The Snake (1995) On his solo debut, Shane MacGowan — the ex-Pogue — combines his patented faux-traditional Irish reels with some healthy blasts of guitar grunge. The highlight… Shane MacGowan & the Popes Rock
EW's GRADE
A-

Details Release Date: Jun 27, 1995; Lead Performance: Shane MacGowan & the Popes; Genre: Rock

On his solo debut, Shane MacGowan — the ex-Pogue — combines his patented faux-traditional Irish reels with some healthy blasts of guitar grunge. The highlight on The Snake is ''A Mexican Funeral in Paris,'' which sounds like Tom Waits and Van Morrison jamming at a séance with the Memphis Horns. A spiked stew of Celtic-flavored rock that goes down easy. A-

Originally posted Jun 30, 1995 Published in issue #281-282 Jun 30, 1995 Order article reprints