I'm the only one in the neighbourhood who appreciates this album - bully for me, being that I walked out of the local music shop with the Dropkick Murphys' Sing Loud, Sing Proud! album - first released in Feb 2000 - for under $6 (the average price for music is about $16 per CD - and, yes, I do realise paying those prices are criminal)!!! I almost ran to the till as soon as I snatched this up from the bargain bin a few weeks ago! Of all places DMK would be placed among the one-hit wonders and Mouldy Oldies (ie., stuff that not even your grandparents would dare listen to - and you know they listened to some strange stuff) - but, one's bargain bin is another one's boon!

This is their 4th full-length album (but on their official site, they have 17 recordings listed), with a wild punk sound that shows its roots in Boston and the Irish heritage each band member sports. This album sounds a lot more polished than their early offerings (try The Singles Collection released in the States last year, or The Early Years released in the UK in '98 - they are one and the same album), but hardly mellow - so don't get your knickers in a twist.

This could, arguably, be their best album to date.

With a crowd chanting and clapping "Let's go Murphys! Let's go Murphys!" over and over, For Boston begins, with Spicy McHaggis (you heard what I said...) and his bagpipes starting the tune (you can just barely hear the guitars in the background). Not even a minute goes by before the rest of the band explodes into song, like a bunch of drunk frat boys into a college bar. The tempo is incredible and the song clearly touts the band's love for their hometown of Boston. It's a song for getting rowdy to, with the bagpipes even challenging the guitars for dominance. That Spicy...the kid's got lungs.... (Or is that lips? I never can remember what makes a great bagpiper....) Oh, just so I don't leave anyone out - Joe Delaney also uses his nice lips and/or lungs with the additional bagpipes on this song.

I don't exactly understand how this works as a punk song - but it does! The Legend of Finn MacCumhail tells of the mighty soldier, Finn MacCumhail, and what he told his troops on the eve of war: "May your heart grow bolder like an iron-clad brigade." I could also see these lyrics sung to a more traditional Irish sound, which makes this song that much more interesting. The Dropkick Murphys aren't just punks - but good story-tellers. It's a simple, straight-forward song that's carried by it's brash and frenetic tune repeated for two minutes. It has that beat that makes you involuntarily move parts of your body that resembles something like dancing, I think....

The working class song, Which Side Are You On? starts off rather sedate - you can even hear the
mandolin in the background - that push/pull effect with solid guitar strumming and then you are figuratively slammed into the wall with fierce guitars and beats, and lyrics demanding to know which side are you on? Are you a blue-collar worker, the everyman? Or are you the money-grubbing boss? This definitely brings up memories of protest/union songs of Ireland - who are you fighting for and what kind of person are you? You can't escape the hand-thumping-on-your-chest feeling this manic tune delivers!

The tin whistle intro is misleading, but DKM doesn't give you time to doubt as you are suddenly assaulted by those infamous guitars, with Al Barr and Ken Casey screaming in your face - ala punk. Although, this madness has another good story to tell - a young man's long journey on The Rocky Road To Dublin from Connaught. This is where DKM further shows their ability to tell stories, show off their Irish roots and the gift of the gab, and without losing the energy nor the power of the music, itself. The chorus tones down a few notches, with those guitars bringing the tempo and power back up to loud and in-your-face.

The beat on Heroes From Our Past is driving, with some really great guitar - more of the fast and furious. Here, Spicy McHaggis plays some mellow - yes, mellow - bagpipes, more of a rounding-out sound, than a part of the main melody, making the song sound a bit fuller with its layers of sounds. This is another Irish fight song, rallying for the men to stand up and fight tyranny. This is the second longest song on the album - which is saying a lot being this is only 3.31 minutes! With thrashy guitars and the guys wailing the choruses, you will be compelled to move your body - maybe even scream out the choruses with the boys!

Forever almost sounds....well, sad, if you could imagine it. With a bit of a swing and a much more mellow beat, this sounds...like pop, almost! Hard pop, but it still has that feeling (forgive me, DKM fans of the world). In fact, from the lyrics and the little image of a tombstone, this might even be a funeral dirge. Yes, I realise that was odd of me to say - but being this is the only song that has incredibly slowed down the album, and it's so incredibly heart-breaking!

Phew! Back to the hard stuff - but not too hard. I believe The Gauntlet was one of the radio-friendly songs, although I've never heard it on any of the radio stations here, unfortunately. Simple lyrics, again, here - fighting and standing up for yourself (and getting knocked on your tushy) are the main theme in this song. Good thrashy tune, but personally, I don't find anything particularly new and inventive in this.

Good Rats is the song you learn word for word, the timing, everything so when you go to a DKM
concert, you can scream along because it's bloody funny! It's a great drinking song, the tune is very catchy and involves drunken rats. Now, now - stop squirming, this is funny, I tell you...although you may never look at a pint of Guinness in the same way ever again. Again, we have the pop-esque guitar, but the lyrics are belted out with rowdy good fun and joviality. (I think I love that word.)

More social consciousness has seeped into The New American Way - the fear of losing what one has worked for under this indifference now present. Sounds pretty heavy, but not to fear! DKM's wild beat doesn't allow this song to sink into melodramatic drivel. A good portion of this song is screamed - literally, screamed - save the chorus, with loud and overbearing electric guitars. It's another one of those songs to go insane to.

