Icewagon Flu Review: The Great American Something
Posted by: wordvixen in Fun music, Pub/Drinking Music, reviews, traditional celtic music, tags: Icewagon Flu, Icewagon Flu review, reviewsThis review was originally posted in July of 2007. We’ve changed platforms since then and the URLs have changed. Please adjust your bookmarks.
I bought Icewagon Flu’s newest release The Great American Something the weekend it was released. I’d love to say that it’s taken me this long to feel that I could do it justice in a review- but that’s just silly. I don’t feel that I can do it justice, I just feel that I can’t hold it back any longer.This is a great album which explores a slightly broader range than their last CD, Off The Wagon. Where Off The Wagon was more traditional in nature, though still played with a strictly Flu sound, The Great American Something is completely theirs. All songs were written by the band, and while the sound isn’t quite as strong as it is when they’re live, you absolutely will not be disappointed.
We knew they could perform the heck out of a live gig, and songs like Nudity and Whiskey & Soda showed us that they could write great songs too. But pulling together an entire original album and making it work is what separates the good bands from the great. And Icewagon Flu is a great band.
True, this album nearly backs entirely out of the Celtic and Paddy Punk genres, but the originality of everything they play should keep it in the rotations of your favorite stations that have played them before.
Clowns & Jokers starts off the CD with a mellow kind of groove, followed by a slightly more upbeat Blue #9. I have no idea what it means, but it’s one of my favorite songs on the album.
The rest also follow Flu’s basic sound while maintaining each song’s individuality. Little Red Devil actually sounds a bit beachy while Wild Irish and Industry Down hold Icewagon Flu’s place in Celtic and Paddy Punk music.
All in all, I’d say the only thing better than this CD is seeing them live. And for $15 it’s a great value.
You can purchase The Great American Something at CD Baby.
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