PW's Song Of The Week: SONG OF THE WEEK: 10-13-2024

SONG: "Rippin Up The Boundary Line"

ARTIST: Dropkick Murphys

ALBUM: "Okemah Rising"

YEAR: 2023

PLACE OF ORIGIN: Quincy, Massachusetts

YEARS ACTIVE: 1996 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Rippin Up The Boundary Line" appears to be about a call to action, urging listeners to break down the barriers that separate the rich from the poor, and to fight against the forces that prevent the growth of a strong and vibrant working class. The lyrics are a powerful indictment of the corporate and political forces that seek to maintain the status quo, and the song encourages listeners to stand up and fight back against these oppressive forces.

DROPKICK MURPHYS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1998 - Do Or Die (Hellcat Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1999 - The Gang's All Here (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at #184 on the Billboard 200

2000 - The Singles Collection, Vol. 1 (Hellcat Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2001 - Sing Loud, Sing Proud (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at #144 on the Billboard 200

2002 - Live On St. Patrick's Day (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at #155 on the Billboard 200

2003 - Blackout (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at #83 on the Billboard 200

2005 - The Singles Collection, Vol. 2 (Hellcat Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2005 - The Warrior's Code (Hellcat Records)

* peaked at #48 on the Billboard 200

* certified gold

2007 - The Meanest Of Times (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200

2010 - Live On Landsdowne St., Boston, MA (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200

2011 - Going Out In Style (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200

2012 - Live At Fenway (Born & Bred Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2013 - Signed And Sealed In Blood (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200

2017 - 11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200

2021 - Turn Up That Dial (Born & Bred Records)

* peaked at #74 on the Billboard 200

2022 - The Machine Still Kills Fascists (Dummy Luck Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2023 - Okemah Rising (Dummy Luck Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON DROPKICK MURPHYS:

Dropkick Murphys are a band that formed back in 1996, hailing from Quincy, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. After dropping a few EP's, the band released their debut full length album, "Do Or Die", in 1998. This would be the only full length album to feature the band's original lead singer, Mike McColgan on vocals as he would leave the band in 1998. Al Barr, frontman for the band The Bruisers, would join the Dropkicks as their new lead singer and bassist Ken Casey would also take a more prominent role in lead vocals as well. The band's first album with Barr would be 1999's "The Gang's All Here". They would follow that up with 2001's "Sing Loud, Sing Proud". 2003's "Blackout" generated some success thanks in part to songs like "Walk Away" and "The Dirty Glass". The 2005 album "The Warrior's Code" would be certified gold and contained perhaps the band's most famous song, "I'm Shipping Up To Boston". Not only was that song featured throughout the movie "The Departed", it is also a staple at all of Boston's sporting events. In 2007, the band released "The Meanest Of Times". 2011's "Going Out In Style" would peak at #6 on the Billboard 200 charts, becoming the band's highest charting album to date. 2013 saw the release of "Signed And Sealed In Blood", featuring another stand out single by the band, "Rose Tattoo". "11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory" was released in 2017 and followed up by "Turn Up That Dial" in 2021. In 2022, Al Barr took an indefinite hiatus from the band to care for his mother who was battling dementia. In 2022 and 2023 respectively, the Dropkicks put out two albums, "The Machine Still Kills Fascists" and "Okemah Rising" which were based off of lyrics and writings of Woody Guthrie. These would be the first albums without Al Barr on vocals since 1998. Most recently, the band released the single "Sirens" in 2024. Dropkick Murphys are legendary here in Boston, but they are also a pretty big deal all over the world. Early on, the band Rancid took the Dropkick's under their wing, even signing them to their own label, Hellcat Records. The Dropkick Murphys are synonymous with Irish pride and celtic punk. These guys ooze blue collar work ethic and firmly stand behind unions and the working class. They also take huge pride in being from and representing Boston and it's surrounding areas. There may not be one band more known for their hometown than the Dropkick Murphys, that's for sure. I'm from the Boston area, so yeah, I'm biased as hell! The Dropkick's rule and their lengthy music catalogue backs that statement up no doubt!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Rumjacks

The Real McKenzies

Flatfoot 56

Street Dogs

Social Distortion

TEN DROPKICK MURPHYS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Warrior's Code

2. Going Out In Style

3. The Dirty Glass

4. Barroom Hero

5. Rose Tattoo