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Last Post 3/23/2004 9:20 AM by  eoghan
The Best Irish albums EVER
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eoghan
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3/23/2004 9:20 AM
    Right. Here's the deal. CLUAS will be 5 years old this coming May and as part of the celebrations we're gonna run a readers' poll (yes, another) to find the Top 50 Irish Albums of All Time . In preparation for this I recently invited the CLUAS writers to each nominate their top 5 albums. Check out the top fives that have been submitted to date by the writers (plus their unique and charismatic commentaries on each choice) on this page: http://www.cluas.com/bestalbums/ The polls, by the way, will be open in a matter of days for all and sundry to vote for their own top 5, from which we'll draw up the overall top 50. Yours in top fiftyness eoghan
    QsySue
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    3/23/2004 9:12 PM
    Looks like so far, Loveless is in the lead. Never heard that album...didn't even know My Bloody Valentine were Irish until a couple weeks ago.
    Vent My Spleen
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    3/24/2004 8:39 AM
    Loveless is a fantastic album, never heard anything like it before and though many have tried, nothing has quite matched it since. The writers choice is very interesting in so far as there are many albums you would expect (Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy, The Pogues) but there are some great lost albums there too (Blades, Whipping Boy, Stump). As a matter of fact, QsySue, given that you like Husker Du, I'd recommend The Whipping Boy, guitar driven, angsty and dark, although their 2 albums are very hard to get. I picked up Heartworm in Amsterdam last year (on CD) and the last time I saw "Whipping Boy" was in FreeBird Records here in Dublin and they were looking for 20 euro second hand for it.
    The_Thin_Man
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    3/24/2004 11:46 AM
    I got Heartworm for $1.99 on amazon.com news and used last month. Interestingly, the same day I got A House's I Am The Greatest for $2.00, again from the States. When it comes to 90s Irish rock, everything must go! Anyone for the last of the Big Generator?
    Vent My Spleen
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    3/24/2004 12:56 PM
    $1.99, that's a result. By the by, does anyone know what happened to the Whipping Boy? I remember them touring Europe circa 96-97 supporting various acts including Lou Reed. Then they went quiet and released the second album in about 2000, basically as a farewell.
    The_Thin_Man
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    3/24/2004 1:10 PM
    I realise this thread is exposing me as possibly the cheapest guy in the world, but, on the basis of reading the top fives, I've just got a copy of Viva Dead Ponies on amazon for all of $0.69...the plan to rebuild the ol vinyl collection continues apace!
    eyeballkid
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    3/24/2004 1:21 PM
    glad someone mentioned A House's 'I Am The Greatest'. a notable absence from the writer's poll i felt. also i always thought 'Rum Sodomy & The Lash' to be the best Pogues album so i was surprised to see everyone go for 'Grace of God'. nice to be reminded of Revillino though. i didn't think the album was great but 'Don't Lead Me Down' is such an amazing song. and Whipping Boy are definitely great. the lead singer once pulled my hair when he jumped into the crowd at a gig in Dublin.
    The_Thin_Man
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    3/24/2004 1:38 PM
    When it comes to Rum versus Grace, I suppose it's whether you like yr fodder raw or smooth. It could be like comparing the Smiths's debut to the Queen is Dead. I love the songs on the original, but TQID sounds more polished. I always felt Rum dealt with the Irish-British thing, whereas Grace was more Irish-American in scope. Although it's probably just that Rum doesn't have Thousands Are Sailing on it.
    Vent My Spleen
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    3/24/2004 4:51 PM
    There is very little to choose between "Rum, Sodomy.." & "Fall From.", both great albums. Personally, I think "Bottle of Smoke" gives "Fall From.." the edge. As for A House, I was quite surprised it didn't figure (yet) but I have listened to it recently and thought it had aged a bit. Loved it when it came out though - maybe I overkilled it back in the ninties.
    Earthhorse
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    3/25/2004 4:24 PM
    Despite several listens to Loveless I can't see the charm. It's too vague for my liking. Whipping Boy are another story. There should be some details on their break up over at www.valentine69.com Paul Page, the guitarist, contributes to the Yahoo Group occasionally (you'll find a link on the site). Essentially after Heartworm failed to take off new managment came in at their record company. They weren't really about what Whipping Boy were and the band actually went to them (I think) and asked to end the contract. After that they kicked around Dublin for a while and as you said eventually released their third album around 2000. They had actually been split for a few years though, basically pissed off with each other and only managed to do it in order to thank fans.
