Review:

on 2011-09-16 Bertman Said:

Flogging Molly takes a hard look at the collapse of the American dream and economy on this latest release. Amidst pink slips and the crushing despair of no longer viable promises, the band, fronted by Dave King unleash their anger and resentment on this disc.



Speed of Darkness opens the disc at a breakneck pace, but its with Revolution that the themes of loss are established. I spent 27 years in this factory / Now the boss man says /Hey, you're not what we need' / The penguins in the suits they know nothing but greed / It's a solitary life when you've mouths to feed / But who cares about us?

Flogging Molly's blend of Traditional Irish music with folk and punk tempered with banjo, violins, accordions, and a pennywhistle are on full display here. Saints and Sinners is another remarkable song that manages to avoid being cliche.

Oliver Boy (All of our Boys) contemplates the fate of every mothers son who ever carried a gun in the name of god and country. This stand out track is delivered by someone who no longer cares about who's wrong or who's right; but they are tired of seeing young men buried far too soon.

A Prayer For me in Silence is a duet between King and his wife Bridget Regan, reminiscent of the Pogues, sans the dark humor.

On Speed of Darkness, the band wears their hearts upon their sleeves, never mincing words. Musically they keep things mixed up enough to avoid falling into a repetitive pattern, making this disc enjoyable and fresh.
Rating: 7/10

Review:

on 2011-07-04 WillKosh Said:

Speed of Darkness opens with power.

The title track grabs the listener and yanks them unceremoniously into the album by way of the usual Flogging Molly archetype: Irish drinking songs spliced into punk and rock, sung by a man with a charming Dubliner's accent who alternates easily between a choir boy croon and a venomous snarl. I'm not surprised that it's all quality. Flogging Molly is one of the most consistent bands around, and I'm hard pressed to think of a time that they've disappointed me.

Speed of Darkness might be the first real creative shift in Flogging Molly's history. Previous albums have been strictly introverted in nature. The band was playing for themselves, and if listeners liked it, great. If they didn't, well, the band would be more than happy to head back to their loyal fans at their home bar and give the rest of the world the finger. But times have changed. Flogging is indignant now, and they're not playing Revolution-a timely, recession era anthem about the indignity of unemployment and poverty-for fun. They're playing it for the people. They're turning a party into a rally, and they're gathering listeners around a defiant, clover clad flag. Each time Dublin born Dave King screams to us repeatedly that the power's out, it feels less like entertainment and more like a call to arms.

This isn't to say that the band has stopped being fun, or that they have lost their grip on the magic that made them great in the first place. All that it means is that their unique energy is being channelled differently. Let the Revolution Begin! King proclaims. "It wasn't the album we set out to write. It became the album we had to write."Though the incorporation of recession related angst has made for a major change in the above mentioned Flogging Molly archetype, it's worth noting that I didn't notice when my iTunes automatically switched me from Speed of Darkness to Float (an earlier album) after to former was done with. Those who plan on listening to an album by the new Flogging Molly might be confused when they find that the change isn't necessarily musical. Don't be alarmed. The innovation is there, it's just lyrical and ideological, so it may take a moment for listeners to pick up on it. The message bleeds through to the music, but doesn't define it. The only thing that can define Flogging Molly is Flogging Molly.

So, sometimes a bit of monotony is the price of consistency, and Flogging Molly's sound was innovative enough from the beginning to excuse any feeling of deja vu the new album might inspire. To knock Flogging for sticking to their basics would be to harass Einstein for never suppressing his interest in physics to develop an appreciation for American Girl dolls. A Flogging Molly album review is also difficult in the same way a review of Phish, AC/DC, or Guar is difficult; A large percentage of their appeal lies in their unique live performances. To keep things simple, Speed Of Darkness can be summed up in one song: Oliver Boy. Where there's blood there's death, not glory. It's one of the most daring political statements on the album, and at the end of the day, it's still a Flogging Molly song. Other than that, there's not much to be said.

Rating: 7/10