Artist: Dropkick Murphys
Album: Going Out In Style
Label: Born & Bred
Release Date: March 01, 2011
Score: 3.5/5
Boston Celtic-punk/hardcore outfit come back in full force with their seventh studio album, Going Out in Style. If you've never heard the name, you probably know the song “I'm Shipping Up to Boston” from Scorsese's 2006 blockbuster The Departed. You know, that one Irish sounding song you hear in the background when something exciting is going on.
It's easy to dismiss Dropkick Murphy's as just background music for swigging pints of green beer at that St. Patrick's day party--because unfortunately (at least in my experience) they've been labeled as such by passive listeners who only really know them by the above-mentioned song. But long time fans can recognize them as one of the few bands out there who echo the working-class pride that kindled punk music in the first place.
For long-time fans of the band, their latest effort is more of the familiar Celtic-tinged punk/hardcore music you've grown to love. Which may or may not be a bad thing—for me at least, it's Dropkick Murphys doing what they do best. Sure, some songs will make you want to grab a Guinness and fight someone, but the album also deals with issues of the immigrant experience, love, family, and values.
“Hang 'Em High” opens the album on an energetic start. A soft drum beat builds up into a barrage of vocals complemented by bagpipes, banjo, mandolin, and whistle. This track shows off one of the albums biggest attractions—the sheer variety of instruments. The raucous guitar work and gang vocals are complimented nicely by the other instruments: accordion, banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, whistles, and bagpipes all make a presence at some point or another (or all at the same time). Producer Ted Hutt (Gaslight Anthem, Fake Problems) does a slick job of making each instrument stand out without being convoluted. The momentum continues with the title track “Going Out in Style” which features more shared vocal duties than you can count (including Fat Mike from NOFX).
One interesting thing about this album is that it's somewhat conceptual. The liner notes explain that the album is inspired by Cornelius Larken, a character from a Michael Patrick MacDonald novel. His story lends the album a cohesive unity, as every few tracks we get a little glimpse of his trials and tribulations. “The Hardest Mile” describes his immigrant experience heading for a life in the land of the free/sending every penny home to the family, and features a shredding accordion solo (I guess that term crosses over, right?). The story continues in the ballad “Cruel,” telling the challenges of making a living in a new land. By the end however, I couldn't help but feel like there should have been more songs about this Cornelius fellow, as the four or five songs that relate his story only offer a small window into his tale.
Compared to previous releases like Blackout and Warrior's Code, there's a lot more slow songs, making it more of an extension of 2007's The Meanest of Times. Love ballad “1953” has quickly become one of my favorite Murphy's songs of all time. The bagpipe complements the slow strum of the guitar perfectly, telling about Cornelius' first encounter with his future wife.
One complaint I have with this album is that some of the lyrics seem trite and uninspired. Like in “Memorial Day” when Al Barr sings come join the fight/so we can change the way we're living/what's left inside?/if you believe/believe you'll never give in. Or in “Take 'Em Down” when he sings when the boss comes calling he'll put us down/when the boss comes calling you gotta stand your ground/when the boss comes calling don't believe their lies. The songs follow the DKM working class plight about sticking it to the man and union empowerment, but are too literal and straightforward compared to previous songs that dealt with the same theme (ie “Which Side Are You On?). I know they can do better.
This album is a step forward from 2007's The Meanest of Times, which suffered from an inconsistent song order where the first half was rocking and the second dragged the album down. But here punk rock barn burners keep the energy high while the slower, folksy felt songs give you time to catch your breath. For long-time fans, you'll appreciate this for everything that makes the Dropkick Murphy great. Gang-vocals? Check. Bagpipe? Check. Jig about partying and drinking whiskey? Check. They're not breaking any new ground here, but deliver more of the Celtic punk sound you've grown to love. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that The Boss himself makes an appearance in “Peg O' My Heart” to sing a few bars.
Final score: 3.5/5
