The Pogues weren’t the first band to blend Irish traditional songs with punk-rock energy, but they did it better than anyone. They are the godfathers of bands like Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, and the Tossers, but even if those bands rock heavier, they don’t rock harder than the Pogues did using little more than guitars, tin whistles, an accordion, and a banjo. And despite his rough vocal style and his determined dissolution – he was notorious for being too intoxicated to perform – lead singer Shane McGowan was also capable of great tenderness and musical subtlety. This was their second album and their most significant hits were still ahead of them, but they already sound amazing here.