musicc's Full Review: Let the Dominoes Fall [PA] * by Rancid
Rancid is one of if not the most successful Punk bands today. They have been around since the early 90’s following the breakup of iconic ska punk band Operation Ivy. They have released several albums throughout the years including the genre defining Out Come the Wolves and less successful releases (their self titled release). None the less Rancid has remained popular and respected for their career. Their last release 2003’s Indestructible was not their best effort and was criticized for being poppy, but still managed to have hits such as Fall Back Down and Arrested in Shanghai. After that album Rancid took a brief hiatus and no news of new albums would come until 2007. So nearly six years later Rancid finally released a new album earlier this year with Let the Dominos Fall, easily worth the wait and their best effort since Out Come the Wolves.
Kicking the album off right away is East Bay Night, a highly energetic song. The small guitar chords being strummed as the title is being sung start the song as it explodes into a fast paced punk song. It is easy to sing along with and fun to listen to. Following this is This Place, a short fast minute long song. It's not anything amazing but it is enjoyable enough and sounds fine. The first album highlight immediately comes after this with Up to No Good. While Rancid is largely a punk band they do delve into Ska from time to time. Up to No Good is mainly a Ska song, and a great one at that. The simple lyrics are mashed nicely with the Ska tingled guitar. The chorus is great fun to sing with, but perhaps the true highlight of the song is the organ, which adds a layer of creativity and helps make the song a lot of fun.
Lead single Last One to Die is next. It is a perfectly enjoyable song; it sounds clean and is an easy listen. It might not have as much energy as some of their other songs and may be classified as poppy, but it works. The lyrics are strong, and the chorus is catchy with some good background vocals. Next is what is probably my favorite song, Disconnected. The level of energy here is intense, it is a ton of fun and Rancid really sounds like they are having fun. The lyrics are strong and on par with the music. The crunchy electric guitar screams punk and the chorus is light while still retaining all of their energy. I would kill to see them play this song live.
The first five songs are all great and almost warrant a purchase of the album. There are plenty of other songs on the album, most of which are good. Some are a bit lesser but that's okay, because with 19 songs not all can be perfect, it just wouldn't be possible. I Ain't Worried is pretty good. It sounds a bit darker than most other songs and takes some more time getting used to. Damnation is a perfectly enjoyable minute and a half punk song. Like other songs on the album, not amazing in any sense but enjoyable and easy to listen to. Civilian Ways is a punk ballad and a nice slower song. The acoustic guitar sounds great and has a nice ring to it. The song is about a solider returning home to the USA. It’s a bit deeper than most songs and it works without coming across forced.
The Bravest Kids keeps the war and solider theme, except this time the pace is much faster. The guitars harmonize nicely with each other and at a minute and a half it’s a cut of above most of the others with the same length. Lulu returns with some welcome Ska. The chorus is great and incorporates reggae while the verses return to punk. Strong lyrics fill the song as it is about the war in Iraq and hard working class people. The title track, Dominoes Fall marks another album highlight. The level of energy and urgency is very high and the background organ helps shape the song into one of the stronger ones. The lyrics are about nuclear war and they sound pretty good. If they ever remade Dr. Strangelove (god forbid) I think this song would fit in with it well. A nice ska sound makes the song even better. Liberty and Freedom is a bit slower paced song, which makes use of a Ska themed organ. The song is about what you would expect, it works as a call for freedom and rallying against censorship. It works well and it’s nice to see a band have socially conscious lyrics without sounding lame and just doing it because it's cool. You Want it, You Got it, is a bit of a throwback to old school punk. A rousing bass line kicks the song off before it repeats the title. There’s nothing really deep about the song but it sounds great and is fun to listen to.
Rancid has crafted an impressive album. There's a little something of everything here, darker punk (Skull City, I Ain't Worried), fast punk with no deep meanings, (This Place, East Bay Night) and a good amount of Ska (Up to no Good, Dominoes Fall, Lulu, Liberty and Freedom). Rancid is also able to create socially relevant songs that utilize smart lyrics, something that is a rarity in punk nowadays. With so many songs not all of them can measure up to greatness, but a surprising amount do. There aren’t too many mediocre moments, just less than amazing ones. Some of the songs do take more time getting used to but I have yet to find a song that I flat out don’t like. They even have a song that is about loving touring (The Highway), proving that Rancid can still make original song topics. Who knows how long it will be for another album from them, but with this one, I don’t care if it takes another six years. It was worth the wait for this one.
4.5 Stars rounded down
Track List (Bolded ones are favorites)
East Bay Night 4/5
This Place 4/5
Up to no Good 5/5 Last One to Die 5/5 Disconnected 5/5
I Ain't worried 4/5
Damnation 4/5
New Orleans 4/5
Civilian Ways 4/5
The Bravest Kids 4/5
Skull City 4/5
LA River 3/5
Lulu 4/5
Dominoes Fall 5/5
Liberty and Freedom 4/5
You Want it, You Got it 4/5
Locomotive 3/5
The Highway 4/5
Key Lyrics
Last One to Die
Everybody saying we gotta take a chance And telling me what the hell went wrong We only listen to the words that we sing Now a million are singing along
Lulu
Her war time now in the USA Her husband goes far away Afghanistan to Iraq Her husband now ain't comin' back
The Highway
Night clubs and one night stands Play a show then I'm off again This is my life Living on the highway It's all I've ever done All I've ever known Just wanna play one more show Make some music with my friends I am working class culture
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