Skip to main content
The Morning Star Shop
Album reviews with Ian Sinclair: September 20, 2023
New releases from The Mary Wallopers, Wilco, and Setting

The Mary Wallopers
Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll
(BC Records)
★★★★

FORMED in 2016, the now seven-piece The Mary Wallopers kick up a raucous, unruly whirlwind of Irish folk.

Combining traditional instruments, including banjo, accordion, whistles and bodhran with a strong punk ethic, The Pogues are an obvious touchstone, though the band also cite poet Jinx Lennon from their hometown of Dundalk as a key influence.


Wilco
Cousin
(dBpm Records)
★★★


Setting
Shone A Rainbow Light On
(Paradise of Bachelors)
★★★

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
The main entrance of The Guardian Newspaper office on York Way, north London
Features / 21 July 2025
21 July 2025

At the very moment Britain faces poverty, housing and climate crises requiring radical solutions, the liberal press promotes ideologically narrow books while marginalising authors who offer the most accurate understanding of change, writes IAN SINCLAIR

IS
Music / 14 July 2025
14 July 2025

New releases from Allo Darlin’, Loyle Carner and Mike Polizze

IS
Album reviews / 30 June 2025
30 June 2025

New releases from Toby Hay, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Dobson & The Hanging Stars

ILLEGAL FROM THE START: British commandos in the south east region of Afghanistan, May 2002
Features / 20 June 2025
20 June 2025

As the cover-ups collapse, IAN SINCLAIR looks at the shocking testimony from British forces who would ‘go in and shoot everyone sleeping there’ during night raids — illegal, systematic murder spawned by an illegal invasion 
 

Similar stories
IS
Music / 14 July 2025
14 July 2025

New releases from Allo Darlin’, Loyle Carner and Mike Polizze

Music / 10 March 2025
10 March 2025
Reviews of Ella Fitzgerald, My Morning Jacket, and Toria Wooff
Album reviews / 13 January 2025
13 January 2025
New releases from Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart; The Weather Station; and Sam Amidon 
Culture / 29 December 2024
29 December 2024
New releases from Bridget Hayden and The Apparitions, Michael Kiwanuka, Arild Andersen