On their fourth studio album,
Blackout
,
the Dropkick Murphys
work with their soused
punk
rock
style for their tightest material to date. Sure, the intensity that made
The Gang's All Here
and
Sing Loud, Sing Proud
so great is intact, but there's a bit more polish and
' Irish-colored
jigs have never sounded better. Bassist
Ken Casey
produces this energetic set of working-class anthems. Shared vocal duties between
Casey
and frontman
Al Barr
are ferocious yet playful in leading this Boston septet of beer-room brawlers. From the merry singalong of
"Kiss Me I'm #!@*faced"
to the tomfoolery of
"The Outcast,"
captures the band's undying spirit.
Traditional Irish
favorites like
"Fields of Athenry"
"Black Velvet Band"
are equally rowdy, and
"Walk Away"
nicely represents
' lasting brotherhood.
Rockabilly
riffs blaze about on
"Gonna Be a Blackout Tonight,"
a riotous good time put to the words of an unpublished
Woody Guthrie
song. Such an effort is quite fitting for the band as well, since
are keen to
Guthrie
's classic working-class ideals. But they have a spark that matches the soul of
Shane MacGowan
Billy Bragg
, and that's what makes
so impressive. The rawness behind making a living is balanced with a good swig of whiskey, and despite the band's aggressive presentation, this is no motley crew.
is honest in words and heart, so raise your fist. ~ MacKenzie Wilson