Rancid - Life Wont Wait (21 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Amazing record by a great band

sc_demandred | Irvine, CA USA | 06/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rancid is one of those rare bands who can crank out album after album of similar-sounding music without stagnating. Their sound is born of the Clash and the Sex pistols, with a touch of Black Flag political sensibility thrown in. To say Rancid is not derivative would be a lie, but to discount them because of their influences would be a crime."Life Won't Wait" was the eagerly-anticipated follow-up to 1995's "...And Out Come The Wolves," and it showed surprising levels of innovation and musical exploration from what had been a band with staid musical style."Bloodclot" is the leadoff shot, a typical Rancid-esque song with Lars' raw-throated vocals getting the record off to a super-charged opening. There are a lot of great tracks on this record that are not straight-ahead punk songs, and if people complain about Rancid trying out Ska and Reggae, the lyric "Desmond Dekker was singin" from "Roots Radicals" is obviously lost on them."Hoover Street" is one such reggae song, though it mixes rocking choruses in for a great blend of sounds all tied together with Tim Armstrong's drawling vocals. "Who would've thought" and "Corazon De Oro" are also in the reggae/ska vein. Both are beautiful songs that bespeak brash and youthful love, and are a far cry from the hard-edged punkishness that had been Rancid's trademark up to this point. While the departure is uncharacteristic, the songs' strength and sheer enjoyability cannot be denied. "Life Won't Wait" and "Wrongful Suspicion" also have the Jamaican style, though they are more serious and political than the aforementioned selections.Lars does even more singing on this record, and his voice is an excellent counterpoint to Tim's. There are so many amazing songs on this album, it's hard to pick any favorites, but my favorites are "Coppers," "Something in the World today," "Cash Cutlture and Violence," and the brilliant "Crane Fist."Listening to this album takes you through almost all ranges of human emotion. From adrenaline-fueled aggression to anthemic exaltation, Rancid has crafted a masterpiece with this album. I've had it for four years and never gotten sick of it once. If you like bands like Green Day, the Clash, the Ramones, and any of the new Pop-punk bands, give this one a try. I think you Blink-182 fans might just be pleasantly surprised."

Phenominal

Hardcore Jim | 07/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rancid's album Life Won't Wait really is something totally different and it will take a long time to grow on most people, but it is some of Rancid's best stuff.

I think every song on here is perfect (see Bloodclot), and although there's a lot of weird stuff (see Crane Fist) it all fits together beautifully to make a very deep album that can blow any other band away.

My favorite songs on here (yeah there's a lot) are probably

Bloodclot, Black Lung, Life Won't Wait (not many people like this one at first), Hooligans, Leichester Square, The Wolf, 1998 and..

The last 3 songs on Life Won't Wait are probably, the 3 best songs you can possibly end an album with and they progressively get better.

Something in the World Today is a very catchy punk song that one can't resist to sing along to.

Corazon De Oro is a ballad but it's perfect in every way and one of the most beautiful things to touch my ears.

but if Corazon De Oro is one of the most beautiful things to touch my ears, Coppers is the most beautiful. A 5 minute song to end the album turned me off at first but after one listen I was in love and I simply cannot get enough of this song. A reggae song in which Buju Banton, Lars and Tim all sing, with steel drums just truly beautiful one of the best songs I've heard in my life.

Ok I think I've gone on enough, I don't recommend getting this as your first Rancid album, get and out came the wolves for that. But this is a truly beautiful album and you must have it in your collection whether you think you like Rancid or not, whether you like Punk Rock or not, whether you like Ska/Reggae/Dub or not. Thanks for sitting through my review"

Rancid calling?

C. Mabey | NY The twilight zone | 07/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great album and shows Rancid stretching themselves musically, like The Clash (who they are always compared to),

This is not a bad thing.

There are some classic sounding rancid songs like Blood clot and Black Lung.

In addition, there are some great Guest Vocals too, From Ex-specials and Dickey Barret (Bosstones).

Is this London calling? NO, it's "Rancid calling" go out and buy it.

Tim Armstrong's sounds great, singing out of tune and slurring your Vocals never sounded so very good.

These Guys rule.

"

Racid's London Calling

A.E. Sokolowski | New York | 04/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After years of playing solid punkers that could be mistaken for harder versions of Clash songs, Rancid finally whips out a classic. Their ambition was sure lofty: random excerpts from Bakunin's book are recited about catchy reggae- and blues-influenced punk tunes, a menagerie of guest musicians appear ranging from Dickey Barret through Buju Banton and everyone in between, pianos, B3s, horns, harmonicas, xylophones, steel drums, arranging by outside songwriters, and crispy-clean production span this massive 22-song record that is twice as long as any other punk ablum should be.

But don't dismiss this record immediately for being "less punk" or a "sellout record" (though it did come out dead smack in the middle of the short-lived ska-and-swing hype, true)--give it a few listens no matter how much you may lust for the heavier, faster sound their earlier albums. And unlike ...And Out Come the Wolves, which was a collection of three-chord pop songs, this one truly shows Tim Armstrong's talent for songcraft--unfortunately to never be reproduced (with the exception of 2000's Radio Havana). The lyrics may not be the best in the world, but despite covering topics in pairs from the problems immigrants face (Crane Fist, Hoover Street), Eastern Europe (New Dress, Warsaw), New York's squatter culture (Cocktails, 1998), and even romantic love (Who Would've Thought, Corazon de Oro), the lyrics don't come across as pretentiously-punk-tough or all that repetitive as they do on the more disappointing recent releases by Tim 'n Crew.

There is not a bad song on here, though some may be difficult listens at first. Truly the overlooked "London Calling" of the 90s."

Search - Rancid :: Life Won't Wait

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