Dropkick's seventh LP its best yet

Intoxicating as Dropkick Murphys’ music has always been, the scattered nature of the band’s past releases has always seemed to limit its potential. By focusing its sound into a concept album, the band has achieved that elusive consistency in “Going Out in Style,” a near-flawless Celtic punk masterpiece and the group’s finest album yet. 

“Going Out In Style” is a retrospective of the life of Cornelius “Connie” Larkin, a fictional recently departed Irish immigrant who is an amalgamation of the shared life experiences of the band members and their families. Essentially a musical memorial service, the album rarely turns somber, the lyrics eloquently detailing misfortune being met head-on and the highs and lows of an adulthood in working-class Boston.

Such subjects are ideal for the band’s classic rambunctious sound, which is harnessed to perfection in tracks like opener “Hang ’Em High” and the infectious “Memorial Day.” Even in its slower, contemplative moments, such as the beautiful “Cruel” and the powerful “Broken Hymns,” the album remains celebratory, a record to raise a pint to instead of mourn along with.