Since I did my 500th post this morning, I decided not to have an installation of Techno Tuesday today. Since I'm one review ahead of other genres, I'll lay back a week. Instead, it's straight to New Music Tuesday - which goes to Dropkick Murphys. I'm semi surprised no one has tossed this in the suggestion box yet. They're a pretty popular band...known for the awesome shows and general awesomeness. I can't say I've ever listened to a full album by them before - so this is a treat for me. These guys are an Irish band based out of you guessed it - Boston, Massachusetts. They started making tunes in 1996 or so - and made their name solely based on touring. They put on a sick show, and extra sick on St. Patrick's Day in Boston. How did they get their name? Here is a quote from ex-band member Marc Orrell, "The Dropkick Murphys will come and get you if you don't go to sleep tonight. It's a rehab center, I think it's in Connecticut. I think it was the guy who used to come around late at night for all the drunks, like if you were too drunk to drive home, he would come and get you and put you in this hole that you couldn't get out until you were sober enough, I don't know. There's a bunch a stories, it's also a boxer, a bunch of things, a rehab center in Connecticut, grandparents used to scare kids with it." This is their 7th studio album, with none of them seeing super great commercial success. They have a great back story, and maybe I'll get into that next album I do by them. I enjoy this....it's just fun, old fashioned tunes. Good party music, good driving music - good 'get you through the day' music. Give it a whirl today and blow through your Tuesday.
TRACK LISTING:
1. Hang `Em High
2. Going Out In Style
3. Hardest Mile, The
4. Cruel
5. Memorial Day
6. Climbing a Chair To Bed
7. 1953Listen
8. Deeds Not Words
9. Take `Em Down
10. Broken Hymns
11. Sunday Hardcore Matinee
12. Peg O' My Heart
13. Irish Rover, The
Listen To Samples
Top 3 Tracks:
1. Going Out In Style
2. Take 'Em Down (Dedicated by DM to the WI union workers)
3. Hang 'Em High
FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars
I saw them live last year and again on Friday. Both shows were very, very (did I mention very?) fantastic. High-energy show with crowd interaction (and genuine appreciation for their fans). They also seem like they genuinely love what they do. I would definitely go out of my way to see them again. Well worth it.
ReplyDeleteI love the amount of different instruments they use. Any time you can show me a guy playing a banjo while playing the harmonica, I'm going to be impressed. Especially if that same guy switches to a mandolin and a lute at some point during the same evening. They also tour with an upright piano. Impressive. Oh, did I mention bagpipes?! I L-O-V-E bagpipes. Where was that when I was picking out an instrument in 5th grade?!
My advice: Even if you don't or can't listen to their albums regularly, go see them live. You won't regret it.
Also, they've been playing Take 'Em Down on FM 1021 recently. I appreciate that. I like hearing something other than RHCP. But then again, I really am over the RHCP.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that from a few people. I would like to see them someday. Maybe even see them play in Boston on St. Patty's Day. That would be pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE bagpipes too! Whenever modern music can incorporate those types of instruments, I'm typically hooked. Banjo, harmonica, mandolin - all amazing.
Take 'Em Down could be popular because of the protesting. At least I was reading that in the old interwebs.
I just saw them after an Admirals game last Friday. ($15 for a game and a concert!) It was a strange way to see them though. We were placed at a weird angle to the speakers, the sound was probably better in other area of the Bradley Center. They let people down onto the carpet-covered ice during the show. I'm not gonna lie, I spent more time watching the people moshing and body passing then watching the band. I was entertained, but I really only stayed to hear that one song from the movie The Departed (Shipping Up to Boston) and they didn't even play the whole thing. They were better live at Summerfest than the show I saw. I enjoyed the variety of instruments and how energetic the band was. At one point the lead singer even got down into the crowd and sang a whole song from the there. Not my everyday kind of music (it's a little hard for me) but it was fun to see live!
ReplyDeleteI remember "going" to a show years back after an Admirals game. If I recall right, it was a Gufs show. It was also odd - and normally I loved them live, but this show was a bunch of hockey fans watching a local band perform. Wasn't normal quality. I also watched a WWF show after an Admirals game years go...also lame.
ReplyDeleteI agree - I wouldn't listen to this daily, but it's a fun change of pace. Upbeat and different. Always gets the blood pumping! Thanks for the comment!