Rancid made their claim to fame with 1995's extraordinary ...And Out Come The Wolves, one of the best punk records of the "90s. Since then, the band has been uneven at best, with forays into ska, reggae, and other diverse sounds that have alienated fans.
Indestructible -- packed with ska tunes -- makes no apology about this, but this time, the ska seems to be exception to the record's punk feel. The title a defiant song, but not without a respectful nod to the late Joe Strummer and Joey Ramone, makes this clear.
The album is produced by Bad Religion guitarist and Epitaph CEO Brett Gurewitz, continuing a successful partnership that dates back to ...And Out Come The Wolves. Brett also lends vocals to the record, and Slackers frontman Vic Ruggiero stands out with his keyboard work in "Memphis".
The album is much more personal than previous work, with repeated references to Tim Armstrong's split with Distillers frontwoman, Brodie Armstrong. However, they save their real sorrow for Joe Strummer and Joey Ramone.
Even without the lyrics, the album would be a fitting tribute to these dead punk heroes, the group's signature sound speaking volumes about how much they were influenced by The Clash and The Ramones. Though not ...And Out Come The Wolves, this is a solid album with Rancid once again leaning on the straight-ahead punk that is their real strength.
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