Mark Radcliffe tells us that the competition for The Pogues best album is between If I Should Fall From Grace With God and Rum Sodomy & the Lash.
On careful and repeated listening, I have to prefer Rum Sodomy & the Lash. To me the songs seem more raw, the music more passionate and wonderfully ragged round the edges. The two opening songs are superb, and contrast brilliantly. The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn smashes in, and The Old Main Drag sucks you down. Brilliant stuff.
The prize for best song though has to go to Fairytale of New York, with Kirsty MacColl, which is a great mix of the maudlin and a drinking party. One song it’s worth looking forward to Christmas for.