You Heard Me Right

If you liked this CD, you’ll love music from The Casualties, Social Distortion, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and The Reverend Horton Heat.

For all the years of their existence, Rancid has always been known as a band that combined the grit of street punk with the genre’s classic roots and some ska tracks put in as well. They’ve also been known to experiment with things, most exampled in their release “Life Won’t Wait” 10 years earlier. This album is also very experimental, though it takes quite awhile before it’s noticed. The first 8 some tracks are very rooted in what they know best: fast tracks (East Bay Night, New Orleans), ska-cored tracks (Up To No Good), a lame white trash rap by Lars (Ain’t Worried), and other small gems. However, the first signs of change are shown in the song Last One to Die (track four to be precise), which while it still has the grit of a good Rancid song, it’s one of their first slower non-ska tracks. Another change is shown in the song Skull City, which kind of shows off a slight cowpunk sound in comparison to their west coast sound. It for sure still sounds like one of their songs, so don’t think they are trying to go the route of Social Distortion. The most obvious track showing this off is Civilian Ways, which is almost completely country sounding. Long time Rancid fans may think this is way too experimental from my description, but have no fear. The grit may have died down a bit, but they are by no means selling out. Overall, they will love the one-two-three punches of punk, ska, and rockabilly in the songs. The best example is how the CD ends: Locomotive, the ubber fast thrill song, followed by poppy ska song That’s Just the Way It Is Now, and the folky finisher The Highway. This was my first Rancid CD, but after hearing their other albums, including the repetitive yet legendary …And out Come the Wolves, this is by far their strongest, most mature album.

Final Synopsis: 8.5/10