DJ Mattlock Exclusive: THE NEW FLOGGING MOLLY ALBUM!!!

In their valiant return from 2004’s warmly received Within a Mile of Home, Celtic punk rockers Flogging Molly come roaring back onto the scene with the hard-edged Float. The record has been dangling out of reach of many hardcore fans ever since the group performed for iTunes on “Complete Control Sessions” in March 2007. The group released a previously unreleased song on the compilation that confirmed the fan’s hope for new material. Needless to say, from the moment I opened the advance copy WSOE received just the other day to the moment I am writing this review, I have been FLOORED by this album. For all you hungry “Mollyheads” out there, March 4th may be a long time to wait just to wrap your hands around the new FM album, but rest assured, the wait will be worth it.
It kicks off to a great start with one of the premier tracks of the record, “Requiem for a Dying Song”, a heavy sing-along with a near poppy-rhythm that makes your head bounce more than bob. Twanging banjoes, melodic accordion, and heavy snare drum work are all familiar territory for Dave King and the gang. Immediately after the fade-out, a startling punk rock strum bursts out of the speakers, diving straight into my favorite track, “Paddy’s Lament”. “Don’t look back/for what’s dead now” is the first line of the chorus and pretty much sets the mood for the rest of the song, from the classical-style lead into the chorus to the searing guitar solo. The title track shows Dave King in a more sentimental while still keeping in the group’s rustic aesthetic. “Float” ought to be the best drinking song for optimists out of the year. The middle of the album has a short redundant lull with three songs that sound a bit forced as filler. The saving grace for the median tracks is “Lightning Storm”, a pump-up track that’ll make you feel stronger than a Spartan. However, the final four tracks of the far-too-short album bookend it with jackboot to the listener’s face. Tracks like “Between A Man and A Woman”, “On the Back of a Broken Dream”, and “Man With No Country” keep up with the frantic pace of most of the other tracks. Finally, the closer “The Story So Far” is enough to make you believe you’ve experienced all 46 years of Dave King’s life and lived to tell about it. The title of the track can make fans breathe a deep sigh of relief, as it is quite obvious they aren’t done yet.

LISTEN TO MUSIC ANALYSIS TONIGHT AT 10:30 PM ON WSOE TO HEAR THE PREMIERE OF A TRACK OFF OF "FLOAT"!

DJ Mattlock's 10 Albums of the Year of 2007

Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
Nightwish continues to dominate with their own brand of power metal with the sweet vocal stylings of new singer Annette Olzen. A fresh start for a band with enough experience to really explode onto iPods everywhere. Key Track: The fist-pumping sing-along "Amaranth"
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
I overheard it at a barbeque and a Volkswagon commercial...but it's still the new band to take their songwriting to the level of Beatles albums. Key Track: Guitar-lickin' good "Walken"
Daft Punk - Alive 2007
High quality remixes...of their own songs...over their own songs...with parts of their other songs thrown in. I love it. Key Track: Around The World/Harder Better Faster Stronger
Perry Farrell's Satellite Party - Ultra Payloaded
Despite the unneccessary guest spot by Fergie, the guest spots by the likes of John Frusciante and Flea (RHCP) and Nuno Bettencourt make this disc an AWESOME party album. Key Track: "Hard Life Easy"...a Red Hot Chili Peppers song on steroids.
Paramore - Riot!
All the energy and catchiness of a pop-punk album with none of the bloating [ego]. Listen to "Misery Business" and tell that won't be stuck in your head later.
Dethklok - Dethalbum
Metal. Key Track: The ode to maritime homicide "Murmaider".
Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Not even a big fan of the Boss, but this is more Americana than a baseball landing in a hot apple pie. Key Track: "Radio Nowhere"
Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow
A rockin' album that has the potential to rival classics like Boston's self-titled debut. Key Track: "Feathers"
David Gilmour - Remember That Night
David Gilmour, age 61...at the top of his game. His guitar work makes young gunslingers look stupid. Key Track: The first ten minutes (covering "Breathe/Time/Breathe Reprise" better than the original album ever could)
Streetlight Manifesto - Somewhere in the Between
Surprise of the year...punk-ska + bossa nova + catchy choruses + intricate breakdowns = win. Key Track: Watch It Crash