By Jason D. Greenough | Observer Contributor
Boston’s favorite sons, Quincy-based Dropkick Murphys, started 2017 off with a bang, with the release of their ninth studio record, 11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory, on January 6th.
I always enjoy the anticipation of an album, because being able to finally listen to it gives me a glimpse into how a band has progressed and grown. Not only in their sound, but in the lives of the members as well. In that regard, this album did not disappoint. In fact, this album was, in my opinion, their most personally revealing album in their catalog.
One of my favorite parts about this album is the very first song, “The Lonesome Boatman”.
It almost serves as hype music, with its gang vocal chants and heavy Celtic-influenced instrumentals, to “Rebels With a Cause”, which is reminiscent of DKM’s Warrior’s Code-era sound, describing the hardships that Boston’s homeless and impoverished youth have faced in the wake of the Heroin and Opiate epidemic. While songs like “Blood” and “4-15-13” are very Boston-centric, with the former acting as a tribute to the band’s loyal fanbase that was cast down by the city of Boston and it’s leaders very early in the band’s career and the latter being a striking memorial of the victims and all those affected in the Boston Marathon bombing, many of the tracks on this record were centered around the experiences that the band has had in regards to the epidemic, such as “Paying My Way” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, and I honestly feel it was very noble of them to put awareness and solidarity for their community above the traditional Irish songs they revamp with their own flare.
Now, while much of the record’s subject matter is relatively heavy, there is still a playful sort of feeling that the Dropkicks have preserved on this album when it comes to tunes like “I Had a Hat”, “First Class Loser”, “Sandlot” and “Kicked To The Curb”.
True to form, the band closes this ninth chapter in their history with the anthemic tune that I can only imagine being sung in unison at the local bar while a well-known regular heads home for the night. “Until The Next Time” shows the band’s willingness to acknowledge the past 35 minutes of music that they poured their hearts into over the last few months, but also their itching to move onto the next project, and I’m okay with that. It makes me feel better that they aren’t planning on going anywhere anytime soon.
I can honestly say there were not many flaws on this record – if any at all – in my opinion, when compared to their other albums. Of course, I recommend this album with five stars and two thumbs up, and couldn’t recommend it enough, but your taste is your taste. 11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory has everything for the punk in all of us, and it while it delivers that same old Boston punk punch, the growth and progress in DKM’s sound only makes me more excited for the next record.
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