Okay so a real quick history on lead singer Mike McColgan. After serving in the Army McColgan started the band The Dropkick Murphy’s and enjoyed the bands success until 1998 when he dropped out to become a Fireman. Missing the music McColgan started the band Street Dogs soon leaving the fire department and the rest is as they say, history.

On the bands fifth studio album, simply self titled, there are so many defining attributes to flesh out the album that its more of a living memory of experiences McColgan and his band mates share. Their delivery, and I hate to do this but, has the feel of Flogging Molly’s Celtic approach, Bad Religions political direction, and Swingin Utters folk narrative. The blue blood heritage runs deep on the entire album but more so on Up The Union, the bands support for the EFCA’s legislation to allow workers to safely organize labor unions without threat from their employer, as well as Portland, a track that talks about the economy and the way in which we've dealt with it and its consequences. It feels like no word has been wasted on this album creating just a memorable collection of tracks that speaks to you on many different levels from injustice to merit to youth to commentary on the worlds hang ups. Theres something here for anybody and a connection that strings together everybody.

Aside from the highly informative narrative on this album it is, plain and simple, excellent punk. Street Dogs keeps a broad diversity to their sound which separates it from some of the other more monotonous bands on the punk scene. Your not finding yourself listening to a 25 minute 34 track hammer drum three chord scream fest. The band takes its time in giving each track its own individual flair that is a love letter to punk combined with their own original style but also doesn’t overpower the message or story behind each track. If your new to Street Dogs this would be a fantastic introduction with zero throw away tracks. I highly recommend.