A new album is headed our way in April from Dropkick Murphys. The Massachusetts band announced that they will be releasing “Turn Up That Dial,” on April 30th and they have released one of the tracks now. You can wet your Celtic punk whistle with “Middle Finger” on all streaming platforms.
According to the band, the new album is a celebration of “the simple pleasure of music, the relief and release from worry that comes when you ‘turn up that dial’ and blast your troubles away.” They were able to record it using safety protocols, shifts of band members, mics is various rooms, and via video conferencing.
Dropkick Murphys have been cranking out Celtic punk songs since 1996. Although it’s not your ordinary punk; their songs are complete with one or more instruments like the tin whistle, keyboard, piano, mandolin, bouzouki, harmonica, accordion, and of course, bagpipes.
Their best-known song, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” is frequently used by sports teams like the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia Flyers, and Boston Red Sox. The track was also featured in the 2006 Martin Scorsese film, “The Departed.” With nine studio albums and three live albums already under their belt, we can only imagine the creativity they have in store for us!
Fans were puzzled when artwork on the band’s website appeared, showing an ‘80s boom box (complete with cassette tape deck!) and the word, “The” before the band’s name to make it “The Dropkick Murphys.” Some fans wondered if that “The” had always been there and they missed it. Others suggested it looks like the same font used on some of The Clash’s album covers, so perhaps “The” is an homage. There was also speculation that since the album art shows a cassette deck, the new material may also be released on cassette. But for now, we wonder because the band and their reps have remained silent.
Here’s the new album’s track list:
1. Turn Up That Dial
2. L-ee-b-o-y
3. Middle Finger
4. Queen Of Suffolk County
5. Mick Jones Nicked My Pudding
6. H.B.D.M.F
7. Good As Gold
8. Smash Shit Up
9. Chosen Few
10. City By The Sea
11. I Wish You Were Here
“Turn Up That Dial” is due out April 30 with pre-orders available now. You should probably jump on that because their fans like to pre-order everything they can before it sells out, and this will be no exception.
There’s a reason Dropkick Murphys have been popular for the last quarter of a century and you will not want to miss out on the genius of this album!
