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Rating: Bearers of a folk that mixes poetry and pub brawls, the Pogues were one of the most beautiful realities of the '80s (a decade that many would like to discard but which actually contributed much more than is commonly thought).
Led by the histrionic, brilliant (though not exactly reliable) Shane MacGowan, bless his soul, the Pogues released some essential albums, including "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" (1988) that are real gems of the European discography, not just of the decade. But they managed to reinvent themselves, incorporating not only folk but also some punk attitudes and a skilled use of ballads, sparingly included in their discography yet all of exquisite class.
I recommend to newcomers (like I was, or at least I was until a few years ago when I discovered that my beloved Davide Van De Sfroos had shamelessly borrowed from the Pogues) this anthology released in 2001, rich, complete, and packed (21 tracks). It starts with the very folky "Dirty Old Town", to the sarabande of "Fiesta", passing through classics like "A Pair of Brown Eyes", and what I believe is their masterpiece, "Fairytale of New York".
Listen all the way through, including the drumming, "The Body of an American" and the wonderful "A Rainy Night in Soho", which makes you feel as if you're right there in Soho, melancholic yet, inexplicably, happy. The risks of "Summer in Siam" or the danceable tempos of "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda". Plus other gems, among which I would like to mention the riff of "White City", simple on the surface, yet highly effective.
In short, a beautiful anthology that places the Pogues in their rightful place, which is Heaven. Or in a pub getting drunk, take your pick.
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