These Irish Eyes

Carly Hennessy Smithson is no more. Cue “The Parting Glass.” (Seriously, it should’ve been her sing-out song; can you imagine how awesome that would’ve been?!  "All the money that ever I had, I spent it in good company, and all the harm I've ever done, alas it was to none but me!") Slán leat, Carly. Slán leat.

Since Day One of Smithson’s Idol journey, I wanted so badly for her to step on stage, ditch the diva ballads, and break into some friggin’ Bono, man. I mean, come on... girl, you’re from Ireland! You should’ve represented! Eire pumps out phenomenal music. Pay a little homage to your homeland, you know?

Below for your perusal is the short list of the best from the Emerald Isle. Shamrocks, stout, potatoes and good music.

The Frames

The Frames overplayed their set at the Hideout Block Party, after which I thought of them as that douchy Irish band that caused Andrew Bird to cut his time short. Never mind they performed a great set. I was pissed off because they were stage hogs! I
clung to my grudge for a solid two months, until I actually took the time to listen to their catalogue.

I’ve forgiven them.

The Frames formed during the 90s boom in Irish rock that saw the Cranberries and Sinead O’Connor find fame. Their only two permanent members are lead man Glen Hansard and keyboardist Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Now Glen is getting all kinds of accolades for Once----yes, the music is that good and yes, you should watch the movie. Perhaps, after over a decade playing the circuit, the Frames might finally hit the huge time.

SUGGESTIONS: “Revelate” from Fitzcarraldo is the best single from their earlier work, while “People Get Ready” from The Cost sums up their new, softer sound: a folk-rock melody with sing-a-long lyrics that builds into a cacophony of violins, drums, guitars, and Glen’s trademark emotive belting. Also rock out to the feverish anthem, “The Dancer” from Another Love Song.

Damien Rice

If you don’t yet own a melodious Damien Rice track you are very behind the times. The boy is everywhere! House. Bones. Jericho. Crossing Jordan. One Tree Hill. Grey’s Anatomy. Alias. Lost. Stay. ER. Plus he’s hit all the talk shows, and Glen Hansard (The Frames, above) gave him a special thanks in his 2008 Academy Award acceptance speech. Damien is big into artistic integrity, and in the tradition of U2, this singer-songwriter is an activist. Personally, I dig Damien because he does a service to popular song by prominently featuring one of music’s most elegant, underrepresented instruments: the cello.

SUGGESTIONS: “The Blower’s Daughter” is that beautiful tune you heard at the opening of Closer. You know, when two of the world’s prettiest people (Jude Law and Natalie Portman) spot one another across a crowd of pedestrians. It’s an appropriate song choice for the film, and just a gorgeous song in general (if the Orpheus & Eurydice myth had a soundtrack, this would be the theme). Two more Rice goodies are “Volcano” from O and his cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.”

The Pogues

They’re punk. They’re rock. They’re folk. Their name means “kiss my arse,” and every Irish band that came after claims them as an influence.

Formed in 1982, the Pogues are the Clash twisted around Celtic folk music. They use mandolins, banjos, and tin whistles, and sing about the Irish immigrant hard life. The Pogues are infamous for performing traditional Irish ballads with all the rabid, frenetic energy of their punk rock contemporaries.

The band has seen its share of inner turmoil. Members drop in and out, most notably lead man Shane MacGowan, who left due to drugs and drinking. Nonetheless, they’ve imprinted their stamp on the music industry and spawned an entire army of Pogue-wannabies in Irish pubs across America and the U.K.

SUGGESTIONS: Did you like “The Parting Glass”? You’re in luck. The Pogues perform the track on Rum Sodomy and the Lash. "Love You Till the End" from the re-issue of Pogue Mahone is a popular single, and I personally dig the band's fun side: tracks like Red Roses for Me’s “Streams of Whisky” and “Fiesta” from If I Should Fall From Grace With God.

Disqualified due to a technicality: Flogging Molly. These Celtic rockers are clearly Pogue-influenced, but are based out of Los Angeles and (with the exception of lead singer Dave King), are not full-blooded Irishmen. However, "What's Left of the Flag" from Drunken Lullabies is pretty much the greatest Irish-American rock song EVER! I listen to it on repeat every St. Patty's Day, jumping and head banging whilst boilin' me some corned beef n' cabbage.

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