Every Dropkick Murphys Albums Ranked Worst To Best
2. Do Or Die
The first and very nearly the best. The one that started it all for four young upstarts from Quincy; Do or Die was a splash of Guinness in the faces of young, hungry punk fans. Do or Die is the only album to feature former DKM and former Street Dogs vocalist Mike McColgan.
What Do or Die lacks in polish, it makes up for with power. Despite missing some of the fuller Celtic tones that would later contribute to their signature sound, Do or Die checks the key thematic boxes of what would become a Dropkick Murphys record. The bagpipe-led instrumental "Cadence To Arms" and the classic "Finnegan's Wake" were the first traditional Irish songs to be featured on a DKM record.
"Never Alone" rebelliously rallies against those who criticize the tight knit, blue collar men and women of Boston. The track also gained attention when it was featured on the Playstation game Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX.
Other notable tracks include the rapacious rockers "Do or Die", "Get Up" and fan favorite "Boys on the Docks".
Do or Die finishes with "Skinhead on the MBTA", which was the band's closing song for years during live shows. As a whole, Do or Die is a rock solid debut that has withstood the test of time. Rather than sounding dated, the raw energy of these early tracks still brings live crowds to their feet after nearly 25 years.