release date: Jul. 1989
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,72]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Gridlock" - 2. "White City" (4 / 5) - 5. "Cotton Fields" - 7. "Down All the Days" (4 / 5) - 11. "Boat Train" (4 / 5) - 13. "Night Train to Lorca" - 14. "London You're a Lady"
4th full studio album by The Pogues following a great 1988 album is like that produced by Steve Lillywhite. The album is more pop / rock-founded than its predecessors, and it comes out as more mainstream and less wild. A scheduled US-tour of 1988 as follow-up to the band's success with the '88-album was cancelled due to Shane MacGowan's drinking problems, and it's no secret that his drinking habits had become a serious obstacle for the band, which also explains the lack of great songs and why the album turns out as a lesser great studio release as the other band members was forced to carry an bigger burden.
After two great albums, the band seems to have tired somewhat on this one. MacGowan has only written six of the original album's fourteen tracks, which is unusual, and also recognisable. The band's other fine songwriter, Jem Finer has composed three of the songs, and the remaining five tracks mostly just documents how much the band depends on especially MacGowan's ability to produce new material. Still, the best songs undoubtedly carry MacGowan's signature (#2, #7, #11, and #14).
Joe Strummer (of The Clash) started playing with The Pogues in 1987/88 as a substitute on several live concerts when MacGowan was incapable of performing, and later in 1990 Strummer helped producing the band's next album (and for a about a year in '91 he became official member of the band). It's interesting how MacGowan is the only band member credited for vocal performance on this album as it's quite evident that many others should be credited for that.
In retrospect, the album figures among the band's great albums - in contains truly classic songs, although, it also points to the inevitable end, but it's no near a bad album and a must in any collection of contemporary celtic rock.
[ allmusic.com hands it 4 / 5 stars ]
