The Snake [Bonus Track]

• Artist: Shane MacGowan & the Popes
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1995
• Type: Contains explicit content
• Genre: Rock

Review

Shane MacGowan, who made a name for himself as the bandleader of the Pogues until they got fed up with his asinine, self-destructive behavior and kicked him out of the group, is back with a new band (the Popes, get it?) and a bracing set of new songs that draw heavily on traditional Irish folk music while pinning your ears back with a raucous, full-frontal rock sound. The album opens with a bang: "Church of the Holy Spook" is either an oblique expression of twisted religious faith or an all-out assault on the Roman church; it's impossible to tell which. Its refrain is based on the chorus to "Give me that old-time religion," and it pounds into your skull like fists against a cathedral wall. When that tune segues into a headlong romp through the traditional "Nancy Whiskey," you know you're in for a wild ride. The band uses banjo, whistle, and pipes, as well as electric guitars, so no matter how aggressive the sound gets, you never really lose that folky Irish flavor. The farthest MacGowan gets from his roots is on the schlocky "Haunted," a maudlin duet he performs with Sinead O'Connor. That track and the bizarre "Mexican Funeral in Paris" are the only musical missteps on this enormously exciting album; though he still hasn't brushed his teeth, cleaned up his language, or quit drinking, MacGowan seems to be on the brink of some kind of renaissance. Here's hoping he keeps it up. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Church of the Holy Spook	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(3:00)
Nancy Whiskey	Traditional	Shane MacGowan	(2:58)
The Song With No Name	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(4:06)
Aisling (Lyrics)	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(2:58)
Roddy McCorley	Traditional	Shane MacGowan	(2:20)
Victoria (Lyrics)	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(4:48)
That Woman's Got Me Drinking	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(3:25)
You're the One	Shane MacGowan, Michael Kamen	Shane MacGowan	(3:58)
A Mexican Funeral in Paris	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(4:49)
The Rising of the Moon	Traditional	Shane MacGowan	(2:28)
The Snake With Eyes of Garnet	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(3:42)
Haunted (Lyrics)	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(4:11)
I'll Be Your Handbag (Lyrics)	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(3:02)
Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway	Gerry Rafferty	Shane MacGowan	(4:02)
Bring Down the Lamp	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(3:11)
Donegal Express (Lyrics)	Shane MacGowan	Shane MacGowan	(2:56)

Credits

Kieran O'Hagan (Guitar), Jimi Hendrix (Spiritual Advisor), Steve Brown (Mixing), Rick Trevan (Sax (Tenor)), Spider Stacy (Whistle (Human)), Steve Musters (Engineer), Bernie France (Vocals), Bernie France (Bass), Shane MacGowan (Arranger), Siobhan Sheahan (Irish Harp), Joe Cashman (Coordination), Danny Pope (Drums), Spider Stacy (Whistle (Instrument)), Niall Flynn (Engineer), Chris Dickie (Engineer), Shane MacGowan (Guitar), Paul Taylor (Trombone), Jem Finer (Banjo), Barney McKenna (Sax (Tenor)), Trevor Horn (Producer), Kieran O'Hagan (Vocals), Gregg Jackman (Mixing), Andrew Catlin (Photography), John Sheahan (Fiddle), John Sheahan (Whistle (Human)), Richard Rainy (Engineer), Shane MacGowan (Vocals), Dave Jordan (Mixing), Paul "Mad Dog" McGuinness (Guitar), Dick Cuthell (Trumpet), Darren Westbrook (Engineer), Tomas Lynch (Uillean Pipes), Shane MacGowan (Producer), Johnny Depp (Guitar), Steve MacMillan (Mixing), Paul "Mad Dog" McGuinness (Vocals), Barney McKenna (Tenor Banjo), Colm O'Maonlai (Whistle (Human)), Barney McKenna (Banjo), Johnny Depp (Noise), Jem Finer (5-string Banjo), John Sheahan (Whistle (Instrument)), Brian Robertson (Guitar), Dave Jordan (Producer), Danny Pope (Percussion)