Dropkick Murphys
The Meanest of Times
Born & Bred
The Boston band that has become synonymous with Celtic punk has put out its sixth release of Irish-tinted punk pub rock. This time though, after years on Hellcat/Epitaph the boys have broken out on their own with their very own label, Born & Bred Records.
So what does this disc have in store for long time fans, and those who’ve just recently stumbled upon the Dropkick Murphys name thanks to the band’s inclusion in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed? The same beer-in-hand, arms-around-your-neighbor’s-shoulders, scream-aloud anthems of life, redemption and pride in your heritage that has been at the core of every previous DKM release.
“God Willing,”“The State of Massachusetts” and “Surrender” will be the upcoming live anthems guaranteed to get the pints flowing. “Tomorrow’s Industry” and “Shattered” are the album’s catchiest punk songs that stand on their own without green ties. And no DKM release would be complete with the band’s take on a traditional Irish folk song, skip to “Fairmount Hill,” and “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya.” That last song may sound familiar as it perfectly matches up with the old American Civil War song “Johnny Comes Marching Home Again,” but the song actually began as an Irish anti-war/anti-recruitment song. Joan Baez used to play this song during the Vietnam years.
Dropkick Murphys: http://www.dropkickmurphys.com
