The Dropkick Murphys have matured like a fine Bushmills on this record, and the results are just as satisfying. Losing none of their punk rock/Oi! fury, but mixing in some classic rock-n-roll, as well as strengthening their Irish folk, this album blends "Do or Die" seemlessly with "The Gang's All Here."

I've already heard "Sing Loud, Sing Proud" described as a perfect cross between Cock Sparrer and the Pogues, and I'd be inclined to agree, but also toss in a healthy dose of Rose Tattoo and/or AC/DC as well, and you have the makings of another classic from the Boston crew.

Opening with the Boston College fight song, the album is heavy on the cover songs. The old folkie/protest "Which Side Are You On?" works wonders (as good as Billy Bragg's version) and the old Irish standbys of "The Rocky Road to Dublin" and "The Wild Rover" get the proper DKM treatment, as do the remakes of "The Legend of Finn MacCumhail" (one of their best, if not THE best, B-sides) and "Caps and Bottles."

Of the originals, I find myself going back to "Heroes From Our Past" most often and feel that is represents all the DKM strengths to a tee: anthemic, grand lyrics, top notch musicianship, and Spicey's bagpipes all make this my favorite track.

Speaking of the Pogues, Shane Mac turns up for "Good Rats", which to me, is the DKM answer to all those old Clancy Brothers/Dubliners tunes they listened to: a light-hearted story about an infested Dublin brewery. Not meant to be taken too terribly seriously, so don't.

"Forever" and "Fortunes of War" touch on deeper subjects like loss of family and friends and come across as excellent as well.

Rose Tattoo and AC/DC (possibly Slade?) rear their heads on "The Gauntlet" and "Ramble and Roll", a rock-n-roll lifestyle-inspired ditty.

Things also get acoustically anthemic for "The Torch" with it's warnings of racism/hate passing from generation to generation and "A Few Good Men" with it's "Sing Loud, Sind Proud" refrain.

The closer, a jig dedicated to the best piper in punk rock, "The Spicey McHaggis Jig" is great as well, a none to PC romp through a night in the life of Spicy.

All in all, a great third effort from the Dropkicks. Only one complaint: Why is the F.U.'s cover on the Japan-only release?

So, enjoy this album like you would the aged Bushmills: take mass quantities, shoot it down, savor it, and do it all again.

i know there are still a lot of people who are really bent out of shape that Mike left the band and was replaced by ex-Bruiser front man Al Barr, but if you listen to this album you will see that Al is every bit as good for this band as Mike was. No more of this "they sound too much like the Bruisers" crap i keep hearing, because DKM has gone full circle with their latest. SING LOUD, SING PROUD is closer in style to DO or DIE, by keeping truer to Irish Influence Ruck N Roll, but this one has much greater emphasis on Traditional Irish Folk Sounds. The band even brings in a classic song from their BOYS ON THE DOCKS E.P. called "Caps and Bottles" from way back in the days of Mike.

Some of the best tunes on this one are "Rocky Road to Dublin" the American Working-Class anthem "Heroes Of Our Past" and "The Torch" a beautiful folk tune that goes beyond any of their past work. It reminds of "Far Away Coast" from DO or DIE, in that it is a very personal and beautifully written acoustic song. Other songs to keep your ear on include the humurous "Good Rats" with ex-Pogues singer/songwriter Shane McGowan (is that spelled right?) and a cover of a classic Irish drinking tune "The Wild Rover" which is just as good as "Finnegan's Wake" or "The Fighting 69th."

The album has less of the Thundering Hardcore style sounds THE GANGS ALL HERE had, but still keeps the HC influenced Punk sound alive and kicking with "Fortunes of War," "The Gauntlet," and the big Finale "The Spicy McHaggis Jig" a song about one of DKM's newest additions, Bagpiper Spicy McHaggis.

Even though Rick Barton has retired from the punk rock Road (with DKM at least), the bands two newer guitar players never miss a beat and do a damn good job of picking up where Rick left off. With the additions of Bagpipes on their songs regularly, and with a tin whistle and mandolin to help, the band is much more able to pull that ever-loving Irish Folk sound that inspied them off succesfully. And as long as Ken and Matt are still writing great Irish-Punk songs, this band is going to have quite a future ahead of it.

This is simply the best work that Dropkick Murphys have done to date.

