“Downtown Baghdad Blues” may have had a fun feel to it with the upbeat horns and guitars but in reality the song is about a service man who “didn’t want to come here” and “didn’t get to choose”. This is a track worthy of checking out. The storytelling is superb in accompany with some nice traditional Celtic rock.
Blues rocking “Sadr City” caught me off guard as it was a musical change up from previous tracks. The song “The Last One To Die” was interesting with more of an old ska tone to it. The chilling “Battle Of Fallujah” was more personal about “dodging hell” and just being a soldier getting through the war.
The depressing “Southside Chicago Waltz” closes the CD with a song about writing home and missing loved ones. It is a love song at times and also a thought of the worst. Mixed emotions on this track really create an unhappiness no one deserves to go through.
The CD had an effect on me. After listening through the tracks I could not help but feel for the ones who feel trapped over there. We all hope it will end soon and we all have different opinions about it. This Irish-American band has put out the most unique protest album I have heard thus far. Not all Irish music is intended to help get hammered on St. Patty’s Day. In fact, this year if you celebrate St. Patty’s, take a moment and throw a toast up for the ones who are fighting overseas that deserve to come home.
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Article comments
1 - Robert Deed
I've been a Black '47 fan for years. I have seen reviews of this album which totally miss the point. This, is not one of them. This is an album FOR the men over there. That get lost in the media hype and misdirection which we get back here. We're told the war is over, yet people are fighting and dying. We're told they are there for our safety yet, most of us feel no more safe. Black '47 has always been political. If they are talking about the politics of Ireland or England over the last few centuries, or the politics of America today you should be no more surprised. But for anyone who thinks this is about cutting and running and "giving in to terrorists" really take a good hard listen to these songs. Songs taken from the words of our military men and women who are actually there in Iraq, not sitting at their desks in the safety of their homes with their families totally missing the point.
2 - buckfush2
Picked up this CD (IRAQ) last week - brutally honest, timely & it rocks!
One of the best statements to come out of this misadventure we find ourselves in.
A tip o the hat to Black 47!
BF2inNYC