Rancid
Let the Dominoes Fall
Hellcat (2009)
Rancid changed my life when I was twelve years old. Yes, Nirvana and Green Day had me going in the right direction, but Rancid absolutely changed me with their shocking mohawks, messy tattoos, and irresistibly catchy punk rock tunes. Once I bought ...And Out Come the Wolves I knew I had to be in a band and play music forever. So I have a certain affinity towards this band that since 1995 has experienced peaks and valleys, releasing a great album, then a venomous album, then a sorta half-assed album. Six years since the release of their last one, and the first since the loss of long-time drummer Brett Reed, Rancid is throwing their hat back into the ring of punk rock relevance with Let the Dominoes Fall. The major complaint heard so far with this album is its lack of energy, and the reason for this is obvious: Tim Armstrong. Whether it's from older age, fatigue, or just a lack of self-awareness, Armstrong has let his voice become a parody of what it once was. For most of the album he sits in a vocal register just barely above a speaking voice, only occasionally making a real effort to … Read more
Samothrace
Life's Trade
20 Buck Spin (2008)
Doom metal is something that's an acquired taste; either you're a fan of it or you're not, and those who … Read more
Deep Snapper
Into the Ugly
Edna Peppers (2008)
Deep Snapper is back with another album of almost familiar songs that bring to mind a type of punk rock … Read more
End of a Year
End of a Year
Deathwish Inc. (2009)
Yes, End of a Year give us yet another new record into which we can sink our collective teeth (if … Read more
