Album Review: All For Jolly – All For Jolly (Self Released)

All for Jolly are rising rapidly and are stocked up with their highly impressive sophomore self-titled album, which is out on April 4th, 2025. The unstoppable five-piece have amassed a strong following for their compelling sound that blends foot-stomping folk with a hooky punk vibe.

Combining folk with punk, then adding in plenty of melody, rock, and passion, the concoction that is All for Jolly certainly makes an impression. They might have been around since 2019 and with an album out there already, but there’s a strong sense that is record, and this moment in time, is when heads really start turning in their direction.

Beginning with a statement of who they are, literally, with the lyrics of the Intro being “all for jolly, jolly for all’”, All for Jolly use this moment to showcase all aspects of the band. In 81-seconds they show range, but it is just an intro, and with On We Row the excitable and varied folk punkiness of this band is on entertaining display. A hearty body shaker through and through. Though you’d be hard pressed to find many tracks on this album that don’t fit that description in some way or another.

Case in point, New Era (chorusy), Spanish Galleon (sweary), Pass the Mead (piratey), and Set Sail Tonight (catchy), are anthems for all fans of boisterous singalongs. All for Jolly ooze passion and a clear understanding of the ‘live’ side of music like this.

However, often the album is at its best when melody dominates and tracks like Rolling with the Punches, Sword & Crown, Oh My, and get Rid of the Shit, prove that.

Or, in the case Lost My Gourd and End of the Show, a bit of both. A pair of tracks well worth singling out because, with the former, it’s about the power behind the guitars. Whereas, with the latter, it’s all about an ‘end of the night’ singalong that features Mad Dog Mcrea. All good fun too.

Especially as the varied instruments really enhance the sense of folk-rock heart and soul. Instruments like a mandolin, ukulele, and harmonica, as well as different voices doing vocals. All for Jolly have a lot of talent in their ranks and do an impeccable job of holding the listener’s attention right up to the end, where an acoustic bonus track called, I Just Ate Shit, puts a smile on the face, and a super-short SHIPS! ends things in nonsensical punk style.

A very cool end to a very cool album. All for Jolly have delivered a very strong release that showcases their own identity in a genre where standing out isn’t easy at all. They manage it, and this is an album well worth hearing.

All for Jolly – All for Jolly Track Listing:

1. All For Jolly (Intro)
2. On We Row
3. New Era
4. Rolling with the Punches
5. Sword & Crown
6. Spanish Galleon
7. Oh My
8. Lost my Gourd
9. Pass the Mead
10. Set Sail Tonight
11. End of the Show (ft. Mad Dog Mcrea)
12. Get Rid of the Shit
13. I Just Ate Shit (Acoustic – Bonus Track)
14. SHIPS!

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