Gogol Bordello - Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike (2005)

Should you ever be passing through old London town, be sure to drop in on my old friend Charlie Farmer, and thank him for introducing us to Gogol Bordello. If you have ever wondered what a Ukranian gypsy playing raucous punk rock in a New York basement might sound like - and if we are being honest, who hasn't? - look no further. This album is brilliant. The way it fuses traditional gypsy instruments with a punk rock aesthetic is reminiscent of The Pogues at their shambolic best - that is if Shane McGowan had been born in eastern Europe, as opposed to Ireland. As Charlie originally told me, this album never fails to bring a smile to your face. With song titles such as Think Locally, Fuck Globally the album has a revolutionary zeal to it, that while tackling serious issues, is never overly earnest. Start Wearing Purple is one of the stand out tracks on the album; a manic sing-a-long that will have you jigging wildly around the room. So if you have been feeling a little sluggish of late, throw Gogol Bordello into your stereo, and as you gleefully shout the chorus to Undestructable, remember, there isn't much that is legal that can make you feel this good.

Check out: www.myspace.com/gogolbordello