Flogging Molly
expand their
Celtic
-
punk
sound with an album that's more mature, more polished, and not quite as intense as its predecessor, although it does have its share of high-energy numbers. There are some thrashing
tunes, some
folk
ballads
, some relatively mainstream
hard rock
(although there's usually a tin whistle or fiddle to remind you this is
), a Cajun feel on
"Tomorrow Comes a Day Too Soon"
(which showcases
Matt Hensley
on accordion), a brief
a cappella
performance by
Dave King
(
"The Wrong Company"
), and even a duet with
Lucinda Williams
on
"Factory Girls."
The songs address such topics as U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East (
"Screaming at the Wailing Wall"
), Irish workers on 17th century sugar plantations in Barbados (
"Tobacco Island"
), and being prepared to leave nothing behind at death (
"Don't Let Me Die Still Wondering"
), with nostalgia as a common theme in several songs. The band sounds a bit softer than before, with the mix relatively de-emphasizing electric guitar in favor of other instruments, but this album should still appeal to fans of
's previous work. ~ Todd Kristel