Whisky Galore
A Night On the Piss / A Year on the Dole (self-released)
Not a concept album , though given the title, perhaps these guys might examine that oeuvre in future? For now, this introduction to the band shows that they’re proudly Glaswegian, the folkish tunes and whimsical moothie/banjo do indeed suggest something you might hear in the corner of a more ‘traditional’ city centre pub.
Wait though. It’s not as bad as it sounds - indeed on the title track, the line “you never have to hang your head so low again” is delivered with such weary pathos that the curious musical style is forgotten. Indeed, all the way through the band deliver intelligent lyrics and the tunes themselves never become invasive or (surprisingly) annoying. Importantly, it never gets the chance to detract from the tunes/lyrics. “They predict the apocalypse, I just wait for payday” as good a paean to modern-day living as you’ll get. As someone once suggested, support your local poets.
Stuart McHugh
