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 - The Murphys At Their BestRecorded shortly before the departure of much-touted piper Spicy McHaggis (immortalized in the raucous "Spicy McHaggis Jig"), this is an excellent live album and a great way to get into the Murphys if you aren't too familiar with them. The three shows it showcases span the band's catalog, picking out great song after great song, with the energy that can only be captured live. From the fastest "Curse of A Fallen Soul" to the slowest "The Torch," there really isn't a stinker in the bunch. The covers of "Fortunate Son" and "Dirty Water" are very well-done. It's not often you can get a great live album comprising 26 songs from a great band for 11 bucks. Plus you get to hear from the Reverend Ken Casey about how moderate his fees are. These guys are fun, serious, just generally a real band that will show you a real good time if you just give them a chance and buy this album. Rating:  - For BostonI'm envious of Bostonites every St. Patty's Day (for a couple reasons) but most certainly because the Murphs throw a 3 day party (not just a concert, a PARTY, as author Dennis Lehane says in the liner notes) for the city. These guys embrace their fans and their fans embrace them and it's just one slambang three day celebration with punk, hicks, micks, and brews pouring. In fact, on this album is a recording of a wedding engagement that occured onstage at the show. Great stuff man! After the bagpipes, the Murphs launce into "For Boston" a track declaring comraderie with their fans, and then "Boys on the Dock", just one of many of the Murph's worker anthems. As the party flies with amped up killer cuts from albums past and present like "Which Side Are You On?", "John Law", "A Few Good Men" (Stand up and be counted, sing a song for liberty...!) ,and of course two ultimate rockers "The Gauntlet" (download this song now!) and "Barroom Hero" I just found myself wishing I was there. I've seen this band 3 times but never on their own turf on their own holiday and in front of their family. What an awesome way to start the Spring! Finally, the show wraps up with "Skinhead on the MBTA" (Metro Boston Transit Authority" - right, you Bostonites?? Is that what that stands for?") aka "Bloody Pig Pile" and as the liner notes state "the mob swarmed onboard". I gotta get there some year............ I don't like the Red Sox cause they beat my Cards but I love this band and you would too. Rating:  - Not as good as being there but pretty closeNothing can take the place of experiencing the sheer energy of a Dropkick Murphy show, but this is pretty close to it. Some of the lyrics can be hard to understand because of all the backgroup noise, but hey that's their band. Rating: - just one thingok, i just know the band's stuff a bit, and live in Boston, so I want to point out the standell's Dirty WATER track. I Could be wrong, as I so often am, and there may well be a dirty WALTER and I am too much of a geek to know it, but I am looking for Boston/Red Sox Nation stuff to give to my dear friends who are moving to Oklahoma (don't ask) and the Standells's "Dirty Water" is played at Fenway whenever the Sox win. I suppose this is not a review of the Band, which is great, but of the list of songs.... Rating: - One Of The Best Live Albums I OwnRight up there with "Its Alive" and "Kick Out The Jams" is this awesome live recording by The Dropkick Murphys. For those unfamiliar with DKM, they are a punk band with a celtic influence. Many people claim that they are rip-offs of bands such as The Pouges, but I think DKM managed to perfect the Irish punk sound. If you are new to DKM this is a great place to start. The recording quality is above average, and though some tracks arent that good, this a good buy if you like bands like The Pouges or Flogging Molly.
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