By CHRIS NIXON, JOHN SHORE

Audio: Flogging Molly "Drunken Lullabies" "Cruel Mistress" "Death Valley Queen" "Drunken Lullabies"

This seven-piece, Pogue-like collective out of Los Angeles is led by the rowdy and charismatic Dubliner David King. In only a few years (the band played its first gig on St. Patrick's Day in 1997) Flogging Molly has garnered for itself a quickly growing national reputation for its Celtic-influenced, high-spirited, soul-driven rock 'n' roll.

Throwing everything from mandolins to acoustic guitars to Irish penny whistles into its mix of angst-happy tunes, the band's second disc, "Swagger," was engineered by Steve Albini, whose impressive resume includes work with Nirvana, PJ Harvey, and the Pixies. Flogging Molly's 2002 release "Drunken Lullabies" is another testament to the band's skill and raw emotion.

last modified August 29, 2007

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