Rancid - Life Won't Wait

Life Won't Wait bursts with a thrilling ambition. On Rancid's past albums, these Clash-via-Cali punks came on with an invigorating twin guitar attack that sounded like it wanted to take over the world--to set it free!--and their fourth release continues in this radical vein, insisting that "all people must rise and decide your fate." But there's newfound ambition in the music, too, as the band's raging attack is supplemented now by new sounds (rocksteady and rockabilly, even doo-wop and soul), new musical textures (the exhilarating "Crane Fist" features a piano battling a B3 organ), and new sources of inspiration, as the boys shout out for Salvadoran immigrants and brag like rappers in anthem after anthem of urgent, beautiful poetry. --David Cantwell Amazon.com

Rancid's last "great album

Rancid hasn't released anything since this album that I can stand... but this album is them at their best and their most varied. Whereas "Let's Go" is a straight forward punk record and "Out Come the Wolves" is more ska influenced, "Life Won't Wait" is varied. There's punk, ska, big band almost horns on a couple songs... there's a real gritty Chicago-style harmonica present... most every song here is great. This album is the high water mark. March 24, 2008

sellout schmellout

I would like to start by bringing up a point...(well other than my opinion of this album which is a whole nother point in itself) anyway...a lot of people write this album off because of the departure of the sound from "..and out come the wolves". but for some STRANGE reason you rarely hear anyone complain about the vast sound differences from "lets go" to "..and outcome the wolves". "Lets go" was fast straight up punk rock 21 (or is 22 or 23? i can't remember) tracks..in less than 45 minutes. "..and out come the wolves" was a VERY different album. more mid tempo songs...with a few ska numbers (no waynot ska from the guys who were in op ivy) and at times sounds a lot like the Clash. don't get me wrong i LOVE both these records. Now onto "life won't wait" I absolultely love this record. When i firt picked this up on vinyl back in 1997 I was not really sure what i was hearing. But the more I listened to it, the more it grew on me. Over the years it has become my fav rancid album. It was a good range of a few musical styles straight up fast punk "warsaw" some mid tempo and slower punk songs "something in the world today" "1998" , "hoover st." some up beat ska "hooligans" a rockbailly influenced number "lady liberty" and some great reggae infleunced stuff "coppa de corzo", "awkward position" overall just fantastic...if you're looking for an album that is a lil more than just fast punk rock singing bout drinking, anarchy, and other fairly generic topics (which has it's place) this may not be the album for you..but if you're looking for something a lil different (who am i kidding? 90% of people reading probably already have or even own this record). October 10, 2006

Rancid's Best Album!

I think Life Won't wait is Rancid's best effort to date. It's almost like Rancid going back to the good ol' Operation Ivy days. Not that this CD sounds like an Op. Ivy CD(cause it doesn't), but I get this strange but comfortable feeling whenever I listen to Op. Ivy's music, and I get that same feeling on a few points of this album.
Despite what people say, this isn't a punk CD. Sure, there's a few punk tunes thrown in with this album. But overall, this is a ska/reggae album. Sure, there are songs that I don't like as much as others, but this is a really great CD. This albums features Rancid's very best songs, such as Bloodclot, Black Lung, Life Won't Wait, Hooligans, Crane Fist(it could either be the easiest song for you to get into, or the hardest (: ), Who Would've Thought, The Wolf, the amazing closer Coppers, and Something In the World Today, which is probably my favorite Rancid song.
Overall, if you're an Op. Ivy fan(like me), you might like this album. If you're a ska/reggae fan(like me), then you'll love this album! July 31, 2006

Tis a good one!

1st of all, it's a shame that Rancid had to "prove themselves" after thsi album and what's more a shame is that they FELT they HAD to. To me that borders on selling out. Selling out doesn't have to do with money.
With that aside, I love reggae and I love (real) punk rock. So of course, I like this album a lot. I'm not sure which is my favorite, this or ...And Out Come the Wolves. I think Wolves.
In regards to my 1st statement, I have listened to the 2000 ST album one time and haven't picked it up since. I'm sure i will at another time and I'm sure I'm now thought of a trendy Rancid listener. Grow up. June 30, 2006

Life Won't Wait = Modern Day Punk Rock Classic

Life Won't Wait

Before I begin my rant I should probably tell you a little about my background/taste in music. I would consider myself your average everyday blue collar worker. I have been working since I was 14 years old & have always loved music. I have been married for 10 years & have 2 children (with another one due in July). My first concert was R.E.M. on their "Green" World Tour. I have always enjoyed alternative/underground/indie music & in high school I was first introduced to punk rock by friends. My first punk show was Bad Religion/All on BR's "Generator" tour. My friends & I actually hung out with Scott Reynolds from All before the show, but we'll save that story for another day.

I first heard Rancid on a Sunday nite while watching MTV's 120 Minutes. Their video for "Salvation" was incredible!!! Tim's snarled singing style along with their F-You look just grabbed me. I went out the next day & purchased their 1994 album "Let's Go." I have been a Rancid fan ever since & each album continues to blow me away. It's amazing how these guys continue to grow/mature as song writers & each album has it's own distinct sound/style. "Life Won't Wait" demonstrates my point more than any other Rancid album to date. This album is clearly the pinnacle of their career & perhaps the most hated by their fans (which I have never quite understood).

"The phenomenon your about to witness could well revolutionize your way of thinking. We are presenting the startling facts & evidence that pick up where other explanations leave off. Some of these revelations may very well go against things you have been taught & perhaps believed all your life. Prepare yourself for the evidence which will follow:" --Intro to Rancid's 1998 album "Life Won't Wait"--

From the sonic guitar/harmonica on "Intro" to the xylophone on "Hoover Street" to the reggae drums on "Life Won't Wait," Rancid truly proved themselves as a songwriting force not to be reckoned with. The infectious Hey-Ho's...Lars lyrical delivery...Matt's amazing bassline..."Bloodclot" is pure punk & an absolute punk rock gem on this album. From that to Tim's quiet snarled poetry & xylophone on "Hoover Street," you could already tell that the punks from Oakland were taking the listener to a place their previous releases only hinted at.

The song "Life Won't Wait" is pure reggae/ska bliss. Tim & Lars tag team vocals are exactly what Rancid fans love! Add in surprise guest Buju Banton's vocals and you have an instant classic. This is Rancid pushing themselves to the limit & proving that they are more than just the stereotypical mohawked 3 chord punk rockers we have all been accustomed to. "Here's the new face of rock 'n' roll." A lyric delivered with absolute sincerity on another ska tune "Hooligans." That lyric is a rally call to all of you who haters out there who critizied these guys so hard for this album. "Wrongful Suspicion," "Crane Fist" & "Coppers" are 3 more exquistely written reggae tunes.

"Who Would've Thought" is Tim at his best! His vocal delivery along with Lars bluesy guitar.....AWESOME!!! Mighty Mighty Bosstones vocalist Dicky Barrett was a nice touch on "Cash, Culture and Violence." The harmonica on "Cocktails".....Matt Freeman's bass on "1998".....the rockabilly of "Lady Liberty"....."Something In The World Today" is more punk rock nirvana.....

I think I've made my point. Both lyrically & musically this album is far superior to anything else these guys have put out. The year 2000 found these guys having to prove themselves on the self-titled "Rancid" album all because of you haters who came down so hard on these guys for showing some song writing talent on "Life Won't Wait."

If you are a Rancid fan, then give this record another spin. If you've never heard Rancid, this is a great place to start.

Thanks for letting me rant. See y'all in the pit......
June 9, 2006

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