The Mary Wallopers Paddywhackery
Released Sep 18, 2026 Many Hats Distribution
Established consensus 5 professional reviews Updated Oct 1, 2026
Strong critical consensus
The Mary Wallopers's Paddywhackery arrives as a bracing, singalong manifesto where Irish tradition meets punk-fueled protest, and critics largely agree it lands with force.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
Crowns Of England
5 critic mentions
“By then, Brother Charles has already taken aim at old John Bull on lead single ‘Crowns Of England’, tearing the arse out of the butcher’s apron and pudgy Winston” — Hot Press
The Juice
3 critic mentions
“It’s a song that distils the essential Mary Wallopers ingredients: anti-establishment ire, pints and rebellion, all wrapped around a delicious melody.” — Hot Press
Seán na Sagart
3 critic mentions
“Seán na Sagart’ gallops across the tale of notorious 18th century priest hunter John Mullowney during the Penal era in the County Mayo.” — Hot Press
Full critic consensus
The Mary Wallopers's Paddywhackery arrives as a bracing, singalong manifesto where Irish tradition meets punk-fueled protest, and critics largely agree it lands with force. Across five professional reviews the record earned an 87/100 consensus score, praised for its rowdy musicianship, sharp political critique and live-ready immediacy that balances humor with righteous fury. If you search for a quick verdict on whether Paddywhackery is good, the critical consensus suggests yes: it’s a powerful, often joyful collection rooted in working-class grievance and national history.
Reviewers consistently flagged several standout tracks as the best songs on Paddywhackery. “The Juice” emerges repeatedly as a battle cry, “Crowns Of England” and “Seán na Sagart” as modern folk anthems, while “Landlord's Demise” and “The Big Mixer” supply pointed political storytelling and singalong hooks. Critics noted recurring themes: Irish identity and history, anti-establishment and class struggle, the modernization of folk, and a trad-and-rock fusion that foregrounds protest, emigration and workers rights. Across professional reviews, the band’s blend of pipes, guitars and urgent vocals makes songs feel both danceable and damning.
While praise is dominant, critics tempered acclaim with acknowledgement of the record’s bluntness; its direct political satire and high-energy delivery can feel unsubtle to those seeking nuance. Still, the consensus positions Paddywhackery as a standout entry in The Mary Wallopers' catalog—a spirited, topical set crafted for live performance and for listeners who prize storytelling, rebellion and modernized folk tradition. Read on for the full reviews and track-by-track breakdown.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Crowns Of England
The Juice
Seán na Sagart
Smuggling the Tin
Castlecoe Hill
The Big Mixer
Workers Song
Banks of the Roses
Landlord's Demise
KitKat Club
Mickey Dam
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 5 critics who reviewed this album
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Critic's Take
The Mary Wallopers arrive on Paddywhackery with a fierce, infectious energy that makes the best songs - “Crowns Of England” and “Seán na Sagart” - feel like modern folk anthems. Jake Mcfarlane writes in a muscular, conversational way, celebrating how “Crowns Of England” reads as a love letter to Ireland while sounding utterly classic, and how “Seán na Sagart” is an endlessly catchy, fast paced tune that reminds listeners of colonial cruelty. He also notes the adventurous modern touches on tracks like “KitKat Club” and “The Juice”, arguing that they push folk forward without selling out. The result is a triumphant, defiant record that stakes its claim as some of the best tracks on Paddywhackery for listeners seeking political bite and singalong hooks.
Key Points
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The best song is "Crowns Of England" because it perfectly encapsulates the album’s mix of classic folk sound and modern outsider narrative.
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The album’s core strengths are its political songwriting, revitalisation of folk tradition, and successful modernization of sound.
Themes
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Critic's Take
The Mary Wallopers sound rowdy and rooted on Paddywhackery, with the best tracks - “The Juice” and “Crowns Of England” - exemplifying the band’s blend of anti-establishment ire and singalong melody. Will Russell’s tone is admiring and sly, noting how “The Juice” distils the Wallopers’ ingredients: pints, rebellion and a delicious melody, while “Crowns Of England” rips the arse out of John Bull with glee. The review reads as affectionate, muscular and confident about which songs are the album’s standouts.
Key Points
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The best song, “The Juice”, crystallises the band’s anti-establishment ire, singalong melodies and pub-ready energy.
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The album’s core strengths are muscular folk instrumentation, historical storytelling and politically charged lyricism.
Themes
Critic's Take
The Mary Wallopers return with Paddywhackery, an album that channels Irish tradition into a punk-tinged roar, and the best tracks - especially “Landlord's Demise” and “Workers Song” - show the band at their most uncompromising. Aaron Badgley’s voice in the review revels in the record's fury and wit, celebrating how songs like “Banks of the Roses” can be both a tale and a bite. He praises the band’s growth and tight musicianship, calling the album brilliant and powerful while noting its rootsy, foot-tapping appeal. Overall, queries for the best songs on Paddywhackery should point listeners toward “Landlord's Demise” and “Workers Song” as the emotional and lyrical centerpieces.
Key Points
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The best song(s) are the ones with the most direct protest and lyrical power, notably "Landlord's Demise" as the emotional centerpiece.
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The album’s strength is fusing tight traditional musicianship with punk energy to create modern rebel songs.
Themes
Critic's Take
The Mary Wallopers deliver on Paddywhackery with brash, bold songs that make the best songs on Paddywhackery feel like singalong manifestos. The reviewer’s voice revels in the punk-folk immediacy of “Crowns Of England”, whose high tempo, crisp guitar riffs and proud pipes set the tone, and the catchy, topical stomp of “The Big Mixer” that links 1930s injustice to modern precarity. Slower, stripped-back moments like “Mickey Dam” and the measured ire of “Landlord's Demise” balance the record, making the best tracks on Paddywhackery as political as they are infectiously tuneful. The result reads like music built to be heard live, energetic, often funny and frequently righteous.
Key Points
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“Crowns Of England” is the album’s opening highlight, setting tempo, tone and storytelling that carries the record.
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The album’s core strengths are its fusion of punk energy with Irish folk tradition and politically charged, singalong songwriting.
Themes
Critic's Take
The Mary Wallopers’ third album, Paddywhackery, feels like a righteous, raucous manifesto where trad and punk collide, and the best songs on Paddywhackery prove it. Andrew Hendy’s declaration in “The Juice” arrives as a literal battle cry, while the galvanizing chorus of “The Big Mixer” and the spare, pointed “Landlord's Demise” stake the album’s political ground with wit and bite. The record keeps things brisk and no-nonsense, balancing humor and fury so that the best tracks land as both danceable and damning. In short, if you want the best tracks on Paddywhackery, start with “The Juice”, then move to “The Big Mixer” and “Landlord's Demise” for the album’s clearest statements.
Key Points
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“The Juice” is the best song because it issues a manifesto and demonstrates trad jigs and reels can 'rip'.
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Paddywhackery’s core strength is merging Irish trad with rock and punk to make urgent, politically charged, and danceable protest songs.