What makes a band truly remarkable? Insightful lyrics? Memorable melodies? Blow-your-
mind live performances? The truth is that it takes all of those things along with a boundless
enthusiasm, an infectious energy and a supreme devotion to the fans. With this rare combi-
nation, a band may ascend past “good,” – or even the record industry’s Holy Grail, “mar-
ketable” – and reach sublime. Drawing on the hardships and joys of their own lives and a
musical history ranging from old world Celtic to modern day punk rock, the seven members of
Flogging Molly do just that, and they do it with a charm and an ease that makes them one of
the most accessible bands performing today.
Float, recorded insinger Dave King'snative Ireland, delivers another iteration of the band’s
sonic evolution. More mature yet retaining the immediacy that marks all of their work, Float
may find the widest audience acceptance of any Flogging Molly album. Hard charging tunes
“Paddy’s Lament” and “You Won’t Make a Fool Out of Me” give way, as listeners have come
to expect, to more sober ruminations on tracks like “Float.” The overall effect is a symphonic
layering of sound that possesses a unique rhythmic flow from boisterous to bereaved and
back again. Long time fans and new discoverers will be equally astounded. |