Interviewer: What do you want the listener to get out of the music?
Brett Reed: That's up to the listener. People are always asking us what the exact definition of every word is, and we just want them to come up with their own meanings. Whatever the *** it means to you, that is what it means. All my favorite records I had no clue what the people were saying. I came up with my own great meanings, and then years later I would meet the person who wrote that song and they'd tell me something like, "Ah yeah, that was the song I wrote about my dog ***ting all over the place." That really bummed me out. It goes for all kinds of music. There are some bands that are real soapboxy, in a preachy way, and it's pretty clear what they're saying, but that's not what we are about. We share stories, and some blends fiction with non-fiction. Some are real stories with the names changed. You just need to listen and take the song for the meaning you get out of it.
Lets get straight to the point with this one. Right after Rancid's debut of their "different" album,
"Life Wont Wait", all their fans thought they had transformed from one genre to the other. In other words, they were expecting this record to include the same variables and components as the predecessor. And it makes me laugh just thinking of what their facial expressions were when they popped "2000" in. The very first thing you hear when you start listening to this album. Is utter chaos. Rancid had done a good job with some heavy tracks on Let's Go and their first LP. But that doesnt compare at all to what we have on the table right now. All I have to say is this. Read this review and use this information wisely. Because these genre-hopping bastards have really done it this time.
Rancid- 2000
Lineup
Tim Armstrong- Guitar, Vocals
Lars Frederiksen- Guitar, Vocals
Matt Freeman- Bass, Vocals
Brett Reed- Drums
---------------------------------------------------
This review will include the album getting divided into three portions. The beginning, middle and end of the record (theoretical order). Since there are 22 tracks, this format will suit an easier view for the reviewer and hopefully, the rest of the Sputnik users.
---------------------------------------------------
Portion 1
Good luck mantaining your sanity with this ***. :lol: The album kicks off with the 35-second wonder,
Don Giovanni, this track, as well as a great portion of this album contains lines and fills at rapid speed. Nothing that special about this track, Except it lets you know what youre walking into. The song ends in a rapid halt and seeming like its the same song,
Disgruntled starts going. This one beat Giovanni by about 25 seconds more. But it packs twice the punch. The chorus is the highlight. Those two tracks came off a little mean, and
Its Quite Alright fixes any doubts in your mind. But cause its a tiny bit lighter doesnt mean its slow. Tim's vocals come off with a charm that makes this song one of the best in the first portion. Tim hits a strike with this one, and then goes on to impress again with
Let Me Go. This is more of a complete song compared to the rest, ranking in at 3:13. Tim's vocals and the great guitar work sound great put together. And Lars and Matt step in to help out with the chorus. Then, Lar's takes center-plate with
I Am Forever, which starts off very slow and surprises you. Lar's vocals havent been this good since Let's Go.
Poison happens to have one of the most addictive choruses on the album. Brett also does an awesome work in this track as well. the first portion is barely 9 minutes, to give you an idea of how fast these songs are. The portion-closer,
Loki is also very short, but theres never any need for long overrated intros. It gets straight to the point with Lars yelling at the top of his lungs, and doing a very good job at it. The first portion reveals what "2000" is trying to prove. And that is that great ***ing music can come in small and lighting-fast packages for that matter. But overall, not the best portion on the album. Portion 2 however.....
Portion 1 score- 2.5/5
Reccomended Songs- Disgruntled, Its Quite Alright, Poison
Portion 2
Ah, the glory of going over the best ***ing section of a great album. it starts us off with the amazing track and the album's anthem.
Black Hawk Down is the first song I ever heard by Rancid. Maybe if you listen, you'll be able to tell why I fell in love with this band. Tim rushes through the track rapidly right as soon as Brett gives cue with a few washy hi-hats. A cant really describe. Really. Its that simple. excellent song and the best portion opener. Follows with
Rwanda, the weakest point in the portion. the song's material seems to be not very well-built. I smell filler. No matter. Because
Corruption is the album's second-best track, and also one of the fastest. I love the song so much cause Lars, Matt and finally, Tim take turns with the three verses, and that plus with the great guitar-work gives this song both my thumbs. Remember Hoover street from Life Wont Wait? Basically slow song with slow, mellow verses and one great, heavier chorus. Well,
Antennaes is the opposite. And it works great on the audience. Everybody loves the song. And it takes the album farther some more..again.