    Vent My Spleen
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    3/25/2004 5:48 PM
    Cheers for the info Earthhorse. The second album sounded like a band whose heart wasn't in it alright. On Loveless, it is a difficult one to get into but pretty much anyone I know who likes it took a lot of hard work listening before it kinda clicks for you.
    Earthhorse
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    3/26/2004 1:23 PM
    Whipping Boy did actually release an album called Submarine on Liquid records before getting signed to Sony, so that last album was actually their third. There's some interesting stuff on the first album, though the band clearly haven't found their feet yet. There are MP3s on this site: http://www.gamerseurope.com/whippingboy/index.htm (Note: it's nigh on impossible to get the first album as Liquid records went under and as far as I know Paul Page is aware of these MP3s being up but if the mod wants to edit this, go ahead). I might give Loveless another listen sometime on the horizon. I do like some of the tracks on it, just don't love them, and if I force it I'll only alienate myself from the album. Some interesting picks in the list posted by the reviewers. I've heard a lot about Fatima Mansions and Rollerskate Skinny but also that their albums are impossible to get. I think the poll's gonna reflect the fact that a lot of people have only heard the U2 and Pogues albums.
    Vent My Spleen
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    3/26/2004 4:04 PM
    Doh! For some reason I keep remembering Submarine as an EP rather than a full blown album (probably becase I only have it on vinyl and as such probably haven't listened to it in years). As for the vote, I'd expect U2 and the ogues to feature heavily. However, there is a lot of contemporary stuff which will be there or there abouts, Frames, BellX1, Mundy etc etc.
    MarkO
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    3/28/2004 9:57 PM
    Tough to pick 5 ...... here goes. 1) U2 : Achtung Baby ... back from the brink. 2) Van Morrison : St.Dominic's Preview .... something a little different from Astral Weeks 3) Rory Gallagher : Irish tour '74 .... the most underrated guitar player ever in his favourite setting. 4) Something Happens : Stuck Together With God's Glue .... My college anthems. 5) The Blades : The Last Man In Europe .... I was shocked that music like this ever came out of Europe. Awesome.
    Vent My Spleen
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    3/29/2004 7:13 AM
    What a great live pertformer Gallagher was, hugely undervalued in his time. Anyone else want to give us their top 5??
    The_Thin_Man
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    3/29/2004 7:48 AM
    Good call on Dominic's Preview MarkO - glad someone mentioned that, cos I slipped my mind completely. More flawed, but as a result slightly more charming I think, than Astral Weeks.
    Karlito
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    3/29/2004 10:39 AM
    Sure go on, Top 5 in no particular order.... The Frames - For The Birds. Quite an obvious one but it's a beautiful album Thin Lizzy - Live And Dangerous. A great rocking live album. The Tycho Brahe - Love Life. Bloody fabulous simple. Ronan Ó'Snódaigh - Tip Toe. Beautifully acoustic. David Kitt - Small Moments - this is it.
    Goat Boy
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    3/30/2004 1:40 PM
    Here goes in no real order.... The Frames - Dance The Devil Whipping Boy - Heartworm MBV - Loveless Fatima Mansions - Viva Dead Ponies and finally.....ahem The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead. Well I think it qualifies as an Irish album! If not then Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous instead...
    vandala
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    3/31/2004 9:27 AM
    My Bloody Valentine - Loveless Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the Stairs The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God The Blades - Last Man In Europe And, just for the sake of mentioning something from the last ten years: Jubilee Allstars - Lights of The City
    Dave D
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    4/1/2004 11:56 AM
    Scandal that Twist by The Fat Lady Sings wasn't mentioned. Also just to be annoying - The divine comedy song Your Daddy's Car is on the first album liberation not the second. Liberation should also feature in the top 25 methinks.
    Dave D
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    4/1/2004 12:02 PM
    Also, This no doubt will be controversial, but the Cranberries first album Everybody else is doing it so why can't should be there
    Enricho
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    4/1/2004 12:16 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Karlito
    Sure go on, Top 5 in no particular order.... Thin Lizzy - Live And Dangerous. A great rocking live album.
