Some Dropkick Murphys fans might be wondering what ever happened to the band's original singer Mike McColgan, who appeared on their Do Or Die album before being replaced by current vocalist Al Barr.  Well, fear not.  Mike is doing just fine as the lead singer of the Street Dogs, who in 2008 released their fourth album State of Grace.

Street Dogs should easily appeal to Murphys fans since both outfits have several similarities.  Gritty street punk?  Check.  Fun, catchy songs?  Check.  Boston/Irish pride?  Reverent tributes to loved ones?  Rebel spirit?  Check, check, check.  But don't think this is a DKM copycat.  Sure, they'll sound alike due to the vocals and overall style, but Street Dogs tone the Irish stuff way down.  State of Grace gives us a little Irish instrumentation with a banjo and a little bit of bagpiping, but this style is not as dominant as it is with the Murphys.  And aside from the history lesson in "San Patricios" - about the Irish immigrants who defected to the Mexican army during the Mexican-American War - there isn't a ton of Irish influence in the lyrics.   

Street Dogs instead focus on hard, gritty mosh-pit starters.  The band use their wide array of instruments - including harmonica, marching drum, piano - to keep that fire going.  State of Grace is packed with anthem after anthem after anthem.  "Two Angry Kids" - seemingly about McColgan's former DKM bandmate Ken Casey - is easily the biggest anthem with its nostalgic sentiments and fervent delivery, especially in the addictive refrain of "Hey you / Do you remember when / We were / Two angry kids?"  "Rebel Song" provides the album's biggest rally cry in this call to arms for workers' unions, and "Guns" ramps up the angry political rhetoric asking, "Hey NRA, do you have a say / For the mothers of the world / Whose kids' gun stole / Sending them too soon into a six foot hole."

McColgan is by no means a classically trained vocalist, but he does have a classic punk voice that emphatically exudes passion with every word he sings (or yells).  That passion is most evident when he sings of loved ones such as in "Kevin J. O'Toole" a toast to a lost but not forgotten uncle. Another lovely tribute is the slower but still fervent "Elizabeth," which adds punk flavor to a more light-hearted, classic-sounding "Sha-la-la" chorus.  Closing track "Free" takes a break from the previous ten tracks' hard rocking and takes us home with a stirring, contemplative, acoustic number.

Though these songs are catchy, the Dogs never lose their knack for letting loose some straight-up punk, as they rip through fast, raw numbers like "Mean Fist" or the rousing cover of the Skids' "Into the Valley." Street Dogs music is an easy recommendation for Dropkick Murphys fans, but really, fans of any gritty, honest, and fun punk will love this band.  With its upbeat sound and tales of honor, respect, and punk spirit, State of Grace is an excellent album that encompasses so much of what's right in the world of punk.

Recommended: Yes