IN REVIEW: Rancid - "Trouble Maker"

As far as punk rock goes, it's hard to name a hotter hot streak than the trio of records Rancid cranked out between 1995 and 2000; the star making ...And Out Come the Wolves, the far-reaching Life Won't Wait and their balls-to-the-wall second self-titled album solidly positioned Rancid as leaders of the second generation of punk. It also preceded a period of slow progression, as Rancid would take eleven years to release their next three records. By the time ...Honor Is All We Know came in 2014, many fans (myself included) had to wonder whether or not this was the end of the road.

Such concerns are handily dealt with on the closing track of the standard edition of their ninth record, the positively punishing This Is Not the End. Well, okay then, that's sorted. Now, what of this new record? What do we make of the use of their original logo on the cover, a logo that hasn't graced a Rancid record in 25 years? Is this a throwback to the band's heyday, a new beginning of sorts? What about the spiky-haired person casually sitting by the bay with an acoustic guitar? Perhaps the acoustic guitars that started creeping into their sound a couple albums ago would be back?

As it turns out, the answer lies somewhere in between; you can hear the Rancid of old throughout, especially on short blasts like the opening one-two punch of Track Fast and Ghost of a Chance, as well as quasi title track An Intimate Close Up of a Street Punk Trouble Maker, the bass-led All American Neighborhood (as good a time as any to praise Matt Freeman, one of the greatest living bass players on the planet bar none), and the propulsive I Got Them Blues Again. Then again, there's also the more melodic tendencies they've displayed on recent records, as evidenced by the acoustic-tinged sing-along Telegraph Avenue, the groovy ska-influenced Where I'm Going and the ode to fallen idols Say Goodbye to Our Heroes. Rancid covers a lot of ground on Trouble Maker, and not all of it is so familiar, as we learn at the halfway point when they suddenly go classic glam on Bovver Rock and Roll.

The prevalent feeling I get listening to Trouble Maker is one of celebration; just as on ...Honor Is All We Know, this record sounds like it was a lot of fun to make. It's a victory lap of sorts, and they hit on all of their sonic touchstones throughout which, considering the quarter century milestone they've now hit, is only fair. Whereas most bands at this stage of the game have either drifted too far from their sweet spot to get back on track or rehashed their shtick to the point of parody (the latter of which Rancid has teetered perilously close to in the past), Trouble Maker finds Rancid once again playing to their strengths while injecting maturity and clarity into the tunes; it's worth noting that this is by far Rancid's least profane record (I only noticed one F-bomb on the entire thing, though there may be a couple more muttered along the way for all I know). Take that for what you will.

Personally, I can't see any but the most cynical and closed-minded Rancid fans being disappointed in Trouble Maker, as it ticks all the expected boxes and throws a few new tricks in for good measure. It's not like they owed us anything considering their track record, but getting a Rancid record this good at this point is certainly welcomed and well worth celebrating.

June 9, 2017 • Hellcat/Epitaph
Highlights Telegraph Avenue • Where I'm Going • Bovver Rock and Roll

Year in Rock 2025

Alright, I've got some explaining to do. By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but: a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up! What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...

SOUND BITES

Search This Blog