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Dropkick Murphys
SINGLES COLLECTION VOLUME 2 — 1984-2004, B-SIDES, COVERS, COMPS & OTHER CRAP
(Hellcat)
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I’d forgotten just how much Dropkick Murphys can resemble the Misfits when you bleed the Celtic blood from their veins and take away Joe Delaney’s bagpipes (and particularly when they’re covering the Misfits tune "Halloween" here). Maybe it’s just that Danzig’s on the road rehashing his salad days, but when singer Ken Casey growls his way through a straight hardcore number like Andre & the Press’s obscure punk gem "21 Gun Salute," equally obscure nuggets like Iron Cross’s "You’re a Rebel" and Cock Sparrer’s "Watch Your Back," or the Murphys’ own "On the Attack," the resemblance is as uncanny as it is appealing. But with 23 rarities of various sorts to chew through, the Murphys’ second singles collection offers as well-rounded a picture of the band as you’re likely to find on one disc. The cover tunes are the highlight, especially when matched against what appears to be a pointless and not particularly danceable (in the disco sense) "dance remix" of "Pipebomb on Lansdowne" (unless I just don’t get the inside joke). Some of the treasures include an inspired cover of CCR’s "Fortunate Son," a speedy version of Motörhead’s "Rock ’n’ Roll" with Bosstone Dicky Barrett on vocals, a pair of straightforward tributes to the Murphys’ Boston forebears (Gang Green’s party anthem "Alcohol" and the only slightly lesser-known F.U.’s anthem "Warlords"), and AC/DC’s "It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)," a song the Murphys had to cover because even the original has bagpipes on it. Elsewhere, they chew through "Vengeance," a tune by Shane MacGowan’s first band, the Nipple Erectors, then invite MacGowan to sing along on the trad drinking tune "The Wild Rover." This collection is just a holdover until the band’s next studio album is ready for release in June, just in time for the Murphys to hit the Warped Tour circuit. But it’s no throwaway — call it essential for all but the most diehard fans, who already own most of these singles or have taken the time to download them. (Dropkick Murphys play an officially sold-out run of four shows March 18, 19, and 20 at Avalon, 15 Lansdowne Street in Boston; call 617-228-6000.)
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