SINGLE REVIEW: THE RUMJACKS- ‘Blows And Unkind Words’ (2014)

Fecking hell a new single by my all time favourite celtic-punk band The Rumjacks hits the streets and bhoy I am excited as hell!! These boys can do no wrong in my eyes and if this had been shite I reckon I would have still have raved about it but we’ve no worries there as it’s classic fantastic Rumjacks. Perhaps if anything it’s not quite as full on punky as previous but still it’s unmistakeable… and fecking brilliant too!

A collection of Scots and Scots-Irish refugees and celts of various descent all together and washed up on the other side of the world in Brisbane, Australia. The bands been together since 2008 and they’ve a few records, all critically acclaimed, behind them.

Hung Drawn And Ported (EP) 2009
Sound As A Pound (EP) 2009
Gangs Of New Holland (Album) 2010
Crosses For Eyes (Single) 2012
Blows And Unkind Words/ Plenty (Vinyl Single) 2014

‘Blows And Unkind Words’ takes on the evils of social media and the way people interact with each other. Its the age of the coward where from behind a keyboard any old arsehole feels free to comment on what ever they like without a thought for the damage they leave behind. As my old Nanna use to say its costs nothing to be kind.

“My conscience rings like a siller bell and I can waltz like a dervish my dear,
Two boots full o’ gravel through your blazin’ hell
With a shit-smeared grin from ear to ear.
Some hearts are like lightning in a bottle, and others like a moth in a can,
Some hearts are a Dead Sea apple, a poison to God and man,
I’m the sweetest bag o’ rats that you’ve ever seen,
I look like trouble & I walk like a king,
It’s my thing, why bawl when I can sing
Of all the blows and unkind words?”

As with everything The Rumjacks do its not just the music but also the complicated and intricate lyrics that complete them. They come with a message but luckily for those of you who aren’t interested, not many I’d hope, it just happens to come wrapped up in some of the best celtic/Irish/Scots folk/punk you will ever hear. Music not just to dance your head off to but to feast your brain on as well.

“You get around gob draggin’ on the ground like lifes gone pissin’ in yer mince,
Were you bullied as a child? Abandoned to the wild?
And been blamin’ every fucker ever since?
We’re all born blind but we’re born with a spine,
So get up and stop hatin’ all the world,
Keep callin’ out to me ‘cos its growin’ hard to see
Through all the blows and unkind words”

We bloody love The Rumjacks and if we’ve said it once then we’ve said it a hundred times but Australian celtic-punk is the best in the world and The best band in Australian celtic-punk is The Rumjacks. That my friends is all you need to know.

Left-Right Johnny (Bass) Adam (Bouzouki/banjo) Frankie (vox/whistle) Anthony (Drums) Gabe (guitars)

Contact The Band

WebSite Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Buy The Single

iTunes Single And T-Shirt Direct From The Band

If you’ve not come across The Rumjacks before then check them out here for their smash internet hit ‘An Irish Pub’ and also here where we celebrated our first birthday by publishing the ‘Top Twenty Celtic-Punk Albums Of All Time’ which was won by The Rumjacks first album, ‘Gangs Of New Holland’.

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