Bostons unofficial house band Dropkick Murphys returned after an absence of four years with their tenth set Turn Up That Dial. Rousing and raucous as ever, the album doesnt veer far from their tried-and-true formula of Celtic-influenced punk anthems. In addition to expected fare such as Middle Finger and Smash Shit Up, the boys get serious with the politically charged Chosen Few -- both an observation of American society during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic and an indictment of U.S. presidential leadership during that time -- and I Wish You Were Here, a midtempo ballad dedicated to vocalist Al Barrs late father and other lives lost to the coronavirus. Aside from that final somber moment, the rest of the LP is an absolute blast, yet another collection of reliable singalongs to Oi! your cares away. ~ Neil Z. Yeung
Rovi
全米8位を記録した前作『11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory』から4年ぶり、〈音楽の重要性〉をテーマに掲げた10作目には、拳を突き上げ、大声でシンガロングしたくなる楽曲が並ぶ。"Mick Jones Nicked My Pudding"みたいなファニーな題材や心温まるバースデイ・ソング"H.B.D.M.F."まであり、鬱屈した気分を代弁してくれる合唱パートてんこ盛りの作風が痛快だ。全曲、早くライヴで浴びたい!
bounce (C)荒金良介
タワーレコード(vol.449(2021年4月25日発行号)掲載)