Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Oi! / street punk1977

Second genre

Celtic punk1985

Head to headOi! / street punk vs Celtic punk
Oi! / street punk: heaviness 4, melody 7, speed 7. Celtic punk: heaviness 4, melody 9, speed 7.Heaviness4 / 4Melody7 / 9Speed7 / 7
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Celtic punk uses the same singalong chorus with folk instruments, and much of its audience overlaps.

Both are shouted and move at much the same pace, around 140 to 190 bpm. To hear the difference, play Cock Sparrer next to The Pogues. Both grew out of punk rock, Oi! / street punk first and Celtic punk eight years after.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Oi! / street punk4
Celtic punk4
level
Speed
Oi! / street punk7
Celtic punk7
level
Melody
Oi! / street punk7
Celtic punk9
+2

Oi! / street punk

1977 · United Kingdom

Where it sits

Rock › Punk rock › Oi! / street punk

In short

Working-class punk with terrace choruses and lyrics about the pub, the factory and football.

How it sounds

  • Simple choruses built to be shouted by a full room.
  • Thick guitar tone but rock and roll riffs rather than hardcore ones.
  • Mid tempos, plain drumming and lyrics about everyday life.

Key acts

  • Cock Sparrer
  • Sham 69
  • The Business

Start here

The pickCock Sparrer - Shock Troops. Slade-level choruses with punk guitars.

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Celtic punk

1985 · London / Boston

Where it sits

Rock › Punk rock › Celtic punk

In short

Tin whistle, mandolin and accordion over distorted guitar. Irish pub songs turned up to eleven.

How it sounds

  • Mandolin, banjo, accordion, tin whistle and fiddle beside electric guitar.
  • Jig and reel rhythms accelerated to punk tempo.
  • Choruses for singing in unison, pint in hand - amplified pub music.

Key acts

  • The Pogues
  • Dropkick Murphys
  • Flogging Molly

Start here

The pickThe Pogues - Rum Sodomy & the Lash. Produced by Elvis Costello, and it shows.

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