There's something unique about the Dropkick Murphys. Even if you're a stiff-collared conservative who likes nothing better of an evening than to read The Observer and enjoy a cup of weak Earl Grey, 30 seconds of the Boston seven and you'll be dancing a jig in a drunken stupor, bottle in hand, before looking for a fight. Most of all though, you'll be having a f**king brilliant time. This is no different on the group's sixth outing The Meanest of Times, combining punk-driven guitars with a folk band on speed and vocals that make you want to punch your mother. And if she's listening too, she'll give as good as she gets. Right from the opener 'Famous For Nothing', this album kicks your door down and has a party in your living room, pausing only to give you some sage advice in the form of some traditional acoustic folk before falling off the chair, at which point the party gets back into full swing with songs which are more than simply fun; they're full of heart, pride and straight-up balls. The Boston boys are still great storytellers of course, particularly so on stand-out track '(F)lannigan's Ball', one which is pushed slightly higher thanks to the inclusion of The Pogues' (Peter) 'Spider' Stacey and with a little Thin Lizzy thrown in for good measure, you couldn't ask for a better party. So raise a glass, one and all, to The Meanest of Times.

Rating: 5/5 by Campbell Miller

Tracklisting

1. Famous For Nothing
2. God Willing
3. The State of Massachusetts
4. Tomorrow's Industry
5. Echoes on 'A.' Street
6. Vices and Virtues
7. Surrender
8. (F)lannigan's Ball
9. I'll Begin Again
10. Fairmount Hill
11. Loyal to No-One
12. Shattered
13. Rude Awakenings
14. Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya
15. Never Forget
16. Jailbreak

Further links

Cooking Vinyl.com

Official website of the home of Seafood, The Experimental Pop Band, and more...

Dropkick Murphys.com

Official site of the Epitaph band

Dropkick Murphys on Myspace

Boston folk-punks have a myspace For craic and such.