Black Thorn

Simply outstanding. I've been playing this nearly every day and have been loving it. The Courage music video was simply amazing to watch, and I've come to view Shiny Eyes as sort of my own personal tribute to the memory of my great-grandmother. Flatfoot 56 is unashamedly punk and calls out the struggles that normal people face in their everyday lives. Quite simply, they're one of my most favorite bands, and Black Thorn is one of my favorites by them.

Flatfoot 56 is an amazing band. If they are playing near you, do not miss it. This record is very solid.

Flatfoot 56 is an excellent band and this CD is an outstanding example of their high energy and unique sound.

This will get your blood/fist pumping!

Was ok. Vocals were kinda buried in the mix

Yet another great album from a great band! If you liked their previous albums, you'll love this one too.

Nice

Flatfoot 56 is from Chicago and formed in 2000. They had a couple of independent releases before getting signed to Flicker Records and releasing `Knuckles Up' (2006) and `Jungle Of The Midwest Sea' (2007). They are now signed to Old Shoe Records for `Black Thorn' due out on 30 March 2010. The band consists of brothers Tobin Bawinkel (vocals & guitar), Kyle Bawinkel (bass & backing vocals), and Justin Bawinkel (drums & backing vocals). After nine years together Josh Robieson (bagpipes) left to finish his degree and spend more time with his new wife. Filling his shoes is Eric McMahon (bagpipes & guitar) and Brandon Good (mandolin & guitar). Flatfoot's sound is often compared to Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly and The Pogues. The album has been produced by the Street Dogs' Johnny Rioux.Black Thorn is the name given to a thorny bush or small tree which has black bark, white flowers, and deep blue fruits. In Ireland blackthorn was often used to make a shillelagh, which is a club or cudgel made from a stout knotty stick with a large knob at the top. According to folklore in medieval times, the Devil was said to prick his follower's fingers with the thorn of a Blackthorn tree. But I digress.The theme of the title track is about a friend losing their faith, but asks them to reconsider what they once had "I have prayed as you passed like the falling rain/ Once a gem, then turned to a speck of grain/ Don't give it up, blood is thicker than wine/ Is there any reason to your rhyme?/ Walk the walk and speak what you mean to say/ Face the facts/ Keep walking day by day/ Let the past die with the troubles of the morn/ Say farewell to fields of thorns/ Briars of blackthorns!"The next couple are fairly typical Flatfoot songs and just as you think you know what's coming next, they rip your head off in `Smoke Blower' with its heart pounding, circle-pit inspiring ferocity. Then its time for them to break out their other styles, with the street-punk of `We Grow Stronger', the rowdy pub-rocking/punch-drunk `Son Of Shame' and they steamroller through `Stampede'. There is also one acoustic ballad in `Shiny Eyes' with female vocals from Jane Bawinkel.They finish off with a rabble-rouser that has an alternative message. `Hothead' asks you "Take a step back before you start/ Weigh it all out and check your heart/ You'd earn my respect to overlook this offence/ instead of starting fights over nonsense/ Losing your temper is always a mistake and never the road I would want you to take". And the final line is "Do yourself a favour and act your age, instead of giving in to stupid rage".What makes Flatfoot 56 such a great band is their boundless enthusiasm, infectious energy and a devotion to the fans. Tobin explains that the cohesive theme of Black Thorn is a fundamentally universal one "Everyone goes through hardships, but you aren't alone. Punk rock is about community and brotherhood. This record is our contribution to that."Cheers, lads !

Another quality album

Bei Folk Punk kann man eigentlich gar nicht so viel falsch machen. Die Kombination aus (in der Regel) irischer Folkmusik und rotzigem Punkrock klappt fast immer, man muss sich schon beinahe anstrengen, um das zu versemmeln. Dennoch gibt es neben vielen guten Bands nur eine Handvoll sehr gute. Flatfoot 56 haben es tatsächlich in die Oberliga geschafft, dank zündender Songs und einiger origineller Ideen, die in diesem Genre eher rar gesät sind. So werden "The Hourglass" Elemente von traditioneller griechischer und nahöstlicher Musik verwendet, während "You Won Me Over" dank seiner Melancholie und der beinahe völligen Abstinenz von Folkelementen ein wenig an Social Distortion erinnert. Die übrigen Songs sind mal ruppiger, mal gemäßigter und melodischer, wissen aber stets zu überzeugen. "Black Thorn" ist ein saustarkes Folk-Punk-Album, das man als Liebhaber dieses Stils unbedingt haben sollte.

Ein weiteres hervorragendes Werk dieser Celtic Punk Band aus Chicago! Noch reiferer Sound und klare Weiterentwicklung im Verhältnis zum Vorgänger. Hervorzuheben sind insbesondere Courage, Son of Shame und Shiny Eyes. Musik die mitreißt und gleichzeitig das Herz erwärmt!

Nicht ein Titel des Albums schwächelt. Das hat man selten! Wer Murphys und/oder Porters mag liegt hier richtig. Leider in Deutschland eine unbekannte Band

Wer die beiden Vorgängerscheiben schon kennt, wird auch hier nicht enttäuscht sein.Kraftvoller,melodiöser Celticpunk.Einfach nur genial!!!