Dropkick Murphys – 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory

When you hear the name Dropkick Murphys, you think loud, Celtic punk / rock and roll party music and as always there’s plenty of that, but there’s a more thoughtful side to the band too.  They established the Claddagh fund in 2009 – a charity to help support addiction recovery as well as children’s and veterans’ organizations.  They’re actively involved in the charity and on this album that work has inspired songs.  “Paying my way” is about moving out of addiction to a better life, while “Rebels with a cause” is an angrier song about kids who are given up on and written off as hopeless cases when they really need help.

“You’ll never walk alone” is a song more often associated with sport than anything else these days – Liverpool Football Club in particular, so it was a surprise to see it included on a Dropkick Murphys album.  The song starts with a single lead vocal accompanied by the band before a minute or so in, the band join in on the vocals and the power ramps up for the chorus.  It’s a faster, louder, more lively version than most you’ll hear so it fits in nicely with the Dropkick Murphys own songs.

“4 15 13” may not seem like an obvious title for a song, but once you remember that the American date format is different to the rest of the world, and that the band coem from Boston then it makes sense – 04/15/13 – 15th April 2013, the date of the Boston marathon bombing.  It’s a fantastic tribute to the victims of the bombing.

“We’ll meet again” isn’t the Vera Lynn song, although the chorus does share three lines with that song – We’ll meet again; Don’t know where; Don’t know when” and the tune is certainly similar.  It’s a great closer to the album.

“Blood” is the first song released from the album – check out the video below..

It’s a fantastic album – the band have kept the sound close enough to their Celtic Punk trademark sound to keep the fans happy while pushing the boundaries to keep trying new things.  Great songs, great music, great lyrics – great album.

“11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory” will be released on 6th January 2017

Track listing:

1. The lonesome boatman
2. Rebels with a cause
3. Blood
4. Sandlot
5. First class loser
6. Paying my way
7. I had a hat
8. Kicked to the curb
9. You’ll never walk alone
10. 4 15 13
11. We’ll meet again