When The Pogues unleashed Rum, sodomy and the lash in August 1985, they completely rewrote the rulebook on what folk music could be. Their debut record had introduced their chaotic energy to the world, but this sophomore effort - brilliantly steered by producer Elvis Costello - was the moment everything truly crystallised. Instead of smoothing out their rough edges, the production captured a band finding its absolute footing, stepping straight out of the underground London pub scene and into musical history.

The entire record sounds like a beautiful, late-night barroom brawl that somehow manages to turn incredibly poetic. It fuses traditional Irish instrumentation like the accordion, banjo, and tin whistle with the blistering, uncompromising attitude of classic punk rock. The overall vibe is wonderfully sweaty, rowdy, and unapologetically alive, yet it is grounded by a deep, literate respect for history and storytelling. It completely avoids the trap of feeling like a gimmick, creating a uniquely gritty, timeless sound that is brimming with character.

The tracking list perfectly showcases this incredible balance between the raucous and the melancholic. You get the unstoppable, roaring energy of Sally MacLennane alongside their iconic, beautifully weathered cover of Dirty old town. But it is the stunningly reflective A pair of brown eyes that shows off Shane MacGowan's true genius as a songwriter. The record has an astonishing replay value because it shifts so effortlessly from celebratory pub anthems to deeply moving, heartbreaking poetry, making it a joy to dive back into.