Best irish album ever

bandit

Whilst out on a HUGE session last saturday two of the lads we were out with started on a rampage about how their were never any good dublin bands and very few good irish acts at all, this {obviuosly wrong} rant, prompted me to think whats is the best irish album of all time???

My vote goes to Whipping boys amazing second album heartworm, every song on that album is a classic and it is as near to musical perfection as it gets. They could jump easily from the quiet-loud-quiet-loud-louder-loud of 'we dont need nobody else' and 'fiction' to the beautiful acoustic strains of 'personality' and 'the honeymoon is over' this coupled with two all time classic singles 'when we were young' and 'twinkle' and five other musical gems make Heartworm an album everyone should own and cheerish.

What do you cats think of said opus???

What are would be your choices for number 1 Irish album of all time???

knobbles

heartworm is great but not my tops, that'd be...

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
bloody sex on a disc, the pleasure will never die

U2 - joshua tree was a fave when i was a kid and i tend to hang
on to my roots, great album though i never really liked "still haven't found"

Greatest song?
Rollerskate skinny - "speed to my side" is a winner,
some say the album is the best irish, i don't rate it that high

Kali

Yep gotta be Loveless imo, still absolutely stunning to listen to and basically brought a genre to a whole new level for years to follow, and which is still unmatched.

Space Coyote

Therapy? - Nurse

or Sultans of Ping - Casual Sex in the Cineplex

Splatz

Best Irish album ever?

I dunno, that's a tough one, there's some fantastic albums but they're mostly recent ones.

I mean the Irish scene hasn't always been as promising as it is now.

If we were talking classics I'd say Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak.

More modern... I'd be inclined to point towards Turn - Antisocial.

sirpsycho

Whipping Boy-Heartworm without a doubt

Tyrrial

when i think of what i want in an album for me to love it i usually come up with a few little things the album must be:

1) Long: A sort album (30 mins or less) is a big turn off

2) Every song the same: like most people in an album i like some songs to be different from the rest. if the band avoids using the same riff in every song there on the right track

3)Lyrics: it's really nice to have something to think about when a nice tune is playing and i love hearing really good lyrics for me they make or brake a song


so..........
i think i may just have ruled out most of my fav albums.... DAMN IT!!!

Jamie D

This choice might be a little too obvious, like picking a U2 album, but I would have to say the The Frames' album dance the devil is up there as my favourite.

This was one of the most anticipated irish albums of all times. With all the record company problems they were having we knew the songs inside-out from hearing them live so many times before the record got released.

Back in the day when 'The Mary Janes' would support 'The Frames DC' and visa versa

Mick Christopher R.I.P.


Music is written on.....

thedrowner

maybe dr millar-the deal?

i presume if i actually bothered to buy the joan of arse cd id love it

Morn

Heartworm is amazing - first gig I ever went to was Whipping Boy in the Point supporting Lou Reed - still one of the best shows I've seen. I was real sorry when they parted company. What are the Whipping Boy crew doing these days, does anyone know?

the66electric

Dance the devil - The frames
Small moments - David Kitt
Loveless - My bloody valentine

saintgaz

Heartworm is an amazing album, the best modern Irish album without a doubt. You know there's no justice in music when this sold anything under 10 million.

Best album ever for me though, Irish or otherwise, was Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. I was never a fan of his until relatively recently, because I grew up knowing Van as a grumpy boring old sh1te. But he did some fantastic stuff in the late 60s /early 70s. I go for Astral Weeks because it sounds like no other piece of work recorded before or since - a genuine one-off work of genius. Bono may be a tosser but he hit the nail on the head when he described the album as being like 'Legal drugs' - it lifts you up and takes you off to another place. Magical.

SprostonGreen

Sinead O'Connor's "the lion and the cobra" deserves a worthy mention.

Beany

Originally posted by Jamie D
I would have to say the The Frames' album dance the devil is up there as my favourite.

Yes. Yes. Yes. This is the correct answer.



2nd Snow Patrol - "When its all over..."

3rd Frank & Walters - "Planes..."

pugwall

I have 2 agree - Van Morrison -- Astral Weeks.

Its also my favourite all time.

Heartworm is also an amazing album.

Whipping boy's gig back in December 1997 in the TBMC was an excellent gig. Possibly best gig ive been to although the frames always put on a fantastic live performance.

