Album Mini-review: Pugwash — Play This Intimately (As If Among Friends)
This may just be the effort that pays off for guitarist-singer-songwriter Thomas Walsh and his bandmates. The Dublin-based band has released six albums, including three – count ’em: three – best-ofs on three different labels. Though critically acclaimed, Pugwash haven’t gained traction in the American marketplace. Until now, that is. Play This Intimately is their first album of new material to get a proper stateside release, and it’s filled to the brim with Pugwash’s brand of preternaturally melodic, catchy pop-rock. The group is often compared to XTC (they were on Andy Partridge‘s Ape label for awhile, and Partridge guests on the new album) and ELO (Jeff Lynne makes a fleeting appearance as well), but Pugwash truly have a style of their own. “Kicking and Screaming” boasts one of Walsh’s strongest melodies, and that’s saying something. Play This Intimately is a winning balance of power and subtlety, of brashness and nuance.
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About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.