readme.review Rancid – Indestructible
For most people, Rancid are a “where are they now?” band. They popped their heads up in 1995 with a couple of MTV hits (Time Bomb, Ruby SOHO) off their album And Out Come the Wolves... and then to most, fell off the end of the Earth. To anyone remotely interested in punk rock music, Rancid has been very active since the rest of the world forgot about them. They have put out two albums since Wolves; 1998’s Life Wont Wait and 2000’s self-titled album aka Rancid (2000). Via their label, Hellcat Records, they have produced a lot of today’s popular punk acts including Dropkick Murphy’s and The Distillers. Both front men Tim Armstrong and Lars Frederiksen have been busy with their respective side-projects, Transplants and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards. This Tuesday, Rancid’s latest album, Indestructible debuts. I have had the chance to “live” with this album for about a month and I am happy to report -- it’s pretty damn good. |  |
Rancid’s last two albums were dramatically different from Wolves, which to most represents their best work. Life Wont Wait was Rancid’s equivalent of The Clash’s Sandinista! Rancid (2000) was a straight-up throw back to 1980’s hardcore punk rock. Indestructible is a little from here, a little from there, and a little from out in left field.
A lot of songs on Indestructible are reminiscent of Wolves and Rancid (2000), but on a whole they have expanded musically without really changing their sound. The anger and urgency of Rancid (2000) has been toned down for the most part, replaced by a more melodic, laid back vibe on all but a couple of tracks.
Rancid managed to pack in a little something for everyone on this release, without making it the hodge-podge mess Life Wont Wait was. You got your punk-fucking-rawk in songs like Born Frustrated and Out of Control, melodic grooves in Arrested in Shanghai and Back Up Against the Wall, and strange enough -- raga-rap in Red Hot Moon and Memphis.
If anything is apparent from the first listen-through of this album is that it’s Tim’s show. Lars is all but absent save three tracks, one great (Born Frustrated), one good (Otherside), and one I can live without. This is not necessarily a bad thing. A lot of us got our fill of Lars on his solo projects debut album. Tim on the other hand really shines on this release and he is at his best on tracks like Tropical London (clearly about his wife Brody, lead of the Distillers) and Memphis.
Disappointingly, not only does bassist Matt Freeman get zero vocal time on this album (when he sings it’s great – Black Derby Jacket), most tracks make me wonder is he is still in the band at all. Anyone who has heard his solos knows that Matt is perhaps the best bassist to grace punk since Mike Watt, but his skills are so toned-down on this release one has to wonder if it's even him playing.
Best tracks include Red Hot Moon (sort of a combination of Time Bomb, Old Friend, and the Transplants sound), Memphis, Tropical London, and Born Frustrated. Most tracks include keyboards(!) but before you panic think the solo on Time Bomb not 80's music.
Those expecting the next Wolves or Rancid (2000) are going to be disappointed. In the end it’s a good album, very good in fact. It’s just not what most would expect after waiting three years for a new release, but it is a new Rancid album nonetheless and that’s always a welcome thing.
rating:  (+5)
4:45:25 PM  | |
= recent update 
