I'm being completely honest here, I don't know why so many of you guys like Alestorm. It's like they go through a cliche book of the all the most trite pirate phrases and just string them together indiscriminately to make lyrics. Maybe I could forgive that, but they their playing is pretty bland too. They're just kind of... boring.
I mean, I know pirate stuff is supposed to be cheesy, but a number of other bands have shown you can do way better with pirate stuff, or pseudo-shanties including The Decemberists, Great Big Sea, The Dropkick Murphies, Captain Bogg & Salty, and for my money Flogging Molly.
I mean, I know most of the guys I listed aren't PURE "Pirate Rock", but that's like complaining Led Zeppelin isn't enough like Manowar.
Of course, I do like stuff like Manowar and The Upper Crust for their cheese value... so maybe it's like that? Gimmick comedy?