DROPKICK MURPHYS – Going Out In Style (Born and Bred Records)

by Tim Norek & Stephen Rainone

More of the same old awesome from the boys from Boston. Going Out In Style is filled with Dropkick’s usual pirate shanties, Celtic lullabies, and bagpipes (oh the bagpipes), and to top it off, they finish off the album with a nicely punked cover of the classic “The Irish Rover.” This time around the band threw in a lot more bluegrass flavor with more pronounced mandolin and even a harmonica. Sadly though, the album as a whole is far less political then the beloved old school Murphys. Some songs make vague references to tyrants and “joining the fight”, but only one song is overtly political; “Take ‘Em Down” is that song, and what a song it is. It’s straight up hillbilly bluegrass, with some great lines like “When the boss comes callin’ don’t you sell your soul, When the boss comes callin’ we gotta organize.” The themes that seem to run through the album are that of redemption and love of the old school. The title track, “Going Out in Style”, opens with a desire to apologize for the wrongs of one’s past, and turns into the ideal Irish funeral song, with friends, family, booze, and shenanigans. The song also brings in some of the Murphys' old school friends, featuring guest vocals from Fat Mike, Chris Cheney, and Lenny Clarke. The theme of redemption is touched on yet again with “Climbing a Chair to Bed”; a song about drunken regrets. And the old school theme is repeated with “Sunday Hardcore Matinee”; a song about the quinticentail old school show. And of course we have “Peg O’My Heart”, featuring none other than, the boss, Bruce Springsteen. It was a nice little straight up rock love song with the usual Murphys Irish flavor. As a whole Going Out In Style is another great Dropkick Murphys album. The more pronounced bluegrass stylings are an awesome addition to the Murphys’ sound. While “Take ‘Em Down” is a great song, the toned down politics of the album in its entirety was a bit disappointing. Overall though the album is a solid piece of work.

Hang ‘em High: War rally song, gruesome, switch up the vocalists for the last verse. Very slammish song, bouncy beat for when you’re in the pit or just listening to the song. Battle hym for those who are not scared to stand up and fight

Going Out In Style: A song about making amends in style, name drop and vocal cameo by Fat Mike, once the choir kicks in, it’s about an Irish funeral, blue grass mandolin/banjo thrown in at the end. The song is what an Irish funeral should be, friends, alcohol, and everlasting bonds with those you love and forgiving for everyone’s mistakes.

The Hardest Mile: Leads right in from the last song, another song about 19th century Irish immigrants, building the rail road and being killed, slowed down at the end for the “drunken oh”, then back into the chorus. The song makes you realize how hard Irish immigrants worked when they first came here and how they survived their hardships.

Cruel: Slower melodic Celt style, bittersweet love song to parents. It puts into perspective how much your parents work hard to try and give you a good life and that their love for you never dies.

Memorial Day: Picks the tempo back up, odd multi vocals, verse and choirs don’t seem to match, got to do it yourself / join together and we can win, sing-a-long, tin whistle. Unity is strong within the lyrics. Stand up and join together to change the world for the better. They can’t take away who you are and what you stand for.

Climbing A Chair to Bed: Another pirate ditty, nice mandolin and snare. Shared vocals, singing half of each line at a time. Consecutive theme of making up for your mistakes and standing up for what you believe in.

Broken Hymns: Very nice “playing the block” opening, slower melodic again, 19th Irish immigrants in the civil war, beautiful. Makes you appreciate your home and the little things you take for granted.

Deeds Not Words: Battle drums and pipes, awesome and ominous opening, the rest of the band drops in and rocks out, fight song, cool guitar riff.
Take ‘em Down: Straight bluegrass hillbilly, about time it got political, harmonica. “stand your ground when the boss comes in”, “take the bastards down” great lines. Don’t let the man get you down.

Sunday Hardcore Matinee: Ups the tempo, “pack of luckys” awesome, “skank and slam”, name drops everywhere, the quintessential of the old school show. Reminiscent of the old school 80s punk shows. It saddens me how times have changed.

1953: Christmassy intro, beautiful love song. Beautiful use of the bagpipes.

Peg O’ My Heart: (featuring Bruce Springsteen) Upbeat, good straight rock with Irish flavor. Springsteen shows off some Irish vocals. Nice little love song.

The Irish Rover: ‘bout time, nicely punked out. Once again, a very nice version of an old irish folk song. Bouncy and upbeat.