(punk) Rancid - Indestructible

[brycey]

Rancid - Indestructible
Epitaph/Hellcat Records
2003

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0000AI44R.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

www.rancidrancid.com

Tim Armstrong - Vocals, Guitar
Lars Frederiksen - Guitar, Vocals
Matt Freeman - Bass, Vocals
Brett Reed - Drums

Special Guest:
Rob Ashton - Vocals

Track Listing:
1. Indestructible
2. Fall Back Down
3. Red Hot Moon
4. David Courtney
5. Start Now
6. Out of Control
7. Django
8. Arrested On Shanghai
9. Travis Bickle
10. Memphis
11. Spirit of '87
12. Ghost Band
13. Tropical London
14. Roadblock
15. Born Frustrated
16. Back Up Against The Wall
17. Ivory Coast
18. Stand Your Ground
19. Otherside

From the second you put "Indestructible" on, you recognize the old hard, fast and furious Rancid that you've grown to love or hate, but don't let that make you think that's what the album is full of. You'd be pleasantly surprised.

Tracks like "Indestructible", "Travis Bickle", and "Spirit Of '87" show that Rancid have not lost touch with their roots. They are still the same as they always were. The only difference is, for this album, there is a lotof variety. What do I mean by that? Take Blink-182 for example. When they released their self-titled album recently, we were all expecting songs about girlfriends, sex jokes etc. We listened to the album. We were surprised. The amount of songs on the album that were the same were very few in numbers. It's the same here. We expected "Maxwell Murder" style songs, and songs that shouldn't last any more than two minutes.

Now I give credit to Brett for the drumming on this album. It isn't the same-old repetative drum-beat over and over. He tried new things, like on "Memphis", with different beats, and also on "Back Up Against The Wall". I'm happy to see this change, because now we can see what Brett is really capable of.

Something I loved about this album, was the organs. I loved Tim and the rest of Rancid for trying new things with "Indestructible", which included the organs and rapping. As much as I dislike rapping, it fits in so well in the two songs it appears in: "Red Hot Moon" and "Stand Your Ground". Even though I would have liked some more short, fast, to-the-point punk songs, I really do give a lot of credit to Rancid for this album.

There are a lot more small guitar riffs in the album, with "Red Hot Moon", "Arrested In Shanghai" and "Memphis" being examples of this. These riffs are ones that will most likely stay in your mind for days. The usual powerchords follow, and the same-old drumbeat, in most but not all cases.

The vocals in this album have definately improved. You can understand what Tim is saying on the album in most cases which is quite a shock. "Tropical London" is probably my favourite song on the album, because for one, it's different, you can understand what Tim is saying, and has one line that sticks out: "If you lose me, you lose a good thing. That's one thing I know for sure". Matt does not sing on this album (and by sing I mean solo and not backing vocals which he does do) which disappointed me. The messages in the songs on the album really impressed me. With "Tropical London" and "Start Now" which says "I'm not lookin' for a fight now, I don't care who's wrong or right now, so release the dove into flight now, so we can start right now we can start right now".

The bass is the same as you'd find in any other Rancid album, and "David Courtney" has a small bass solo as a fill-in, which sounds fantastic. The bass to "Start Now" seems to always catch my attention, as does the backing vocals to the song. And I'm sure you have heard, the bass to "Fall Back Down" sure is something fun to try out yourself, and that includes the fill-ins!

A funny side-note, if you take out the booklet from the case, and look on the inside page, you will see they mispelled Tim's name, as "Tim Armstong"! Don't believe me? Have a look for yourself.

Recommended Tracks:
Fall Back Down
Red Hot Moon
Spirit Of '87
Travis Bickle
David Courtney
Memphis
Start Now

This album is rather unique, as it's not hard, fast punk that we're used to hearing from Rancid, but rather varied in style. I love this album, and because it's so varied and different, I give this album 5/5. I highly recommend this album to anyone.

[rancidpunk]

Well now that youve stolen every Rancid cd i have nothing to do anymore :(

good review

[brycey]

You could do a review of the Forked Up E.P. :p

[sweboy]

5/5? :eek: I heard it sucked!

[LTJ386]

5/5? :eek: I heard it sucked!

Don't believe the hype. Great CD.

