New album “Shanty Punk” by Skinny Lister Reviewed

This Friday sees the much anticipated released of Skinny Lister’s sixth studio album “Shanty Punk” which was mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Frank Arkwright and is being released on Xtra Mile Recordings.

Its only fair to say right at the start that Skinny Lister are one of my favourite bands and have been for a number of years. Their 2016 album “Down on Deptford Broadway” is an absolute classic, and for me, they are simply the best live band out there at the moment, the boundary between band and audience at their shows is blurred and the experience is full of life, raucous energy and fun. This is the follow up to their 2021 release “A Matter of Life & Love”. It’s an experience not to miss !

The new album’s name “Shanty Punk” pretty much sums up what Skinny Lister are all about. If you’ve ever listened to the likes of The Pogues, Mad Dog McRea, The Longest Johns or Ferocious Dog you’ll know exactly what you’re getting here. Singer Dan Heptinstall describes the new album as a “pure distillation of what makes Skinny Lister rock”!

He describes it as a concept album all about Skinny Lister, a riotous look-back upon their journey to date. Full of drunken tales that beg to be told from life on the road such as when Dan got in over his head in an arm-wrestling competition in Germany (Arm Wrestling In Dresden) and when they ended up in a pickle after hiring the wrong driver for a US tour (Pittsburgh Punch Up), its rammed with joyful reflections on the communal experiences of their live shows, as well as more sentimental moments too. Its 11 songs are chock-full of references to the Skinny Lister story. The album leans further into their folkier origins than their recent works while losing none of their irrepressible energy, “Shanty Punk” is a straight up dose of what continues to make Skinny Lister so endearing.

Hale & Bale starts us off, very much in the vein of the likes of The Longest Johns or Fisherman’s Friends, with a distinctly shanty feel to it, led by Max’s accordion chords. As with all good shanties the backing vocals are used to great effect especially in the chorus to build some delightful harmonies. Well situated at the start of the album, it has that feeling of taking you back more to their folk roots. Catchy and mellow and a great one to sing along to.

This is followed by Unto the Breach with a more Gaelic feel to it as it barrels out of the speakers at us. It’s folk-punk at its finest with sing-along lyrics and a chorus that just has to be shouted out from the front row in a show. Dan’s vocals are on point, with his slightly gritty and raw style adding a personal flair to the tracks.

This next one, for me, is what Skinny Lister are all about - Company of the Bar a shanty song about travels on the open ocean and leaving loved ones, but delivered in their unique style. A song about about friendship, drinking and merriment. Its intense, loud and will be a staple of their live set for years to come. As Dan Heptinstall said: “It’s a simple sentiment, but one that is at the heart of the Skinny Lister philosophy. This is a song that has been built for the rugged road, and we can’t wait to hear it belted back at us on our upcoming US and UK Tours later this year!”

Next up, we get our first taste of Lorna’s vocals on Mantra. This one was an interesting mix for me. The start very much sounds like a Beans on Toast number and indeed the ethos and vibe of the lyrics has that feel too (“recognise what you have while you have it” – a mantra for life !), and the chorus has a lively and upbeat country feel to it. I loved it, a very different feel and a real highlight on the album for me.

13 Miles takes us back to the ocean waves 13 Miles is another anthemic shanty, a tale of hauling the lifeboat Louisa overland with horses and launching from the calmer side. With an anvil creating a beat to haul to, Dan’s vocals are brilliant and fit this one perfectly, describing the wark work hauling that boat past cottages to their destination – the tale of how Lousia sailed the moors. The incessant beat and pounding of the anvil create a real sense of effort. Brilliant.

One of the most important things for Skinny Lister is their fans and performing live. As I mentioned earlier its an incredible experience where you feel part of the show, and Down on the Barrier is a folk-punk anthem for their fans that turn out time and time again to worship at the church alter (I mean security barrier lol). Just like their shows, its fast, raucous and loud. Its one we’ll all be jumping around to, with Max in the middle on his accordion screaming out the words.

Arm Wrestling in Dresden is one that has that Pogues influence in full view, with a traditional folk vibe draped in punk attitude and this vibe continues with Pittsburgh Punchup led by Lorna’s vocals. Usually, Lorna’s tracks are more mellow and emotional, full of folk sentiment, but on this one, her abilities are allowed to roam free and her effervescent personality comes bubbling to the surface in a real sing-along anthem. A stunning boozy bouncy ball of energy from start to finish.

Forge On George is a drinking song plain and simple, filling up that flagon to the brim and passing it round, as Skinny Lister have been known to do frequently on the road, joining the crowd in a jar. A party track if ever there was one.

One of the great things about their live shows in recent years, has been the introduction of Party George. Party George is in fact Lorna and Max’s dad, and he’s come out onto the stage and sung with the band, and toasted the audience. He’s become a cult legend with the fans who will cry out for a Party George appearance. Well, next track is William Harker penned by George, who sings it and introduces it with “hello everybody” ! As you might expect, it’s a tale about the public house, and it adds a different feel to the album, with a more traditional foot stompin’ pub fireside feel, and George’s unique vocals fitting the lyrics perfectly, creating a sense of fun and mischief.

Indeed if the idea of the album is to sum up what Skinny Lister is all about, then William Harker with Party George is the perfect fit, A brilliant bridge between Skinny Lister recordings and Skinny Lister the living, breathing ‘live’ entity it really is.

As the album comes to a close, Lorna comes to the fore again, with Broken, Bruised & Battered, a slow one that builds, the backing vocals creating a fantastic harmony. It feels a fitting end to the album for two reasons. Firstly, you imagine sitting round a big camp file singing along with friends, but also as it seems to say, that here we are… Skinny Lister…. We’ve been broken, bruised and battered….. but you know what ? We’re still here and loving life.

Both of these sum up Skinny Lister to the max.

A brilliant album, and it tells a tale of a band on a journey perfectly. I can’t wait to hear some of these out on the road real soon.

For me, this new album is up there with “Down on Deptford Broadway” and it richly deserves a 9.0 from LiveWire Music.