The Meanest Of Times - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
After hitting it semi-big when "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" (from 2005's The Warrior's Code) was prominently featured in Martin Scorcese's Oscar-winner The Departed, Dropkick Murphys return with another round of punch-drunk punk on The Meanest of Times (it's unclear whether the title refers to the current state of world affairs or the scowling Catholic schoolyard hooligans depicted on the record's cover...). Continuing their usual melding of the Pogues' raved-up Celtic strains with the bouncy energy of early Green Day, the result is somewhere on the lines of If I Should Fall from Grace with God getting in a fender-bender with Dookie--seven Boston punks can sure make a lot of noise. Life isn't only a party for the band, however, and there's more than a dash of Springsteen's somber human portraits in the broken-down company men and damaged families observed in songs like "Tomorrow's Industry" and "Surrender". The Meanest of Times' aggressive musical swagger and driving instrumentation don't obscure the fact that the Dropkick Murphys have something insightful to say. --Ben Heege

Album Description
DKM come out swinging with their sixth studio album; a collection of tales about family, loyalty, and remembering where you came from. It contains all the best elements of the band's sound: a complex distillation of classic punk rock, Celtic folk, and American rock 'n' roll. It puts the band's diversity, intensity, and sincerity on full display. Consolidating strong sales history with digital single sales of 250,000 for "I'm Shipping Up To Boston", which was the title track in Martin Scorcese's Academy Award winning film, "The Departed". For fans of The Pogues, The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen.

Customer Reviews: Read 32 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

An Opinion From a DKM Newbie September 18, 2007
33 out of 35 found this review helpful

I just got into DKM in the past couple of weeks. My first purchase was The Warrior's Code, which I absolutely love.

I bought The Meanest of Times today and have listened to it repeatedly all afternoon long. For what it's worth, here's what I think of it...

At first blush, it's not as bagpipe-heavy or overtly Celtic-sounding as The Warrior's Code. As the first reviewer noted, there are plenty of big choruses and upbeat songs, but this isn't Warrior's Code Part Two. This is something different.

Whereas Warrior's Code opened with bagpipes-aplenty, Meanest opens with a song called "Famous For Nothing" that features the sound of a school bell and children cheering (a la Alice Cooper's "School's Out"). Then it kicks in big time with a breakneck double-time riff and a huge chorus. It's a breathtaking way to open an album.

"God Willing" (track two) opens slowly with gentle electric guitar strumming before it springs wide open and reveals itself to be a punk rendition of a traditional-sounding Irish hymn ("God willing I'll see you on the other side"). Again, this is a huge chorus that will be killer to see performed live.

"The State of Massachusetts" (track three) is a corker, Irish-sounding all the way. Fist-pumping chorus. Raucous and raw. I love this song.

"Tomorrow's Industry" (track four) is more punk than Celt, not even pretending to sound Irish. It begins with a "One, two, three, four!" and then...slam! It's going full tilt. It's okay, but not my favorite track on the album.

"Echoes On 'A' Street" (track five) is a decent song, but there's not much about it that stands out to me, other than the larger-than-life chorus that a live audience could sink it's teeth into.

"Vices and Virtues" (track six) is another punk rocker. Reminds me of the Sex Pistols or The Clash. Since I prefer Celtic-flavored instruments and themes, I'm not too hip on this track.

"Surrender" (track seven) is a toe-tapper. I love the driving chord progressions. It's quite melodic, despite the shouting vocals. Frankly, this is an air-guitar, dance-around-like-a-nutbag song that is as infectious as any I've ever heard. Love it.

"(F)Lannigan's Ball" (track eight), is another corker with Irish jig written all over it. From the liner notes: "Dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Diedre Drew. On July 2nd, 2007, we flew to Dublin to record the song "(F)Lannigan's Ball" with our good friend Spider from the Pogues and the legend himself, Mr. Ronnie Drew from the Dubliners." It doesn't get any more Irish than this!

"I'll Begin Again" (track nine) is a full-bore punk rocker with bashing guitars and a rapid-speak chorus that runs all the words together "I'llbeginagain...I'llbeginagain...."

"Fairmount Hill" (track ten) reigns in the bashing and opens with acoustic guitar and an Irish melody straight from the Emerald Isle. In fact, quite literally. From the liner notes: "A Boston take on the traditional tune 'Spancil Hill'." "Fairmount" becomes a mid-tempo song that's more ballad than basher. A great song.

"Loyal To No One" (track eleven) is dedicated to "a miserable bast**d [who] will suffer on alone to the bitter end rather than admit they were wrong." The lyrics are, of course, spit out in anger, each word dripping with sarcasm.

"Shattered" (track twelve). Pure punk angst. Not much Celtic about this track. It's just aggression and a pin prick in the side of those who pretend to be something they're not. ""Shattered, shattered, when people aren't always what they seem..."

