An unhealthy mixture of Garage-Rock-n-Roll and folk music with the urban lyrical sensibility of Punk. This Irish artist is as real as it gets. Songs of Love, excess and fantastic voyages.

15 MP3 Songs in this album (55:25) !
Related styles: FOLK: Urban Folk, ROCK: Garage Rock

People who are interested in Tom Waits Iggy Pop Nick Cave should consider this download.


Details:
Singer/songwriter Stefan Murphy made his name as frontman with Dublin, Ireland, pop-punk group the Subtonics, a group that made headlines more often than it made the charts, eventually disbanding in 2005. However, Murphy had jumped ship (an appropriate metaphor, as it goes) a year earlier to pursue a solo career under the moniker the Mighty Stef. Stef's music is far removed from that of his former band's, sharing the stripped-down, D.I.Y. ethos but little in the way of loud guitars or sugary-sweet melodies. The Mighty Stef takes inspiration from artists ranging from Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley to Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones, while styles including garage rock, gospel, sea shanties, and traditional Irish music -- the Pogues' Shane MacGowan is a particularly notable influence -- are more subtly represented.

Murphy began performing as a solo artist during the summer of 2002 while the Subtonics were on an enforced hiatus from performing live in order to write material for what was hoped to become the group's debut album. As the Subtonics produced a steady flow of reggae-infused power pop, Murphy found an outlet for his earthier compositions: proud, lyric-centered confessionals of the life of sin he'd led and wishful tales of the sins he'd like to commit. He began opening for fellow Dubliners Republic of Loose and the Things at gigs around the capital and in the north of Ireland, and it was one such trip to Belfast with the Things in early 2003 that graced Murphy with his future stage name. Until then, he'd been performing under his given name; however, a mixup in communications led a confused promoter to christen him the Mighty Stef -- and the name stuck. As Stef's reputation grew and the Subtonics lost momentum, recording a body of work but failing to release any of it, the singer broke from the group and became a full-time solo artist.

Stef issued his first single in late 2005, entitled "Prayer for the Broken Hearted," and made his first appearance at the South by Southwest Festival in Texas. He traveled to Montreal, Canada, in early 2006 to record his debut album, the low-budget and lo-fi The Sins of Sainte Catherine -- the Gallic history of the city possibly informing the Francophone choice of spelling. Released in September of 2006 in Ireland and November in the U.K., the album was followed by two successful tours of the U.S., one to coincide with the the South by Southwest Festival and the second as the support act to Flogging Molly.

Dave Donnelly, All Music Guide

What 'They' say about The Mighty Stef and his 2006 debut The Sins Of Sainte Catherine.

'Channelling the ghost of Johhny Cash Through the Devil-Boned-Blues Of Jack White, The Mighty Stef is Dublin's finest unsung hero' NME

At Times The Mighty One even flirts with genius. His bluesey Tom Waits endebted rock n roll is pretty much as elemental as it gets, Stefs resping voice rings out like a deep south death-row prisoner that isnt going down without a fight.NME'

One part country, One part Noise, The Mighty Stef lands somewhere in between Nick Cave and Tom Waits, a touch more on the upbeat side than either though' WWW.DROP-D.IE

'Whisper The Mighty Stef's name in certain quarters and you'll hear him proclaimed as something of a genius, a pivotal figure within Dublin's psycho rock scene, hes been threatening something special for some time, and praise be, The Sins Of Sainte Catherine is a fine representation of his considerable talent. 'HOTPRESS MAGAZINE

This charismatic Dublin troubadour's bolshy blend of garage, rock, blues and good ol' broken hearted drunken laments will put fire in your belly.THE STAR NEWSPAPER

There is a maturity to stefs songwriting that echoes Nick Cave, but he manages to maintain an individualistic streak that gets better as the album winds down. The Themes of his songs are more realistic than optimistic, there are sparse moments when hope filters through in the disguise of tender harmonies. Do yourself a favour and add this album to your collection.TOTALLY DUBLIN MAGAZINE

With the sleazy swagger and sauce of a whole crew of sailors, the Mighty Stef is actually just one man. UK MORNING STAR

youâd be hard pressed to find a band with a better collection of guitar riffs HOTPRESS MAGAZINE