Rancid – Last One To Die
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It’s been six long years since Rancid’s last recorded release. In that time we have witnessed the bitter implosion (and recent reunion) of Blink 182 and the global explosion of Green Day, argubaly the two most notable heavyweights of the modern California punk scene. Rancid were always somewhat at odds with their MTV friendly contemporaries. Never really comfortable to sit upon the Billboard Modern Rock charts and very rarely appearing on TRL. Rancid instead opted for the credibility factor and they certainly have the credentials. Boasting deep roots in iconic Ska Punkers Operation Ivy, these fellas have always prided themselves on being ’4 Real’!
‘Last One To Die’ is the first cut from the group’s seventh studio album entitled ‘Let The Dominoes Fall’. Lyrically Tim Armstrong and co seem to be taking a swipe at their pop-punk bedfellows. Spitting out a chorus that contains the lines ‘We got it right, you got it wrong, we’re still around, last one to die’. Musically, the track follows a very safe, almost generic pop-punk template: sharp chords, driving basslines and snarled vocals. Clocking in at 2:24, you know exactly what genre of Music you are listening to.
‘Let The Dominoes Fall’ has been hyped as somewhat of a landmark release for the band, featuring the group’s unique takes on the current economic meltdown and their (almost obligatory) views on the political landscape. Bearing this in mind ‘The Last One to Fall’ seems an odd choice as the first introduction to what promises to be quite the seminal opus as there is nothing new or exciting on offer here. Still if you like jaunty rhythms and anthemic choruses are you kinda thing then this is well worth a listen.
Rating: 
