After accomplishing even more with the release of their sophomore disc, The Gang's All Here, than they did with their debut, the Dropkick Murphys once again build on that disc with Sing Loud, Sing Proud, a positively fabulous punk/oi/Celtic album that brings more to the table in the first half than most punk bands bring in an entire career.

The band has gone through a bunch of personnel changes in the two years since their last album. Longtime guitarist Rick Barton is no longer with the group. Rather than getting one guitarist to replace him, the Murphys hired two. Seventeen year old Mark Orrell is the main man here, playing most of the leads with confidence. Meanwhile, James Lynch capably fills in as the second guitarist, providing deft rhythm guitar work that helps to make the Murphys sound a lot more "full" on this record than on their previous efforts. Also joining the band was Ryan Foltz, who plays multiple instruments, mostly being the classic Celtic type. And lastly there is bagpipe player Spicy McHaggis, giving the Murphys the permanent bagpipe player they've so badly needed.

With all these added musicians, and the departure of Barton, one could logically expect a letdown from this band. But they rise above all the changes and have made what is the best album so far of their short career.

Starting off with a "Let's go Murphys" Boston Garden style chant, you are immediately thrown into the marching, roaring style that is the opening song, entitled For Boston. The bagpipes being right in the front is not such a surprise as much as the fact that they return throughout the album and are in the foreground a lot of the time, a true change from the previous two records.

The first single, The Gauntlet, has been receiving steady airplay here in Boston, and it has helped the Murphys fortunes greatly. The band was originally scheduled to play a show here on St. Patrick's Day, but last week, after the nighttime show sold out, they announced a special matinee show. The Gauntlet is the perfect radio song from this album, probably the most pop-punk thing my ears have ever heard the Murphys do, yet it works because of the sheer confidence that the song exudes, both in the sweet guitar interplay and the screaming, scorching chorus.

The Celtic influence is much more of a part of this record than the last one was, and obviously, the added band members have a part in that. However, it's not just classic Celtic music, it's bands like the Pogues whose influence is obvious here. So obvious that former Pogues lead singer Shane McGowan even takes a guest turn on vocals.

I was very much surprised to see the old song Caps and Bottles appearing here, re-recorded but with the same classic Bruins game intro. The song just doesn't sound urgent at all, it sounds like crappy filler to be honest. It's probably the only real low point of the album, although, to a new Murphys fan, it probably won't sound bad at all.

Despite all the personnel changes of the last 2 records, the Dropkick Murphys have positioned themselves to be the most influential punk band in years, with their rich full punk sound augmented by classic Celtic instruments and melodies. They have a true sense of tradition and honor, even 17 yr old guitarist Orrell exudes honor when onstage. It is thanks to this that Sing Loud, Sing Proud is the first "must have" record of 2001.





Recommended: Yes