Rating: 9.5/10
Release: 24 April 2020
Label: Careful Now! Records

Uncle Bard and The Dirty Bastards are based in Italy and I can honestly say I did not see that coming. After listening to their newest album,The Men Beyond The Glass, I looked up their bio and was blown away by their Italian heritage. I would have put them in Dublin. I love Italy and many groups from Italy, I just cant hear it in the music. The music is authentic Irish folk and punk and it is a very good album. Founded in 2007 the band states in its bio that they don’t pretend to be Irish but they show huge gratitude and all the due respect to Irish music and culture. From the melancholic opener Hey Men through the quiet closer this is a great album. Over twelve tracks the band masterfully weaves an original and rousing story of life through folk, traditional and punk overtones. The pipes and whistles are especially engaging. The drums resonate. The banjo,guitars, and bass all complement one another and the vocals are fantastic. I have listened to some very good Celtic and punk albums this year but this one is the best I’ve reviewed. There is no filler and the music flows well from beginning to end. The lyrics and songs are very original while still feeling traditional.(not an easy task). As for stand out songs the opener Hey Men sticks with me because of the Uilleann pipes and the feel of the song. Other highlights for me are” If onle he applied him’,’Man of the storm”, and’ The Make Sense law’. The album really is filled with highlights though and each time I listen I come away with a new favorite. After listening to this I feel like I’ve discovered a new treasure. I have not heard them before but I will not forget them. This band will be in my must listen file from now on. Like the Pogues, The Rumjacks and Dropkick Murphys this band is special. Highly recommended.

Tracklist

1. Hey Men
2. Back On Your Feet
3. If Only He Applied Himself
4. Man of The Storm
5. Happily Misplaced in this World
6. Wish
7. Devils are all Here
8. Life’s Grand
9. The Count
10. The Make-Sense-Law
11. Empty Glasses
12. Get Some Res