DROPKICK MURPHYS & BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Rose Tattoo For Boston

August 2013
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8/10

The Boss may or may not have tattoos, but he knows a damn fine song when he hears one and brings his blue collar grit to one of The Murphys best tracks from this year’s Signed And Sealed In Blood album, Rose Tattoo.

The single is a charity outing, with monies raised going to help those hurt in the April Boston bombings, and is rounded out by 2 acoustic tracks recorded by the band (without Springsteen, FYI) at an in-store signing around the time of the bombing.

The lead track is basically the same as the album version but with Springsteen taking alternate verses and dueting on the choruses – it’s just as great as the original, and great to hear the contrast between the two approaches.

Don’t Tear Us Apart and Jimmy Collins’ Wake are rousing and spirited acoustic takes on tracks from the same album, the quieter arrangement perhaps showing up the rawness of Ken Casey’s vocals, but once you start singing along you’ll barely notice.

It’s worth buying for the great songs, and it’s for a good cause – what are you waiting for?

 

Category: CD Reviews