Black 47 - Elvis Murphy's Green Suede Shows (CD)

All Music Guide

Elvis Murphy's Green Suede Shoes is the audio companion to Black 47 bandleader Larry Kirwin's memoir, Green Suede Shoes: An IrishAmerican Odyssey. The six brand new tracks, as well as two rerecorded cuts from previously deleted albums and two songs culled the Wexfordborn writer/musician/playwright's numerous side projects, tell the story of an Irish immigrant on the rocky road to America and his eventual slide into the welcoming arms of rock and roll. Black 47 are as New York City as Lou Reed and as working class as Bruce Springsteen, but despite their local iconic status their bluesy brand of Celtic rock never truly caught on with the general public. Kirwan, who tells stories like Bob Dylan and sings like and even moreaffected version of Kevin Rowland from Dexy's Midnight Runners is a relentlessly energetic soul, a tireless advocate for the bluecollar pubcrawler and a genuinely talented writer with a bandwho still play with the intensity of a group half their agethat instinctually fol...lows his every step. It's a shame that so many people can't get past his manic delivery and familial earnestness, because songs like "Far Side of the Wall", "Into the West" and the rousing "Uncle Jim" are what the American experience is all about: love and suffering, drinking, forgiving and acceptance. - James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide Read more Less