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Dropkick Murphys

The Meanest of Times
2007
Born and Bred / EastWest

Dropkick Murphys - The Meanest of Times (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Ben_Conoley
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Published on October 9th 2007

If Dropkick Murphys are anything, they are reliable. Dropkick Murphys served an integral role in cultivating the musical experiences for the scores of people who got involved in punk rock during the mid-`90s. Over the last few years, the Murphys have all but dropped out of the rotation of records that make it through my stereo, but it's nice to have them back.

The Meanest of Times is the sixth studio album from the Boston seven-piece. It's also the band's first on their new label, Born and Bred Records. The best way to describe it is simply as a Dropkick Murphys album: street-wise punk rock with a healthy dose of Celtic influence and more than enough opportunities to swing a pint in the air. Lyrically, Al Barr and Ken Casey still focus on the themes that have traditionally been important to the band: family, friends and community -- themes that are reassuring to hear addressed in the modern musical climate.

I don't want to give the impression that it's safe to say every Dropkick Murphys album sounds the same, but it's no secret that much like Pennywise and the Bouncing Souls, the band has an immediately identifiable sound. However, on The Meanest of Times they continue to tweak that sound and allow it to develop. The band still finds time to throw in traditional songs. This time around they do their own take on "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya," "(F)lannigan's Ball" and "Fairmount Hill." These songs stand out noticeably, largely because of the arrangements, which often include more bagpipe. The band does a good job at representing the spirit of these songs, something they've become known for doing well.

The front end of The Meanest of Times comes across better than the later half. This is partially due to the strength of the songs which occupy it such as "Famous for Nothing" and "The State of Massachusetts" and partially because the songs are placed in a seemingly arbitrary order, leaving peaks and valleys throughout.

The Meanest of Times isn't the band's best or most exciting work, but it does show Dropkick Murphys playing their brand of punk rock with more proficiency than they ever have. Despite whatever role they play in the scene today, their music is bound to continue to be attractive to punk rock purists and people who got into the music when the band was getting started. That said, the band's latest effort is unlikely to find itself in regular rotation at my house, though I'd jump at the chance to see the songs from it played live.

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Posted by erff on 2008-04-16 23:41:09

1. do or die
2. sing loud sing proud
3. blackout
4. the gangs all here
5. the meanest of times
6. the warriors code.

dkm is very good and i like them alot but nothing will be better then do or die. agree or disagree i dont really care but thats the way i see it.

Posted by flannagin94 on 2008-03-26 12:28:02

This and the Gangs All Here are their two best albums. I also think that the Warrior's Code is better than Blackout and Sing it Loud Sing It Proud.

Posted by MN_punkmaster-skaman on 2008-03-21 15:33:00
My Score:

It took me a while, but I've finally gotten into this one. It's not my favorite from DKM, but it's definetly their best.

Posted by tnimark on 2008-01-01 22:35:44
My Score:

1) Do Or Die
2) The Gang's All Here
3) The Meanest Of Times
4) Sing Loud, Sing Proud
5) Blackout
6) The Warrior's Code

Posted by Fresnoska on 2007-10-12 11:04:08

Thanks for not blasting me on my "rankings". The latest album was a pleasant surprise. I was ready to give up after Blackout...

Posted by Hey_Asshole on 2007-10-12 03:04:54
My Score:

j mostly agree with the ranking below...but, Sing Loud Sing Proud should be higher than Warrior's Code

Posted by punkengineer on 2007-10-10 19:22:06
My Score:

I agree on the rankings below.

Posted by FresnoSka on 2007-10-10 16:04:25
My Score:

1) Do Or Die
2) The Gang's All Here
3) Meanest Of Times
4) Warrior's Code
5) Sing Loud Sing Proud
6) Blackout

Posted by aa540 on 2007-10-10 15:56:15

...this is a nice holdover untill the new Flogging Molly comes out.......

Posted by MaxEThunders on 2007-10-10 15:17:05
My Score:

I like this album a lot I still prefer Do or Die era but the sound is maturing. Also the song "God Willing" had strong meaning because a good friend of mine died recently. But, I'll see the Dropkicks in Milwaukee because I have a fever and it can only be cured with more bagpipe.

Posted by ben_conoley on 2007-10-10 13:46:17

Thanks!

