Message boards are pits of ignorance to be fair. Is it even worth getting into some sort of etiquette oriented debate?

Well I for one would not be turned off a band just because I hear someone talk about them constantly... there'd want to be a better reason than that, the actual music for one. However what would turn me off posting on a particular forum is people being too critical of one persons opinion. I've always browsed through this website and have been a regular visitor for a few years but only recently gained the courage to start posting because frankly there's a very evident clique with regular users and sometimes there us a tendency to gang up on other users. So just cool it, this guy loves pugwash, resents the lack of publicity he receives and thought using a message board with the catchphrase "Lending an ear to the Irish music scene" would be a conceivable means of spreading the word. Whether you or your posse like it not.

I'm a dear old lady, but thank you for the BLOKE comparisons people. Hey, a thread, 10/15 posts on PUGWASH, the result = "Enough already"?? We're truly f**ked but hey Paddy Casey's doin' some gigs soon, deadly. SJ

Evening all - have been reading the posts and felt like I needed to give my two bit worth - first off, great to see a discussion about Pugwash, undoubtedly one of the greatest Irish bands around, with superbly crafted and produced songs that put lesser talents such as to shame! I agree with all above (excepting the obviously short-sighted ‘Binokular’) that they're fantastic live too, I saw them recently in Crawdaddy and they turned in a stormer - excellent performance - and good to see their profile is on the up and up with the release of 'Jollity', an amazing piece of work. I’ve seen them on the Last Broadcast, The Cafe and TG4 over the last few weeks and they played on a couple of radio shows in the last while too so it seems like the band and management are working their socks off to get their poptastic brand of genius to the ears of the masses. I brought a couple of mates to the Crawdaddy gig and they went straight out and bought the album. The problem was that they hadn't heard of the band before, but once they heard the tunes, they were sold by the sheer quality of the writing and melody! So, it seems to me that people don’t realise they like Pugwash for two reasons and two reasons only; 1. they haven’t heard the tunes or 2. they have no soul!! This band deserves success.

Shortsighted? Don't be fooled by the name, I don't wear glasses (or contacts for that matter), but if you're speaking metaphorically I don't see how I'm being shortsighted, especially since I've known about them for at least six years. I don't like Pugwash as a band, I don't harbour any ill-will towards them, I just find their music utterly inessential. It does not matter if they become stadium megastars tomorrow, I won't be kicking myself saying "ooh I wish I'd said nice things about Pugwash". I don't like their music the same way that I don't like sprouts. The only thing that would change my mind is if they released something I liked, maybe they will, but after this long I'm not holding my breath. As for having no soul, this doesn't bother me given my personal view of the universe, but thats getting into a theological/philosophical debate ...still doesn't change the fact that I don't reckon this band are anything to write home about. Nice bunch of hardworking guys? probably. Essential and exciting musically? no.

Checked out their website last night. No full tunes, just 30 second samples of what sound like Beatles pastiches. Hardly going to set the world alight. Kinda reminded me of McFly.

totally with Binokular on this one, this band are spectacularly overrated. Again just because a band/singer is irish doesn't nesseciarily mean they are any good or above critical judgement. Passion for a band is a great thing, but if you don't want to spark debate don't engage in public forums that leaves your opinion open to be challenged. As for respecting others opinions, to disagree is also an expression of opinion that is equally valid.

"Ever wonder why you're running but you're going nowhere? It's life's little way of telling you you're already there." SJ

What's so wrong with McFly?

thanks Thomas, no offence meant, your music is not my bag, but again expressions of musical taste is not personal attack, it's just taste. Wish you every success.

What's a Swedish Handjob?

This is warming up nicely! Have just logged on after a few days away from my pc! Binokular…..”utterly inessential”, c’mon now…..........be serious......Paddy Casey’s Greatest Hit(s) would be utterly inessential......On the contrary, songs like ‘Apples’, ‘Emily Regardless’ and, from the new album, ‘Black Dog’ and ‘Anchor’, well my friend, these songs are utterly essential. You may not like the songs, and that is your abject entitlement, but they are ‘essential’ nonetheless. Classical music is not my favourite type of music but I understand that it is utterly essential, as there would have been no Sgt. Peppers or Pet Sounds without it. Without quality bands like Pugwash beating the drum for great music, young songwriters and bands (and us listeners) would be all the poorer for it. And its not because they’re Irish, its because they’re good!! I agree that a lot of Irish bands/singer-songwriters are lauded to the heavens when, in truth, their songs are poor, their melodies non-existent and their lyrics…...........terrible. It’s a shame that such lesser talents get all the radio-play and TV kudos when we have a real talent like Pugwash around – I know that I might sound all pretentious…..and I probably am…….but it is true! Songwriters who appreciate the wonderful songs of Pugwash (and the likes of say Matthew Sweet or Ben Folds to name but two) can listen - and learn - and, as a result, better understand the craft of songwriting – you can hear the hard work and thought that have gone into the Pugwash catalogue – and their songs are infinitely better than 98.25% (I’ve done the research) of the sheer fodder churned by our radio stations. Most songs on the radio and TV (including Irish bands that are heralded) are stitched together so badly that they fall apart after the first wash – longevity, what’s that?.......quality.....what wants that? we just want a bucket load of cash from the hard of hearing zombies out there. It’s a pity that more songwriters and ‘listeners’ and djs don’t pay more attention to bands such as Pugwash. It may not be your cup of tea, but there's no denying the quality of the songwriting and brilliance of the melodies. IShrink, I recommend you actually listen to the songs with a clear mind, in full and up loud - and I don't mean that in a disparaging way, honestly, get the album - I'll send you my copy if you want - and turn it up. Comparing McFly to Pugwash is like comparing our old friend Paddy Casey to Bob Dylan……it’s a comparison that is uninformed and, like most songwriters at work in this country today, sloppy. I could ramble on but I won’t bore yuze any further. Fighting the fight for poptastic music! pbee