Two Devils Will Talk
The Real McKenzies · 2017
36 min · 14 tracks · punk rock
Folk-punk anthems collide with raucous energy, weaving tales of seafaring and resilience into vibrant, sing-along choruses.
Top tracks — play these first
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Northwest Passage — This track captures the essence of maritime adventure with its stirring melodies and poignant lyrics reflecting on exploration and longing.
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Drunkards Lament — With its catchy hooks and humorous take on drinking culture, this song stands out as a quintessential party anthem that embodies the band's spirit.
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Scots Wha Ha’e — A powerful rendition of a traditional Scottish anthem, this track showcases the band’s roots while connecting history with contemporary energy.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends folk-punk elements with energetic anthems, creating a lively but somewhat uneven listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a fast tempo, maintaining this pace through the first half before introducing slower ballads.
- Several tracks feature call-and-response vocals, encouraging listener participation and enhancing the sing-along quality.
- The instrumentation prominently includes traditional folk elements like bagpipes and fiddles, interwoven with electric guitars and punk rhythms.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- high-energy sing-along moments
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- celebratory anthems with friends
- spirited storytelling and camaraderie
Maybe skip if you
- slow-paced reflective listening
- long-form immersive experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in early 2017, Two Devils Will Talk is the seventh studio album by The Real McKenzies. This album follows their 2015 release, Rats in the Burlap, marking a continued evolution in their sound while solidifying their place in the folk punk genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dropkick Murphys· Flogging Molly· The Pogues
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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One Man Voyage
The narrative shifts from collective experiences to an introspective journey about solitude at sea.
This transition emphasizes individual reflection amidst shared histories, deepening the emotional weight of the song.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Due West 2:38
- 2 Weyburn 2:13
- 3 One Day 2:43
- 4 Seafarers 2:56
- 5 Northwest Passage 3:59
- 6 Float 2:22
- 7 One Man Voyage 2:21
- 8 Sail Again 2:26
- 9 The Town 2:31
- 10 Pedals 2:30
- 11 Drunkards Lament 2:28
- 12 Fuck the Real McKenzies 1:46
- 13 The Comeback 2:26
- 14 Scots Wha Ha’e 2:56
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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