Street Dogs - Fading American Dream

Street Dogs
Fading American Dream
Brass Tacks Records/DRT Entertainment
Grade: A-

On the Street Dogs’ third record, Fading American Dream, the ass-kicking is so awesome that you won’t believe your ears. Cemented as a fearsome five-some spearheaded by Mike McColgan (ex-Dropkick Murphys), Street Dogs offer their best set of northeastern, working class punk, Irish-tinged anthems to date; further one of the best albums of this sound in years. Buttressing a similar musical vein to DM and harder Bouncing Souls, the thirteen songs here contain significant political leanings; specifically with respect to the Iraq War and how it relates to ordinary working class kids. Even if you ignore the content of the words and simply focus on the flow and the music, Fading American Dream will quicken your pulse and push up your pride. Among the songs to rip your head off include the opener “Common People,” the awesome “Not Without a Purpose” (quite possibly the definition of punk anthem), the folksy “There is Power in a Union,” the enhanced “Shards of Life,” the very Souls-like “Hard Luck Kid,” the title-track, and the surprising appealing acoustic “Final Transmission.” If you want a record to restore your faith in punk music, then the Street Dogs’ Fading American Dream is panacea.