    C'mon out of that now chief.
    Dave D
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    4/1/2004 1:46 PM
    Oh, and Year Zero by Bawl - massively underrated
    stephen
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    4/1/2004 4:01 PM
    Does anyone else remember Immigrant, Emigrants and Me by the Power of Dreams? What a fabulous album that was... And The Fat Lady Sings? But, IMO, by far and away the best Irish album ever released (and I am AMAZED it hasn't come up yet) is Daniel's latest opus, The Jukebox Years...
    Karlito
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    4/1/2004 4:14 PM
    quote:
    C'mon out of that now chief
    If you don't like it, ah well, it's only my opinion and I happen to like that album.
    Vent My Spleen
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    4/1/2004 4:50 PM
    I'm pretty aurprised The Stars of Heaven haven't got a look in either yet. As for Live and Dangerous, I wouldn't be a Lizzy fan per say, but it is one of the finest live albums ever, forget just Ireland. I reckon it'll get a lot of votes. Power of Dreams were one of a posse of bands from around that time who looked like they were going to do great things but never really broke through. It include The Fat Lady Sings, POD, Stars Of Heaven in there. Never really listened to any Bawl. Any use?
    Enricho
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    4/1/2004 7:31 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Karlito
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    C'mon out of that now chief
    If you don't like it, ah well, it's only my opinion and I happen to like that album.
    I have nothing against that album, but when was the last time you played it?
    Karlito
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    4/2/2004 8:08 AM
    To Enricho, It doesn't matter when the last time the album was played, the poll is the best Irish albums, who cares when last it was played, how many times it was played who it was played with - it's just a good album. so be it.
    pablohoney
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    4/2/2004 2:02 PM
    one of my favorite albums is loveless by my bloody valentine haven't listened to it in ages but this thread has made me dig it out again and renew my love for it i love when that happens!
    Lucera
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    4/2/2004 4:26 PM
    Loveless was/is groundbreaking from a production point of view but its hard work, which I'm not sure is what makes "A Great Irish Album", but thats one opinion only. Mine would have to include Therapy? Troublegum, The Chieftans "Another Country", Planxty and Moving Hearts,...maybe those are too obvious a choice...Donal Lunny, Paul Brady's Back To The Centre.Maybe not number one to five but worth considering above Whipping Boy for songwriting. Number 1 in my book is without doubt Rosin Dubh, the 1979 Thin Lizzy tribute to Irish music. Aside from "S&M"(one opinion only!),its flawless. Coolest Irish album cover by far aswel ...hell Axl Rose got it as a tatoo(it was designed by Jim FitzPatrick, the guy who drew the famous Che Guevera face, he did'nt want to copyright his Che face, hence its frequent use on fashion items such as RATM records and T-shirts. I'll get me coat now then)
    Vent My Spleen
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    4/2/2004 4:30 PM
    Personally, I rate Live and Dangerous, but Enricho raises an interesting point about some of the albums that will feature heavily in this poll. Some of it will be "coffee Table" music, stuff that is in a great many collections, which is highly rated but rarely listened to. Ladies & gentlemen, I give you Astral Weeks. I'm not a fan by any stretch, but this albu continues to amaze me. Next time you see it in someones collection, ask them thwe last time they played it? If they reply "All the time, man", follow it up with "Name 2 tracks". You'd be amazed the number of people who say they love it but rarely if ever listen to it. That said, the fact that people don't listen to it doesn't take away from the fact that it might be a great album (Loveless by MBV being a case in point.)
    A.West
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    4/2/2004 8:32 PM
    I think a lot of people wont agree on that one. I've listened to Loveless more times than any other album. Normally after a few listens of album you get tired of it but I think loveless is one of those albums that gets better everytime you listen to it.
    QsySue
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    4/2/2004 9:43 PM
    I'm surprised more of you aren't listing Astral Weeks. I listen to Van Morrison all the time. Haha, I'm actually listening to him right now.
    cormac
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    4/5/2004 2:39 PM
    Dudes, the only live thing on 'Live and Dangerous' is the crowd noise. So I heard anyway
    flagman
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    4/5/2004 3:04 PM
    Astral Weeks is class alright. My brother had a copy that used to listen to but I recently picked up a copy for myself to cherish and secretly lick when no one is watching.
