Review Summary: "Now lower the cannons, the battle begins."
After 6 studio albums, 2 live albums, 3 EPs and countless splits and compilation appearances, celtic punk giants Dropkick Murphys are back in 2011 with their latest effort, ‘Going Out In Style’. While much has been said about this record being a concept album, the truth is that this idea is quickly forgotten, perhaps fortunately so, as soon as the familiar Murphys sound kicks in; not to mention that four tracks (“Peg o’ My Heart”, “The Wild Rover” (both traditional), “Take ’em Down” and “Sunday Hardcore Matinee”) have little or nothing to do with fictional working-class hero Cornelius Larkin, and that the lyrics on those songs which do would effortlessly fit into any regular Murphys record.
Unsurprisingly, this holds true for the music as well. Warlike drums, low-key electric guitar fizzle and the foreboding chant ‘Hang ‘em High’ kick off the likewise titled opener before exploding into a multi-instrumental crescendo which transitions abruptly into the gritty, snarling verse. The chorus, while nothing groundbreaking, is as good as any boisterous Murphys classic and is likely to get catchier with each listen. The lyrics on this track are priceless, with such murderous gems as ‘No mercy, no quarter, they’ll pay for their sins’, ‘Off with their heads boys, and bring 'em to me’ and ‘I’d like to savor the moment, and kill you twice!’ littering this impressively wrathful anthem. A track impossible to sing along to without clenching one's teeth and snarling.
Title track “Going Out In Style” showcases the band’s ability to bang out a guaranteed fan-favorite while remaining almost cynically formulaic. Featuring guest appearances from NOFX’s Fat Mike, The Living End’s Chris Cheney and Boston comedian Lenny Clarke, this bagpipe-fueled hymn to the life and death of Cornelius Larkin will likely have the listener bouncing and shouting along to a chorus they don't even know, all the while resenting the Murphys for their shameless lack of imagination.
While the lively “The Hardest Mile” and tasteful breather “Cruel” are far from forgettable, the next highlight of the album is certainly “Memorial Day”. Led by dynamic yet soulful whistle and mandolin, this addictive and deceptively original creation holds some of the Murphys most honest and stirring lyrics to date, with lines such as “Hold on to those dreams, it’s the one thing they can’t take away” and “You got to pick yourself up by the bootstraps, no-one’s gonna help you out when you fall” reminiscent of former frontman Mike McColgan’s best work with his present band Street Dogs.
“Climbing a Chair to Bed” is the closest track to filler you will get on this album and is quickly forgotten when “Broken Hymns” creeps in with its mournful blend of banjo, whistle and delicate percussion. This well-crafted ode to the fallen slowly builds towards an unassuming final chorus and proudly continues the legacy of Murphys tear-jerkers such as “Forever” and “The Green Fields of France”.
“Deeds Not Words”, though lyrically similar to the opener, stands on its own as an excellent anthem to unfocused rage; acoustic stomper “Take ‘em Down” features similar lyrical content, although this time the anger is directed toward corrupt modern-day bosses. Musically, "Take 'em Down" is unquestionably the long-awaited successor to 1998’s pub version of “Boys on the Docks”.
The third single off the album, “Sunday Hardcore Matinee”, finds the Murphys reminiscing on their younger years and name-dropping old-school punk acts over a frantic blend of street punk, strings and accordion, in stark contrast to the mercifully serene “1953” which immediately follows it.
The penultimate track, “Peg o’ My Heart” features none other than the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, who lends his gravelly vocals to this rowdy reworking of the traditional love song, which does not disappoint.
In closing, the Murphys tackle “The Irish Rover”, another traditional classic, with noticeably less success; however, odds are that by this time most listeners won’t be sober enough to notice.
In summary, Dropkick Murphys have crafted another highly-enjoyable folk rock record chock-full of fan-pleasers that will power the listener through the album’s few weaker sections. While certainly less inventive than their previous efforts, ‘Going Out In Style’ is arguably their most accomplished and gratifying release yet.
Top tracks:
"Going Out In Style"
"Memorial Day"
"Broken Hymns"
"Deeds Not Words"
