Style 43

Having been a huge Dropkick Murphys fan between 1998 and around 2003/4 (‘Do or Die’ was a fantastic album, I don’t care what anyone says), prior to checking out this record; I’d always thought that The Real McKenzie’s were a poor man’s Murphys. I could not have been more wrong.
The album kicks off with ‘Chip’. Now if I were to say this were one of the better of the tracks on the record, I’d be lying; Guitars with a bagpipe ‘ditties’ in accompaniment appear to be the ‘soupe de jour’ here. In my opinion, this track just trundles along setting us up for the where this record really gets started.

‘The Lads That Fought and Won’ appears to be the point where The Real McKenzies make their statement of intent for this record. Even though I really shouldn’t, this track would not have looked out of place on DKM’s 1998 release.

Now, I could work through the track list and describe every song, but that is not the route I wish to take. I’ve got a wash that needs attending and a video to edit; to so we’ll keep it to a need to know basis.

In saying this, the proceeding track ‘The Ballad of Greyfriars’ Bobby definitely is worthy of a special mention. Here the guys are doing what I assume they’ve set out to do. As far as blending punk rock with Celtic Folk is concerned, this track is as good an example of how it’s supposed to be done. Quiet(ish) sections, loud sections, bagpipes and I think there’s even a mandolin in there – one can’t get enough mandolin. Arguably, this is the first stand-out track on this record; both musically and for vocal range – I’m not saying that Paul McKenzie has gone all Lesley Garrett on us, but it does more than just trundle along alike the previous two tracks.

‘Kings of Fife’ (Yep, Fife, that area on the East Scottish coast – noticed the whole Scottish connection yet?) reminds me of the magical music written ‘The Boss’ albeit in a more modern fashion. All that needs to be said is there are very few things in life than can please me. This track (as well as ‘The Boss’) does so.

I will mention track number seven, ‘The Maple Trees Remember’ in a fairly extensive, yet not exhaustive manner. One would not be castigated (certainly not by myself) for thinking that this track is completely misplaced on this record. I had the same feeling on the first play, but then it’s quite clear (once I’d listened to it while completely off my rocker) that not only does this serve as an interlude track (we can’t be up-tempo all the time, kids!), but this is the track on the record playing homage to the other side of TRM’s heritage, the Canadian side.

The next notable track would have to be ‘My Mangy Hound’. These guys obviously don’t take themselves too seriously (in this modern age of music, that’s a bloody good thing) and this is quite evident on this track. In so many words, this track is about a bit of a stank dog which is befriended; this being explained in a fairly comical manner. Thumbs up from this corner.

There were a few accusations from some corners that Paul McKenzie was a bit of an alchy back when 1000 Shots was released. The track ‘Drink Some More’ at first glance can’t have helped alleviate those accusations. It just appears to be a damn good take/modernisation on the old Celtic drinking songs. Try sticking this track on when absolutely motored and not singing along, It’s actually not possible.

Now, I’m a real sucker for good album closers. Forget secret tracks, they’re only needed for bands/artists that are incapable of closing their records off properly. ‘Off The Leash’ doesn’t have one and sure as hell doesn’t need one. Culling the herd is not only hard hitting musically, but is exactly so vocally and lyrically. This track is definitely up there with the closers from the Crime In Stereo records, the best of which (I, Stateside from The Troubled Stateside) tackles a political issue, alike ‘Culling the Herd’. With lyrics such as ‘Put ‘em in a uniform, start culling the herd’ I think we can guess the main theme here.

On the whole, if you’ve been in mixed minds about these guys, buy this record. If you’re a fan of this genre, buy this record. Hell, even if you’re not, buy this record! It’s a solid LP and should be picked up only if it’s for ‘Kings of Fife’ and ‘Culling the Herd’ alone.

Right, I’m off to deinterlace my undies and hang some footage out to dry.

http://www.fatwreck.com/record/detail/731
http://www.myspace.com/therealmckenziess

Reviewed kindly by Mr Law Anderson.