Rattlesnake happens to have the greatest guitar-work on the whole album. A kick-ass riff at the beginning gets you going, and Tim leads the great verses right into the choruses, which ranks in as the chorus with the most swearing. Oh well, works for me perfectly.
Not To Regret comes in with a great moderate bass-line to satisfy. I look at it as Matt just warming up, cause he's got a treat for you later. Other than that, the song hold nothing else much different, considering at this point, a lot of songs are starting to sound the same. And thats not in any way bad. Follows up with the slowest song and the greatest portion-closer on the album.
Radio Havana is also the third-best on the album. Its a big change from the fast-paced stuff just to assure you that Rancid still have their kicks. once again, Brett makes a great apperance with the set. Lyrics are pretty pointless to me, but the music itself makes up for it.
Portion 2 score- 5/5
Reccomended Songs- Blackhawk Down, Corruption, Rattlesnake, Radio Havana
Portion 3
We thought Matt was down. We thought he wouldnt make this album good by now. Well, up next, he proves many people dead-godamn-wrong.
Axiom is basically an instrumental half-way and after the bridge Tim comes in with some vocals. but thats not interesting. Because the bridge consists of the perfect example why so many musicians look up to this man. The solo rips open the song and stuffs in double the talent and double the amazing fury that made you love "Maxwell Murder" in the first place. Matt decided that it was maybe his turn at some lead vocals. His raspy, unique voice in
Black Derby Jacket gives good reasoning to why some people call him "Black Lung". Great song overall. But not the best on this last portion. Follows with
Meteor of War, which I have a huge problem with. The guitar-work is so damn great and the drum-work is so amazing, but the vocals just suck so bad. It upsets me. The chorus has Tim saying something over and over again like an idiot. But i still dont have any idea what hes saying. I think.."Jon Brown"?????? I dont exactly know. But thats not the matter. Tim failed vocally on this one. Rare, uh? It then leaves the album in the hands of the best song on the album and one of the greatest punk songs ive ever heard.
Dead Bodies has Lars yelling again, and by now hes demonstrated he can do one hell of a job. Matt starts out the song with a decent, foot-tapping line that then cues Brett to hit a few accents and on with the excellent chaos. Lars yells about canibalism. Yum. With great gory description, Lars leads the song staright into the reccomended section. More bass solos? Well, dont get too excited. Theres two really short ones in
Rigged On A Fix, another track that has Matt at lead vocals. I wish they had gotten Matt into this kind of spotlight way before.
Cause he now owns vocally and musically. Then into
Young Al Capone, another superb song with highlight guitar-work, as well as Lar's vocals. Another longer song to lightly change the pace. Annnnd. Heres Matt again.
Reconciliation is one of the albums weaker songs. I suspect some more filler material. But has a great, great bridge. Then, to finish off one ***ing hell of an album,
Golden Gate Fields comes in. I see it as Tim apologizing for the whole Meteor of War failure. He's sorry and makes up for it in this great closing. The song's breakdown/outro features Tim actually talking to listener. He knows how much I enjoyed this himself.
Portion 3 score- 4/5
Reccomended Songs- Axiom, Dead Bodies, Young Al Capone
---------------------------------------
Pros
+First Rancid album ever to have all the instruments and vocals at grade-A shape and material.
+Lar's Vocals
+Heaviest, fastest and meanest Rancid has to offer
+Portion 2
+ Matt Steps in with great lead vocals!
Cons
-Meteor of War :( (HAH, THATS ABOUT IT!)
----------------------------------------
As I understand how most people hate this album and will think that it was heavily biased, I want people to realize that what Rancid was doing was giving most of their fans a Wake Up call, saying, "Hey, you know what? Now you know we can play hard and fast and nothing can possibly get in our way." Its telling people that Rancid is here to stay very permamently. Also, Its a big change from Life Wont Wait, so I liked that. Im ready to take responsibily for this review. But im just being honest here. It was something big for them and if youre either a humongous Rancid fan or just a confused metal-head, then enjoy the hell out of 2000 because by some few people, it will be treasured as a musical milestone forever.
4.5/5
