For The People – Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys are back with their new album For The People, produced and mixed by Ted Hutt. I have a little bit of a mixed relationship with the Murphys. It’s not that I think they have become so much worse during the years, but for some reason there was a long time between 2012 and 2021 where I kind of forgot to listen to them, perhaps because Signed and Sealed in Blood not really lived up to my expectations. Then in 2021 they released Turn Up That Dial, an album that I thought was a nice return to form, before I lost them again with the thematic-release This Machine Still Kills Fascists.

But here I am again, and I’ve really given this album a good listen. And it’s by no means a bad one. Not up there with Sing Loud, Sing Proud or Blackout, but definitely in the upper mid-tier of their discography. Al Barr is sadly still missing in the line-up, he’s been on an hiatus since 2022 when he had to take a break to help his sick mother. Ken Casey does the vocals himself with the honors, but I really miss the dynamic duo that gave the band two sides to play with. Caseys softer delivery played nicely with Als more raspy and energetic style. Casey is not completely alone on this album however, he’s joined by Billy Bragg, The Scratch, The Mary Wallopers and Al himself on one song each.

As of now, it becomes a bit one-sided, something that is only a problem because we now how it has sounded before. Lyrically the band is, as the title of the album suggests, still grounded in working class ethics. But it’s also about family, nostalgia and with a couple of songs about people who’s been friends with the band on the road or inspirations to the band members. Musically the album is on the more folksy side of the bands sound, not really leaning towards the streetpunk-side of things. That’s a good thing though, as Caseys voice is a better fit to that side of the band.

The album is diverse enough though, with Fiending for the Lies being the more aggressive track breaking things up in the middle. The opening track Who’ll Stand With Us? is banger, instantly waking the interest, while Bury The Bones (together with The Mary Wallopers) shows how comfortable the band is with the more folky sound.

All in all Dropkick Murphys deliver a solid album with For The People. It’s not as dynamic and in your face as Turn Up That Dial, but plays to the strengths of the line-up they have as of now. I don’t think it’ll disappoint fans of the band, but as for myself, I miss some of those streetpunk-vibes in there, which would have been good for a bit of variation.