Victory Records, April 2007

 

The Chicago White Sox aren’t the only icons to come out of the city’s South Side. For 15 years, the rambunctious Irish revelers known as the Tossers have seen their popularity grow, winning new fans with every joyous and boisterous live performance of their unique Celtic sound…and with every new album. The latest of which is called, ironically enough, Agony.
According to guitarist Mike Pawula, the title doesn’t reflect an overall theme of pain or depression. “[Singer/mandolin player] Tony Duggins just came up with it out of the blue,” he recalls. “We were just looking for a good album title. It wasn’t necessarily one overriding theme, or one song that seemed to speak for the entire album. We were asking each other, ‘what do you think we should call it?’ Tony just threw our ‘Agony,’ and everyone basically said, ‘That works’.”

The Tossers continue to gain momentum as their music and lyrical content grow.  The music makes you feel as though you are in Ireland at a pub listening to the party play out. The album is full amazing celtic music with a perfect blend of celtic punk and folk music.  The music is old school and trendy at the same time.  Overall, the album does show some progression from their last album as many of the tracks seem more creative and in depth. The lyrics are much more full of thought also.  Most of the songs are party type songs and almost all of them make mention to drinking beer or whiskey. The interesting thing was the few tracks that dealt with the inner thought and struggle of delaing with what religion tells us to do and what we then actually do.  There were about 5 offensive words that fall within the tracks.

 

An overall solid album but if you are offended by drinking as a key theme then this won't be something that you get into.