DKM just couldn't leave it be, but had to pass The Torch. Another mellow, and albeit sad song that just gives me memories of when folks are just too drunk and start talking about sob stories and how they love and regret and all sorts of crazy subjects. This isn't a mere guitar-thrashing, but a complex melody and some serious feeling with the sung lyrics. The DKM are singing to their fathers, their grandfathers, their ancestors who have given them their history - good and plenty of bad - and their attitudes on life. There is a lot of pain in this song and I can't think too hard or dwell on this tune for too long before I get swept up in it.

With an American patriotic lead-in, The Fortunes of War - which is dedicated to the memory of Brian Deneke** and, for those of you who don't know who that is, he was murdered in '97 by another kid - all for being a punk (as in punk music). Being a very hard and punchy song, DKM is talking directly to the kid who did the deed...and got off scott-free (he has 10 years probation, but since 28-Jun-01, there's news he could get his probation revoked because of he violated conditions his probation). Thankfully, the tempo is racing and they, again, howl the lyrics or else I'd scream.

Okay...enough drunken sadness. Sobering up a little bit in the festivities - but only enough to fill everyone's glass back up for A Few Good Men, a great drinking song, and definitely another one to learn in order to properly "...sing it loud, sing it proud!" It's the good stuff - high-energy and emotionally uplifting that calls upon all to rise up and sing, be one in cause and heart. This feels a bit more Irish than Irish punk, but if you've gotten this far into the album, you will certainly enjoy the upbeat, fight-song and general feel of good times.

Ramble and Roll is loud, feverish pitch and the lyrics are screamed - yes, I mean screamed for most of the song. It has simple lyrics - like most of the songs on this album, and most punk songs in general - but talks about life and just living. This is incredibly hard and punchy - and I can't play this song too loud on my player or else I'd be afraid of the explosion! It's a great song for when you're excited and juiced up - i.e., a party! Go figure. Although, the last stanza throws you for a loop since it's done low-key, but no worries - before you know it, they're screaming that chorus, again....

The beginning of Caps and Bottles reminds me of those oldies songs - but as done by pouty-lipped guys
with greased back hair and the leather jackets and "tough guy" attitudes, singing of not getting a fair shake at life. As expected, it doesn't take long before the wild guitars and the boys get all riled up, again, about life. Even though there are regrets, this is hardly a sad, mopy song - which is always a plus. I'm tired of all those songs whining about life, besides. (there is only so much grunge I can handle before losing my mind)

The Wild Rover is another swing-song - you can feel the alcohol in your blood with this one, folks. The boys are are slurring, drinking and making promises of being a wild rover no, never, no more! With a slower and easy tempo, there is a lot of background noise in this song - but on purpose. It sounds like they're in an ale-house with bottles clicking and the general noise of a crowd having a good time and quite drunk. Fun stuff. Electric guitar plays prominent in this tune, but during the choruses, if you listen carefully, you can hear Ryan Foltz playing away on his tin whistle, which I found neat - he's competing with a rather loud instruments and lyrics being shouted, not just sung.

The last tune of the evening is The Spicy McHaggis Jig - one of my favourites, but it's a bit crude, I do have to admit. (the gist of it is Spicy - the bagpiper of the band, if you haven't been paying attention - wanting to be...ahem...intimate with very robust and hearty women, and looks for them rather enthusiastically). With a beautiful bagpipe solo (go Spicy!) and then that awesome bodhrán (the Irish drum...it just does something for me...) joining in, this song's intro is the best! It really is a jig - but coupled with a very electric punk guitar, it's a jig on steroids - plenty of steroids....

The boys in the band:
Al Barr - lead vocals
Ken Casey - lead vocals, bass
Matt Kelly - drums, bodhrán, vocals
James Lynch - guitar, accordion, vocals
Marc Orrell - guitar, accordion, vocals
Ryan Foltz - mandolin, tin whistle, dulcimer
Spicy McHaggis - bagpipes

The CD case is cardboard, not in a jewel case, and has the DKM logo - an photograph of an Irish heraldric shield painted on a wall - green and white - and with much Celtic knotwork all over, used as borders of the photos. On the back, another photo of the band members in a pub, doing what else? Drinking!

The insert includes all of the lyrics to the music - a major plus on some of the songs where they either go too fast, or have to compete with the instruments. On the other side of the lyrical sheet is a collage of the band, their pals, their fans and other miscellaneous folks and numerous concert shots. Also on this side, you can order several styles of t-shirts/sweat shirts with the Dropkick Murphys name on them, as well as the DKM website URL:

http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/

http://www.hell-cat.com/ Is the record label, situated in California, the DKM are under.

It's been a wild party! If you like punk, Irish-punk, or just harder music with an Irish twist, check out Sing Loud, Sing Proud! by the Dropkick Murphys, one of their best albums with good sound quality, great lyrics that are everything from hilarious to thought-provoking - but let these kids have their fun getting rowdy and just having a good time.


Thanks for reading!
sibhreach - that silly lil' changeling


Hey! Who drank all my beer?


*Where I got insight as to the meaning of The Fortunes of War
MTV.com, Dropkick Murphys - biography:
http://www.mtv.com/sendme2.tin?page=/bands/dropkick_murphys/bio.jhtml

**Learn more about Brian Deneke and this tragedy that shook the punk community
http://www.badgebrigade.com/deneke/

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This review is in celebration of culture - may it be your own, or one you admire - for my Kitchen Party Write/Off. I am also celebrating my first year anniversary at Epinions today! Please read the other fantastic reviews of my party guests:

bgoodday | ggamf | jo.com | kuuleimomi | lynnzop | mtbat | pambo | slusy | Wanbli_Gleska
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Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out