"Rude Awakenings" (track thirteen), a song about the ravages of love, is a return to a Celtic sound: Bagpipes and a rousing chorus...then another "One, two, three, four!" and the song picks up the pace, and cranks up the bitterness level: "I thought it was all just a nightmare, I guess it was true...but now I'm left with a daily reminder of you." The perfect song for drunken, jilted lovers.

"Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" (track fourteen) is based on "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." Rousing, but typically melancholy. [CORRECTION: I wasn't aware that the song most often associated with America's Civil War was based on a song called "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya." That's the kind of stuff I love to know. Thanks, Felix!]

"Never Forget" (track fifteen)...ahhh, the bagpipes are back. I love it when DKM sets the tone of a song by beginning it with bagpipes, then kicking in with guitar and a big-a** chorus. "Never Forget" is "a song about what's really important when it's all said and done." This is a great song and the perfect way to end the album. DKM has life figured out, man: "When you got love and we got family, keep 'em close and don't forget, to hold them right there in your heart, when you got love and family."

Overall, I think The Meanest of Times will be a solid album for DKM -- especially if you dig their more aggressive punk-rock songs. I don't think it breaks any new ground, and it's not as good as The Warrior's Code to my ears, but it's great music from start to finish -- all of which ought to cause any fan to say, "Glory be!" in concert.

5 out of 5 stars

Great Album with strong Chorus' September 18, 2007
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I have been a Dropkick Murphy's fan for about 8 years now. After Warriors Code released, I was a little unsure of the direction of the band. I did like Warriors code but it was a move away from "Sing Loud..." However with "The Meanest of Times" the Dropkick Murphy's have found a way the fuse good hard Irish music with punk rock, once again. I have had the privilege to own this CD for over a week and have listened to it probably 100 times already and this is my quick run-down.

"The meanest of Times" quite frankly is a mixture of the Warriors Code and Sing Loud Sing Proud. It has several very up beat song with loud and sing along choruses. They have expanded their music instruments and now fully rely on Spicy for Bag piping. There is no way a fan of DKM could listen to this album and not at least fall in love with in love with one or more songs on this album. The song Flannagan's Ball is an instant classic, with two God's of Irish music singing along. This album, however not my most favorite from DKM, is a great album and is worth buying.

Of course now people can preview the albums online, but bottom line: Buy it, you won't be sorry.

4 out of 5 stars

More like this! September 20, 2007
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

Like most people writing a review of a record right after it comes out I am not particularly objective - These guys rock and I love their music. To me this album seems much more like "The Gangs All Here" and much less like "The Warriors Code". "The Meanest of Times" sounds more straight ahead in your face punk than "The Warriors Code" while still infusing instruments and melodies of Irish music. The DKM have been a band for over 10 years my greatest fear when sticking this CD into the player was that "The Meanest of Times" would be a bunch of radio friendly bubblegum punk (Blink, NOFX and the host of black shirt, red tie bands that claim to be punk) but these guys are sticking to what works: Heavy guitars, bass and drums - on top of that throw in some folk instruments to stir things up. Yes, this is well traveled ground but I for one do not want to see them go in any other direction. This CD is very representative of who and what the Murphy's are and should be and I hope to hear many more just like this!

4 out of 5 stars

As a DKM fan from day 1... September 25, 2007
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

People who say all their albums are the same don't know what they're talking about and/or aren't paying attention. The Murphys have been my favorite band ever since their first album and I didn't start to feel disappointed until The Warriors Code because they started to sound like they were repeating a formula. That's why I like that they've taken a new direction on this one, or rather a return to the more straightforward late-70's Oi punk of The Gang's All Here. And people who jumped on board with The Warrior's Code after The Departed and Shipping Up To Boston got big who say it's just like that album are wrong because they're new to the game and don't know the difference (don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're here now and god bless you). I like this a lot and I'm sure it'll grow on me more after time the same way that Gang's All Here did.

5 out of 5 stars

DKM continues to grow October 9, 2007
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

It's not often the case these days that a band can consistently put out albums that bring more depth and maturity to their work. All too often, bands recycle old ideas, or worse, try to match themselves with whatever
the public trends (or better still - the big marketing machines) are in to. Not at all true with DKM, thank God!
Although this album is a bit edgier in many respects than Warrior's Code, it maintains an overall tenor that makes the group hard to classify. Are they Punk? Irish? Rock? Heavy Metal? Perhaps one of the joys of this band is that they refuse to be put in a box for easy marketing. And, therefore - in my humble opinion - retain an appeal that strikes the fancy of many types of audiences. Their live shows are a great example of this broad spectrum of appeal. All of which makes landing at # 20 on the Billboard Top 200 list that much more remarkable. Let's hope they can continue to retain their originality with each new recording.

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