Rancid is one of the best piss-and-vinegar pure punk rock bands still operating out there today, which is pretty incredible considering it has been over 30 years since their debut LP from 1993. I’ve waxed poetic about the band’s 1995 magnum opus …And Out Come The Wolves (still one of my favorite all-time albums hard stop) so I’d recommend you check that out if you want a full-fledged deep dive into what makes this band great from my eyes.
Their debut self-titled album (not to be confused with their fifth studio album which was also self-titled) was born after the breakup of Operation Ivy which was the former band of bassist Matt Freeman and lead vocalist/guitarist Tim Armstrong. It also remains the lone album that didn’t have the services of Lars Frederiksen (shoutout Campbell, CA!) who joined the band for the supporting tour afterwards and has remained a fixture in the group ever since.
While this album doesn’t have a ton of songs that are still in rotation during their live shows, it’s still a great album which set the stage for what was to come for the band and has all the hallmarks of a Rancid album. Ripping bass and drum rhythm section, Armstrong’s slurred sneering vocals, and tales of urban decay mixed in with a ton of energy.
Standout Songs: “Adina”, “Rats In The Hallway”, “Rejected”
