April 13, 2013

The Emerald City if you are confused is not the residence of the Wizzard of Ozz but Chicago where they infamously dye the Chicago River green on St. Patrick’s Day though given the infamy of C-town politics you’d be forgive if you are still truly confused.
The Emerald City is the first album from America’s original Celtic-punk band in five years and I’m pleased to report The Tossers have stuck to what they do best – no attempt at cross-over stadium rock success or progress for the sake of coolness – just straight ahead Celt-punk dealing with love, booze, Irish-Chicago and more booze, and while there is nothing immediate about any of the tracks on the album as with previous Tossers releases with a just a little bit of work The Emerald City will grow on you like a bad skin rash.

In many ways The Tossers are the true successors to the traditions of The Dubliners and The Pogues and The Emerald City continues that tradition.

Live on St. Patrick’s Day indeed!!! Haven’t both the Dropkick Murphy’s and Shane MacGowan previously released Live on St. Patrick’s Day concerts? Basically, here we have a CD/DVD package of The Tossers live in their home town of Chicago on the big day in 2006. Live and in the raw is the best way to experience the Tossers and both the disk and DVD do a great job. In fact all that’s missing from experiencing the real live Tossers show is getting an elbow in the face and some clown pukeing on your shoes. Also, its nice to finally have a version of “Seven Drunken Nights” with Clay on vocals. The CD and DVD are both from the same set but there is also a whole bunch of additional live/bootleg/videos on the DVD. A great double disk and great value.

(PS I very almost slammed this release ‘cos I was pissed the Victory can’t seem to think to send Shite’n’Onions a review copy – then again I should be thankful I ain’t on their promo list ‘cos I can’t stand anything else on the Victory label.)

2008

The Tossers last full length release – The Valley of the Shadow of Death – is an absolute classic in my humble opinion – easily one of my top 10 Celtic Punk CDs of all time – on a scale of 1 to 10 its an 11. For The Tossers it was always going to be a tough one to top. Agony comes close – a 9 on the aforementioned scale. So why not the 10 (or even the 11)? Each of the 17 tracks on Agony could easily fit snugly into Valley but Agony is missing it’s equivalent of “Goodmornin’ Da” or the very brilliant “No Loot, No Booze, No Fun”. Still there are truly standout tracks in “Leopardstown Races”, “Siobhan” and “Be” (the “Late”) of Agony. Highly recommended (9 out of 10).

One more thing. What’s with the cheapo death metal art work? I going to blame Victory Records for that.

2007

Review – Mustard Finnegan

The Tossers remind me of an old baseball player on steroids – years of slugging away, playing decent but never going to make the all-star-team. Then the coach suggests steroids and suddenly its frigging home runs galore. “The Valley of the Shadow of Death” is The Tossers on steroids (or some other not too good for you substance). Now, I’ve always liked The Tossers, thought they were a good band, and especially on their last CD “Purgatory” but to me they were always going to play second fiddle to the likes of Flogging Molly. Never did I think they would make something as good and as powerful as “….Shadow of Death”. Most of you will have heard or seen (here) the riotous first single “goodmornin ‘da” and it’s a great introduction to the full CD thought the rest of the CD is not as instant and much more dark and moody then the introduction offer. Very reminiscent of The Pogues at their best and I’m going to be so bold as to say it’s the CD The Pogues should have made to follow up “If I Should Fall From….”. Flogging Molly lookout, The Tossers are going to bite you on the ass very soon.

August 2005

This has my vote for the best Irish-Folk-Punk album of the year. Everything else I hear in 2003, will have to battle for runner-up.

That previous statement, is basically all I have to tell you. Seriously. All you have to know is The Tossers have released the best album all year. “Purgatory” blew me off my barstool the first time I heard it. (and I only had drank a single pint!) Purgatory will make you laugh out loud, and then shed a tear into your beer. It will make you jump up and dance, then toast a pint with your lads. It’s an album for all occasions, social, or solo, and in this reviewers opinion, it’s the strongest Tossers album to date, and should get the recognition it deserves.

Lyrically, it’s bold, political, and brutally honest. Songs like “The Squall” asks bold questions about the U.S. involvement in the Middle East, (oil, anyone?) and offers honest complaints. The track “Chicago” is more or less autobiographical, and speaks about numerous social issues in South Chicago. With lyrics like “Wear your wallet like a sieve, and that’s where all the gangsters live, Chicago, Chicago, it’s where we can afford to live.” or “I like to get my beer and sit on me front step out by the store. Hangin’ out where white folks fear to tread, yeah, this is my home for sure!” In case you’re wondering, South Chicago is home to one of the largest Irish populations outside of Ireland itself. (Which means, typically, & historically, it’s in a rough fucking part of town.)

Musically, the album is just as impressive, with tracks like my personal favorite, “Minutes On A Screen”, with it’s orchestrated buildup of strings, drums, and vocals, or “Time To Go” (a speed-jig,) they leave you pounding the bar with your fist, in complete agreement. On the last couple of tracks things begin to chill out, with a solo fiddle jam, and on the song “Going Away” which was a welcome surprise. It’s an old-timely folk number, relying heavy on the pluck of the banjo, and the soothing soft fiddle. It leaves you with a feeling like you’re sittin’ on a country porch, in the middle of a session, drinkin’ moonshine, and bourbon, in yer dirty overalls.

Don’t forget about the hidden track! A traditional ditty, “The Parting Glass” is played with respect, using only a fiddle, and vocals.

I finished my pint, once the album was over. As I grabbed the album from the barkeep, he said, “Once again, You walk in with a band I’ve never heard of, and once you walk out, it’s a band I don’t want to forget!” (as he scribbles the band’s name on a beer coaster.)

It’s The Tossers, ladies and gentlemen. The Tossers.

May 2003

Review By Brian “Tosspot” Gillespie

“The First League Out From Land” is a stopgap EP between CD’s by C-town’s the Tossers. 5 tracks, 1 original, 2 traditional Irish and Dylan and Jerry Lee Lewis covers.The first track is the title track and only original on the EP, it’s classic Tossers, fast Irish-Punk and a fine appetizer for the new CD, “Dicey Riley” was made famous originally by the Dubliners, it’s a tale of a poor old whore “taken to the supp”, and one of those Irish drinking songs that just seems to work so well played by punks, I’m just surprised it’s never been covered before. “Donegal Danny” is another trad. number, an Irish sea shanty reminiscent of “The Irish Rover”. Bob Dylan’s “Seven Curses” is from way back in 1963 and if the Tossers are in anyway staying true to the original then Dylan sounds like he was highly influenced by his original mentors, the Clancy Brothers. The final track is Jerry Lee Lewis’s “Rockin My Life Away”, pure banjo plucking bad ass boogie woogie rock’n’roll.

November 2001

This CD was a nice introduction to the windy city’s The Tossers. The CD is actually a compilation of the first two now hard to find Tossers releases, 1994’s ‘The Pint of No Return’ and 1996’s ‘We’ll Never Be Sober Again’, along with a couple of out-takes from the ‘Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya’ sessions and a live version of ‘The Irish Rover’. ‘The Pint Of No Return’ was I believe The Tossers first release and it’s fast and frantic acoustic punk with a nice mix of original and Irish standards. ‘We’ll Never Be Sober Again’ shows a much bigger sounding polished band with added horns and female vocals while still keeping true to their roots. Real good stuff and I look forward to hearing a lot more from The Tossers.

July 2001