JennJoy's Full Review: Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike [PA] [Digipak] b...
Gogol Bordello came my way through the recommendation of a friend who raves about the New York City based group’s live show. Well intrigued by what I’ve been told about this group’s sound I’ve intended to catch their performance on more than one occasion. Since I missed their most recent Philly concert I opted to pick up their 2005 release Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike to tide me over until the band’s next swing through Pennsylvania.
Gogol Bordello is fronted by the enigmatic, mustachioed Eugene Hutz who immigrated to the States from the Ukraine after Chernobyl. Hutz is backed by an arsenal of multi-instrumentals playing everything from violin, accordion, guitar, bass, percussion, and drums. In its simplest form, the Bordello crew play gypsy punk music with a focus on the immigrant experience. However, the members’ backgrounds extend much farther beyond the Ukraine and their music reflects this by dabbling in not just punk and gypsy, but the folk music of much of Europe as well as reggae and more.
The cultural blending is sometimes a bit over the top on Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike, but more often than not the sound this collective creates sounds perfectly natural. From the first few lines of opening track “Sally” it’s clear that Eugene Hutz is a major focal point in this band as he plays up the fact that English is not his native language with a thick accent and some Ukrainian lyrics. The yelled refrain, “cultural revolutions just begun!” hits right to the essence of this band.
“Not a Crime” tips its hat to reggae and cabaret music, but this is simply a glimpse at what else the album has to offer. “Immigrant Punk” takes more than a little influence from the Clash while “Avenue B” has a bit of a flamenco feel. “Think Locally, Fu*k Globally” features a drum solo played by Hutz on a fire bucket and incorporates some thrilling Django jazz guitar work. This anthem is perhaps the best example Eugene’s larger-than-life persona which is liberally seasoned with tongue-in-cheek swagger and more than a little lasciviousness.
Gogol Bordello is not a band that will appeal to just any punk or rock fans. The group’s blending of gypsy and Eastern European folk music with rock, punk, and reggae is likely a bit of an acquired taste for most. If unique combinations of styles intrigue you then Gogol Bordello just might prove to be one of the best things to hit the States in a long time. Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike is lively enough to be considered a great party album, but only if your idea of a good time is a bit more subversive then most. Although this is only the group’s third full-length release I’m confident there will be lots more odd musical marriages in the members’ futures. Even if the whole Gogol Bordello experience sounds a bit much taking a chance on something like Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike can have unexpectedly pleasant results.
Track Listing:
Sally
I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again
Not a Crime
Immigrant Punk
60 Revolutions
Avenue B
Dogs Were Barking
Oh No
Start Wearing Purple
Think Locally, Fu*k Globally
Underdog World Strike
Illumination
Santa Marinella
Undestructable
Mishto!
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