Search - Black 47 :: Home of the Brave

Punk, bagpipes, ska, and rap, all in one

06/27/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Black 47 is probably one of the most entertaining bands to come out the 1990s. I place them firmly in the category of punk (despite some heavy ska and rap influences) just based upon the political nature of their music, which is reminiscent of the Clash at their best. Less political than Green Suede Shoes, Home of the Brave focuses more upon everyday people and their lives. Several of the songs (Black Rose, Blood Wedding, Danny Boy) are actually stories put to music. Listening to the music, you get the feel of New York and the places in the songs (42nd Street, C&9th, Woodside, Queens), to the point where you can picture the dreary streets, swept with rain, and filled with seedy characters.Of the political songs, the two best are Paul Robeson (Born to Be Free) and Big Fella. Paul Robeson is pure punk, dealing with musician Paul Robeson (naturally enough) who was black listed in the McCarthy hearings. With "The great are only great because we're down on our knees/so rise up my brothers and sisters/we were born to be free" as a chorus, you know you've found punk rock. Big Fella is a different matter entirely, dealing with IRA founder Michael Collins. The first song on the album, Big Fella let's you know just where the band's loyalty lies: with Ireland. As with their songs set in NYC, this manages to conjure images of Ireland early in this century as nationalists clashed with the British army and the Black&Tans. Equally political is Time to Go, a rap where the band attacks their critics (which are many). Although I dislike rap, this is an excellent song, with bitter lines like "anytime someone upsets the status quo/they're stabbed in the back by the liberal whores" and "Pat and Mike joke on the BBC/ Let's face it, you're racist, all you're missing are the white sheets".Black 47 is one of the best bands to come out of this decade of one hit wonders, and radio overplay. If nothing else, the album is worth the money just for the front cover, showing the Statue! of Liberty with an upraised fist breaking out of shackles."

POWERFULPOWERFULPOWERFUL

Thmazing | 08/18/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the greatest art albums I've ever heard. The only real problem is that to really appreciate this album you need to sit down and read the lyrics as the cd plays. Only then did full appreciation occur as I laughed along and wept along.POWERFULPOWERFULPOWERFUL"

Celtic Hip Hop?

The Orange Duke | Cupertino, Ca United States | 11/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An excellent album from an excellent band. This is the first Black 47 album I bought and it made me a fan. Mixing a wide variety of styles, from Celtic to Hip-Hop, Black 47 combines a dazzling potpourri of sound with a thoughtful angry punk mentality. The lyrics are also excellent, telling tales both of average people and historical figures. All the tracks are good, standouts are "Big Fella" "Paul Robeson" and "Who Killed Bobby Fuller". One cannot help being moved by the heartfelt Lyrics."