Rancid’s Indestructible
On the surface, Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong’s betrayal by and divorce
from his wife Brody of the Distillers informs Indestructible. The album is
littered with little digs at Armstrong’s wandering ex, from “I’m ashamed now
to say I even knew you” in the title cut to “Don’t worry about me, I’m gonna
make it alright” in “Fall Back Down” to a half-dozen other thinly veiled
references. But Indestructible is about much more than a failing
marriage. The album uses the frailty of human relationships as a framework to
discuss traditional male traits of loyalty, friendship and brotherhood and how
staying true to these concepts pays off in the end. It’s pretty heady stuff
for a “mere” punk band, but Armstrong has always been an intelligent,
self-aware critic and a voice for the (mostly) working class punk
community.
Although the Conservative right usually claims honor and
loyalty as its exclusive domain, you’ll find more brotherhood among members of
your average street gang than in any country club in America. With
Indestructible, Armstrong and crew further the concept of punk band as
street gang and, indeed, there’s little difference between the two. Both the
street gang and the punk band are made up of aggressive young males, one
usually defined by geography and the other by music. Their common experiences,
whether a shared poverty or twelve hours a day driving down the highway in a
van together, creates a bond that is difficult for outsiders to understand.
Both groups provide extended families for its members, create their own
language and iconography while a strong code of honor (or high artistic
standards) provide a needed foundation.
But where does all of this
sociological mumbo-jumbo leave Indestructible? Well, the album rocks
with a fervor that few bands can manage, the chemistry of a decade spent
together having forged a band that can turn on a dime, capable of expressing
any musical idea that its members choose to push. There are precious few ska
rhythms here, and fewer overt musical references to the Clash. Bassist Matt
Freeman and drummer Brett Reed are arguably the best rhythm section in punk
rock and guitarist Lars Frederiksen continues to grow as a player, elements of
roots rock and bluesy flourishes creeping in at the edges of his blustery
six-string assault. Armstrong is a wonderfully flawed vocalist, his warm drawl
stretching out syllables and slurring words with an accessible patois of city
slang and hip-hop inflection.
Tropical London
Lyrically, the album’s title cut champions the healing power of rock ‘n’
roll and, name-checking Joe Strummer, lets slip the truth that as long as
people listen to the music, the musicians who created it will never die in our
hearts and in our memories. “Fall Back Down” champions the band as family, a
self-contained brotherhood of equals that carry one another through heartache
and tragedy. “Start Right Now” refers to the actions of our leaders, “a shill
in a mask and a puppeteer,” and the effects these actions have on the average
man while “Out of Control” describes the propaganda and lies that led us into
the war in Iraq.
“Tropical London” tackles the breakup of Tim and Brody directly, Armstrong sharing memories of his wife as honestly and with as little bitterness as possible. Similar to Tom Petty’s “You Got Lucky,” the singer tries to turn the tables on the one who left, declaring “if you lose me, you lose a good thing,” tho’ the phrase rings hollow and in the end, the broken heart remains. “Stand Your Ground” is a heartfelt treatment of homelessness in America, a dirty little secret often ignored in the face of shallow flag waving and national saber-rattling. Indestructible closes with “Otherside,” written for guitarist Lars Frederiksen’s brother Robert, who died in 2001. It is at once both a tribute to a loyal fan of the band and a celebration of his life and of the music he loved. It is a potent closer and a hell of a rocker.
The Reverend’s Bottom Line
With Indestructible, Rancid has upped the ante and delivered
another career-defining album. Through various levels of success, the inner
turmoil of the band member’s personal lives and suffering the rigors of the
road, Rancid has managed to stay strong, stay independent and stay focused on
creating great rock ‘n’ roll music. They have done so without compromise,
creating a legacy that will live on long after the band ceases to exist.
(Hellcat Records, released 2003)
Review originally published by Alt.Culture.Guide™, 2003
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Rancid’s Indestructible
