By OLIVIA OLSON

Contributing Reporter

Just in time to ring in the festive Irish debauchery of the season, celtic punk band Flogging Molly released their latest album, “Float.” 

While the band delivers the usual ruckus and rowdiness that will most certainly be expected of them, “Float” is not all fun and drinking games. 

One of the most impressive things about the band, aside from their remarkable instrumental capabilities, is their ability to couple seemingly incompatible musical elements seamlessly and successfully. 

They adeptly combine electric and traditional Irish folk instruments, sometimes within the instrument itself. This is most evident in the case of lead singer Dave King’s vocals, which embody pure punk power in a marked Irish accent. 

At first listen, a song like “Us of Lesser Gods” can seem grand and triumphant, but the lyrics do not necessarily comply with this aesthetic, often favoring cynicism over optimism. 

This odd pairing is strangely satisfying, proving that thoughtful lyrics don’t always have to be set to dark music with a slow tempo, and an upbeat piece can be more poetic than trite.  

The title track is one of the slower tunes on the album, which works well as a bed for the list of aphoristic advice that constitutes the lyrics. 

The relatively reserved accompaniment and earnest vocals create an element of sincerity that benefits the song well. “Float” will silence any critics who list one of the band’s weaknesses as being incapable of anything other than unchecked boisterousness. 

With its lively sound and enthusiastic delivery, “Float” will inevitably fill you with spirited delight and render you defenseless against the desire to sing along, garnering strange looks while listening to it in the coffee shop or frightening other motorists while playing it in your car.