St. Patrick's Day is today. So before we hit the pub to celebrate, we thought we'd put together a mix for you of some tracks our favorite Irish and Irish-American bands. Enjoy them -- preferably with a pint of Guinness. The streaming playlist comes at the end of this post, after the jump.
Stiff Little Fingers gave us some of the best Irish punk rock
Thin Lizzy, "The Boys Are Back in Town"
Though founded in Dublin in 1969, Thin Lizzy was as diverse in its line-up as it was in its influences. Frontman Phil Lynnot remains one of the few black men to find major success in hard rock, while the band was made up of members from both sides of the Irish border as well as the Protestant and Catholic faiths.
Sinead O'Connor, "Nothing Compares 2 U"
Remember when Sinead O'Connor tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live? Yeah, that was pretty much the beginning of the end. She continues to record powerful music even if not many people are listening.
Dropkick Murphys, "The Warrior's Code"
If you've listened to any Dropkick Murphys songs, then you already know it's pretty damn hard not to want to be Irish-American after listening to their prideful, politically loud Celtic punk anthems. You also know they really like The Pogues.
The Pogues, "If I Should Fall from Grace with God"
The original Celtic punk rockers, The Pogues got famous thanks to the stage antics of stereotypically drunk-like-an-Irishman frontman Shane MacGowan. Oh, and their music, too.
The Frames, "Revelate"
If you've seen or heard the music from Once, then you're already familiar with Frames frontman Glen Hansard. The band vacillates between haunting ballads like those found in the movie and the kick-ass rock jams they perfected the making of throughout the 90s.
Flogging Molly, "What's Left of the Flag"
Flogging Molly is an LA-based Celtic punk outfit just as catchy as the Dropkick Murphys, but less angry. A lot less angry. Instead of making you want to fight, they make you want to drink and sing along.
My Bloody Valentine, "Loveless"
My Bloody Valentine was alt-rock way before Seattle teens hopped on the bandwagon. The legendary band went AWOL in 1997, but returned a decade later to a fan base still clamoring for their music.
Damien Rice, "The Blower's Daughter"
Damien Rice's haunting ballads have the unique characteristic of sounding utterly romantic and utterly suicidal at the same time, which is probably why the ladies love him so much. He's like a Shakespearian sonnet, but with a piano backing track.
Stiff Little Fingers, "Gotta Gettaway"
Punk-rock legends from Belfast once called "The Irish Clash." Led by Jake Burns, a dude who sounded like he gargled with glass shards, Stiff Little Fingers often got political, but never got great again after their first couple of records between '79 and '81.
U2, "Where the Streets Have No Name"
Saved the biggest for last. If you don't know who U2 is, you're probably a member of one of those lost tribes in the Amazon.
-- Cole Haddon
St. Patricks Day
