Rancid – Let the Dominoes Fall

Rancid have always come off as a bunch of hardcore dudes, but on this album they show a more sensitive side to them. They even have an acoustic song on here and its not half bad. Tim Armstrong's lyrics are pretty much unintelligible, but when you read them its pretty awesome to find out what he's really saying, the guy's a Punk rock poet.

Musically, the album is kinda commercialized, not much hardcore stuff on this one. I have to give it up to new drummer Branden Steineckert formerly of The Used. I used to think Rancid's drumming was weak and 1 dimensional, but Steineckert has stepped it up a notch. On songs like the reggae influenced "I Ain't Worried" he really shows his signature style which is tight and energetic. My personal favorite song is "This Place" which features vocals from Lars Freidrickson. Right from the beginning of the song it gets all in your face with his cigarette snarl of a voice. True hardcore fans of Rancid will most likely write this off as a commercial sell out album, but honestly its pretty good once you get over the whole Punk rock formula thing.

1. East Bay Night
2. This Place
3. Up To No Good
4. Last One To Die
5. Disconnected
6. I Ain't Worried
7. Damnation
8. New Orleans
9. Civilian Ways
10. The Bravest Kids
11. Skull City
12. L.A. River
13. Lulu
14. Dominoes Fall
15. Liberty and Freedom
16. You Want It, You Got It
17. Locomotive
18. That's Just The Way It Is Now
19. The Highway

-Bobby Vega-
Big Wheel music scene reporter