In 2001, Norway’s Greenland Whalefishers released “Loboville”, arguably the first great post Pogues album of the new 21st Century. Almost 2 years later the band are following it up with “Streets of Salvation” their 3rd full length (“Main Street Sword” being the 1st).

I was a little apprehensive about listening to “Streets of Salvation” for the first time, my biggest fear being that “Loboville” was a fluke or a one off. Fortunately my fears were misplaced and “Streets of Salvation”, is a fine, fine release. While this is not “Loboville Part 2”, I’m pleased to announce that the Whalefishers have made the 1st great Greenland Whalefishers CD of the 21st Century – don’t worry there is nothing radically different to the prior releases (though maybe some more obvious Waterboys influences then before), it’s still the sound of the Pogues battered by the cold North Atlantic waves. Just this time I find myself not thinking “Hey this sounds just like the Pogues”, now I’m thinking “Wow this sounds just like the Greenland Whalefishers”.

Highlights include but not limited to:

The title track, “Streets of Salvation” a fast paced rocker with rich Celtic melodies – “Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond” I think.

The driving Celtic rock’n’roll of “Limp Jo’s Story”, “Olivia’s Drop Out” and “The Escape”.

“No More Crucified Days” with it’s Mike Scott/Waterboys influence.

“When The Insane Came Marching In”, a Pogues like instrumental.

The much covered and much more toned down (well compared to Neck’s or the Dropkicks) version of “The Fields of Athenry.” Definitely truer to the lament Paddy Reilly made famous.

Other standouts include “The Night Rick Holder Died”, and the unrelenting punk rocker “For Bitter & Whiskey” and pretty much everything else for that matter.

December 2003