Everyone’s favourite Gypsy Punks are back with their first album in four years.
When Gogol Bordello’s third album, Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike landed in 2005 it had an absolute moment in the indie underground. It built, and they consolidated those gains on follow up album, 2007’s Super Taranta! Both albums are well worth your time if you are unfamiliar. Reading Indie Life caught them at The Oxford Zodiac in 2006 for one of their notoriously crazy live shows. Even temporarily blowing the electric circuit didn’t dampen the energy of the gig.
Their growth in status was such that Madonna herself sort of temporarily adopted them. They starred in her short film ‘Filth and Wisdom’ and ended up canceling a T in the Park appearance to show up with her at Live Earth, a kind of ecological follow-up to Live Aid organised by Al Gore.
We Mean It, Man! is their tenth album. It has to be said that whilst not terrible it is quite a disappointing effort. There is some sonic maneuvering, a few tracks feel like some poppier synth experimentation has crept in. This is not really what you go to a Gogol Bordello album for though. ‘From Boyarka To Boyaca’ is the one moment where the album feels like it wakes up and matches some of their earlier glories. Puzzled Panther guests on it and it just feels alive and vital in a way that is lacking in other places with more by the number efforts. Joy Division and New Order’s Bernard Sumner pops up on a well meaning track about Ukraine, ‘Solidarity,’ on the final track.
Essential Tracks: ‘From Boyarka To Boyaca’ and ‘Solidarity.’
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