Flogging Molly - Within a Mile of Home

Flogging Molly has fused together traditional Irish music with punk rock and the outcome is an incredible trip

Every day is St. Patrick’s Day with Flogging Molly. So bust out the Guinness and line up the shots of Irish Car Bombs because our favorite Ireland rockers (who are actually from L.A.) are back and with their finest release to date. I didn’t think it would be possible to top their previous release, Drunken Lullabies, but Flogging Molly have hit their prime musically with their newest release Within a Mile of Home.

If you want a taste of Flogging Molly, don’t go grab yourself an Irish brew kids--use your head and imagine the setting of an authentic Irish pub (no, not one called the Irish Rover with a dog above the door) with a different crowd like a bunch of punk kids sporting mohawks and plaid pants. That’s the best way to describe the music and mannerisms of Flogging Molly. They take subtle Irish music and kick it up to notches unknown with an incredible swiftness and speed infused in the music.

I’ve never heard an accordion, violin, fiddle, tin whistle, mandolin and banjo sound so fucking rock ‘n’ roll. Yeah, that’s right; those instruments are rocked out on this album next to chanting, folksy vocals. The energy exuding from the album puts you in an uplifting state. Drums never stop thumping from the opening till the end of the album. The pace is set extremely brisk for each and every song. You can easily envision sitting in a bar and having everyone singing along to clanking of beer mugs.

Dave King expertly compliments the music with reflective lyrics with hope for a brighter future while using the past to grow and learn. King also pinches your arm by giving everyone a wake up call to live life like there is no tomorrow and to enjoy each and every passing day. He often becomes reflective and melancholy on this album, especially on the title track, “Within a Mile from Home” (Worry o’ my worry has it been that long / The whistle keeps on blowin’ but the tune’s long gone / His empty frame cannot explain there’s nothing left inside / So sing to me a song from yesterday / When laughter filled the tears that we now make).

Flogging Molly has fused together traditional Irish music with punk rock and the outcome is an incredible trip--this from a non-Irish. You know what though, it doesn’t matter if you’re Irish or not, because Flogging Molly makes me want to wear green, drink Irish beer, stand up on the bar and dance and scream to their Irish-punk ballads all night long.

(SideOneDummy Records)