The Tossers - The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

In the past years, America has been flooded with an Irish punk revolution. Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes this is a bad thing. It seems that any putz with a tin whistle can join a punk trio and call it "irish punk," "gaelic punk" or (blegh) "shamrock-n-roll". Mix in a healthy smattering of overused stereotypes and fake accents and you've got yourself a green-beer-chugging, bagpipe-tootin' hit. A lot of people like this. For the rest of us, there are bands like The Tossers. The Tossers blends a refreshing fusion of Irish song, punk and folk on The Valley Of the Shadow Of Death that might sometimes bite, but never in a bad way. There's accordion and fiddle and harmony - it's a gorgeously played album. But even more impressive is the craftsmanship that's gone into creating these songs. Seven members strong, The Tossers plays to its strengths and creates melodies that can lull you to sleep or thump you right in the nose. Possibly the most memorable track on the album is their tribute to Ronnie Drew in the form of "Drinking In The Day," a song that shows off the trademark beauty of Irish poetry and song in one piece. Crafted by experts, these songs will make you smile and make you dance - Enjoy. [www.thetossers.com]