Let the Dominoes Fall - Rancid

General Info

Rancid are a Hybrid Punk band who use Ska and reggae influences in there songs. Aswell as having influences in Hardcore Punk and Hip Hop, Most members have a History in Other bands, Tim Armstrong (Guitar/Vocals) was in Operation Ivy in the 80's as was Matt Freeman (bass/Backing Vocals) Tim is also in "Transplants" With Travis Barker of Blink 182 and has released a solo album. Lars Friedriksen (Guitar/Vocals) Joined after the release of Rancid's First album in 1994, He is also in a band called "Lars and the Bastards" who are signed to Tim's record label "Hellcat Records". This is the first album without original Drummer Brett reed who left in 2006 after 15 years with the band.

===For Fans of==

The Specials
Bad Manners
Transplants
Lars and the B*stards
Operation Ivy
Common Rider
Classics of love
Early Greenday
Early Offspring

===Track by Track===

1. East Bay Night - Sounds like a track off of the "Indestructible" album, so basically (in true Rancid Fashion) they have just started where the last album left off, The Bass is really prominent and can be heard over the guitars and drums, Which with the new drummer sound a lot heavier and high hat heavy, Tim's voice sounds exactly as it does on every Rancid album. Which is good.

2. This Place - Straight into a rather hard song now, very bass heavy again, Tim on vocal duties again, The guitar sounds like it is just power chords and nothing in this song sticks out, It is also very short at 01:05

3. Up to no good - I love this song, The keys on it are like that of the "Time Bomb" era, this is very ska tinged, a song you cannot help but "skank" or dance to, If you like the specials or Bad manners, You will love this song as it is very simular, It speeds up for the bridge with trumpets galore before breaking down into a Keyboard solo. This is probably my favourite song on the album.

4. Last one to die - This song to me should never have been a single, Don't get me wrong i like it, But i feel there are stronger songs on the album, It is basically Rancid as a band singing about how amazing they are and how far they have come and how they are still around, Not very punk rock at all. It is very catchy but nothing memorable about it musically until the guitar solo.

5. Disconnected - Lars takes over on Vocal duties now, I like this song. It features Greg Graffin of Bad Religion on some of the vocals aswell, This song is fast and so loveable. AGAIN it seems like it is over to quickly but on a album with 19 songs you can't expect all of them to be 3/4 minutes long.

6. I ain't Worried - Back to the reggae/ska tinged stuff now, Very catchy guitar riffs and keys, Tim back on vocal duties, I dare you to not dance to this song. The bass does not go with the song aswell as i would like, Lars takes over vocal duties half way through. Not the best on here but not the worst.

7. Damnation - Very very fast (unlike rancid) Tim on vocals, I don't like this song there is nothing memorable about it at all, It sounds like so many other early Rancid songs, a weak link on a otherwise good album.

8. New Orleans - Starts with a epic guitar solo, Lars on Vocals singing rather than his usual growl which is a very very punk rock voice, This song has a really good feel to it, everything goes together so well and it is beautifully produced, the lyrics are amazing, a masterpiece. When Tim and Lars sing together its pretty awesome on this track.

9. Civilian ways - Starts with a slow count in to a acoustic/folky Punk riff. Tim changes the way he sings for this (like he sings on "arrested in shanghai" off of "indestructible") slow and beautiful.

10. The bravest kids - back to the faster stuff, Tim singing again the riff is really good and the drums are absolutely unreal, god knows how he keeps it going so fast, The chorus is really catchy, love this song.

11. Skull City - Best start to a song on the album, the lyrics sound a bit like Anti-Flag - go go girl. This is typical Rancid at there best, really really catchy with prominent fast bass, All in all a brilliant song, possibly about a stripper. Beautiful bridge, good lyrics. love it.

12. L.A River - Amazing bass, I don't know who does the vocals on this song, but they appear on a few on this album. I love the boom shacalaka bit on this it's hilarious this is a fun song with a big rockabilly/psychobilly feel to it and epic guitar riffs. LOVE IT!

13. LuLu - Another unmemorable moment, Nothing special avoid it if you can, its best to not let the weak links ruin the rest of this brilliant album.

14. Dominoes Fall - EPIC KEYS to start with, Title track, it is very catchy and i think the only way this song could be any better is if it was the album opener because it deserves to be, Everything about this song fits together like the pieces of a jigsaw, You will find yourself bopping along and singing the chorus.

15. Liberty and Freedom - a acoustic intro that rolls into another ska tinged 2 step song, very catchy guitar riffs and very memorable keys. There is a backing group on the vocals which gives the song more depth. and a good guitar and key solo mashup type thing that should last a bit longer.

16. you want it? you got it. - Such a happy song, starts with bass and then goes in full speed to a proper anthem with Tim and Lars sharing vocal duties "Punk Rock is my religion" play this track loud. the bridge is really good aswell.

17. Locomotive - AVOID AT ALL COSTS, AWFUL.

18. That's just the way it is - A proper corker this one, Very ska tinged, almost not a Rancid song BUT would not be out of place on Tim's Solo album "A Poet's Life" I like this song but feel it just does not belong on this album.

19. The Highway - A brillaint ender, a acoustic track with Tim singing about everything that has happened with his band in the 18 years (at the time) they were together. a beautiful end to a beautiful album.

Conclusion

A beautiful album ruined only by them stuffing a few album fillers and weak tracks on here, BUT as it has 19 tracks it is still more good than bad and a definate must have for any Rancid fan.