Ten years after Rancid's debut album, INDESTRUCTIBLE shows how far the CA punks have come from their beginnings. Initially, even their fans admitted their strong resemblance to the early Clash sound, but starting with 1998's LIFE WON'T WAIT they began expanding their punk-plus-ska sound. Listening to INDESTRUCTIBLE, it's hard to imagine that Rancid ever sounded like anyone but themselves. Certainly the influence of late-1970s British punk and ska bands can still be felt, but the sophisticated lyrics and carefully conceived (though still driving) arrangements are strictly sui generis. It's also heartening to note that they haven't lost any of their edge; tracks like the snarling "David Courteney" and the Motorhead-meets-Bad Brains fury of "Out of Control" nearly leap off the disc and throttle the unsuspecting listener. Now that's punk rock.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (9/4/03, p.136) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...INDESTRUCTIBLE sweetens their spit-and-vinegar cocktails with a spritz of melody..."
Spin (10/03, p.108) - "...What keeps Rancid sounding alive is their politics..." - Grade: B
Entertainment Weekly (8/22-29/03, p.131) - "...Rancid have put their best jackboot forward, producing a diverse 19-track opus that wields brains to brawn..." - Rating: B+
Q (10/03, p.113) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...INDESTRUCTIBLE sees a return to tunes and uplifting terrace chants delivered, as ever, by strangely affected vocals..."
CMJ (7/28/03, p.6) - "...Overall, it's the sound of a band with a broader musical palate...and a renewed focus..."
