Album Review: Whipping Boy (self-titled)

One of Dublin’s great lost bands, Whipping Boy released their masterpiece Heartworm in 1995. When this album failed to make a breakthrough they recorded a follow-up which was finally released as this self-titled album in 2000, at which point this incarnation of the band was as good as over.

Undoubtedly none of these songs have the visceral impact of anything on Heartworm. The mood is different, more reflective right from opener So Much For Love. “All she wants is to be remembered,” croons Feargal McKee over Paul Page’s almost jangling guitar. The brooding Bad Books continues in a similar vein though McKee doesn’t quite manage the misogyny of Heartworm.

Pat the Almighty has a coruscating chorus like the stompers of their heyday, while later Ghost of Elvis recaptures the mood of Tripped (again from Heartworm) with added piano touches. The album is patchier than their previous work, That Was Then, This Is Now has little more character than its title while some of the slower tracks like Fly and Who Am I drift along without making a huge impression. More successful of these is One To Call My Own which recaptures the downbeat longing of The Honeymoon Is Over.

Unfortunately this album appears to be no longer available. This is a crying shame as while it’s by no means perfect the better songs here deserve to be heard. Some of the original members of the band have regrouped and are currently touring.