STREET DOGS - "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" (2018)

STREET DOGS - "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING"
(Running time: 36:38 minutes; 11 Songs)
("Century Media Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, next post coming up for you and this time if I finish it in time we will finally have another beloved early morning post right here and now and this time you get my record review on the new album of /by the (al)mighty STREET DOGS from Boston, M.A./U.S.A. titled "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" that was released @ the 22nd of June of 2018 via "CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS" and I call the CD version of it my very own. The STREET DOGS were one of my favorite bands back then with fantastic albums like for example "FADING AMERICAN DREAM" but somehow I lost them a bit out of sight over the past decade or so and so "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" is the first new album of/by them to that I listen(ed) in quite a while… yes, shame on me. But, oh yes, the magic and the spirit were right back and the STREET DOGS instantly conquered me again in an absolute supreme way with their "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" titled newest masterpiece that finally made it into my collection again - and I definitely won't loose them out of sight again. But, yes, I have to fasten up the pace here of and with that review here and now a bit if I want to get it done still this morning before I will leave to work and a bit of breakfast I also still have to loop down, yeah', and so let's go: First big surprise for/to me was that the STREET DOGS here on and with "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" only show very slight Celtic Punk/Irish Punk or in genereal Celtic influences, and this mostly or more in the general feeling of (some of) the songs as well as in the general approach of the rhythm arrangements and the compositorial dynamics, and that they turned more and more into one hell of a strong and in all positive sense emotional Streetpunk/Punkrock band with strong rockin' notes and a truckload of surprising, very fresh and grapping, and totally unique ideas (like for example vocal line arrangements and the 'out of that resulting' vocal delivery in a very rhythmic accentuated way that sound like EMINEM would go out all Punkrock) in it all. The STREET DOGS were and still are and today even more than before totally one of a kind and so to compare them with other bands isn't making that much sense at/after all but if you really shouldn't know them or (like me) lost them for quite a while out of sight then let me tell you that today in 2018 they sound like a very stand-alone mixture out of DROPKICK MURPHYS and SOCIAL DISTORTION and THE CLASH with some good doses of COCK SPARRER mixed into it all for all the right reasons and with some strong rocking and rolling Working Class Rock & Roll marks of the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN kind in it all, too, and with the Celtic roots (like above already mentioned) shine through only in pieces here and there and all done (like also already mentioned but it won't burt anyone if I mention it one more time again) in their absoultely unique and very own way and this done above all also all damn intense, authentic, heartfelt, and sympathic. So expect very intense and grapping as well as very, very anthemic battle-scarred diverse and multi-facetted highly emotional songs that are packed up full with fantastic rousing arrangements and fresh surprising twists and turns quite all along the ride and that are damn melodic and emotional but this with still being damn heavy beneath their surface over all the time and that are filled with highly melodic guitars, very charismatic and absolutely unique delivered/delivering lead-vocals, some fantastic very full backings, and a just pure power and yet sort of very 'empathetically' rhythm section, and this all is creating eleven purest gold anthems here on and with "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING". Fantastic, diverse, socially and politically aware and very outspoken lyrics, a drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a warm and organic production sound then round it all perfectly up. To anyone into really intense and incredible good music I can only highly recommend the STREET DOG's "STAND FOR SOMETING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" and this massively with it being one of the best albums of/for 2018, definitely, and so in case you still shouldn't have or even know it then by any means, yes, you definitely, finally, and desperately have to change this and this best right now. Get it, period.

(9,5 of 10 Points)

https://de-de.facebook.com/streetdogs/ (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

STREET DOGS - "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING" (2018, "STAND FOR SOMETHING OR DIE FOR NOTHING")

DROPKICK MURPHYS - "11 SHORT STORIES OF PAIN & GLORY" (2017)

DROPKICK MURPHYS - "11 SHORT STORIES OF PAIN & GLORY"
(Running time: 38:43 minutes; 11 songs)
("Born & Bred Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, here it is, the final record-review-post for 2017 and this time I thought why not finally do it on the pretty much very first 2017 release that I bought in 2017 (if I do remember it now correctly) and so now here finally comes my review on the current new album of the almighty DROPKICK MURPHYS that carries the title "11 SHORT STORIES OF PAIN & GLORY" and that was released at the pretty much early beginning of 2017 via "BORN & BRED RECORDS". So, yes, if you know me personally or if you know about me through being a reader of this very blog here now for already a little bit longer than you know that the DROPKICK MURPHYS are since the glory days of their "DO OR DIE" debut an absolute favourite of mine and of highest importance for me, hell yeahr, and so when "11 SHORT STORIES OF PAIN & GLORY" finally was released at the beginning of this now already almost gone'n'over year I was damn fucking excited and curious and I stormed the record store and took it with me - and it totally conquered me one more time again, yes, and I mean it TOTALLY CONQUERED. For sure the DROPKICK MURPHYS aren't doing anything revolutionary new on here but why should they and also their delivery is absolutely top notch again and it's so fresh and alive/lively with the typical unique DROPKICK MURPHYS identity and character and still with exciting twists'n'turns all along the ride and much or better highly grapping arrangements (like for example the Country impressions in the arrangements and the delivery of the verses of "FIRST CLASS LOSER") and an even stronger than before BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN inspired Rock and Rock & Roll influence while still staying true to their Punkrock/Streetpunk and also even to their Oi! roots, yes, and that "11 SHORT STORIES OF PAIN & GLORY" is completly filled with Celtic/Irish Folk elements should be clear and should also need no further explanations anyhow anyway here and now. The songwritiung is one more time again highest skilled and nicely diverse while strongly vayring and offering as one central focus point anthemic arranged verses and even more outstanding hymnal sing-a-long refrains that always deliver an incredible amount of exploding energy, honest passion, and heartfelt power and that never get stale or lame. All is delivered by hard rocking and yet very melodic and play- as well as soulful delivered guitars and a rich Irish Folk instrumentation and both elements mark the music and songs heavily, yes, and the same is to say about the fantastic and incredible charismatic shared lead vocals that are also massively enriched and backed up by loud'n'proud crew chants. Then there's the tight and to the point played rhythm section that only adds up to the massive quality of the songs and the music. Great, strong, and outspoken lyrics, a pretty cool artwork, and a fantastic warm and organic production sound finally round it all up. To give you any personal favorites would make no real sense, after all the songs are of the same highest quality grade, yes, and so I spare me any more words. This is one of the very, very best releases that this year came out and this now from january 2017 on, and still going strong. And like the lyrics so's the music, one of the most powerful albums I've heard this year and also in years (and probably also for years). So, yes, I think that's it all, and so if you really should still not have it then by any means change this as soon as possible. Yes, and then that's it for 2017 and we'll read us next year again. I wish you all a great 'year-change' and then untill 2018. Cheers & Oi!

