11

Hardly famous for nothing, or the luck of the Irish!

I sometimes think that the hard drinking lads from Boston, Dropkick Murphys are a bit of a guilty pleasure. They bring fourth their Irish-influenced street punk that I can't help but think mixes up all of my dad's favourite music together, albeit with the instruments played a little faster and the lyrics are spat out more than sung, and so here it becomes a lot cooler than an all nighter with Foster & Allen, and Daniel O'Donnell, and a little more with added Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones...

'The Meanest Of Times' is the sixth album from this seven-man strong band of Celtic merry men and proves to be one of their strongest to date. From the school bell ring on first song, 'Famous For Nothing' the song jumps out with it's upbeat sing-a-long feel that we've come to know and love from a band that includes fiddles and mandolin's amongst their Gaelic punk rock music accompaniments! 'God Willing' is another anthem that has you thinking slightly of The Briggs, who are a master at the more American version of this sort of punk, but it's the happy feel that could put the smile on the face of any mourner, that is synonymous with the band.

It's with songs like, 'The State Of Massachusetts' that the band show what they are all about. Although not quite as catchy as the first two tracks, you have the heavy Irish feel of the fiddle and drums that would be more suitable to a marching band. It's another heart-felt song that glows with integrity and honour. This then leads us to 'Tomorrows Industry' which has slight leanings towards Rancid, which is a good time to point out that 'The Meanest Of Times' is the bands first album away from Tim Armstrong's Hellcat Records, released on the band's own label 'Born And Bred' records. There is a similar feel on the great 'Vices And Virtues' both brash street punk tunes, whilst there are fine chugging guitars in the punk/trash mix of 'Surrender'.

Like all good Irish lads, Dropkick Murphys are never ones to forget their roots, and this can be seen on the re-worked version of the traditional song, '(F)Lannigan's Ball' which also includes guest lyrics from Spider Spacey from The Pogues, and Ronnie Drew from The Dubliners; whilst there is also the ballad 'Fairmount Hill' based on Michael Considine's 'Spancil Hill'. They then give us their own stab at a ballad with morbid lyrics in the dark song, 'Rude Awakenings' whilst the mid-tempo jig of, 'Loyal To No One' will have you tapping your leg until you either get cramp or it falls off. 'Shattered' could've been recorded by Rancid side project, Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards, whilst you'll be ordering Guiness, and gulping Lucky Charms, whilst jumping around like a wee leprechaun to the classic, 'Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya' which will put lyrics to one of the most famous Irish tunes ever!

We have bagpipes in, 'Never Forget' before the surprise inclusion of the bonus track, a cover of Thin Lizzy's 'Jailbreak' sung in the hard-edged and whisky soaked vocals that gives even more balls to it than the original. Great finish.

Dropkick Murphys sold just over 200,000 copies of their previous album 2005's 'The Warrior Code', an album that had it's ups and downs in the quality of the songs, however with, 'The Meanest Of Times' they have managed to have anthem after anthem, giving them an album likened to The Briggs great album last year, 'Back To Higher Ground'. It must be the luck of the Irish, except that I'm not Irish, so you figure it out. After some important inclusions on soundtrack albums, including The Departed, it maybe time for those happy-go-lucky lads to finally take their crown!