Mewzel

for me the number 1 has got to be
songs for polarbears -by- snow patrol

others worth a mention (and already have been) are
loveless -by- my bloody valentine
dance the devil -by- the frames and of course
when its all over.... -by- snow patrol

Earthhorse

Well seeing as I helped with my friend's Whipping Boy site (valentine69.com) I'd have to say Heartworm. A great album from start to finish. I suppose this doesn't count for much when I consider how little Irish music I listen too.

Just got Loveless over the weekend (5 pound sterling in Edinburgh). Listened to it a few times and while I can't confess that I'm into it yet it seems like there's something worthy there.

Surprised nobody's posted a Pogues album yet.

levi

This is a hard Q

Joshua Tree is a very good album but I have to say at the mo' I'd have to go with Damien Rice - "o". It gets better with every listen!

panzer_attack

im going to have to go with whipping boy heartworm aswell.a pure stunner.so much raw passion in that record.

other great albums for me:

therapy?/infernal love(most people would say that its their worst but it has a really dark emotional feel to it,all those drugs fcuked up their heads)

kerbdog/kerbdog

turn/check my ears-mini album

mexican pets/voice of trucker youth

lamda

I have ONE yes, thats ONE Irish album....
Its JJ72....
Yes yes i know.....:(

Tyrrial

Mic Christopher.... just can't beat 'em

joe10speed

definitely some good ones there... i would rate "isn't anything" over "loveless" though... nice to see a dr. millar album there... his last one is even better i think...what about horsedrawn wishes and shoulder voices by rollerskate skinny?
after the break by planxty?

francie brady

Tom Dunnes top thirty hits has to be the best irish album sure doesn't it have all the best songs on it and more.

I'd have to say that Thin Lizzys Shades of a blue orphanage deserves a mention. It was released at a time when Thin lizzy were Irish and wrote poetry not pop songs.

mumblin deaf ro

hhhmmmm, I wonder how many of those albums are really classics (leaving aside the potentially neverending argument about what constitutes a classic). I'd say probably Loveless and Astral Weeks.

I also think 'And Nico' by the Sewing Room is a beautiful album. I'm also listening to Shoulder Voices by Rollerskate Skinny at the moment - quality upon quality upon quality.

Pigman II

The Hitchers - 'It's all fun and games til someone loses an eye' (1998)

SimonMaher

Hello all,

Just a few of the classic Irish albums knocking around my record collection:

The Blades: Last man in Europe
Stars of Heaven: Rain on the sea
Revenants: Horseofadifferentcolour
Whipping Boy: Heartworm
Microdisney: Clock comes down the stairs
Fat Lady Sings: Twist

Jaysus, now I feel old. Later, I will dredge deeper for my Boomtown Rats and Radiators from Space albums. Class stuff.

Regards,

Pete Reed
Phantom FM

butterflywings

dance the devil does have to be one of the greatest albums of all time from anyone,anywhere. it'd probably be my favourite, i have to say.
antisocial's cracking.
skylarkin's pretty amazing too. pity there's not more of mic's stuff available..



did mark mccabe (the 'maniac' guy- what an artiste) ever have an album? twould be a sin not to give him the honourable mention he so rightly deserves.

love to all
xxxxxx

DerekD Goldfish

I often listin to an album and like it. Somtimes I listin to an album and really like it but only twice have I litined to an album and been physicaly and mentally shocked at how good it was once was Jeff Bukley grace and the other was the best irish album of all time and quite posibly the best of all time whipping boys heartworm. Its probably extra special because of the trouble I went through to get it. I went to yahoo went to music shops and got an alabetical list of 3000 I eventually got it from a site begining with s after goning down through every site. To think i had to buy the greatest irish album of all time on line from a swiss second hand shop is weird. It manages to sound both cold and passionate dark and joyus blody brilliant album pity they will never get their own stamp and be hailed for the legends they are. Forget that spike they should have put up a statue of Fergal McKee, Myles McDonal, Paul Page and Colin Hasset(I think the nemes are right).

Wacker

Wow, Dance the Devil is getting a lot of mentions. I love the Framse, but I prefer both Fitzcarraldo and For the Birds. Anyway, thats just my take on it.

Tom182

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!

I can't believe that no one has chosen anyhting by A House!!
Surely these guys can't go by without a mention.

