Rancid - Rancid

Disappointment

Rancid was at their best when doing the experimental ska and reggae of their previous album Life Won't Wait. But I believe that this album was created because of the backlash of fans who disliked them experimented and just wanted punk rock, nothing more. Yeah, way to keep your integrity, Rancid.
As for this album, there are definitely some gems, but Rancid are at their best doing ska, reggae, or fun 70's style punk rock, like in ...AOCTW or the Operation Ivy days. Only a select few songs on this record contain the Rancid spirit I've been seeing in their albums; and those are Radio Havana, Let Me Go, and It's Quite Alright, while nearly every song on Life Won't Wait and Wolves contain the "Rancid spirit". WTF is up with the vocals? Lars Frederiksen, you are NOT Iam MacKaye. Lars seriously sounds like he's trying to sound like Ian. And Tim, have you had one too many cigarettes back in those days?
Anyone saying that Rancid "returned to their roots" with this album could not be further from the truth. Ska, reggae, and fun punk rock, ARE the band's roots.

Overall, its just an okay record. I think this hardcore music should best be kept to bands that know how to do it. I'd rather listen to this than Indestructible though, for that album truly is destructible.

(and to all the "punk rawk" Rancid fans out there, if you want to comment on my review, please post something smarter and more constructive than "you're wrong, this is a great album", because that's all I've been seeing from you people lately) July 13, 2007

A big disappointment from a great band

I've been a Rancid fan since the first self-titled album, and this is easily their worst album. I don't mind that they went for a hardcore sound on this record rather than the ska and reggae sounds that were found on their two previous albums. My problem is that these aren't hardcore songs done well. There is no build-up, contrast, or surprises in most of the songwriting that would warrant the monotonous angry tone. For songs so loud and fast, they simply don't rock as hard as they should. I love good hardcore music, and I love Rancid, but aside from a few classic tunes like Radio Havana, I don't regularly play anything on this disc. Their other albums are just so much better. June 7, 2007

Angry Rancid

This is by far Rancid's most "punk rock" album. It is very fast, ver hard, and most of the songs sound very angry. It's a lot different from the other albums, once again continuing Rancid's ever shifting genre. Good album. October 15, 2006

ehhhh

this is by far the worst rancid record. people calling it a return to the bands earlier sound could not be further from the truth. this album sounds NOTHING like "lets go" or their s/t effor..it doens't even sound like 7" they point out on lookout records back in '92. Lars' voice sounds like total crap..i usually love the tracks he does vocals on. but i don't like a single song on here that he sings...he's trying to scream way to much instead of actually signing. there are a few pretty cool songs "black hawk down" "radio havana" "black derby jacket" but the bad songs realy really take away from the good...i always felt that this record was sort of in repsonse for some fans reaction to "life won't wait" (amazing album) but i could be wrong...overall..just not that impressed...I just gotta say i read a few other reviews below...i think someone said something how this album had "a lil dub influence" yeah i don't see it. No i mean there is not an ounce of dub on here. just thought i'd point on that October 10, 2006

a bit of a change of pace, but a fresh breath of air!

even though they are classics, lets go, life wont wait, and out come the wolves all contained the poppy worn out rancid that we have all grown to love...but life wont wait, still being really good, was starting to lag behind compared to the previous two....now along comes this album and it is a complete hardcore in your face album that really rejuvenates them.

people will rag on this for them ditching the ska and what not..and yes i agree that this isnt as good as the other self titled, out come the wolves or lets go, but it is definately better than life wont wait and indestructible. July 27, 2006

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