Men They Couldn't Hang - Devil on the Wind
by Helen Tipping
published: 5 / 7 / 2009
Label:
Irregular Records
Format: CD
intro
Formulaic first album in six years from the increasingly Country and Western-influenced Men They Couldn't Hang, which, while starting promisingly, quickly slips into predictability
Last time I saw the Men They Couldn't Hang I have to admit that I had got a bit bored with their sound. It seemed more Country and Western, and less folk. This album, 'Devil on the Win'd sticks with the Americana sound, but there are other influences that can be heard in here, from Irish folk to klezmer. This is their first album in six years, although they have been touring during that time. It starts off well. Title track, 'Devil on the Wind', has a Jewish / Eastern European violin on it which really brings it to life, and lifts the track up and away from its country roots. I think this is without a doubt my favourite track on the album. Following on from this, 'The Ragged Shoreline' is as Irish as you can get outside of Ireland. There may be a touch of Americana in there as well, but it sounds Irish to me. Fighting for the best track on the album claim is third track 'Beast of Brechfa'. This doesn't have a pronounced country sound and reminds me of The Clash's 'Guns of Brixton' - in a good way, because it's got that rock sound whilst using different ins. This is another outstanding track. Another goodie is 'Reservoir', a great danceabout track. Again it has more of an Irish feel to it. Sadly much of the rest of the album returns to the steel guitar and harmonica formula and I find myself getting bored with it. It reminds me of Radio 2 music when I was younger and it all feels like filler tracks, and so I'm just writing this generic filler bit of review for it. I have to say that after the start of the album I was disappointed by the later tracks, they are a band with a great pedigree and I'd like to see more of the originality that I found in the earlier tracks on the album.
Track Listing:-
1 Devil on the Wind2 The Ragged Shoreline
3 Beast of Brechfa
4 Mrs Avery
5 Reservoir
6 Overseas
7 Heartbreak Park
8 Aquamarine
9 A Real Rain Coming
10 Hard To Find
11 Lost World
interviews |
Interview (2015) |
John Clarkson speaks to Paul Simmonds, the main songwriter with cult folk/punk group the Men They Couldn’t Hang about his band's first album in five years, 'The Defiant', and their thirtieth anniversary |
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Liam Gallagher and John Squire - Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 16/3/2024
Nico - Profile
Sami Sumner - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadKula Shaker - Natural Magick
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes - Dark Rainbow
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart