TroublemakerBit of a premature review, as i've only listened to it once through and only on my laptops speakers. Can't really get a good listen till i've got a copy on vinyl and have it blasting through my stereo (which i did with my new copy of Cocksparrer - Forever this morning, fucking aye).When I got into punk as a 14/15 year old through skate boarding and the like, I listened to allot of stuff i would now not bother with, Rancid are one of the only bands that got me into punk that I still fucking love. It's fun, poppy but with some rough sincerity. I also really dig their lyrical style, it's slightly more interesting and artistic than the typical "fuckwar, fuck mcdonalds but spike your hair and spend all your money on heavily taxed items like alcohol" type lyrics you find in street punk, there's a lucid street level poetic aspect to it. A neat story telling ability that puts you in the moment. I feel like this album serves them slightly more truer to their sound than their 2015 album or that Let the Dominoes fall bollox i only listend to half way through all those years ago. I really like it, 'All american Neighbourhood' has some 'RANCID 2000' stylings, theres some usual rancid rocksteady influence there which they meld into their sound really well as always. ' Chucked in a piano on 'Bovver boy ROCKnROll' which to be honest is pretty misguided attempt on paying homage to that styling, and is subsequently a kind of a weak track. "beauty of a poolhall" is the only song that really jumped out at me, most songs dont really stand out significantly, but they did themselves proud by pulling out the same tempo punkrock they have usually produced.They video is fitting with them playing in one of their 'dad/mancave sheds' which is a presumabley an honest porthole into their contemporary lives, they all look a bit older and chubbier, Lars is obviously dressed like a colourful accountant as he is accustomed to since he converted to skinheadism, Tim looks kind of like a cross between a crazy homeless guy i used to see in at Newtown WINZ and Tom Anderson. I kind of like this album, I'm kind of drunk and sitting infront of my computer so I will probably jump on discogs and order it now, then wake up in the morning, see this post, the missing money in my bank account the empty beer bottles all over my floor and question my life choices once again which i usually do on sunday mornings...Anyhow, noone abouve 18 really takes this band seriously and I imagine Sam Deformed is the only one on Punkas.com that actually cares about this album

I haven't listened to the whole thing yet. I found telegraph avenue pretty terrible when it was released (just as I was typing this I had it playing and my 5yo daughter started dancing around so there you go, maybe it's a youth thing).

Rancid isn't a band I listened to much until my late 20s. Mainly cause I always thought it was a bit cheesy. In saying that I saw them at Punk Rock Bowling in 2012(ish) and it was one of the best/funnest live shows I've seen. Now I'm 31 and have kids I find I'm way more open minded going back and revisiting all these bands I skipped in my teens/20s.

Just this last week I was listening to this Turned Out A Punk interview with Lars. It's a goodie and gave me a whole new appreciation for the band and the massive impact they've had on the scene. Plus some fucking hilarious stories https://audioboom.com/posts/5377427-epi ... ls-uk-subs

Anyway this ended being a big ramble but my point is I'll give it a fair listen at some point.

There's more to life than thrashSo let's get really smashedand do the heavy head dance

ok, well, im not going to listen to this cos altho i still occasionally listen to early rancid, i havnt had much apreesh for anything theyve done in 20 fuckin years(fuckin hell im old).

but i have a shitty little anecdote for you, a short while ago, a friend of mine was looking thru my fb pictures and messaged me 'oh wow, you have a photo with Tim Armstrong!'i immediately realised she meant this one;thats Todd of The Deadbeats, i laughed and explained it was just a spurious tag cos he was dressed kinda like him, she was pretty surprised saying he really looks just like Tim, i replied that Todd now had a shaved head and a beard.which made me laugh again, saying, "but i bet fucking Tim Armstrong does too by now"

so a few days later, i saw a new video from rancid and Tim looks like this

This theory was solidified when the suicide dogs formed. But to be honest tim armstrong/ todd both look like they sit around on the swanky end of K rd sipping Long Machiato's whilst wearing square lensless glasses. Much like the Brunswick punx of melbourne. But in saying that i order Soy lattes sometimes so maybe i should just shut up and admit im a wanky melbourne prick too. Kinda want a soy latte now actually.....

Hipster habits aside. Talk back radio is choice as . I listen to it at work as a compromise as we all hate eachothers music. Sometimes its quite interesting. I learnt about mating habits of various reptiles the other day when i was straightening walls. That was a good day.

dave-brown wrote:Anyhow, noone abouve 18 really takes this band seriously and I imagine Sam Deformed is the only one on Punkas.com that actually cares about this album

Haha great thread Dave. Excellent banter regarding Todd also.

I fully condone Rancid and this new album. It's definitely a stronger listen than the previous two albums - although I was actually quite fond of the pop trajectory of some songs from Dominoes Fall. I think they're a great band and this album although it's lacking some more of the ska/reggae vibes of previous efforts it has a more concise feel to it more like the 'Let's Go' album.I've been thrashing it since it leaked early last week and there were many tracks which stuck out to me but I simply enjoyed the pace of the album and the flow (if you could call it that) of the lyrics. It's both an honest and nostalgic delivery which breathes new & refreshing energy into what is now old music. I think my fave tracks are the title track, Where I'm Going, Buddy, Farewell Lola Blue, Blues Again, This Is Not The End - hell there's not a dud track on it in my ears. The 2 bonus tracks We Arrived Right On Time and Go On Rise Up are great songs too.The melodies on the album really work well in all of the songs with what I feel is a really spot-on production - it doesn't sound over-produced like they did on Dominoes Fall. The guitar leads from Tim and Lars really shine on here - That wailing guitar on the closer is the perfect ending on the LP. I do wish they just put the 2 7" bonus tracks on the LP though - I guess they couldn't all fit.

Went halves with the missus on the Ltd bundle with some sweet Clockwork Orange themed t-shirts, enamel pin and a signed giclee print of the cover which I'm gonna frame - soon to be the beauty of the pool hall.