Life Is Good (Flogging Molly album)

Life Is Good is the sixth studio album by the Irish-American Celtic punk band Flogging Molly, released on June 2, 2017.[3] Their first studio album in six years (following 2011's Speed of Darkness), it is also their first album to feature drummer Mike Alonso, and their last album with banjo player Bob Schmidt.

Life Is Good
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 2, 2017
GenreCeltic punk, folk punk[1]
LabelVanguard, Spinefarm[2]
ProducerJoe Chiccarelli,[3] Ross Hogarth[4]
Flogging Molly chronology
Speed of Darkness
(2011)
Life Is Good
(2017)
Anthem
(2022)

Track listing edit

No.TitleLength
1."There's Nothing Left Pt. 1"2:24
2."The Hand of John L. Sullivan"4:01
3."Welcome to Adamstown"3:05
4."Reptiles (We Woke Up)"3:43
5."The Days We've Yet to Meet"3:42
6."Life Is Good"4:02
7."The Last Serenade (Sailors and Fishermen)"4:24
8."The Guns of Jericho"4:16
9."Crushed (Hostile Nations)"4:22
10."Hope"3:27
11."The Bride Wore Black"2:59
12."Until We Meet Again"3:55
Total length:44:20
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic61/100 [5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic      [1]
SputnikMusic           [2]
ClashMusic           [3]
Classic Rock Magazine           [4]
Kerrang!           [6]

Reception edit

Life is Good received a 61 out of 100 score on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". In their review, Allmusic commented that "The Hand of John L. Sullivan" is a blazing barn burner in the band's signature tradition, and "Crushed [Hostile Nations]" is a slow-building wartime tale with a massive chorus that harkens back to King's heavy metal past." Classic Rock Magazine also gave the album a mostly positive review and called "The Hand of John L. Sullivan" a highlight.

Personnel edit

Flogging Molly

  • Dave King – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhran, spoons
  • Bridget Reagan – fiddle, tin whistle, backing vocals
  • Dennis Casey – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Matt Hensley – accordion, backing vocals
  • Nathen Maxwell – bass, lead vocal on "The Days We've Yet to Meet", backing vocals
  • Bob Schmidt – banjo, mandolin, backing vocals
  • Mike Alonso – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Guests musicians

  • Keith Douglas and Brad Magers (Mariachi El Bronx) – trumpet on "Welcome to Adamstown" and "Life is Good"
  • Neillidh Mulligan – uilleann pipes on "Crushed (Hostile Nations)"

Charts edit

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[7] 33
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[8] 75
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[9] 50
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[10] 142
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] 40
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 27
US Billboard 200[13] 69
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[14] 8
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[15] 13

References edit

  1. ^ Fielder, Hugh (May 19, 2017). "Flogging Molly – Life Is Good album review". TeamRock. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  2. ^ "Flogging Molly – Life Is Good". Discogs. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Geslani, Michelle (May 18, 2017). "Flogging Molly believe in the future on new song "The Days We've Yet to Meet" — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  4. ^ "Review: Flogging Molly – Life Is Good". Sputnik Music. June 1, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  5. ^ "Life is Good by Flogging Molly". Metacritic. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  6. ^ Jun 2017 issue, pp.52
  7. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Flogging Molly – Life Is Good" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  8. ^ "Ultratop.be – Flogging Molly – Life Is Good" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  9. ^ "Flogging Molly Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  10. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Flogging Molly – Life Is Good" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Flogging Molly – Life Is Good" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  12. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Flogging Molly – Life Is Good". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  13. ^ "Flogging Molly Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  14. ^ "Flogging Molly Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  15. ^ "Flogging Molly Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2019.