I WANT TOO MUCH!!

nlgbbbblth

some of my favourites

#1 My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything

and the rest in no order

Whipping Boy - Submarine

Stars Of Heaven - Speak Slowly

A House - Wide Eyed And Ignorant

A House - I Want Too Much

The Jimmy Cake - Dublin Gone, Everybody Dead

Into Paradise - Under The Water

Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down The Stairs

The Frank And Walters - Beauty Becomes More Than Life

The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God

Sean O'Riada - O'Riada Sa Gaiety

Planxty - Cold Blow And The Rainy Night

The Redneck Manifesto - Cut Your Heart Off From Your Head

Joan Of Arse - Distant Hearts, A Little Closer

The Dudley Corporation - The Lonely World Of The Dudley Corporation

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

addicted

A House: I am the greatest

the fnj

Loveless is probably my all time favourite Irish album, but I'm surprised no ones mentioned the Horslips, a really good band the Book of Invasions is a great album.

buzzerbuckley

Twist by The Fat Lady Sings Is a classic,very underated too.

A house I am the Greatest has got to be the one though while

NO more apologie`s by A house is another classic.

While Polichinelle by THe prayerboat and Waiting by The Devlins are also great along with that great whipping boy one already mentioned by many.
A sonic holiday by Engine Alley and If I should fall from grace with god by The Pogues are also great.

Made from sand the recent newie from Alphastates is another destined for greatness.class.

Smurfpiss

ah sure what about something happens??
classic pop rock that sides up there with A house and Whipping Boy.
Gotta love Dance the devil, Damien rice - O a brilliant record.
and snowpatrol final straw is rather addictive.
also like joshua tree....ah theres too much to choose!

James Hunt

Heartworm rightly gets a lot of plaudits - amazing album, woefully overlooked most of the time. One I haven't seen here is Surface Tension by The Plague Monkeys. Maybe not classic 'best of all time' type stuff, but deffo in my top three.

McGonagles

Currently my fav. Irish album is STAROS by the wonderful NINA HYNES

I'll probably never get tired of listening to it - it's really well sequenced;
Just as you think there's only 1 song left, there's really 3 or 4 to go.

It takes real talent to do that with pacing (like how you would pace a live set),
and not just slap a 2 minute gap and an out-take on the end on CD mastering
day and call it a "hidden track".

There will be a new Nina Hynes album soon-ish: apparently it'll be out
when it's ready and no sooner.
Most of what she plays live now is new songs.

McGonagles

Originally posted by Pete Reed

Jaysus, now I feel old.

Not as old as I felt on Bank Holiday Monday!

A lot of the bands that I really liked from that era never got as far as
making a "classic album"... so all we have to remember them by is a few singles
and memories of gigs in The Maggoty Bin, The Underground (before
The Rock Garden opended here), and of course McGonagles.

polarbelly

theres a poll bout this over on cluas.com at the moment for those of you interested

my favourite irish album is songs for polarbears by snow patrol (good choice mewzel)
i love their other album when its all over... and i really really like the latest one - final straw

my other irish favourites would be... heartworm - whipping boy, no more apologies - a house, dance the devil - the frames, and more recently plays well with others - the coldspoon conspiracy...

dunno how many of these count as classics but they're all amazing albums!!!

Sleepy

Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy
O - Damien Rice
Troublegum - Therapy
All That You Can't Leave Behind - U2 (Joshua Tree has some great songs but it has a few stinkers as well)

Glowingmind

Loveless, heartworm
and Dry Land by The Last Post is fantastic and probably the most criminally ignored irish album of recent years www.lastpost.net (and before someone says something i'm not associated with the last post in any way)
Also '404 Not Found' by decal is very good

McGonagles

Originally posted by Glowingmind
Also '404 Not Found' by decal is very good

It is - it's a real late night, lights out, raining outside kind of an album.

One of the songs on it is also on The Last Post's album.

Arthur Peanut

1. Whipping Boy's Heartworm
2. My Bloody Valentine's Loveless
3. u2's Achtung Baby
4. The Smiths' Queen is Dead, if you consider them Irish

McGonagles

Churchtown by Into Paradise was an excellent album.
Shame the single from it (Burns My Skin) suddenly got dropped by
almost every radio station ...

nlgbbbblth

Originally posted by McGonagles
Churchtown by Into Paradise was an excellent album.
Shame the single from it (Burns My Skin) suddenly got dropped by
almost every radio station ...

hmmm,
Churchtown I thought was a let-down

Under The Water and the first two 12"s were great

the 3rd and 4th albums Down All The Days and For No One had their moments

madouva

mexican pets/voice of trucker youth [/B]

Good stuff! Fair d.

Cherry

favourites in my collection are..

Ash - 1977
Snow Patrol - Songs for Polarbears & Final Straw
Damien Rice - O
M.B.V - Loveless
&.. aherm.. Lothlórien by Enya