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

DROPKICK MURPHYS - "BLOOD" (2017, "11 SHORT STORIES OF PAIN & GLORY")

FLOGGING MOLLY - "LIFE IS GOOD" (2017)

FLOGGING MOLLY - "LIFE IS GOOD"
(Running time: 44:23 minutes; 12 songs)
("Vanguard Records" & "Spinefarm Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, yes, it's me again and I'm back @ work again up here and after it is already a little bit later tonight I will now head more or less straight and direct into the action to get this post still up and ready and done tonight before my bed is calling me too undeniable strong. So here and now you get my review on the current new FLOGGING MOLLY album titled "LIFE IS GOOD" released (I think so) this summer via "VANGUARD RECORDS" and through "SPINEFARM RECORDS". And... damn it... because of all the stuff that strongly made time far too short from september on (let us call it real life) pretty much until now respectively pretty recently and so now a big bunch of record reviews is coming up in a row and this means also in particular a big bunch of reviews on really strong releases and with the review on FLOGGING MOLLY's 2017 full length release "LIFE IS GOOD" here's already the next such case coming up and this time here now we have a review on one of the strongest and best releases of, for, and in 2017 (at least so definitely in my book). Because of the current 'night-time' I'll really and desperately try to keep it short this time right now and right here (like above already mentioned) to still come up with it tonight and still also sort of get sooner not later to bed, yes, and so... FLOGGING MOLLY serve us one hell of an outstanding album in their very unique and characteristic Folk Rock or Celtic Rock style with some slight Punkrock roots to it that shine in through few Folk Punk or Celtic Punk impressions and some well-served Country and also 'Americana/Mexicana' influences to enrich it all; all is heavily atmospheric and powerful and really mighty intense with being filled with very strong emotions and even in the music-wise most sensitive and sometimes even melancholic moments the songs and in general the music of FLOGGING MOLLY especially here on "LIFE IS GOOD" are so incredible rousing, powerful, intense, and filled with tons of a positive and life-affirming and 'militant' attitude that this is nothing but an outstanding forceful and really bright shining, larger than life album of an immense high quality, point and fact. And it all really comes to life through the fantastic diverse and multilayered, highly intense and atmospheric songwriting full of grapping arrangements, exciting song-compositions, rousing and overwhelming twists and turns along the whole ride, and a lot of changes of the pace, the rhythmic architectures and structures, and the moods of the different songs. It's just simply nothing but really absolutely fantastic, period. It's all then filled with strong and emotional and very charismatic and pretty unique vocals as well as such guitars that are also highly rousing as well as sensitive/emotional and at the same time sheer bursting of power and might, yes, and both 'ingredients' are heavily marking the songs of FLOGGING MOLLY's "LIFE IS GOOD", yes, and this for all the right reasons. Same counts for all the phenomenal Folk, Country, and 'Americana/Mexicana' instrumentations, just amazing; and the elated and high skilled rhythm section then finally backs it all up in sort of an it all cultivating way and manner. Fantastic lyrics, a beautiful artwork, and a warm and earthy production sound then round it all up. All in all, yes, no need for further talkings, hell no, if you still shouldn't have or even know it, why the bloody hell ever, and if you are into Folk Rock and also Folk Punk and also if/when you are a BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN fan then by any means trust me when I say that you definitely need to have this precious big gem here and call it your own and also trust me when I say that you will definitely love FLOGGING MOLLY's "LIFE IS GOOD", definitely. My personal favorites are "THERE'S NOTHING LEFT PT. I", "THE HAND OF JOHN L. SULLIVAN", "WELCOME TO ADAMSTOWN", "REPTILES (WE WOKE UP)", "LIFE IS GOOD", "CRUSHED (HOSTILE NATIONS)", "HOPE", "THE BRIDE WORE BLACK", and "UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN", yes, and so maybe start your discovery journey with this everything outshining larger than life masterpieces. I really love this very album here very, very much. It's totally fantastic. Okay, yes, and now for tonight I say good night and we'll read again soon.

(10 of 10 points)

www.floggingmolly.com/ (- the link to the homepage of the band)

FLOGGING MOLLY - "REPTILES (WE WOKE UP)" (2017, "LIFE IS GOOD")