Grab your scally caps and down a Guinness, cuz those no-good-Irishmen are stirring up all kinds of trouble again (and it sounds amazing!). Sing Loud, Sing Proud! perfectly describes the album: every song either forces you to sing along, or demonstrates enough intensity to make you bang your head against the wall (and most songs are a little of both). Bassist Ken Casey steps up with his Clash-style singing and splits the vocal duties with the deeper, throaty grunts of ex-Bruiser Al Barr. Songs like the pro-union anthem "Which Side Are You On?" set the standard for Casey and Barr alternating vocals, and the results are awesome. Dropkick has always paid great respect to their roots, and continues to honor their ancestors on "Heroes From Our Past." "The Rocky Road to Dublin" is one of two traditional Irish songs, combining Casey's vocals with a great jarring beat and tin whistle. They don't waste any time showing off their hometown pride with the opening track "For Boston," featuring bagpipes over the fastest beat I've ever heard from the band. Even legendary Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan contributed some liquored-up vocals on "Good Rats," the honest-to-god tale of the secret "ingredient" in Guinness beer... rat shit. This album shows a great deal of social awareness by the band, such as retelling the story of slain punk Brian Deneke in "The Fortunes of War." Similarly, "The New American Way" makes a great point about the insane rate at which America locks up its citizens. Furthermore, the lyric sheet revolves around a quote from Martin Luther King about unity - just to remind everyone that oi ain't only for the racists. "Forever" shows a suprisingly sensitive side of the band, with a slow, well-written track about a lost loved one. One of the few acoustic selections is "The Torch," which laments passing down the wrong values to the next generation. Surprisingly enough, the album ends on a screw around song about the bagpipe player screwing around with the larger ladies. The second guitarist, bagpipes, tin whistle, and mandolin are now permanent members of the Boston crew. The melodies are great, the chanting is irresistible, and this is surely among the best stuff the band has put together, so sing loud!

As I write this review, I'm still nursing myriad bruises and minor injuries from spending the entire Dropkick show in the pit two days ago. This band is one of the rare few that's just as good live, not to mention an incredible amount of fun.

I have owned four copies of "Sing Loud, Sing Proud" and given them all away. I ought to start buying it in bulk. When I try to describe Dropkick to the uninitiated, I end up with "They're an Irish punk band outta Boston." But that doesn't come close to covering their unique energy and hard-core yet feelgood sound.

At their show, I made friends with a bunch of guys in their forties wearing Boston ballcaps, a punker couple in their early twenties, and people of all other ages and tastes. Loving Dropkick transcends all else, really - they're like a cult without the Koolaid.

Buy this album, memorize this album, play this album while partying, drinking, fighting, and everything else. It's a very good soundtrack to one's life. Enjoy.

I hate popular music. It's all contrite, trendy, and sounds the same. Unfortunately, our generation is pretty much stuck with it, with MTV and the aweful radio, so I was stuck getting my punk fix from trendy punk bands of today, with the occasional touch of Ramones or Dead Kennedys from my brother. (Thank you so much) Then I discovered Dropkick Murphys.
This is the band all you punkers are looking for. This is the band Blink 182 wishes they sounded like. These guys are the last bastion of punk in a dreary, Billboard chart ruled world. Simply put, you can't beat DKM, and this is their best album.
Enough of this. Let's get to the songs:

For Boston - Great sing-along. It's the Boston University fight song. I dare you not to clap along.
The Legend of Finn MacCumhail - Awesome straight-out punk song. Liked it right away.
Which Side Are You On? - Obligatory Murphys union song. Still great. I love Ken's part.
Rocky Road to Dublin - Here it is, the perfect blend of Irish folk and kick your mom in the face punk. Crank this up.
Heroes From Our Past - Bagpipes, tin whistle, a great chorus. This song is perfection.
Forever - A ballad I actually like. Not only can DKM do punk, they can do sissy music well, too.
The Gauntlet - Makes you want to go out and pick a fight. What can be more punk?
Good Rats - Grew on me. I'm a HUGE Pogues fan, but Shane doesn't sound like he's trying here. Still a great song.
New American Way - Not their best, but has a catchy chorus.
The Torch - ANOTHER great ballad!! These guys actually have talent!
Fortunes of War - Solid punk song. Awesome.
A Few Good Men - Sing along to this. I dare you not to.
Ramble and Roll - Short, fast, loud . . . need I say more?
Caps and Bottles - What's with the radio in the background? Still a great song.
Wild Rover - Traditional Irish done right.
The Spicy McHaggis Jig - Gross song, but the most catchy on the album. Once you figure out what they're saying, you'll either cringe or sing along.

GO BUY THIS ALBUM!!! NOW!!!!!!