Gogol Bordello Album: “Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike [PA] [Digipak]”

Take Clash/Sex Pistols punk-hard-rock energy, add a blend of crazy, slippery east european and latin rhythms, and gypsy instrumental virtuosity. Throw in a shovelful of amphetamines and enough vodka to make the whole thing flammable, then stand back and throw a match. Voila. Gogol Bordello. Probably no other band that's walked the earth, has ever been quite this frenetic, ferocious, or fun. This is music with angry eyes and a goofy grin.

This album is a musical expression of the best sex you've ever had.

The length of the CD is great, the way it plays end to end is a fabulous ride, and the fact that Gogol Bordello consists of real musicians shines through. I don't know much about producing, but it seems like the focus was on the band and not so much on the vocals. And really, it's lovely that way. Eugene Hutz's unpolished snarl and Euro. beatboxing pulls you in immediately. As the album plays, there's actually a full range of vocal ability from maniacal howling to a coherent musical rant - might I say almost pleading? - about what's wrong with people today.

The music is a wildly passionate conglomeration of Gypsy/klezmer (they're nearly the same), reggae, and dub all spun together into punk rock.

Also, never does it ever get whiny. If you come from a European immigrant background, the tone is all too familiar. A little tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, commentary, attention to history, oblique references, and free and open manipulation of the English language. It's beautiful. For me, it was like my background and upbringing made it onto a CD that took the Old World and made it new again.

Like I said. The best sex. Intimate, maniacally passionate, personal, universal, and the timing is perfect.

Gogol Bordello's latest album has two layers. The first layer is aparent after a fitst listening, the second takes a while. One of the first things that drew me to this band, and probably what gets most people hooked on them, was the fusion of sounds they produce. I'm a big fan of bands like Flogging Molly, bands who manage to fuse their ethnic heritage along with good ole' punk rock. The eastern gypsy music (as well as reggae, flamenco, and whatever else they decide to throw in) adds a fun twist on what would normally be considered simple, three-chord-or-less rock. The music is just so fun that everytime I hear it, I want to jump around the room like I'm at some crazy wedding (note: "Dogs Were Barking" is exactly this)! However, after I calmed down, I started listening to what Eugene Hütz was singing (some call it screaming, but screw them). What wasn't in Hungarian (or Ukranian, I'm not very good with Eastern European languages) was very smart, politically-charged comments on culture and where one belongs. Songs like "Immigrant Punk" and "Underdog World Strike" are near-brilliant critiques about how Americans handle culture. Although there are some songs that are just for fun ("Start Wearing Purple" and the mostly-instrumental "Not A Crime" and "Mishto!"), this album is packed with brilliant social commentary backed, or perhaps masked, by wonderful hip-shaking musical variety. I true pleasure to listen to!

If you need to wake up your senses and shake yourself out of the tedium of every day life, then buy this CD because things will never be the same. It's gypsy, it's punk, and you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

This is my new favorite band since I heard them on Fungus, XMRADIO!!! I just ordered all their other cds, but you should start with this one. My friends think I am crazy, but there is something very addictive about this music. Perhaps it is causing brain damage but even without alcohol added, as recommended by Eugene Hutz, it does seem to fix most problems. Check out the web site, www.gogolbordello.com, they are on tour and see them live if you can for added impact. 'All your sanity and wits will vanish I promise, its only a matter of time'.