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Purveyors of that sweet sweet black gold, Guinness is putting the full court press to make St. Patty’s Day an official holiday of sorts on these shores. The Irish brewery, synonymous with the holiday and your drunk uncle Seamus, has launched Proposition 3-17.

Growing up in Boston, we always got St. Patty’s Day off anyway, though the holiday was actually Evacuation Day, so this makes sense in our eyes. Guinness needs 1 million signatures to bring this to Congress, though you wonder if that is actually their plan or if this is just a clever way to drum up free publicity for their beer.

“Guinness and Proposition 3-17 believe that regulated, official holiday would not only reduce the amount of employees missing work in order to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but allow people to officially express their Irishness,” the company says.

And I say why not? It’s already just south of 885,000 signatures.

So what does this have to do with the new Flogging Molly album Float? Absolutely nothing, except they are the best Irish punk rock band going. Their fourth studio album was recorded entirely in Ireland and came out in stores last Tuesday, March 4. It’s a tight set of 11 songs, but mostly what you’d expect from a band that combines the fury and brashness of The Clash with the sounds of traditional Irish folk music.

Still, the album is a strong one. I wish Bridget Regan’s fiddle work was toned down a bit more in favor of the banjo, accordian and tin whistle but that is a minor complaint. Frontman Dave King channels the fierce independence of his homeland, as this is certainly the most politically minded album in their ouevre. But it’s a politics of rugged individualism, the kind that won Ireland its independence. He begs of us “hey now stay proud” and the album is imbued with the sense of not floating in an ethereal sense, but off keeping our heads above the water and surviving long enough.

The album doesn’t tread new territory for the band, in fact compared to their third album A Mile From Home, this one seems like a sonic regression, however, it’s emotionally more direct and punches harder to the gut than their previous efforts. Highly recommended for fans or Irish music or those looking for something vastly different than the cornucopia or indie rock that is out there.

Myspace: Flogging Molly
Mp3: “Us or Lesser Gods”
Mp3: “You Won’t Make a Fool Out of Me”
Video: “Paddy’s Lament”
Video: “Requiem for a Dying Song”
Also: King talks about his move back to Ireland in this interview.

Float is out now via Side One Dummy Records. (Which means you should buy it cuz St. Patty’s Day is approaching fast)

Yes, it’s that time of year for all the amateur drinkers to come out of the wood work for their national holiday. The McPatty Pubs will be opening up at 8 a.m. (at least in Boston) and plenty of revellry will take place. So what’s a faux-Irishman to do on this day?

In Boston, they’ll be no short of activities, but the weather doesn’t look like it’s going to cooperate. We’ve got snow, snow, snow and more snow on the forecast for the weekend. It’s too bad, because when the weather cooperates and St. Patty’s falls on Saturday it can be absolutely mayhem here.

The annual Parade in Southie kicks off at 1 p.m. They’ll be plenty of house parties in Southie to crash. Or maybe you’ll be holing up in an Irish Pub? Not us. We’re protesting the closing of the Tir Na Nog in Somerville, arguably the finest Irish Pub not in Dublin. We know it hasn’t closed yet, but still.

In the fine tradition of that Irish craic we offer up a debate as to who’s the best Irish musician or band? Take your pick from Flogging Molly, The Dropkick Murphy’s, Van Morrison or the Pogues. Maybe you rock out to Thin Lizzy, The Cranberries, Sinead O’Connor, The Frames, or The Corrs? Anyone have any other suggestions? We’re going with the self-destructive Shane McGowan and his band The Pogues. They’re certainly one of those bands I wish I could have seen in a seedy Dublin bar back in the day. I’m sure there was nothing that could compare to their drunken energy.

U2 doesn’t count. Not since Bono started making everyone feel guilty about not helping to make the world a better place. Fuck him.

Maybe you’ll want to check out Ken Loach’s The Wind That Shakes the Barley. Or rent any of the early work from director Jim Sheridan, before he sold out and did that 50 Cent movie.

If you’re looking for a stout to drink not named Guinness, may we suggest Murphy’s, Offshore’s Imperial Stout, or Young’s Oatmeal or Double Chocolate Stout. All are excuisite stouts.

Mp3: Dropkick Murphy’s - Finnegan’s Wake

Mp3: Floggy Molly - Salty Dog

Mp3: Van Morrison - Moonshine Whiskey

Mp3: The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God