Celtic punk delivers unheard folk lyrics
Massachusetts Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys crashed the music scene in 1996. Current members Ken Casey, Matt Kelly, James Lynch, Tim Brennan and Jeff DaRosa released their most recent album, an acoustic 10-track LP titled This Machine Still Kills Fascists on Sept. 30, 2022. It’s no surprise that their new work leans heavily into folk rock, seeing as the band took words from the unprinted pages of Woody Guthrie, as they did for their hardcore hit single “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” in 2005. Guthrie’s daughter Nora gave Dropkick Murphys access to an archive of her father’s unpublished work. This Machine Still Kills Fascists –a title inspired by the phrase often inscribed on Guthrie’s guitar– is inclusive, angry but spirited and just as relevant as when the words were written.
Every track of This Machine Still Kills Fascists tells a story, which is especially apparent in the album’s opening track, “Two 6’s Upside Down.” Getting straight to the point, the song starts with just an eight-count of twangy instrumentals before reverberated vocals depict “a long old time in a hard rock jail.” The echo effect rings with authenticity, as though his somber words are truly rebounding against the walls of a rusty cell. The lyrics use repetitive phrasing, such as how the woman he loved “run away with another man.” This same technique appears when the narrator yells “the judge give me 99” in succession. These repeated lines give audiences the ability to join in, even when unfamiliar with the words.
“Never Git Drunk No More” tells the tale of a man pledging to give up alcohol in the hopes that his woman will take him back. Though the acoustic guitar strums and piping tin whistle at the song’s start seem cheerful and almost festive, he fails to appeal to his “love.” Country singer Nikki Lane vocalizes the female, singing that her “doors are locked” because he has let her down “ten million times” with empty promises that result in an empty bottle. Lane’s duet with Casey helps develop their story, and is especially vibrant when they harmonize with the tin whistle in each chorus. Given the theme, this instrument that first felt playful seems more wistful by the end.
Dropkick Murphys join country band Turnpike Troubadours for “The Last One,” featuring vocals from their lead singer, Evan Felker. Casey and Felker sing about the alienation of America’s working class, a common theme in Guthrie’s lyrics. The song wields a rich handful of instrumentals such as thoughtful guitar-picking and strumming, steadied taps from a drum brush and a warbling harmonica. The two vocalists compliment each other in the chorus, as Felker’s smoother voice joins in harmonic unison with Casey’s gravelly tone.
The final tune of This Machine Still Kills Fascists creeps in with the build of an accordion before launching into a catchy melody. “Dig A Hole” most notably features special unearthed vocals of Guthrie by implementing a recording of him singing about WWII. The sample is of course dated and therefore raw in quality, which settles well into the song’s first verse. Somewhat muffled by early and mid-1900s recording equipment, the inclusion of Guthrie’s vocals in “Dig A Hole” is charming, powerful and deliberate. How else to pay tribute to the late folk sensation than with his own voice? Especially when the band joins him by chanting “lay those fascists down” in the following chorus.
This Machine Still Kills Fascists relies on lyrical storytelling, an exclusive use of acoustics and repeated chants that encourage audience participation. These qualities might remind some of an old, intimate pub, stirring thoughts of nostalgia and unity. Simultaneously, a cloud of gloom shadows the album as listeners remember that though Guthrie’s lyrics concerning economic corruption, unjust imprisonment and fascism date back to 80 years ago, the themes still apply. As Dropkick Murphys bring Woody Guthrie’s lyrics and voice into 2022, it seems “This Machine” is one that travels in time, or at least serves as a rocking historical reflection.
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