punk.cat: RANCID

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

RANCID

"tomorrow never comes"

Year: 2023

Label: Epitaph

Format: CD, LP

Tracks: 15

Time: 36 min.

Genre: rock

Style: Ska Punk

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"trouble maker"
Year: 2017
Label: Epitaph
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 37 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Ska

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"let the dominoes fall"
Year: 2009
Label: Hellcat
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 45 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Ska

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"indestructible"
Year: 2003
Label: Hellcat
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 19
Time: 50 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Ska

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"idem"
Year: 2000
Label: Hellcat
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 23
Time: 50 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Ska

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"life won't wait"

Year: 1998

Label: Epitaph

Format: CD , 2 x LP

Tracks: 22

Time: 70 min.

Genre: rock

Style: Punk Ska

"Life Won't Wait" is the fourth studio album by the californian mainstream rock band RANCID. It was released on June 30, 1998 through "Epitaph Records". It was released as the follow-up to the too much mainstream "...And ut Come the Wolves" (1995). The album branches out from Rancid's punk and ska roots to explore roots reggae and 50s rockabilly, and dabbles in elements of dub, funk and other forms of music, some people compared the album with The Clash did with "Sandinista!". The album's personnel includes some of RANCID's influences and contemporaries such as members of The Specials and The Slackers. Lyrically, the album discusses riots, revolution, politics and historical events as well as making references to the Illuminati and Bakunin. Frankly I've never been a RANCID fan, nor think it's a truly punk band, but rather a mainstream rock'n'roll band. I had a chance to see them in concert, and its style offered was overly professional, monetary and too much serious. I do not think their "super punk" physical aspect is real, but false and artificial. That said, I must confess that RANCID members are excellent musicians, with a very high technical level and excellent production work. This "Life Will not Wait" is perhaps one of the most overlooked albums, but definitely is my favorite of all RANCID discography. The band can make great punk songs like "Black Lung", "1998" or "Something in the World Today", but also true old vintage 50s rockabilly as "Lady Liberty" or "New Dress, and also very good ska / reggae songs like "Wrongful Suspicion" or "Hooligans". Of the two songs actually recorded in Jamaica, "Hoover Street" is a poignant addict's lament with sweet soulful vocal assists from Hepcat, while the title track features Tim and Lars sparring with dancehall kingpin Buju Banton against a canvas of urgent old school ska. Self-produced, culled from life experience, and played live in large measure, Life Won't Wait is as ambitious and independent as it gets. They are not anarchists but strictly musical they make good songs no doubt. Special mention for the great RANCID bassist player, Matt Freeman, who I wondered to listening to his way of play the bass guitar.

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"and out come the wolves"
Year: 1995
Label: Epitaph
Format: CD , LP
Tracks: 19
Time: 50 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Ska

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"let's go"
Year: 1994
Label: Epitaph
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 23
Time: 44 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Ska

Released on the influential indie label Epitaph Records, "Let's go" initially achieved little commercial success, though it appealed to the band's fan base. However, the surprise success of punk rock bands like The Offspring, Green Day and Bad Religion in 1995 brought forth more mainstream interest in the album, and it ultimately reached #97 on the Billboard 200. Rancid use to show (here too) a 80's punk aesthetics (mohawk, chains, black leather, etc.) but I think the band's soul is the same as the pop and rock mainstream bands, with no difference at all. Nothing to do with Do It Yourself, anarchism, squats or alternative ethics... but said this, strictly musical Rancid has a poin of album quite good in this kind of mix of few distorted punk rock and ska music 1979 style ("2 Tone", etc). This second album as usual in Rancid recordings, very long, elaborated and well produced.

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