Hearts” also make me want to sway too.
Besides sounding like the Pogues, I always felt Greenland Whalefishers were one
of the best Celtic bands that stood out from the batch. They write catchy songs
with an edge, and seem to know what they are doing. After all, they have been
playing as a band since 1993. If I had to have a complaint about the album, the
production seems to be a bit off this time. I’m not sure if I’m being too picky
but something doesn’t seem as sharp as their other albums. Maybe I need to clean
out my ears better?
With that one little complaint, Songs From The Bunker is a must-have from GWF
fans. I really hope I get to see this band perform live in the United States.
West Coast fans had the pleasure of seeing them back in March, but no East
coast. Perhaps next year East Coast fans will get their chance. I think I’ll
have these songs memorized by then!
Bottom Line: GWF haven’t released a bad album yet!
Notable Tracks: The Guest, Waiting, Police Chief Inspecter, I Just Saw You
Overall 4 stars
http://www.readjunk.com/reviews/cdreviews/greenland-whalefishers-songs-from-the-bunker/