Album Details

• Artist: Rancid
• Album: Let The Dominoes Fall
• Label: Hellcat
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: tosnob on 2009-06-30

Let the Dominoes Fall is the first new studio album from Tim Armstrong, Lars Fredericksen and company in nearly six years. It's about time.

In the past it was fairly easy to label a Rancid album. You had your ska albums (Life Won't Wait), your melodic punk (...And Out Come the Wolves), and your hardcore albums (Rancid). This time out the band has put a little bit of everything together.

The ska manifests itself in songs like "Up To No Good" and "I Ain't Worried". "This Place" and "You Want It, You Got It" are high octane tunes that bring a harder edge to Rancid's melodic punk assault. The lead-off single "Last One To Die" and "East Bay Night" show us the band's pop sensibility.

We also get some brand new touches on this album. A Spanish guitar plays a prominent role on "Civilian Ways", while "The Highway" is a country-tinged amble down memory lane that wouldn't be out of place on Fredericksen's next solo record.

Some may have a legitimate complaint that many of the songs on the album are a little bit too polished. The up-yours snarl of previous records is definitely missing. Maybe they are mellowing out a bit with age. That's probably good for your health, but it's not so good when you're recording a punk album.

Despite the dulled edges, Let the Dominoes Fall should be a welcome arrival for fans of true punk rock.

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2009-07-07 dscanland Said:

I agree with Peter's review above. Rancid have played it pretty safe here but this time around they are about having fun and not tearing down any walls. Songs like Skull City and Disconnected are nothing but fun. I was quite entertained when I heard a Mandolin on "Civilian Ways". Yup, I think it's actually Tim doing a ballad. Crazy, I know. A drunk ballad but a ballad none the less. I found myself enjoying Let The Dominos Fall many times throughout the album. Something that a lot of "albums" haven't been able to provide. Nothing revolutionary but just good music that you can return to time and time again. It doesn't bore.
Rating: 7/10

on 2009-07-03 dscanland Said:

"It's no secret that punk rock has been sucking huge donkey nuggets for quite a while now." LMAO! That's awesome!
Rating: 7/10

on 2009-06-06 dadair Said:

Review of The Last One To Die single:
We got it right you got it wrong, were still around.

There are several ways to interpret this vitriolic statement spewed out from a funk/punk base by the evergreen Tim Armstrong through Last One To Die, a critic bating titbit from the lead single ahead of Rancids 1st studio album in six years, Let The Dominoes Fall. Doubters will question the importance attached to the above boast, arguing that Rancids impact on the punk/alternative scene has not been significant enough for the impartial observers to notice whether theyre still here or not.

However, this rugged, rhythmically defiant stomp will have their growing fan-base stroking their pictures of Tim Armstrong saying; welcome back, Armie my superhero. There is enough bolshie, well timed gnarl as well as oodles of self confidence/arrogance. Sham 69 veined backing gives a reminder of the united front that is Rancid and, its a reminder that you either love em or couldnt give a Brodie Dalle about em. Whatever side of the fence you find yourself on, this single will surely re-enforce your already held opinion and your conviction in it.

Rating: 7/10