Audio CD review:
The Saw Doctors - Play it Again Sham!

The Saw Doctors - Play it Again Sham!

Band: The Saw Doctors Title: Play it Again Sham! Rating: Release Date: 2003-07-29 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: World of Good 2: I'd Love to Kiss the Bangles 3: Michael D. Rocking in the Dail 4: Bless Me Father 5: Joe Wall Broke My Heart - The Saw Doctors, Doherty, Pearse 6: Me Heart Is Livin' in the Sixties Still 7: Howya Julia 8: Apples, Sweets or Chocolate 9: Broke My Heart 10: Crock of Gold 11: We're the Popsuckers - The Saw Doctors, Sucker, Eddie 12: Small Ball 13: Winter's Just a Dream 14: She Says 15: Small Bit of Love 16: Bushwhackin' 17: Sound Sham 18: School of Beauty 19: Letter from Louise 20: Where's the Party?

Regional album Of course there are the more serious tunes, like Me Heart is Livin in Sixties Still, or Letter from Louise, which is a song about the public's discussion of the new situation in Northern Ireland after the Good Friday Accords. Play it again sham is a brilliant album! The music is written by a very skilled musician and I could listen to the Saw Docs all day! The lyics oftentimes are playful, like in I'd Love to Kiss the Bangals or Bless Me Father, where the young man is kneeling in the confessional and trying to explain to the priest of the sins of the body he committed. The song put a tear to my eye. But, some songs didn't peak my interest, like We're the Popsuckers: about a fictional band from Memphis. Without a story to go with it, the song has no relevance. I guess the band was trying to create a new Sgt. Pepper, but the name, "Popsucker's" didn't peak my interest. Many songs portrayed a regional interest. If you are not Irish, you probably won't comprehend what the songs imply. I know the Saw Doctors are a hot band in Ireland, but if they want to become an International sensation, they should expand their scope so everybody can elate to their music. A Sweet Little Keeper, this One Found out they were one of her favorite bands, and curious (about her) I had to check them out. I learnt about the Saw Doctors from an exquisitely pretty Irish girl of my acquaintance. Well, outcome of my designs on her aside, I have to say it's a darn fine thing I ran into her. She's set me onto a great little band. I love this album. It's very slightly punk inflected Irish pub rock. And who doesn't need a little more of that in their life? I've only bought and listened to this one album, but I sense that the rest of these boys' opus is unlikely to disappoint. I am absolutely going to buy more. As for the songs: Especially sweet is "Michael D. Rocking in the Dail" - evidently a paean to a particularly sympathetic Minister of Culture in the Irish government- it's a hoot. Then there's "Howya Julia" - my personal favorite, speaking as a practicing Catholic who loves the Church and despises the insipid horde of craven sycophantic careerist dinks who've overrun the Western hierarchy. It's a song in honor of his Eminence Eamon Casey, former Bishop of Galway, otherwise known as "Bopping Bishop Casey" (or "BBC" as I saw the moniker rendered several times in graffiti on pub toilet stall walls over a decade ago in Ireland) - who betrayed his vows with a woman from New Jersey, having a son in the process. To the bishop's credit, the dalliance was with a mature female (named Julia, of course) and he supported his child through adolescence. Almost refreshing behavior, that, these days. Quite shocking in Ireland back in the day, though. He's now working amongst the poor in Lima or someplace, doing penance. Anyhow, it's cathartic somehow to hear him roasted brilliantly here. "Sound Sham," "Bless me Father," and "Bushwackin" are also excellent. As others here have said, this entire album is good. Those are simply the songs that standout after having listened to it for a couple weeks. . I can't get enough of them! I got hooked on some of the earlier music, but this is by far my favorite albums. The Saw Doctors are amazing. I wish I could mention which are the gems and which are the once worth only a listen or two, but I can't. Every single song on this disc is absolutely amazing. You don't even need to let it grow on you - it is simply wonderful from the first listen on. Still, my favorites are Michael D. , Sound Sham, Howya Julia, Bless Me Father, Letter From Louise, She Says, and Same Oul Town. At whatever price y'find it, it's worth the buy. . play it again and again and again....... I had only heard of 3 songs before(World of good, Apples, sweets etc. as a saw doctor fan I was ecstatic to here of this release. . . and Bless me father) and was very curious to see what constitutes a 'b' side from the Doctors. All I can say is I was hooked from listen #1. Kiss the Bangles, Michael D, Small ball, Broke my heart, Sound sham, etc. . are all great , catchy pop songs with awesome lyrics. I agree with Dan Aquilante of the NY Post who said there wasn't a bad track on the album. I believe that anybody who hears this as their first taste of the Saw Doctors will be very impressed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. This CD is to the Saw Doctors what Tracks is to Springsteen I never thought I'd love a band as much as the E Street Band, until my bride turned me on to the Saw Doctors. I, a New Jerseyite has had the the fortune of falling in love with, and marrying a Gallwegian. Like Bruce and the E Streeters, they are so provincial, they are universal. This CD is to the Saw Doctors what Tracks is to Springsteen Buy this CD. This is all the off the wall stuff that makes them unique. Buy everything else, they've put out as well. You can see a complete list of all The Saw Doctors discography, or go back to the The Saw Doctors tabs