[Ganondorf]

I'd say about 4.5/5, but I can see why it would dissapoint longtime Rancid fans, the ones that like agressive punk songs alot

[skatemaster]

this is their worst Cd EVER
the only song i like on it is spirit of 87

[brycey]

Why is it when bands try something new and fresh everyone flames them for it? :confused:

I mean, I loved this album, and the new Blink-182 album.

[Kif]

I tried to like this, but I can't. I can't stand Rancid, not even after giving them a second chance. Sorry ladies, this gets a 1/5 smiley face for me

:):upset::upset::upset::upset:

[xdeadtomorrowx]

Change the title. Rancid isn't punk. It should be pop-punk. Rancid sucks anyway. Except for the bass lines, but that isn't enough for me to like them even remotely.

[rancidpunk]

You could do a review of the Forked Up E.P. :pFINE I THINK I WILL

[skatemaster]

Why is it when bands try something new and fresh everyone flames them for it? :confused:

.
yeah but rancid used to be so good, one of my favorite bands
i guess its ok to change but listen to their early cds and compare

[captainguitarist]

I agree with you here, I think it was a great album, alot more personal than many others. It's definatly not as good as "....And out come the Wolves" or "Rancid [2000]" but still a great cd indeed

[LTJ386]

Change the title. Rancid isn't punk. It should be pop-punk. Rancid sucks anyway. Except for the bass lines, but that isn't enough for me to like them even remotely.

That's enough, they're punker than your mom. You act like the category matters a lot.

[brycey]

Change the title. Rancid isn't punk. It should be pop-punk. Rancid sucks anyway. Except for the bass lines, but that isn't enough for me to like them even remotely.
You have NO idea how much I laughed after reading that. It's my review bitch. I think they're punk, so therefore, I categorize them as punk. :flipoff:

Dammit, there isn't a smiley for that yet.

[bassaholica2004]

i havent heard this cd yet, but if all or most of the songs sound like "fall back down", i wont be buying this cd.

[skatemaster]

Change the title. Rancid isn't punk. It should be pop-punk. Rancid sucks anyway. Except for the bass lines, but that isn't enough for me to like them even remotely.
rancid used to be hardcore, listen to lets go or and out come the wolves

[cbmartinez]

Album: Indestructible
Artist: Rancid
Genre: Punk/Rock/Ska
Label: Epitaph/Hellcat

Tim Armstrong- Vocals/Guitar
Lars Frederiksen- Vocals/Guitar
Matt Freeman- Vocals/Bass
Brett Reed- Drums

Review
Last year I picked up Rancid's 1995 Album ...And Out Come the Wolves. I was blown away by the catchy tracks and wicked bass lines. Without a doubt, Rancid was one of my new favorite bands. Around for about 10 years now, Rancid have held strong album after album without "selling out" (though some people will claim they have). I had heard much about the new Rancid ablum, Indestructible and decided to pick it up. I had heard the singles Fall Back Down and Red Hot Moon on the radio and I was pretty impressed. Fall back down has one of the most melodic "solos" I've ever heard. I picked up Indestructible and after first listen, I was unimpressed. The thing that stood out the most, the cursing. I read an article before buying the album in Guitar World telling of Tim's tough breakup with singer/guitarist Brody Armstrong of The Distillers. In the article, Tim told of his angst and pain after the relationship. I had this fact in mind while listening to the CD and I understood that he might be a bit upset. But in my opinion, the cursing goes way overboard. I remember back in the days of 5th grade, when everyone ran to buy a Limp Bizkit album because it was cool to hear someone say f*ck every two seconds. Of course, now it just seems immature and thats what I felt after songs like Spirit of '87 ("Do you know what, when I show up, there's gonna be some f*cking action, So many styles, always so wild, that's the f*cking attraction, She said "What? I'll f*ck 'em up", that's her satisfaction...") and Roadblock ("Go to work, go to school, get a f*cking job,
Sit at home like a f*cking slob, I prowl the street like I'm the f*cking law..."). The strange thing is, Spirit of '87 and Roadblock are two of the best songs on the album, if you can stand the cursing. But the CD has a pretty large range, from traditional punk (Indestructible), punk ska (Red Hot Moon, hardcore punk (Out of Control) and a soft melodic song with soft backing vocals, keyboard and strange percussion (Arrested in Shangai). I kept on listening to the CD and it grew on me. Though it kind of gets weaker at the end, it finishes of strong with Otherside, in which Lars sings about his brother's death. Lyrics focus mostly around Tim's divorce and how he's looked to his friends for support, but he also sings of poverty, drugs, and once again, the man named "Django" (there is a track on And Out Come the Wolves in which Tim refers to a man named Django). The music is pretty well put together. The normal punk powerchord business but with some impressive leads and truly spectacular basslines. Matt Freeman undoubtedly one of the best bassists in punk music. So, Indestructible is a pretty good album if you can stand the cursing. Rancid continues to make fun and agressive punk rock.

