The Mahones – ‘Unplugged’ (2020)
Rating: 8.5/10
Release: 13 March 2020
Label: True North Records
The Mahones are pioneers of the Irish Punk genre and have been around for 28 years. With ten albums, combinations, live albums and e.p’s as well they are a well respected and prolific band. This album really showcases the vocals and the bands ability to play just about anything with grace and beauty. I really love acoustic sets because they strip everything down to a place where the songwriting really shines. I love loud guitars and growls but there is just something magical about an intimate song by the campfire. This whole album sounds like the Mahones just sat down in your living room and played a concert. The quality of the recording is really nice. Out of 16 tracks I don’t really see any filler and this album is full of nice intimate riffs and individual solos and runs that hold everything together. I cant pick out favorite songs because everything is nice but I do love the vocal duet in “A Little Bit of Love”. “Will Ya Marry Me” is a highlight for me and I also love the bands take on Johnny Cash’s “Hurt”, one of my favorites. The whole set is pretty much a highlight so if like me you enjoy a bit of quiet folk singing once in a while this is a great one to look for. I missed out on a lot of things that I would normally do around St Patricks day this year with the whole world on quarantine but this was a nice find to connect me with a great band.
Tracklist
- Girl With Galway Eyes
- Rise Again
- A Little Bit Of Love
- London
- Draggin’ The Days
- Cocktail Blue
- Far Away
- Will Ya Marry Me
- Night Train To Paris
- 100 Bucks
- Back Home
- Celtic Pride
- Hurt
- Starts
- Someone Saved Me
- Never Let You Down