Search - Street Dogs :: State of Grace

Another excellent album

Unashamed | Cleveland, OH | 08/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Other than the slight letdown of Back to the World, the Street Dogs have maintained an awfully high standard of working-class street punk. This album might be their best yet.



It's probably cliche at this point to compare the Street Dogs to the Dropkick Murphys, but I think it's worthwhile. Both bands started off with a style that necessitated variety -- if they had made "Do or Die" or "Savin Hill" over and over again (as great as they are), it would have gotten old quick. Dropkick has fought that staleness by evolving into a completely different band, with melodies and fiddles and the occasional soulful piano ballad. The Street Dogs have also added variety, but they've mostly just spruced up the original sound. You'll hear a whiff of a bagpipe and some unique duets -- just enough to keep it fresh, but it's still the band you love. The added spice, and the brilliant bite of "Guns," make "State of Grace" the highlight of the Street Dogs' library.



The album errs on the short side, and the back half is stronger than the first, but if your only complaints are that its ordered badly and leaves you wanting more... that's pretty good. Highly recommended."