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Blood Or Whiskey

Cashed Out On Culture (2005)
Punkcore Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Matt Whelihan
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on April 29th 2005

If Flogging Molly had a street punk edge to their sound, or the Dropkick Murphys incorporated more traditional Irish elements into their music, the result would be Blood Or Whiskey.

On Cashed Out On Culture, these six feisty Dubliners spit out a batch of drunken, sweaty street punk anthems and rollicking social commentaries. In typical street punk fashion the band covers topics such as drinking, working class struggles, unity, drinking, deceased friends, and of course, drinking.

The songs have punk’s driving drums, brash delivery, and fist raising sing-a-longs, but you will quickly notice that the most prominent instruments are often banjo, accordion, and tin whistle. The guitars tend to be turned down in the mix so the Irish-sounding melodies can steal the limelight. Still, despite the use of traditional instruments, the whole thing comes off raw and venomous, like classic punk’s more angst-ridden moments.

While the album is packed full of honest passion and gang vocal choruses that make you want to raise a pint and sing along like a pub regular, it can get redundant. The band is able to execute a handful of gritty and charming punk numbers in a style that is all their own, but by the end of the album you will feel like you have heard them two or three times.

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Anonymous (February 27, 2006)

He was making a joke. Lighten up.
This album is pretty good, has a few amazing songs, but doesn't quite live up to their earlier work. Anyone thinking these guys are cashing in on their culture are idiots. For one they've been doing this for quite a while now, for two, at least it is a culture that is actually their own, and lastly, I'm pretty sure they're not really making a whole lot of money anyways. Just good, fun music.

...evildeadalive

Anonymous (January 30, 2006)

3. Irish people dont have mohawks, they have beer guts.

www.belfastpunks.co.uk

fuck you dickhead

Cos (May 4, 2005)

I miss Superdude.

Anonymous (May 2, 2005)

awesome album title

duncie (May 2, 2005)

OK, here is the thing, im irish, living in Dublin, and guess what... Blood and Whiskey and probably the only band of there type in this country. All the Irish-trad-punk music comes from Boston or New York, in my opinion these are the only original Irish Punk band.

Anchors (May 1, 2005)

Yeah dude, here in upstate NY, Chymes whiskey is 8 bucks and change for a liter. I can't vouch for the taste, you really have to mix it with coke, but hey, it's 8 bucks, JD is 25 for the same amount of alcohol.

bishop010 (May 1, 2005)

Oh.. and by the way EXCELLENT album!! Not as good as their previous record (No Time To Explain) in my book, but still amazing!!

bishop010 (May 1, 2005)

this CD kicks arse! how can anyone complain that they use Irish music? They're from Ireland, dammit!! just because so many American bands think they can cash in on Ireland's musical culture, doesn't mean BOW shouldn't be able to express their own roots! oh, and for the moron that said the Irish have beer guts, way to show your intelligence retard. have you ever been to Ireland or met an Irishman? Didn't think so!

Anonymous (April 30, 2005)

This band is suprisingly better than Flogging Molly or DMK. I was skeptical when I got it, but after hearing their style, I realyl like theri CD. It is worth picking up.

-Strewtho- (April 30, 2005)

$8 a litre for whiskey?, that price is insane.

Anonymous (April 29, 2005)

to all the naysayers, check them out live. beat the piss out of DKM and Flogging molly.

Anonymous (April 29, 2005)

Fuck this shit. I wouldnt raise a pint to this joke. Ide fucking raise a fist with a pint in it to Against Me. True music.

Anonymous (April 29, 2005)

That was a good review but heres how I would have done it:

1. Do they drink blood and whiskey?
2. Together?
3. Irish people dont have mohawks, they have beer guts.
4. If they were a harry potter character, would they have a round with Hermine?
5. I know I would.

-superdudes protege

Anonymous (April 29, 2005)

anyone who likes pirates and anything funny should buy this

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1932051279/qid=111 4817577/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-1985633-5665759

its not like uber hip "i love pirates and i live in san francisco" either...its just good

Anchors (April 29, 2005)

In unrelated news, I opted today to not get whiskey, but Bacardi Gold instead.

Pirates love their rum.

Anonymous (April 29, 2005)

I like how every band with a mandolin these days is "jumping on the celtic bandwagon," even when they've been around for 10 years. Oh and these guys have one gimmick that most other Irish bands don't- they're from Ireland!

gladimnotemo (April 29, 2005)

This sounds more like the Pogues, musically, than all the other "Irish-punk" bands out right now. And I read somewhere that the title/album are critiques against bands who are jumping on that bandwagon (they've been a band for a really long time...maybe 10 years?). I hope I can pick this up soon.

im-dead (April 29, 2005)

Why do you say they look like tools on the cover?
Any person would just say they look like "punks", and seeing as though this is punknews, it thought that look would be respected, somewhat quintessential even. Damn fashion police.

btw, i think this disc is good, and so would any other fan of street punk, there's not many of us on this site though.

Anonymous (April 29, 2005)

This actually isn't as derivative as the reviewer made it sound. They're decent enough even though they do look like tools on the cover.

Anonymous (April 29, 2005)

I love whiskey but it makes me do stupid shit.... Yet i drink it all the time

Anonymous (April 29, 2005)

Balvenie 12 year double wood. That's what I'd recommend. OC

Anchors (April 29, 2005)

I could seriously use some whiskey right now. And not Chymes, either. $8 a for a liter can only be stomached so many times.

ubershep (April 29, 2005)

$$$$

stevejonestherealbones (April 29, 2005)

another crappy band name released by a record label with a crappy label name...this irish shit is getting out of hand..

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anonymous (April 29, 2005)

Celtic-influenced punk grows on trees these days.

TheOneTrueBill (April 29, 2005)

Punkcore released this? Not what I'd expect from them.