Street Dogs: Savin Hill

Street Dogs: Savin Hill
Label: Crosscheck
Release Date: 2004
Review Date: 2004

Mike McColgan, the original singer from the Dropkick Murphy’s reunites with DM’s drummer Jeff Erna and some other guys to form Savin Hill. Full of blatant localism (Boston, not JFA) and working class themes bordering on and crossing over into clichés. Driving, heartfelt and sincere? Yes. Memorable? No, but like a good local bar band, they will probably prove popular with those in geographical proximity and younger wannabes trying to latch on to that particular scene. “2 Bottles of Sorrow” is pretty much the highpoint of the record, but you’ve heard it before. Scratch that, high point is the cover of Borstal Breakout, but again it’s kind of generic. “Declaration” might be good if the mix didn’t drown out most of the mid tones in the vocals. The whole album suffers from a generic mix in general that makes the songs bleed into one monotonous presentation, except for a slightly bizarre foray into 70’s metal lead guitar on the last track, “Modern Day Labor Anthem.” Good ideas but the presentation dulls the message. Features guest appearances by Other DM’s, Dickie from the Bosstones as well as other Boston punk luminaries. It’s not anything I’d need to hear regularly, but if you can guess what this record sounds like (and you probably can) and it’s your scene, then it won’t disappoint.

Online Action: street-dogs.com
Online Action: crosscheckrecords.com