The Tossers

Agony

[3.5/5] With mandolin and banjo propelling their hooks and a full-time tin whistle player on the payroll, the Tossers exemplify Irish instrumental authenticity. The Chicago-based septet’s emotive arsenal is just as genuine as their instrumental one; impenetrable brogue notwithstanding, singer Tony Duggins communicates feelings with acute precision. During the raw blues number “Not Alone,” he mumbles melodically, backed only by thudding percussion and sparse hints of strings. It’s as if he were singing for his sanity in a prison cell, drumming his hands against the wall. While their song structures are relatively traditional, the Tossers flash punk attitude during rants such as “Political Scum.” They also demonstrate the folk roots of hardcore standbys, from the group shout-along (they tout alcohol as passionately as early straight-edgers railed against it) to the cathartic outbursts-especially effective because of the massive gap between the muted verses and the boisterous jig-time choruses. (VICTORY) Andrew Miller