Favourite Irish albums of the CLUAS writers
Brano's top 5 Irish albums of all time...
Act:
Lir
Album: "Magico Magico" (1993)
It's the Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome. I'm (ahem..) 'swanning' around
buck-naked in my 'I-Love-Lir' birthday suit but very few others, save Smiley
Bolger (!), got with the programme. From the first time I heard these guys in
1989 at UCD Freshers' Week with their mad changes in rhythm and shin-kicking
youthful verve (they were all teenagers then), I was a child of Lir. The fact
that they are STILL involved in a dirty legal spat with their ex-management and
are now back playing again to pay the solicitors' bills takes nothing away from
the fact that these guys are rivalled only by
Planxty, in my book, for sheer raw
musical talent. The fact that we got five guys from Donaghmede who were all
supremely talented on their instruments but who could also gel as a group with
excellent songs, is just unique in music, never mind just Irish music. Ok so
'Magico Magico' doesn't quite get to their 'live' feel but it's a gem. A real
gem.
Act:
Planxty
Album: "Planxty" (1972)
Ok so I'm topical? and anybody who wants to buy me the DVD of the Vicar
St. gigs, be my guest. But come on, great songs, great musicianship, great guys,
bringing traditional music to the masses, you seriously can't expect to leave
this monument out of the top five Irish albums of all time, now can you? Go to
Asturias, hear them rave about it. Find a Breton caf?and hear them sing The
Blacksmith. Go to Clare and actually walk to Spanish Point. Digging a time
capsule about what it means to be Irish for future generations? Then
Moore, Lunny, O'Flynn and
Irvine have hand-picked some of the finest songs of the
tradition ? many of which may have been lost had they not. It's pure genius. But
be warned it's also sexual! ?For you have stole my maidenhead and I am quite
undone.? Essential. Superlative. Naughty. Number One.
Act:
The Waterboys
Album: "This Is The Sea" (1985)
Side One, track one, all time greatest introductions to an album
anybody? He's Scottish but there are Irish musicians in there, ya know. Not the
longest album but jumping Jesus, holy cow - such a fine selection of songs.
Trumpets, Old England, Medicine Bow? I could go on. And I will. The Pam Within, Don't Bang the Drum, Spirit. A long time before he
'just found God' in
Glastonbury (sigh...). The summit of his musical and songwriting talent. Every
musician needs one. Few actually get there. This is it.
Act:
Rory Gallagher
Album: "Live in Europe" (1972)
Donal Griffin take a bow. No studio
album could ever grasp what Rory was about but this live classic got it on the
button. If the devil had let him pray, he would've had religion and music would
have lost a giant. Forget about finesse, about personalities and about
marketability ? Rory (ahem?!) frog leaps into the top five by virtue of plain
genius. You couldn't watch this guy play the guitar and not be astounded. This
album has many of the greats and captures his amazing musical ability in a
beautiful snapshot for time immemorial. Pistol Slapper Blues, how are ya.
Act:
U2
Album: "Unforgettable Fire" (1984)
Oh how I debated. Van's Moondance (vastly superior bunch of songs to
Astral Weeks, dar liom). Achtung Baby?. The Josh?. fine, fine albums indeed.
Pogues, if I should fall (too inconsistent)?. Lizzy (too many line-ups I'm
afraid!)?. And then the sweet, sweet intro of Promenade wafts into view?.
Unforgettable Fire wasn't an album. It was a mood. It was a piece of Art,
capital 'A'. Most of the lyrics are improvised for chrissakes! But it's a
defining moment (awful clich?I know) in Irish musical terms. Lanois, Slane and
the songs that finally bring substance to (ahem?!) 'the hype' around U2. The
title track is one of their best, Pride one of their worst, but you are left in
no doubt that this is a band on the verge of defining Irish culture to the world
over the decade to follow. Think about that. Broad shoulders required, please.
And knowing that this was the real beginning of it, is better than actually
being in the middle of it with their next three releases. It gives us hope. Here
is the rope. Now swing on it.
Brano
- Check out the final Top 50 Irish Albums of All Time as voted by CLUAS.com readers
- Discuss this selection of best Irish albums of all time on the CLUAS Discussion Board.
- Check out the top 5 Irish albums of all time chosen by these other CLUAS writers:
Allen Conlan
Anthony Morrissey
Brano
Brian Farrelly
Brian Kelly
Celine O'Malley
Chris Ford
Ciaran Wrenn
Cormac Looney
Donal Griffin
Dromed
Gav Reilly
Hugh Tynan
Jimmy Murphy
Jules Jackson
Ollie O'Leary
Stephen McNulty
