Tomorrow Never Comes. Rancid

Old soldiers don't die, they just fade away, the saying goes. Neil Young varied on that theme in his song 'My My Hey Hey' (or 'Hey Hey My My'). Rancid is by now a band of old punkers but fading away? It seems not applicable listening to Tomorrow Never Comes. The title and opening song has already been presented on this blog. If anything it is the blueprint for the whole album. What a surge of energy, what a strong melody and what fun.

Rancid may sound like a storm, the band obviously has its heart in the right place. Whatever the lyrics are, the energy in the songs are all about partying. The link with Bostonians Dropkick Murphies is all over the place. The Irish folk elements on steroids can be heard in several songs on Tomorrow Never Comes.

Rancid was formed in Berkeley in 1991 with the founding members Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman still present. Lars Fredericksen joined not much later and drummer Branden Steineckert "only" in 2006, after the founding drummer left. That is a consistent line up alright. The voices have become older and rougher, the playing is top notch.

The drumming is relentless, the bass is all over the place. Freeman doesn't just play a running bass parts, this is more like running the 100 meter sprint, continuously. His parts are so much fun to listen to. Of course they are part of the songs but if I have to point to the lead instrument on most of Tomorrow Never Comes, it is the bass guitar. Listen closely and you'll hear more and more of what Matt Freeman offers the listeners.

All the guitars have to do, is strum as tight as possible to match what is offered by the foundation of the Rancid. Yes, every once in a while there's a guitar solo as well. It's more the exception than the rule.

What Rancid doesn't do, is waste time. There are 16 songs on Tomorrow Never Knows and there's not one longer than 2.37 minutes, with most not even making it to two. Speed is the thing and brevity the motto. The album is over before I know it but perhaps oddly enough some of the short songs do not seem short, as they contain most things a good song needs to contain. Somehow the bare essence isn't that. It feels like a far longer song. Well done Rancid.

It seems as if Rancid is running against time itself. If so, it has succeeded. This album has it all and the quality is outstanding as well. Will I play it often? That is beside the point. I know I can play this album when I'm in need of some energy and when I want to shed some. At the right moments, Tomorrow Never Comes is the ideal album. And good, but you already guessed that.

Wout de Natris

You can listen or jump to and order Tomorrow Never Comes here:

https://rancid.bandcamp.com/album/tomorrow-never-comes