The Real McKenzies - Shine Not Burn
Rating
RIYL
Dropkick MurphysFlogging Molly
Bagpipes
Release Date
06/22/2010
Label
Fat Wreck ChordsTracklist
1. Nessie2. Drink the Way I Do
3. 10,000 Shots
4. Pickled
5. Auld Mrs. Hunt
6. Bastards
7. My Bonnie
8. Chip
9. Scots Wha’ Ha’e
10. Droppin’ Like Flies
11. Pour Decisions
12. The Skeleton and the Tailor
13. Best Day Until Tomorrow
14. Bitch Off the Money
15. Get Lost
16. Wild Mountain Thyme
17. Whisky Scotch Whisky
18. Sawney Beane Clan
19. Kings o’ Glasgow
20. Taylor Made II
21. Bugger Off
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The Real McKenzies are like the belligerent, perma-drunk grandaddies of celtic punk. Older than established acts like Flogging Molly and even Dropkick Murphys, they have been churning out Scottish-twanged punk rock for 18 years. Shine Not Burn is a live acoustic album recorded at “Wild at Heart” in Kreuzberg, Berlin. That’s right, forget the electric guitars and churning bass you’ve come to expect from a Real McKenzies album; Shine Not Burn is a 21-track, intimate, folksy sing-along.
Even though he’s been at it for just shy of two decades, Paul McKenzie is as rowdy and raucous as ever, cursing and drinking up a storm as he plays the crowd like a fiddle. Aside from the usuals, guitarist “Bone” and bagpiper Matt McNasty, the backing band touts a few notable guests: Dave Gregg (D.O.A.), Sean Sellers (Good Riddance) and Karl Alvarez (Descendents). Ignore, for a moment, the inherent absurdity of a sundry bunch of punk legends and Canadians playing Scottish folk music in Germany—it’s a toe-tappin’ good time. Get ready for sick bagpipe lines, technical mandolin, sweetly chirping penny whistles and more gang vocals than a Four Year Strong album.
The Real McKenzies have always embraced more traditional folk diddes, so aside from classic songs from the band’s discography, like “10,000 Shots” and “Pour Decisions,” Shine Not Burn features surprisingly singable renditions of “My Bonnie” and “Wild Mountain Thyme” that the crowd absolutely goes nuts for.
So ask yourself, are you in the mood for traditional Scottish instruments, acoustic punk rock, finely-aged Scottish-Canadian men and a feisty bar crowd, but you just can’t find the energy to actually go out to the bar? Finally, there is an album for you, and it’s Shine Not Burn.
--Zach Roth
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