Fans of Dropkick Murphys’ debut album Do or Die will likely be surprised when they listen to this Boston-based Celtic-punk band’s 2022 album “This Machine Still Kills Fascists.” This acoustic album is based on unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics and forgoes Dropkick Murphy’s punk rock sound. Fans of the band should not fear, however, because Woody Guthrie’s lyrics fit right in with the pro-working-class music that defines Dropkick Murphys’ discography, and the band proves themselves to be every bit as talented at playing acoustic folk music as they are punk rock.
Track 1: “Two 6’s Upside Down”
“I laid him low with my old 44 / And the judge gave me 99”
This is a strong opening track that heavily showcases Dropkick Murphys’ switch to acoustic folk music. The lyrics tell the story of a man who was sentenced to prison for committing murder. Despite this serious topic, the song is fun because of the numerically playful lyrics and the catchy rhythm guitar. Many lyrics are repeated, making this song easy and fun to sing along to without coming across as lazy, much like a shanty.
Track 2: “Talking Jukebox”
“But the workers that worked hard to bring me to life / Want me to tell the secrets of your life”
This is one of my favorite songs on this album. Music has had a significant positive influence on my life, so this song’s exploration of how music emotionally resonates with listeners is particularly impactful to me. I am certainly not the only person for whom music can be a source of comfort and understanding, and this song expresses this function of music in a passionate and beautiful way. I highly recommend that anyone who has had an emotional experience listening to music check out the lyrics to this song.
Track 6: “The Last One (feat. Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours)”
“A working man’s hand is the hardest card / In the whole d**n deck to play”
I promised pro-working-class lyrics, so I would be remiss if I did not review this song. This is one of the songs that first made me fall in love with both Woody Guthrie and Dropkick Murphys. The song is beautiful both musically and lyrically. This is classic Woody Guthrie lyricism that both makes listeners want to change the world and celebrates the strength it takes to live in an unfair and unequal society. I cannot recommend this song enough, especially to fans of folk, and it is the reason why “Talking Jukebox” is not my favorite song on this album: “The Last One” is by far my favorite track on “This Machine Still Kills Fascists.”
Track 10: “Dig a Hole (feat. Woody Guthrie)”
“Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow / Gonna lay you fascists down”
It just would not be right for a left-leaning punk band to record Woody Guthrie songs without at least one anti-fascist anthem. I am usually against violence, but I can jam to a song about killing nazis. The repetitive style of “Two 6’s Upside Down” makes a return and is just as fun, if not more so because of this song’s political statement. As someone who is a fan of both Woody Guthrie and punk rock partially because of politics, I love this song and am slightly annoyed that “The Last One” is good enough to push such an incredible anti-fascist song out of my number one spot on this album.
For readers who want to try out Dropkick Murphys but are not fans of punk rock: this album is for you. This album is an incredibly modern take on folk, utilizing unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics to create something new but respectful of his legacy. If you are a fan of Dropkick Murphys or punk in general: this album is still for you, if not more so. This album is a natural acoustic extension of the pro-union punk scene that Dropkick Murphys emerged from. If
you appreciate the lyrics of songs such as Dropkick Murphy’s “Tenant Enemy #1” or Dead Kennedys’ “Nazi Punks Fuck Off,” then you are sure to enjoy this album, so long as you are prepared for a non-aggressive acoustic folk sound. This album is what led me to become an avid fan of Dropkick Murphys, and I cannot recommend it enough, especially since I cannot think of a musical audience that this album could not potentially appeal to.
