Dropkick Murphys Album: “Blackout”

Many people seem to slate this album because it is seen as a departure from Do or Die. While that album was by for a more raw Oi!punk sound this album does have its merits.

DM give us the same Oi! chants, Irish heritage and lyrics about drinking that have made them popular. Track that stands out for me is "Fields of Athenry" Great to hear it rendered into an Oi! track (Wonder if the DM know it is a popular terrace song of Liverpool fans (all be it with the lyrics changed to "Fields of Anfield Road"))

Outside the Shankly Gates

I heard a Kopite calling

Shankly they have taken you away

But you left a great eleven

Before you went to heaven

Now it's glory round the Fields of Anfield Road.

All round the Fields of Anfield Road

Where once we watched the King Kenny play (and he could play)

We had Heighway on the wing

We had dreams and songs to sing

Of the glory round the Fields of Anfield Road

Outside the Paisley Gates

I heard a Kopite calling

Paisley they have taken you away

You led the great 11

Back in Rome in 77

And the Redmen they are still playing the same way

All round the Fields of Anfield Road

Where once we watched the King Kenny play (and he could play)

We had Heighway on the wing

We had dreams and songs to sing

Of the glory round the Fields of Anfield Road

The DM have often been compared to Cock Sparrar and Sham 69 and that would probably be a fair comparaison. Don't know why anyone would have a problem with the DM celebrating their Irish heritage this is a pretty good album.

Well worth a listen.

This is where artistic style and skill culminate, the Dropkick Murphys' finest album. Deeply rooted in their Celtic Punk musical style, the Murphys show a flair for creating songs with a broad appeal, while maintaining their roots as a band that started in Quincy, Massachusetts. The Murphys possess the ability to write angst-filled rebellious lyrics and run the gauntlet to the tradtional humorous Irish song with the final track on the album. This is a must own for fans of DKM and anyone who enjoys punk, Celtic music or having pint.

I agree with other reviewers that this album is definitely more commercial than DKM's other albums, but it's still one of my favorites. The songs are simpler, less Irish, and more of the sing-a-long variety with repetitive lyrics (Gonna Be a Blackout Tonight and This Is Your Life), but there's something about the album that just plain makes me feel good. If you're looking for something edgier, this isn't it, though, try "The Singles Collection."

I LOVE BLACKOUT JUST AS MUCH AS ALL THEIR OTHER ALBUMS!!! all you morons who say that you're behind dkm all the way, but then contradict yourself by saying that you hate Blackout...you don't deserve to even express your opinion. Blackout is awesome! just as great as sing loud, sing proud, do or die, the gang's all here, live on a five, etc...dkm has been keeping up the god work for 7 years now and by my standards, they've gotten better, just like their work has. so all you out there saying that Blackout sucks, think about how much you really are behind them, becase you're not.

worker's song-kiss me i'm s**tfaced: all f*cking great!!!

When this album came out, I didn't bother going and getting it, I didn't know why; Murphy's rule! Then the warped tour 2003 came to town and Murphy's were on the bill. I caught their set and (I) was totally blown away by their new stuff, the next day I went out and bought it.

Blackout is great and proves Murphy's can do no wrong. A lot of fans of their older stuff don't really like this album; They say it's to mainstream or to poppy. True, it's not like their early stuff (with is also great), but nonetheless, it doesn't lose the amazing punk/celtic sound Murphy's are know for. I highly recommend this cd along with their older stuff.