DROPKICK MURPHYS

SIGNED AND SEALED IN BLOOD      

2 X LP

I’ve always loved the Dropkicks, and always get their new one when it comes out. Some of their vinyl has been well packaged, others less so. Some of their early releases on Hellcat are very nice, with posters and lyric inserts etc.

This is the 8th album from the longstanding Boston punks. Everything’s turned up! Everything’s the same, yet different. The Christmas tune “The season’s upon us” even got a run on a commercial radio station, but then again so did “Shipping up to Boston”, probably. More gang backup singalong vocals than ever, (which detracts somewhat from everything else). It opens in classic Dropkick’s style with “The boys are back”, and continues with “Prisoners song”. Then I do start to wish they would speed things up a little sometimes on this one.............. the celtic/folk theme is more overt than ever on this record, (similarly with the last one ”Going out in style”) as opposed to the hardcore/punk element. Chugs along nicely though, and we can’t expect them to make another “Do or Die”, can we. If you’re already a fan you’ll probably like it, and annoy your kids/neighbours/wife with the singalongs. If not, well, it may not be the one to win you over.

A nicely packaged double LP set, in a gatefold sleeve. No lyric inserts, although the lyrics are on the inside gatefold. Good quality vinyl, the sound is nice and full, allowing all the instruments to be heard (although again, the gang vocals do detract a little bit for me). I’m a little puzzled as to the reasoning behind the 2 records, with 13 songs, inclusive of the extra track “Shark Attack”, (which is one of the faster tracks). All the songs could have fit on one LP. Perhaps something to do with the width of the grooves; 12” 45RPM’s are cued louder than 33’s (this is a 33 though). So there’s 4 songs a side, and the extra track comprising an entire side. Also included is a download code if you’re interested.