This best of
the Mahones
release covers their most beloved songs from their 1994
Celtic rock
debut
Draggin' the Days
through their 2001 roots rocker
Here Comes Lucky
. It quite clearly chronicles their gradual shift away from
Pogues
-clones and toward
Tom Petty
-like heartland rockers. While those may be the two most obvious influences at their respective stages in development,
have still carved their own unique style and etched their name firmly into the Canadian musical landscape. Song's like
"Across the USA,"
"Draggin' the Days,"
and
"Drunken Lazy Bastard,"
are reflective of their raucous yet infectious style that has endeared them, not only to their Canadian brethren, but also to those in the know in both Europe and the United States. The 17 tracks on
Paint the Town Red
are a suitable and accurate introduction to this band, but the real key to this release is the bonus live CD entitled
Live at the Horseshoe
. It was recorded in September of 2000, prior to the release of
. An energetic date, it concentrates more on the
Irish folk-punk
style that first attracted attention to this band. Yes, several selections from the live CD are also included on the "best of" disc; however, the comparison and contrast between the studio and stage is noteworthy and deserving of a nearly two hour listen. ~ Dave Sleger