Album Reivew!: Rancid's Let The Dominoes Fall

Hey Guys! Sorry for the lack of updates! My internet has been down for the past two or three weeks. I am currently updating from Panera Bread right now. I love wireless hot spots! Get in touch with me.


There are few bands that upon hearing the announcement of a new album I get giddy like a school girl: whether it is due to their dashing good looks or simply because they are a fucking awesome band. Betting on the latter (though Armstrong might be right up your alley), when Rancid dropped Let The Dominoes Fall my excitement was at a high. Six years after their last album, and with the gain of new drummer Braden Steineckert (who was formerly in the band

The Used) I have to say Rancid still has it.

Let The Daminoes Fall is a 19 track album. In true punk fashion most of the songs are under three minutes long (with the exception of the longest song being 4:11). The record starts off with

“East Bay Nights”. This song is nothing short of an anthem and is very catchy with out being too main stream. Lead singer and solo artist Tim Armstrong sings/snarls a picture in your head of the bay area from which the band is from.

“Up To No Good” has an insanely additive ska grove to it. The first time I listened to it I could not stop myself from nodding my head to the beat. The walking bass lines add a nice layer to the song without being over barring. Again, Rancid manage a chorus that will be stuck in your head for days.

My least favorite track on the album happens to be “I Ain’t Worried”. I dislike this song mainly because Armstrong sound like he has a mouth full of marbles while he is singing, though I am not claiming that any of the other times he sounds like Whitney Huston, his voice is just a little to mumble-y for my taste on this song. There are just too many things going on that become distracting.

The song the albums title was derived from is “Dominoes Fall”. This is a perfect example of why Rancid continues to be an amazing band. All of the parts of the song fit together perfectly. The only thing I wish they would have left out is the “Nah Nah” singing, eh you will understand once you listen to it.

Since I am a sucker for amazing bass playing “You Want It, You Got It” became my overall favorite. The opening reeled me in and stuck out the next couple of times I listened to the record. It is short and sweet and to the point.

“The High Way” rounds out the album by slowing things down for Rancid’s normal pace. Again Armstrong’s voice is not the first that comes to mind to be heard over an acoustic guitar, but it surprisingly works. The position of this song breaks it for me; I think it is too slow to end the album on.

With Let The Dominoes Fall Rancid shows us that they have not lost their touch. I do not this is their best work, but it defiantly stands its own in their discography. The record fills the six year void they left after Indestructible and hopefully will keep fans tied over until their next release. Hardcore fans of the band should look into buying the special edition version of the album that includes a DVD and acoustic CD as well as the full length and other goodies. I can safely say Let The Dominoes Fall will not disappoint.