Sing Loud, Sing Proud - Dropkick Murphys

The Dropkick Murphys are a band that combines the sound of Irish Folk music with punk rock. Listening to the music you can hear how the band has been influenced by the likes of the Pogues, Cock Sparrer and the Clash.
The end result is a unique style of punk that in itself has influenced other American-Irish Punk bands.
The bands lyrics are heavily influenced towards their Boston, American, Irish and working class roots.

In 2001 the Dropkick Murphy's (DKM) released Sing Loud, Sing Proud an album filled full of rowdy, drunken sing-alongs and a few sentimental pieces that reflect on friends and family.

The line-up of DKM is:
Al Barr (Lead Vocals)
Ken Casey (Vocals, Bass)
Matt Kelly (Drums, Vocals)
James Lynch (Guitar, Vocals)
Marc Orrell (Guitar, Piano, Vocals)
Tim Brennan (Accordion, Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals)
Spicy Mc Haggis (Bagpipes)

The Album opens up with 'For Boston' a localistic sing along that gives the listener an idea of the sort of stuff your going to hear on the album, full of military style drumming and bag pipes, like a cross between Punk Rock and a Celtic Military band.

'The Legend of Finn Maccumhail' the track keeps up the sing-along aspect of the band to help you get into the album, the instrumental features clapping along which helps the tune catch on.

'Which Side are You On' is a cover of a pro-union song about staying on the right side of the union rather than being a scab worker. This band really knows how to do good covers of traditional songs, really good song.

'The Rocky Road to Dublin' punk folk song with whistles of some sort all about some fellow who goes to Dublin looking for work. The folk style sing really get you into the song.

'Heroes From Our Past' combines the Irish Folk sound with the fast paced lyrics and thrashing guitars of Hardcore Punk. Complete with instrumentals featuring tin whistles. The song is in tribute to those in the past who have stood up for their rights. I like the combination of the bagpipes and drums on this one.

'Forever' is my favourite song on the album, the song is really moving, and it is about a love for someone special who you get the impression is no longer there. "There's a piece of you with me they can't tear apart, forever". Al and Ken share the vocal duties here and it makes the song much more powerful and the tin whistle that plays through the song just adds to the beauty expressed. I could listen to this song all day.

'The Gauntlet' another great song follows with strong lyrics about standing up for yourself "Stand up and Fight" is shouted throughout the song. There is a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.

'Good Rats' features Shane McGowan of the Pogues who slurs his way through his bits of the song. Funny sing-along song about a bunch of rats that drink so much beer they drown in the stuff! Al has quite strong growling vocals which over power Shane slurring quite noticeably. That is why I prefer it live because it does not feature Shane McGowan.

'The New American Way' talks about the declining moral standards of America's youth. The song sounds a bit like a Cock Sparrer song. It is okay from a chorus sing-along point of view though it does drag a bit.

'The Torch' is an acoustic guitar heavy melody which features an accordion in the background. The song takes the listener through the story of one bitter old man passing 'the torch' onto his son who is just as bitter as he is. I like it as it is quite an emotional piece and also gives the listener a break from sing-along anthems.

'The Fortune of War' this track opens with the US national anthem suddenly stopping. A fast beat song about someone being killed by a gang features a nice touch of mixing in a TV news report with the song. Features Colin McFaull of Cock Sparrer who provides a good mix on the vocals with Al and Ken blending in quite nicely. A Great punk anthem.

'A Few Good Men' shows DKM at their sing-along best with a chorus that is too damn catchy. "Join us in a song, we shall rise and sing". It shows the talent the band have to immerge an audience into there songs and get them singing and clapping along in unity.

'Ramble and Roll' has a guitar sound that sounds likes something straight out of 1979 UK Punk scene. This is a song about being in a small band and being on the road. It is okay for what it is - a bit of album filler.

'Caps and Bottles' is heavily punk influenced tune about the admiration of others. Not one of the best tracks.

'The Wild Rover' is a cover of the traditional Irish song with an end result of rowdy sing-alongs, and good times had by all. Like I said earlier this band know how to do good covers of traditional songs.

'The Spicy McHaggis Jig' a song in tribute to the DKM bagpipes player - the track heavily featuring the bagpipes, as it's main focus. Ken takes the vocal leads and as an end result the song is hilarious. It is about how Spicy goes to bars to pick up fat girls and ends up getting one pregnant. Fantastic track to close the album, the closing line ends the album on a real bang.

Overall out of all of the DKM albums I find this is my favourite for the consistency of their song quality. The album provides solid amusement, sing-alongs and stories of drunken times for a good forty minutes.

I recommend this album if you fancy trying something different to your standard US punk bands or are interested in hearing how Irish Folk music mixes with Punk.