Dropkick Murphys - The Meanest Of Times Review

Perseverance pays off, that's what they say. It's rarely true in the music world as bands tend to hit their peak early on before churning out substandard material as their careers continue, inevitably destroying everything that the band once stood for.

Dropkick Murphys however have bucked this trend quite magnificently. Sticking to their guns and continuing down their particular path has resulted in what might well be their best album to date....full text A couple years after the 2005 release of The Warrior Code, the Dropkick Murphys have left the comfort of their label Hellcat Records and have started their own imprint, Born & Bred Records. The Meanest of Times is their first project on Born & Bred, and it’s a helluva success.

One might wonder at the wisdom of leaving something that was obviously working well; two tracks from Warrior Code found their way into the hearts and soundtracks of some mighty big directors and their films. The Farrelly Brothers used “Tessie” in Fever Pitch and Martin Scorsese saw fit to add “Shipping up to Boston” to The Departed soundtrack....full text While the Dropkick Murphys’ following could be more in flux nationally, their reputation in New England is pretty much bulletproof. And they’ve tested that bulletproof theory in recent years, with a handful of decisions that could only alienate fans and cast them as another bunch of media whores. Chief among these missteps is “Tessie”, used in the awful Fever Pitch film and as an anthem for the 2004 Boston Red Sox. The song is irritating all on its own, but that it was jammed down anyone’s throat in jamming range made it that much worse. The tune also signaled a low point for the band, as it was followed by The Warrior’s Code, the band’s weakest album to date. The Dropkick Murphys were at their end days, or so it seemed. But instead of fading out, they’re back with The Meanest of Times, and it is at least a bit of a rebound....full text