ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The fifth album released by O'Malley's March lacks original songs from the Baltimore Celtic folk-rock band's singer-guitarist-frontman because he's too busy being governor and all.
Gov. Martin O'Malley has contributed original songs to each of the band's previous releases, but "Galway Races" is a mix of traditional Irish songs and covers, the Associated Press reported. Nope, no tear-in-your-beer tunes about the state budget. No murder ballads about the death penalty. Not even an angsty rocker about slots or the foreclosure rate.
Instead, O'Malley takes a stab at some of his favs, including songs by Steve Earle, the Saw Doctors and Green Day. Governor gone lovelorn high school punk? Nah, not that Green Day. Sappy, adult contemporary, "Seinfeld" farewell-wishing Green Day -- "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)."
"For some people, that may make for a better listen," the Democrat joked in a recent interview with Rolling Sto... er... The Washington Post.
O'Malley spent more than two years recording the album at his drummer's Baltimore home in part as an excuse to hang with the fellas.
"It's something we do because we enjoy doing it," he said. "The band hasn't been playing all that much since the campaign and the election."
A thousand copies of the album were released at performances scheduled before St. Pat's. If it goes platinum, maybe O'Malley can use some of the proceeds to balance the budget or save the Preakness.
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"I'm enthusiastic about it because I have the previous CD and enjoyed it immensely," Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said. "I lent it to my daughter and haven't gotten it back yet."
Gubernatorial groupie material?
