Lars Frederiksen And The Bastards- S/T
What are side projects, exactly? In musical terms, some people may think that if there’s a spinoff, or side project of a band, it is immediately an insult to the original group. While this might be the case at times, a musician lives through his or her work, and inspirations take them farther to different places, that sometimes, don’t fit with others, or the original band, in this case.
Lars Frederiksen And The Bastards is a spinoff, or side project belonging to the guitarist/vocalist of punk band, Rancid. After the band finished touring their headlined
Indestructible tour, Frederiksen and Tim Armstrong (solo Producer) went into a recording studio in northern California to begin recording the Bastards’ first album. The self-titled record is the beginning to many new musicians that were picked up by Lars himself, and most of them trace back from Lars’ earlier years. When I heard about this project, my reaction was, “this is great, because by listening to this record, we’ll find out exactly what the man behind the multi-colored Mohawk can do on his own.” Surely, I took a listen and I was in for plenty of surprises, and some disappointments that still tend to stick out.
The whole album is written by Lars. The lyrics, and the composition. To interrupt very quickly, let me remind you that although he has over-decent musicians along with him, that is still quite a weigh on a single man’s shoulders, and to fully succeed, you need to hit it in the right spot and have everything arranged perfectly. Now, this didn’t exactly “hit” perfectly on the right spot, but at times it seems like its getting there fairly quick, and at times it seems like there’s plenty of things holding it back. Lars specializes in guitar-work, not lyrics. Keeping this in mind, I will say that the guitar-work is well over-decent and blends with the rest of the music very nicely and acts as the center of everything in about 90% of the album’s entirety. Songs are all mostly built the same, and seem like they would make a nice spot as filler on a Rancid album. But it’s peculiar how some people see filler differently and how when it is blended together in a set of thirteen tracks, it groups and works up to be a little more than you’d expect.
Now, don’t be hasty. Not all tracks are like this. The album single,
Skunx, provides a great outlook of the band, and at the end it’s formed out very nicely. The track shares an aspect many of the others share, and that is that every instrument gets a turn, and they all stand out in a part of the song, wether it’s a breakdown, an ascending bridge, or a counterpart that calls for way too many rolls. The song isn’t anywhere near perfect, but it is still worth checking out and is one of the recommended on the album. As far as composition goes on the rest of the album, it is that you’d see from an undeveloped garage band. Basically, some things that stick out and catch your ear, and a lot of others that will make you think if more time listening to this is worth it. As my favorite section to look out for is the rhythmic section, I was pleased to find out that drums on here are set to a much faster potential than those of Reed’s on Rancid, and a lot of other punk for that matter. Bass falls in at very boring at times, with simple lines that shows at bridges often, and slows down the mix. The guitar, as said before is a big part, and almost the only part of the album, and Lars, taking the lead at vocals and guitar, shows it off very nicely. Solos are hurled throughout the record, and it’s something positive to wait on when you start up another track.
Vocals for me are praised. But I warn you, that’s just me. I have admired Lars’ vocals ever since listening to
Wolves by Rancid, and it is a huge part of the album for me. It makes it harsh, and more entertaining than if it was being led by some other guy with confusing hair. Lars cracks out a few serious parts, one being
To Have And To Have Not, the score dedicated to the late Joe Strummer. This one shows off his ability to an even farther extent and is another of the recommended. Overall, vocals range from brilliant lead parts by Lars, to boring background vocals that always attempt to keep up with the lead way too often and makes it sound uninteresting and gives no feeling of surprise of adrenaline.
What did we learn, class? That on his own, Lars can accomplish a lot, although not brilliant work that will surprise many listeners as well as disappoint. It’s just the way you look at it, but this I’d say is a good enough view to the album so you can judge for yourself. Lars is much better off in Rancid, but this has some twists that would appear as awkward and just stupid on a Rancid record.
Stand Out Tracks:
Dead American
To Have And Have Not
Army Of Zombies
Anti Social
Skunx
Great.
3.5/5
