Flogging Molly

Sorrow is sometimes best expressed through celebration. An Irish funeral is a testament to this, and so is the music of Dave King and his band Flogging Molly. On Within a Mile of Home, the band perfects their hybrid sound, combining the energy and propulsion of SoCal punk with the mournful confessionals of Irish balladry. King ruminates on the tragic history and triumphant spirit of his native Ireland (“Tobacco Island,” “With a Wonder and a Wild Desire”) and also offers fond memories of men who have passed on, from his own father to Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer. Meanwhile, the band cranks out pit-friendly, fist-pumping bursts of punk rock, with violins and accordions swirling underneath.

The drawback, of course, is that the formula is somewhat confining. Just past the middle of Within a Mile of Home, the songs begin to sound likeable but repetitive, threatening the momentum. Flogging Molly recovers and finishes strong, but they never quite match the riveting front end, which features the disc’s best traditional ballad (“Whistles The Wind”), an agitated anti-war piece (“Screaming at the Wailing Wall”) and a lively, folksy duet with Lucinda Williams (“Factory Girls”). - Adam McKibbin

Flogging Molly expand their Celtic-punk sound with an album that's more mature, more polished, and not quite as intense as its predecessor, although it does have its share of high-energy numbers. There are some thrashing punk tunes, some folk ballads, some relatively mainstream hard rock (although there's usually a tin whistle or fiddle to remind you this is Flogging Molly), a Cajun feel on "Tomorrow Comes a Day Too Soon" (which showcases Matt Hensley on accordion), a brief a cappella performance by Dave King ("The Wrong Company"), and even a duet with Lucinda Williams on "Factory Girls." The songs address such topics as U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East ("Screaming at the Wailing Wall"), Irish workers on 17th century sugar plantations in Barbados ("Tobacco Island"), and being prepared to leave nothing behind at death ("Don't Let Me Die Still Wondering"), with nostalgia as a common theme in several songs. The band sounds a bit softer than before, with the mix relatively de-emphasizing electric guitar in favor of other instruments, but this album should still appeal to fans of Flogging Molly's previous work. ~ Todd Kristel, All Music Guide