Yet another voice to recommend the Pogues. Don't let the word 'punk' put you off. You should hear Shane singing 'And the band played Waltzing Matilda'. If you don't feel a tear or two come into your eye, you're made of stone. Other songs which they did and which I love are 'A pair of Brown Eyes' and 'Navigator' and the Scottish Folk song 'For me Name is Jock Stewart' which is sung by a Woman (can't remember her name, but lovely raw voice).

That's a good word for the Pogues - raw, unpolished but golden underneath. (Maybe I should take a job as a music critic, they all talk like that!)

The Pogues, to me, have brought Irish / Celtic music into a new era keeping the spirit of the music alive in their songs and arrangments. Unfortunately the bad imitators have destroyed the freshness and the raw qualities of their style, making it seem like dull, heavy lead.

Tcifidh me thu,(see ya)

Laoise.