The now very large genre of folk punk had only a handful of good and successful bands a few years ago. On one side, there were the punky and boozy vibes created by The Real McKenzies, who are still at the forefront. On the other side, there were DROPKICK MURPHYS, a band that certainly had its roots in punk, but even more so in hardcore and rock. At that time, traditional band Flogging Molly also laid the foundation for their success.
The first albums of the Bostonians were thus successful as well, because they had almost a unique selling point, but were more on the tough-guy side. The band has always remained true to this style. While The Real McKenzies only slowly became more successful and still play in small, alternative clubs, DROPKICK MURPHYS have long since moved on from those. They play in venues with a capacity of 2000 and up. They are also well-received guests at major festivals.
The band from Boston has not only become known among fans but has also found many friends among artists. They have now recorded a soundtrack for a Scorsese film. The guest list for “Going Out in Style” reads like a small who's who. Bruce Springsteen (!) has supported the band, as have Fat Mike (No Fx), Chris Cheney (The Living End), and Lenny Clarke (Rescue Me).
With “Going Out in Style,” the band is releasing their seventh studio album. The tricky seven, a number that is laden with superstition. The band has come up with something special for their seventh album. It is, in the broadest sense, a concept album, as it tells the life of Cornelius “Connie” Larkin in thirteen songs. Connie is an Irishman who took the big journey to the USA in 1949, like many of his countrymen. He was awarded multiple times in the Korean War but has also always advocated for disadvantaged people. He is a small legend, as the booklet explains.
This life story naturally provides a great basis for songs that fit the Bostonians. There are diverse songs to be heard on this record, so there is something for everyone. It caters to everyone from traditional folk fans to punk and hardcore enthusiasts. This is, of course, also reflected in a production that leaves nothing to be desired.
The lyrics themselves are almost always quite long and tell stories and experiences. Everything comes across honestly and sincerely with DROPKICK MURPHYS. It is an album that touches the heart, but it also sings about war veterans, and that gives me some discomfort. The glorification of war is a dark part of patriotism everywhere, even in the USA. Fighting wrong with wrong can bring no justice, and when you see how many countries the USA has deliberately intervened in to assert their interests, you cannot condone that. It has always been about self-interest, never about the people, and if the people ended up better off, that was just a nice byproduct of the whole affair.
Despite this bitter aftertaste with the song “Memorial Day,” the album is great.
It naturally caters to the band's fans but also offers enough for people who are not yet familiar with the band. “Going Out in Style” will definitely be successful, and I cannot deny that I like it, even though the band has not yet convinced me live, nor their audience.
