Gogol Bordello burst onto the scene in the late 1990s out of Lower-East Manhattan with their incredibly unique brand of punk-forward music, infusing into it entire world of sound.
Many have called it Gypsy Punk, Romani and even Folk Punk; but, Gogol Bordello truly breaks all of those molds and stands in solitude in their own sonic frontier.
Today, we see the release of We Mean It, Man! (Casa Gogol Records), which stands as yet another new step forward for the band’s ever-progressing sound.
Gogol Bordello has never abandoned their roots, but rather expanded upon the very foundation, consistently contorting it into something exciting and fresh with each LP, and We Mean It, Man! may be the most unique and refreshing step yet.
The album infuses elements almost reminiscent of 80’s synth pop in some tracks. With hypnotic bass lines, the same familiar accordion and truly anthemic melody.
We Mean It, Man! is rowdy, but groovy. It’s still tinged with the same Gypsy/Folk elements fans have been familiar with, but it’s amped up with electric guitars, synth and so much more.
While it may not be the perfect album, it is truly a gem, and the tracks that are good are not just good, they are infectious.
The political overtones of earlier Gogol are still very much present, while still allowing room for more lyrical exploration.
“Life is Possible Again” stands out as a shining moment with its pop undertones and cinematic string movements.
“Ignition” hits like an ‘80s montage, but lacks the cliches; it’s almost disco-esque in some of its instrumentation and is so strangely fitting mixed with the classic Gogol Bordello energy.
All in all, it’s pretty hard not to respect the artistic integrity of a band like Gogol Bordello for managing to seamlessly blend the old into the new, and We Mean it, Man! encapsulates that balance perfectly.
Tune in today to your favorite streaming service and give the latest album from these aging punks a listen, and you’re bound to, at the very least, find some intrigue.
Favorite Tracks
“Life is Possible Again”
“We Did Good With The Good We Did”
Rating
3.7/5
Tracklist
We Mean It, Man!
Life Is Possible Again
No Time For Idiots
Hater Liquidator
Boiling Point
Ignition
From Boyarka to Boyaca
Mystics
We Did Good With The Good We Did
Crayons
State Of Shock
Solidarity (Nick Launay Mix)
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