Punkers Avail, Rancid both rock

song, “Disgruntled” keeps the same pace, and so does the next•in fact, about 90 percent of this album could be lead-off tracks to Rancid albums that have yet to be recorded, which is just fine with me. The big skull and crossbones on the cover should have tipped me off. I was honestly bored with their last album, “Life Won’t Wait”, which was certainly ambitious, but lacked energy, and I simply can’t handle that much reggae in one dose. But it looks like Rancid have worked through their obsession with ska and reggae, and put out an album that flat-out kicks ass. There are a few songs that are a bit tamer than the others, most notably “Radio Havana”, but they’re not enough to spoil the fun. Bassist Matt Freeman also takes over lead vocals on a couple of tracks with his deep, gruff voice, which sounds a little out of place. But it’s a comical, if not slightly endearing addition to a pretty damn good album.

Jim Toweill (The Arbiter)

Related Posts:

1. Rancid/AFI powerful despite club problems
2. Green Day and Rancid star in puppet movie about Charles Manson
3. O.A.R. brings ‘island-vibe roots-rock’ to Boise
4. Seether is just a rock band, but proud of it
5. Continuing to break the record of longest rock song