Dropkick Murphys “This Machine Still Kills Fascists” Album Review

This Machine Still Kills Fascists

Dropkick Murphys

• • Genre: Alternative
  • Date: 30 Sep, 2022
  • Content: Not-explicit
  • Region: USA
  • Track(s): 10

• ℗ 2022 Dummy Luck Music under exclusive licence to [PIAS]

The guys have always wanted to look back and gather more inspiration, and the band has now embarked on a project that allows them to do just that. “This Machine Still Kills Fascists” is unlike anything the guys have ever done before. The album features lyrics by Woody Guthrie and is stripped down to its acoustic roots.

“This Machine Still Kills Fascists” also marks another significant change, as co-lead singer Al Barr’s absence from the band to care for his dying mother has resulted in Casey taking over all lead vocal responsibilities. Nevertheless, despite these distinctions, the album is a boisterous, rough-and-tumble affair. Still, it is distinctly Dropkick Murphys.

Album Cover Art

A religious altar of some sort, adorned with red and white candles of different heights and sizes, can be seen on the album cover but comes with a twist as different symbols signifying different things coexist alongside one another. However, in the centre of it all, there is a guitar, placed horizontally, on which the album title is boldly written on in dark ink. Quite cryptic but colorful if you don’t scare easy.

Tracks and Features

“Upside Down by Two 6” serves as the album’s first track. When you hear this song, the Johnny Cash influence is unavoidably one of the first things that comes to mind. Not merely Woody’s lyrics are out of date; whether on purpose or not, they could have been written by him today given how timely they are in light of the present political and social situation. It feels like a sweet little reference to how musicians would set up their instruments and arrangements in those earlier days. Additionally, it’s a wonderful little folk tune that tells a story, which is another area in which Guthrie always excelled.

The song “Talking Jukebox” features the “if these walls could talk” scenario but with a jukebox. It begins with a surf rock riff. You might be thinking to yourself, “boy, if this musical marvel here could talk, I wonder what it would say about everything that goes on in this bar,” as you observe people while this inert object is just sitting there all day and night. The music that is played actually accomplishes that exact goal.

“Ten Times More” has got to be one of the Murphy’s most original songs ever. The primary instrumentation, which is simply foot stomping, gives off a gritty, stripped-down vibe that is hard to resist. Literally. This song features only a harmonica and the sounds of stomping feet on a wooden floor; there is no percussion. This one would be interesting to see performed live.

The fourth song, “Never Get Drunk No More,” begins with a tin whistle, and the guys are starting to sound more like they do on previous tracks. Ken and singer-songwriter Nikki Lane collaborate on the song. It’s an old story about a guy promising to give up drinking forever to a woman who has heard it countless times. This tune can easily become a personal favorite from the album.

On “Dig a Hole,” the album’s final track, Cole Quest duets with the band’s front-man on ending fascism using a Smithsonian Folkways original Guthrie vocal tape and some excellent dobro playing from Cole, Guthrie’s grandson. The song accomplishes more than only acting as a strong closer to an excellent album. It demonstrates the concepts of Guthrie’s work have remained relevant throughout time.

Tracklist

NO	TITLE	TIME
1	Two 6’s Upside Down	3:29
2	Talking Jukebox	3:13
3	Ten Times More	2:11
4	Never Git Drunk No More (feat. Nikki Lane)	3:25
5	All You Fonies	2:49
6	The Last One (feat. Evan Felker)	3:33
7	Cadillac, Cadillac	2:53
8	Waters Are a’risin	3:02
9	Where Trouble Is At	2:33
10	Dig a Hole (feat. Woody Guthrie)	3:09

Album Theme

Unabated political oppression and the struggles of working men and women persist. The powerful continue to ignore the plight of those in need. On the new album, Dropkick Murphys are still on the front lines of the struggle, much like Woody Guthrie.

Production Credits

The LP was produced & mixed by Ted Hutt.

Stream

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