Six years after “Indestructible”, the fortysomethings that make up Rancid are back with another full-length. Their seventh for those of you counting. It’s not like these guys have been sitting on their asses for six years though. Lars dropped “Viking” with his Bastards, Tim released a second album with Transplants and a solo album and Matt released a 12” with Devils Brigade and helped out with Social D. Plus there was the Rancid compilation “B Sides And C Sides”. Fans sure knew how to spend their money!
Back to the new Rancid album… 19, songs, 45 minutes, three vocalists and a whole lot of punkrock. Doesn’t really matter whether it’s with blazing guitars (“The Bravest Kids”) or a little more soulful like The Clash, Rancid are good at both styles. They also throw in some ska bounce as usual (“Up To No Good”, “Liberty And Freedom”) and a folk tune or two (“Civilian Ways”) and even some rockabilly swing (“LA River”). “Civilian Ways” was actually the biggest surprise for me, a song about a soldier coming back to the US only to find out that he can’t leave the war in Iraq behind as easily as he had thought. “The Highway” on the other hand is another acoustic cut but one that should’ve been left on the cutting floor… it’s just a crappy song.
Anyway, after six years it’s good to have a new Rancid album and while they will never record another album as good as “… And Out Come The Wolves”, this is still better than a lot of stuff out there give or take a couple of songs.
Score: 8 out of 10
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