Posted by k-dubs on 2007-10-10 13:18:51

nice review ben, really honest.

Posted by StormShadow on 2007-10-10 11:42:19
My Score:

I gave up on them after Sing Loud, Sing Proud, but this one really kicks some ass. More punk, less folk equals great album.

Posted by HonestAbe on 2007-10-10 10:48:23

Also, this is going to sound like such a douchebag statement...but, I used to love these guys when I was like 14, and couldn't care less about them now. However, that song in The Departed was awesome at least in the context of the movie, I havn't heard it on its own, but within the frame of the movie it was badass

Posted by HonestAbe on 2007-10-10 10:45:59

New Radiohead is awesome

Posted by danperrone on 2007-10-10 10:43:44
My Score:

their worst album. not a single memorable song.

Posted by johnnyz77 on 2007-10-10 10:20:58

is this better then "The gang's all here" . that is my fav. hard DKM cd.

Posted by Oldpunkerforever on 2007-10-10 08:02:27
My Score:

love it, not their best but well done-oldpunker-

Posted by ben_conoley on 2007-10-10 06:58:32

anyone know what the story is behind them leaving hellcat? is this really a major that they are on or what?

Born and Bred is the band's own imprint, which is a part of Warner via East West

Posted by Cos on 2007-10-10 02:45:19

For such a huge band, I'm surprised there wasn't a huge uproar when they left Hellcat. This is the first I've heard of them being on a major. At this point, I really don't see what the difference is between being on Warner or Epitaph, but I'm the sure the band knows. If past experience is anything, they definitely know how to get paid.

Posted by dolorbrigand on 2007-10-10 02:06:53
My Score:

great review, spot on.

Posted by facetofacereunion08 on 2007-10-10 01:20:16

anyone know what the story is behind them leaving hellcat? is this really a major that they are on or what?

Posted by Rastid on 2007-10-09 22:39:22
My Score:

good review. good album. might find its way onto my yearly top 10.

Posted by SteeevePerry on 2007-10-09 21:58:11
My Score:

Flogging Molly are better

Posted by inagreendase on 2007-10-09 17:59:15

Surrender sounds like a Less than Jake song.

iT wAs, LoLz

Posted by whatchokesbegin on 2007-10-09 17:50:26

Just like every one of their albums, its better than good, but not great.

And what, no AWS review?

Posted by Nap on 2007-10-09 17:16:21
My Score:

Better than their last

Posted by thirtyseconds on 2007-10-09 15:32:08

I loved Warrior's Code. But I hardly play it. I just don't ever seem to be in the right mood for it...

Posted by jacknife737 on 2007-10-09 15:21:17

great album, a good step forward from Warrior's Code

Posted by JoeCrede on 2007-10-09 14:46:50
My Score:

Surrender sounds like a Less than Jake song. Thats not a bad thing, I'm just sayin...

Posted by telegraphrocks on 2007-10-09 14:42:26
My Score:

Meh.

Posted by Dante3000 on 2007-10-09 14:33:29

Weren't they doing some deluxe vinyl release with this?
What's up with that?
-Dante

Posted by swiftjustice on 2007-10-09 14:20:13

I like this cd way more than the warrior's code or blackout... meanest of times is an awesome song

Posted by baseball on 2007-10-09 14:17:55
My Score:

solid review

i agree about the tracking....seems just kind of thrown together, which is probably partially why i'll rate this a 6/10

some really good songs and a few too many meh ones....this would be better suited 35 instead of 45 minutes

really only pop this in driving home from work or when cleaning the apartment or something like that

Posted by DiscoFucker on 2007-10-09 14:15:02
My Score:

"listening to albums by either band is like hanging out with an old friend."

Exact same here.

Posted by NotPatriotic on 2007-10-09 13:52:51
My Score:

Spot on review. The US Bombs and the Dropkick Murphys were the two bands that got me into punk rock. I now realize that neither band is all that great, but listening to albums by either band is like hanging out with an old friend. "Flannigan's Ball" is my favorite song on the album.

Posted by TheMike on 2007-10-09 13:48:29
My Score:

"Famous for Nothing", "State of Massachusetts", "Surrender" and the traditional songs are the saving grace of this album. The rest is underwhelming.