Title: A Step Back
Product review: Rancid always wanted to be the Clash, but this time Tim Armstrong and Co. should have taken a closer listen to the Clash's "White Riot." Rancid is definitly not moving forward with this release. Sure, it's fast and hard, but there is nothing on this album that's nearly as fleshed out as anything on "And Out Come the Wolves" and "Life Won't Wait," and there's nothing as intense as earlier Rancid tracks like "Radio Radio." This is the sound of a band that's trying to atone for the lackluster sales of "Life Won't Wait," which is unquestionably the band's best release. It displayed a lyrical maturity, inventive punk rock melodies and a nice updating of the Clash's reggae/rock sound. This, however, is punk tried and true. We've been here already, and so has Rancid. It's a shame for a band that displayed so much growth on its last release to retreat to its old sound.
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