    Binokular
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    4/5/2004 5:55 PM
    The whole "coffee table music" discussion is interesting. Sure all of us have gone out and bought an album at least once because we knew it would look cool in our CD collection. The fact that you would regularly listen to an album to is a sure sign that you genuinely like that album but I don't think its true in 100% of cases. Some music you can listen to everyday, in work, doing the ironing, driving the car whatever. Other music, you really have to be in the mood for. I rarely listen to "Love Supreme" by John Coltrane but that doesn't mean I love it any less. Its worth owning for the two to three times a year I dig it out. On the other hand I bought Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" because its supposed to be the definitive Jazz record, the one that everybody is supposed to own but it left me kind of cold. I never listen to it.
    Vent My Spleen
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    4/5/2004 7:23 PM
    Are you serious about Live & Dangerous, Cormac? Well you live and learn.
    eoghan
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    4/6/2004 10:27 AM
    The polling booth is now open for you to vote for your top 5 Irish albums of all time. The overall top 50 compiled from votes received will be published on the site on May 15th, that being the same day as the mighty CLUAS 5th birthday gig which will be taking place in Whelan's. More info on the gig and its (absolutely fab) line-up will be announced later in the month. But in the meantime get out there and submit your vote. And here’s the page you have to get yourselves over to: http://www.cluas.com/bestalbums/ eoghan
    al ert
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    4/10/2004 2:11 PM
    great to see The Tycho Brahe 'Love Life' in there. It is on good old CD-WOW.com for a tiny £8.99 http://www.cd-wow.com/detail_results_unsigned.php?product_code=10710 and they deliver for free - it really is a cracker. and horsedrawn wishes ... another cracker
    nlgbbbblth
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    4/10/2004 3:18 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Vent My Spleen
    $1.99, that's a result. By the by, does anyone know what happened to the Whipping Boy? I remember them touring Europe circa 96-97 supporting various acts including Lou Reed. Then they went quiet and released the second album in about 2000, basically as a farewell.
    Whipping Boy's first LP is Submarine, 1992 second was Heartworm in 1995 third was released in 2000
    nlgbbbblth
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    4/10/2004 3:20 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Dave D
    Scandal that Twist by The Fat Lady Sings wasn't mentioned. Also just to be annoying - The divine comedy song Your Daddy's Car is on the first album liberation not the second. Liberation should also feature in the top 25 methinks.
    Liberation is the second Divine Comedy album first was Fanfare For The Comic Muse
    nlgbbbblth
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    4/10/2004 3:27 PM
    some of my favourites #1 My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything and the rest in no order Whipping Boy - Submarine Stars Of Heaven - Speak Slowly A House - Wide Eyed And Ignorant A House - I Want Too Much The Jimmy Cake - Dublin Gone, Everybody Dead Into Paradise - Under The Water Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down The Stairs The Frank And Walters - Beauty Becomes More Than Life The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God Sean O'Riada - O'Riada Sa Gaiety Planxty - Cold Blow And The Rainy Night The Redneck Manifesto - Cut Your Heart Off From Your Head Joan Of Arse - Distant Hearts, A Little Closer The Dudley Corporation - The Lonely World Of The Dudley Corporation Van Morrison - Astral Weeks My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
    Vent My Spleen
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    4/13/2004 5:22 PM
    Wow, ecletic or what? Sean O'Riada & The Whipping Boy? Excellent! I am always surprised that O'Riada doesn't get much press these days considering what a towering figure he was. I hope everyone everone is voting as well as blathering on this topic!! http://www.cluas.com/bestalbums/vote.htm
    Punchbowl
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    4/16/2004 12:11 PM
    Whipping boys ' Heartworm ' seems to be undergoing a bit of a re-release at the moment. It's all over HMV in dublin so give it a go. it IS the greatest Irish album ever. No doubt. A House ' I am the Greatest ' is number two. Thats in HMV aswell and Brian ' Understand '.. Try getting that? Well, it's number three. Honourable mention : Rollerskate skinny ' Horsedrawn Wishes ' The Frank and Walters ' Beauty Becomes more than Life '


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