Score: 4 out of 5




1. Indestructible 3 out of 5
2. Fall Back Down 5 out of 5
3. Red Hot Moon 3 out of 5
4. David Courtney 4 out of 5
5. Start Now 5 out of 5
6. Out of Control 5 out of 5
7. Django 5 out of 5
8. Arrested in Shanghai 3 out of 5
9. Travis Bickle 3 out of 5
10. Memphis 4 out of 5
11. Spirit of '87 5 out of 5
12. Ghost Band 3 out of 5
13. Tropical London 4 out of 5
14. Roadblock 5 out of 5
15. Born Frustrated 5 out of 5
16. Back Up Against the Wall 4 out of 5
17. Ivory Coast 4 out of 5
18. Stand Your Ground 3 out of 5
19. Otherside 4 out of 5

Chris Baranowski

[cbmartinez]

Bump

No one likes rancid?!

[brycey]

I already reviewed this. If you want to post a review of this, post it in MY thread.

[cbmartinez]

Oops, sorry. I looked on the Cd Review list and it said it hadnt been reviewed.

[brycey]

It hasn't been updated yet. Where it says "Thread/Thread Starter" at the top of the page, click Thread Starter and look for my username. You'll find my review along with three other Rancid reviews.

[dazombee]

this is one of my favourite albums. and it is punk, and really, who gives a toss what is and wot isnt punk? that pisses me off when people chose to like a punk and whether it is or isnt punk, or whether thyre considered sellouts or not. and no, i dont like good charlotte.

and yeah i agree 5/5

[Badmoon]

Special Guest:
Rob Ashton - Vocals

Ron Ashton is from The Stooges I believe, for anyone who hadn't known.

[Bartender]

Threads merged.

[cbmartinez]

God, my review was bad.

[capri sun junkie]

I appreciate both of you working hard to provide the people of MX with a review for this album. I'd have to say that this would have to be my favourite Rancid album, considering it was so incredibly crappy, I stopped listening to them, and made me regret buying anything with their name on it.

[cbmartinez]

Whatever. Bash Rancid all you want. ...And Out Come The Wolves is still one of my favorite punk CDs of all time.

[capri sun junkie]

I wasn't bashing you, or Rancid. I was just saying the cd drastically changed my mind about the band.

[apromisingyear]

To all the rancid haters...**** you stupid mother****ers.

Every ****ing time a band puts out a new album and decides to experiment musically and lyrically by bringing in a new aspect or even a new instrument.

All you stupid "REAL PUNKS" flame the band for the rest of their careers, giving them **** for trying a new thing.

Now, correct me if im wrong but isnt there always some ****ing asshole in the punk forum preaching bull**** about how "punks" don't conform to something. Right?

Well if this is so true then you all should love ranicd right now for "not conforming" to a certain style or "brand" of music. If you don't like the album all that much then stop listening to it or giving it ****. If im a long time fan of a band and they put out an album thats quite not up to snuff im not going to stop listening to them. Thats idiotic.

If you disagree with what a band is going...don't listen to them...

But please shut the **** up!

[cbmartinez]

I wasn't bashing you, or Rancid. I was just saying the cd drastically changed my mind about the band.

I know. I basically agree with apromisingyear, but I'll put in english for you. Early Rancid really was punk at it's best. I wasn't to happy with this album, but like I said, albums like Rancid and ...And Out Come The Wolves are punk at it's finest. But for some reason, "bashing Rancid" has become the cool and punk thing to do. Rancid undoubtedly have talent and their music gets you moving. Thankfully, your above the common "hardcore punk" who just says "Sellouts! Listen to The Casualities! Nazi Punk 4 Lyfe!" You provided some reason for why you don't like them, but to say everything by a certain band sucks because of one cd is idiotic. What if The Locust's next CD is absolute trash, would you "regret buying anything with their name on it?" Indestructible aside, Rancid is one of the best punk bands of the day in my opinion.

