Bilgemunkey Pirate Radio's Review:
4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Pirate Folk.
Rating: PG
Target Audience: Pirate music fans, particularly those who would enjoy traditional shanties with some extra "teeth"
Drink & the Devil, by There Be Pirates, is an album that begins absolutely perfectly. Storm-brewed winds are met with a steadily growing drum beat, and then a shanty-styled introductory male voice begins the opening lyrics to High Barbary. But then the song quickly launches into a charged mix of energized instrumentals and vocals. This is still High Barbary as you know it, but reenvisioned in such a way as to remain true to its roots, but fresh and virile.
High Barbary sets the stage for an album that’s comprised of familiar shanties and sea songs, but performed in such a way as to make them truly stand out from anything else out there. There are no losers in the bunch - this CD is a gem from stem to stern - but several songs do merit some additional attention. Banshee’s Whale is a touching fiddle scratching against an ocean surf accompaniment - a transitional track to be sure, but also perfectly atmospheric and a quality addition to the album. South Australia has a nice, almost whimsical feel about it as it combines a didgeridoo with the more traditional shanty instruments, while the harmonica utilized in All for me Grog lends an additional (and appropriate) hobo flavor to the song.
The Bonnie Ship the Diamond is as close to "rockin" as you can get without departing the traditional style entirely. This song starts strong and does’t wait for anyone, so try and keep up. The Derelict, on the other hand, is slow, somber, and in no hurry whatsoever. It’s truly the crown jewel of this album, being a 10 minute 44 second rendering of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, but done-so in a smokey lounge style. Dusky and gorgeous, with a mix of male and female vocals this is one of my favorite versions of this song.
I’ve not mentioned the albums other fine tracks, such as Haul Away Joe, Sugar in the Hold, Paddy Lay Back, New York Gals, and Fiddle Aire - each is fine, fine work, and easily worth a listen or two in themselves. The album then concludes with Banshee’s Whale (reprise), which is again a scratchy fiddle against an atmospheric background. It’s an appropriately gentle sendoff to an album that is certainly worthy of benchmark status in the Pirate-Core genre.
http://www.bilgemunky.com/2009/01/review-drink-the-devil/

"Sitting here listening to it at work and I love it. Makes me want to find a cutlass and help with the cost cutting and layoffs! This will definitely make my play list."

- Kendra, Pirate Master

Drink & the Devil review
by No Quarter Given pirate magazine

Do you love the old shanties, but are ready to hear a fresh take on them? Then set yer spyglass on "Drink & the Devil" by the jam band There Be Pirates. Each track from them is a new adventure as they vary their sound and style. These lads and lass are well steeped in the traditional shanties, Celtic music, and tavern songs, but they often don’t stick with the traditional renditions. They chew them up, and spit them back up again in forms new and delicious, full of rowdy energy and new life. They renovate shanties and old songs into blues, boozy jazz, gypsy music, belly dance beats, and even latin rhythms. Great pirate party music.

Rough & gruff as a tar of old, lead male vocalist Shanghai Brown comes by it honest (if a pirate can claim such) having spent time in the Pacific Northwest waters as a shantyman. Female cabaret vocalist Bosun Ellen adds new dimensions. They are backed up by a crew of scurvy musicians on a variety of traditional instruments, including rapid-fire fiddle from Francis Gaskin.

In their "slightly re-written" version of "High Barbary" of course the pirates win. Next, just try & sit still and not polka to "New York Gals".

With just the fiddle and "at sea" sound effects, "Banshee’s Whale Solo" is beautiful and haunting. Solo fiddle is featured again later in "Fiddle Aire", haunting and devilish, with the echoes of the waves beating on a cliff shore in some Celtic landscape.

"South Australia" is done in a conga style. It carries on for over seven hypnotic minutes, but if you are truly dancing in a conga line, that’s what you want. … plenty of time to haul everyone at the party into the line.

Paddy Lay Back is sung a capella, very traditional sounding. It's followed by the oh so sad & melancholy sounding "Leaving of Liverpool".

"All for me Grog" has a rinky-dink hodge-podge accompaniment (mostly harmonica and tinwhistle), sounding as if they are well into their tankards. The loud and raucous "The Bonnie Ship the Diamond" follows up. Next is the primitive beat of "Sugar in the Hold", starting out a capella, then adding just the body-rocking percussion, eventually with a didgeridoo droning in too.

For "Derelict" settle back and let yourself fall under the spell of the most unusual rendition of the "Yo ho ho and a Bottle of Rum" song I’ve heard. Imagine yourself in a smoky haze-filled tavern, reeking of fermentation. Performed in a boozy drunkenness, this is the gem of the album, almost 11 minutes long, with lots of dizzying fiddle rifts.

Slow and bluesy, in "Haul Away Joe" the crusty old sailor is accompanied by the creaking of the ship, the whistling wind, the lapping of the waves, and just the bass plucking out a droning harmony at first. Half way through other instruments join in one by one, still thin and light. It is very hypnotic, and lulling. Not recommended for driving to.

Many a time I’ve been on hand to watch as There Be Pirates got a tavern full of pirates to dance, sing, shout, & conga all night long. If you can catch them in person, by all means do so. Meanwhile, take 'em home or to yer next pirate party with their CD. With a total recording time of 69 minutes, you certainly get yer money’s worth of music.

To order: http://kunaki.com/msales.asp?PublisherId=116089
- Jamaica Rose