Search - Pogues :: Pogue Mahone

A very solid post-Shane release

Johnny Roulette | 06/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"According to some, the Pogues should give up music entirely because they could no longer get along with Shane MacGowan. That notion is absolute nonsense. While Waiting For Herb was a complete bitter disappointment, Pogue Mahaone shines, with or without Shane. It's true that a lot of the poetry is missing from the lyrics, but these Pogues have spread the writing responsibilities around. The effect is an entertaining blend of love songs(Love You Till The End/Livin In A World Without Her), spastic rockers(how come/tosspint/bright lights), tragedies(four o' clock in the morning), and even a Dylan tune(When The Ship Comes In). Of course the Irish sound is everywhere. Spider Stacey lacks Shanes charisma, but he does the job nicely with a steadiness that is refreshing. There is life after Shane(although the fact that nothing has come out since this one belies that fact). I recommend buying the Shane-era Pogues stuff first, then buy the first Shane solo effort(The Snake) & then buy this. Pogue Mahone is worth having! I wish I could say the same for the ill-fated Waiting For Herb. I also recommend the Low & Sweet Orchestra's Goodbye To All That(its members include Pogues & Circle Jerks). In conclusion, Pogue Mahone isn't a great album, it's a good album. It's somewhat depressing and has a smooth, relaxing quality(ala Bap Kennedy). You don't need it, but you might very well like it."

Not the Pogues

Jay | Canada | 03/14/2000

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Shane MacGowan, for better or worse was the heart & soul of this band. A true irish shanachie in the tradition of Brendan Behan. Spend your money on either of the 2 post-pogues albums by "Shane MacGowan and the Popes" instead. They are far superior to either of the 2 Pogues recordings (Waiting For Herb & Pogue Mahone) made after Shane's departure."

The Pogues swan song.

Joseph P. Ulibas | Sacramento, CA, USA | 06/15/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Pogue Mahone (1995) was the last studio album recorded by the Pogues. In some ways it's a self titled album because Pogue Mahone was the original name of the band.

Spider Stacy, Andrew Ranken and Jem Finer are the only founding members left (long standing member Darryl Hunt is still with the band as well). Four new members were added to round out the rest of the group. Too much liquor and a rift with a possible returning Shane MacGowan caused James Fernaly, Terry Woods and an ailing Phillip Chevron to quit the band. Shane wasn't in any condition to return to the group full time so he bailed out. Spider and company wasn't ready to call it a day so the remaining members went back into the studio to record Pogue Mahone.



Several of the songs on this disc are very enjoyable (Anniversary, When the Ship Comes In, I'll Love you until the End and How Come). The other band members do an adequate job of replacing the departed players. Overall, the album doesn't have the fire and passion of the previous discs. Maybe if the band hung around a little bit longer and recorded another album then they could have been a much more tighter sounding unit. In ways it's a fitting tribute to a band that captured the raw energy of celtic folk music.



Recommended for fans."