[capri sun junkie]

I know. I basically agree with apromisingyear, but I'll put in english for you. Early Rancid really was punk at it's best. I wasn't to happy with this album, but like I said, albums like Rancid and ...And Out Come The Wolves are punk at it's finest. But for some reason, "bashing Rancid" has become the cool and punk thing to do. Rancid undoubtedly have talent and their music gets you moving. Thankfully, your above the common "hardcore punk" who just says "Sellouts! Listen to The Casualities! Nazi Punk 4 Lyfe!" You provided some reason for why you don't like them, but to say everything by a certain band sucks because of one cd is idiotic. What if The Locust's next CD is absolute trash, would you "regret buying anything with their name on it?" Indestructible aside, Rancid is one of the best punk bands of the day in my opinion.

Just because the new cd sucked didn't make me think the band sucked. It had me reflect on what I really felt about past releases and if I really even liked them, I found that I didn't. I just simply don't like to listen to them, I don't hate them. Depending on how I reflect with my experiences from the band pre-new cd, will determine wether I am regretful or not. I was just never amazed with Rancid.

[Arucard]

3/5
ok album

[ZEROthirtythree]

"Fall Back Down" is a cool song.

[capri sun junkie]

What if The Locust's next CD is absolute trash, would you "regret buying anything with their name on it?"

And on another note, I wasn't too pleased with Plague Soundscapes in the first place. Its just not very Locust sounding, I like their older releases a lot better.

[cbmartinez]

That wasn't the point of my post.

[capri sun junkie]

I know, thats why I said "On another note"... Read my post before that.

[cbmartinez]

Well, in that case, I heard your views on Plague Soundscapes in the recent "The Locust" thread in the punk forum. No need to repeat them. Though I am admittedly not as big a fan of The Locust as you, I was very pleased with Plague Soundscapes.

[capri sun junkie]

Well, in that case, I heard your views on Plague Soundscapes in the recent "The Locust" thread in the punk forum. No need to repeat them. Though I am admittedly not as big a fan of The Locust as you, I was very pleased with Plague Soundscapes.

Yeah thats cool. Its still listenable and good... Its just, way different from what got me into them, and it doesn't seem very Locust-like to me.

[tishalovesrancidpunx]

I say 5/5 on this one. I was lucky enough to meet Rancid last year at NSSN2003 in SF, CA., and I hope to see them again this year when they come back home. This album is unique, and Punk, and should be ranked with all their great albums. If you love Rancid, you love all their music. Of course some songs are better then others, but this album definitly gets play in my CD player.

[anti_emo_punk]

that album should be used to torture people

[weezerfan]

people who say rancid didnt sell out.......are you serious? i love out come the wolves, and most of the rest of their cd's (the byo split with nofx was sweet) but fall back down was on trl....where they had the dick from good charlotte, and kelly osbourne (WTF?!?!)...then, the transplants (awful awful band) use diamonds and guns in hair color and shampoo commercials!!!!!! (punk as ****, huh?) i love rancids old stuff, but honestly rancid, is one of the biggest examples of selling out ever, other than maybe the offspring or green day (who's songs are played at prom......) rancid and green day are two of my favorite bands, but seriously, sellouts all the way. if you want a good rancid sounding band listen to lars and the bastards.

[i live for mullets]

this album was the decline of rancid. listen to out come the wolves and then listen to indestructable

[btd_emo_punker]

People should be more open-minded. it's a big risk and it takes a lot of guts for a band to change their sound, but i think we deserve to atleast give rancid a chance, u cant just listen to a song once and throw out the album...

I know that everyone would love rancid to stay the same, but time will always go on, and bands will evolve, they SHOULD evolve. Sure, i miss the greenday who made 'insomniac' and 'dookie'... but their new album has really grown on me, same with the new (self-titled) blink album. It's exciting seeing great bands changing their sound. And ofcourse "indestructable" isn't as good as "out come the wolves' and 'rancid 2000' to some people, but it isn't supposed to be! that's the point. The album they release is saying what they're all about now! not in 2000, but now!

I hate how an ultimate band in rancid, who have contributed so much to punk, get shut down by fans for changing their sound. who are we to do this? it's a shame some people are so narrow-minded.

im outty. great review by the way! :thumb:

[CO&CAbasser14]

I never really liked rancid but I thought this album was great.