Dropkick Murphys, 'The Meanest of Times' (Born & Bred)
Despite gaining mainstream exposure on last year's soundtrack to The Departed, Dropkick Murphys haven't softened their rough edges: The band's sixth album is a massive blast of exalted noise via shouted, sore-throat choruses and brain-crushing beats (along with a hint of bagpipes). But The Meanest of Times moves beyond just connecting the dots between working-class punk and ancient Celtic ditties, with surprisingly thoughtful songs that explore lives shaped by drunken violence and Catholicism -- the brute fury of "Shattered" alone provides reason enough to listen up.
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Dropkick Murphys - "The State of Massachusetts" WINDOWS MEDIA








