I have been a Murphys fan for years and I couldn't wait to buy this disc when it came out. I had Blackout and Live on St. Patrick's Day already and I wanted to add to my collection. So I drove up to Kmart and bought it in the middle of a thunderstorm, popped it in the player and started listening. However, between the sound of the defogger, the rain, and the wipers, I pretty much missed the CD. When I got home, I was less than happy with what I had heard, I thought that the album sucked and that I had just wasted 13 hard-earned dollars. So I set it aside for a week. Then I was taking a roadtrip, so I decided to pop it in again and give the album another shot (in better weather, mind you).

That's where that story ends and this one begins...

This album is awesome, what more can I say? The opener was hard-hitting, as was the second track. Notable is "Green Fields of France." This is a great slow song, even if they didn't write it and the emotional impact of it is intense. In contrast lies "Last Letter Home" of similar subject matter, but more personal, tragic and triumphant, defiance in the face of death. "Auld Triangle" is deeply affecting as well, a great traditional tune brought up to speed. And even though the album ends best with "Last Letter Home's" scalding closing guitars (and a listen of it should definitely finish with this song), tacking "Tessie" on to the end was more than appropriate, for God sakes, the Sox won! A DKM album without reference to hometown sports would be sacrelige!

In summation, a great album, their best, solid all around, deeply affecting and also a rollicking good time. Highly recommended.

Another excellent release from the Dropkick Murphys! On this album they manage to do it all, from straight-up rockers, to more traditional Celtic-inspired tunes, with even a touch of political commentary thrown in. The standout tunes for me are: "Captain Kelly's Kitchen", "The Green Fields of France", and of course "Tessie". Here's my thoughts on each track:

Your Spirit's Alive - Love the slow, mellow pipe opening that explodes into the full band barrage. Very quick tempo, upbeat song, pure DKM! 4.5/5

The Warrior's Code - Another upbeat, pure DKM rocker, the story of boxer Micky Ward (whose picture is on the cover of the CD) 4/5

Captain Kelly's Kitchen - Probably my favorite song on the CD, love the vocal trade-offs. Traditional rowdy pub song given that special brand of DKM magic! 5/5

The Walking Dead - OK song, not sure about the chorus. 3/5

Sunshine Highway - Love the catchy "pop song" chorus, great instrumentation on this one, radio-friendly DKM. 3.5/5

Wicked Sensitive Crew - DKM shows off their humorous side, pure tongue-in-cheek fun, love the intentionally erroneous reference to Micky dying in Rocky II (two rhymed better then three). 4/5

The Burden - DKM departs from their Celtic-influenced sound on this straight-up rocker. Did I hear keyboards in there? 3/5

Citizen C.I.A. - DKM makes a strong (albeit somewhat tongue-in-cheek) political statement with this one. 4/5

The Green Fields of France - Wow, this is different! Really mellow, traditional funeral dirge sound. DKM makes a real departure from their rocking punk sound to create this masterpiece, love it! 5/5

Take It and Run - Okay rocker, nothing to reall distinguish it from the rest. 3.5/5

I'm Shipping Up To Boston - (Words by Woodie Guthrie) - DKM does a great job filling out the sound on Guthrie's sparse lyrics. Any song about Boston is DKM, right? 4/5

The Auld Triangle - Love the mellow flute/piano beginning, catchy chorus, the pipes return! 4/5

Last Letter Home - Awesome, touching song written for the soldiers serving in Iraq. Check out the liner notes for the story behind this song. 4.5/5

Tessie - Added sound clip of the Sox winning the series last year. Pure classic stuff here. If you're from New England, this song's for you! 5/5

I have been a long time follower of Dropkick, since I was in highschool (1996). Most of there albums have been some of the best music I have ever heard. But.. This album is by far a plead to release an album just to stay active in putting out new music. Maybe they need to kick out some members and bring in some new talent. Yeah sure I was disappointed to hear the new lineup after hearing gangs all here, but wow was I amazed when they put out sing loud, sing proud. Hopefully the next album will be better, but I am sure going to be hesitant to buy it. Hey it happens, there hasn't been a band that has released great material everytime. This album was not even mediocore though. Mediocore was blackout. I am still a fan I am just always going to ignore the fact this album was even put out. I could say more but the rest my remarks would comment about society, music, and the need to please a larger audience (sunshine highway).