Dropkick drops another great album

By: Marian Gaviola

Posted: 10/2/07

10/02/07 - If you've seen The Departed or Fever Pitch, then you've heard of the Dropkick Murphys. Hailing from Boston, This Celtic punk band rose to fame after two of its songs, "Shipping up to Boston" and "Tessie" from its 2005 album, Warrior's Code, were chosen as part of the soundtracks of these two big films.

This year, Dropkick Murphys is sending out its sixth studio album for us to enjoy, The Meanest of Times. The band's trademark beat, and frantic, relentless tempo show up once again as it talks about the ups and downs of dealing with your family, your friends and your life.

The CD opens with the song "Famous for Nothing" which, for Dropkick Murphys fans, sounds a bit like "Captain Kelly's Kitchen" from Warrior's Code, because of its story-like lyrics, as it speaks of what it's like to be in Catholic school.

All of Dropkick Murphy's songs relate back to its roots. As bassist Ken Casey said, "We always wanted to be that band that didn't forget where it came from and we keep it in the forefront of our minds that we're all in it together."

This is evident from the songs that the band sings in The Meanest of Times.

For instance, in the song "Never Forget," Dropkick Murphys reminds us to cherish the family we have. It starts off with Scruffy Wallace on the bagpipes playing a mean intro that then leads to the lively beat of drums and guitars as only Dropkick Murphys can make.

With lead vocalist Al Barr singing lines like, "When you got love and you got family, keep 'em close and don't forget to hold them right there in your heart when you got love and family," it's hard to stop yourself from thinking about your own kin.

Dropkick Murphys talks about fallen friends in the second song of the album, "God Willing." With Barr singing, "They didn't make it," over and over again, you think that it'll be a really sad song, but when paired with the brisk rhythm, it sounds more like a song celebrating a reunion "on the other side".

The other songs in the CD include "Tomorrow's Industry," a fast-paced tune bashing on capitalism, which tells a story about how our lives have been degraded because of the money-hungry society that exists around us.

There's also "Loyal to No One" which, from the title itself, talks about a man who both refuses to help others and rejects the assistance that others offer to him. This is one of my favorite songs on the album mainly because Dropkick Murphys succeeds in mixing the great melody offered by Celtic tunes with the energetic beat and rhythm of punk rock. It's a great song to sing along and dance to.

The Meanest of Times includes revised editions of traditional Irish songs like "Fairmount Hill" and "Flannigan's Ball." "Fairmount Hill" is actually a slow song, but with the added nip of drums and guitars in the background. The anthem-like song is the epitome of the band's beliefs as it talks about a man's dreams about his home, Fairmount Hill, as he sleeps in California.

"Flannigan's Ball," another time-honored song, talks about a grand ole party while at the same time showcasing Wallace's talent on the bagpipes.

Dropkick Murphys ends the album with something different. I couldn't understand why the last song, "Jailbreak," sounded familiar until I realized that the Dropkicks had covered Thin Lizzy's version of the song.

The Dropkicks didn't close with its own bang, instead they used Lizzy's, but Dropkick Murphys The Meanest of Times is another great album produced by one of the best punk bands present in the country.