Indestructible (Rancid album)

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Indestructible
Rancid - Indestructible cover.jpg
Studio album by
Rancid
ReleasedAugust 19, 2003
Recorded2002–2003
Studio
Genre
Length52:31
LabelHellcat, Warner Bros.[2]
ProducerBrett Gurewitz
Rancid chronology
BYO Split Series, Vol. 3
(2002) 		Indestructible
(2003) 		B Sides and C Sides
(2007)
Singles from Indestructible[3]
  1. "Fall Back Down"
    Released: July 22, 2003
  2. "Red Hot Moon"
    Released: October 27, 2003
  3. "Tropical London"
    Released: April 26, 2004

Indestructible is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was produced by Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion) and released by Hellcat Records with distribution through Warner Bros. Records on August 19, 2003.[4] Despite critical acclaim, the band was criticized by some of its fans for Indestructible's "poppier" sound on some of its tracks. It debuted at number 15 on the charts, with 51,000 copies sold in its first week, making it Rancid's highest debut at the time though it would be surpassed six years later with their 2009 album, Let the Dominoes Fall. Indestructible marks the last recording by drummer Brett Reed, who left the band in 2006 and was replaced by current drummer Branden Steineckert (formerly of The Used). Additionally, it is the only album that features songwriting contributions from Reed.

Writing and production[]

Rancid played 10 shows in the US with NOFX in April 2002; following this, the band began recording their next album, which continued into November,[5][6] with producer Brett Gurewitz. Work on it meant a year long for the band. Most notably, finishing up the album was extremely stressful for all of the members of Rancid. Indestructible was the most personal album the band ever recorded as it covered personal issues including Tim Armstrong's divorce from ex-wife Brody Dalle on songs such as "Fall Back Down", "Ghost Band" and "Tropical London". The other emotional part of the album was the album's last track "Otherside", which Lars Frederiksen wrote and dedicated to his brother Robert who died in 2001. The album was also dedicated two of band's mentors and influences, Joe Strummer and Joey Ramone, who both died during the making of the album. Strummer is mentioned in the album's title track.

Post production of the album consisted of cutting the record down from 25 tracks[7] to 19 tracks. The six tracks left off of the final album were Killing Zone, Stranded, Trouble, Road To Hell, Warfare, and Squatter House. Killing Zone and Stranded were used as b-sides and bonus tracks for the record. Trouble was reworked and released as a single on Pink's third album Try This. That version of the song won Tim Armstrong and Pink a Grammy. Road to Hell was re-recorded and a Japanese bonus track on the 2nd Lars Frederiksen And The Bastards album Viking. Warfare and Squatter House remain unreleased.[8]

Release[]

On June 6, 2003, the album's track listing was posted online.[9] From June to August 2003, the group went on the 2003 edition of Warped Tour.[10] On July 24, "Indestructible", "Back Against the Wall", and "Red Hot Moon" were posted on the band's website.[11] "Fall Back Down" was released to radio on July 22, 2003.[3] A music video for the song was posted on Yahoo! Launch on August 4, 2003.[12]

The album was delayed a number of times before its official release. First scheduled for release was summer/fall 2002, then early 2003, mid-2003[13] and finally August 19, 2003. One of the reasons why Indestructible had yet to be released was their various other activities. Singer/guitarist Tim Armstrong released an album with his then-new side project Transplants and second guitarist Lars Frederiksen released an album with Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards. Warner Bros. Records released the CD version while LP was released by Epitaph.[14] In August and September, the band toured Europe, a few shows of which were as part of the Reconstruction Festival.[15][16] On September 30, they appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[17] They then embarked on a headlining US tour in November, with Tiger Army; Nekromantix, the Frisk, and Roger Miret and the Disasters appeared on select dates. In February 2003, Rancid toured across Japan.[18] "Red Hot Moon" was released to radio on October 28, 2003;[3] a music video for the song was released to days later, and was filmed at CBGBs in New York City.[19] In December, the band went on the Hellcat Tour with Tiger Army and F-Minus.[20] Tim Shaw of Ensign sang Skinhead Rob's section of "Red Hot Moon" during the tour.[21] Later in the month, the band performed at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas festival.[22] "Tropical London" was released to radio on April 27, 2004.[3]

Following the release of the album, the group went on hiatus while each of the members toured and recorded albums with other bands.[23]

Reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic3.5/5 stars[24]
Drowned in Sound6/10[25]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[26]
IGN8.8/10[28]
PopMatters(Favorable)[29]
Robert ChristgauA−[27]
Rolling Stone3/5 stars[30]
SpinB[31]

Prior to the album's release the band signed a special distribution deal with Warner Bros. records which was met with major backlash from many of the band's fans for abandoning their independent roots. To ease tension among the fans, the album was released with no mention of Warner Bros. on the album packaging. According to a label spokesman "It's a unique deal that doesn't play by the traditional record biz rules. It's Rancid putting out an album on Hellcat, with the possibility of additional support from [Warner Bros.]." In a statement, Lars Frederiksen discussed the Warner Bros. deal by saying "We have absolutely no complaints with Hellcat. Yes, we are considering additional support that Warner Bros. might be able to provide, but whatever happens, we're sticking with Brett Gurewitz. All I care about and all I have is my music, my bandmates and my band. We are going to do whatever we need to do to survive."[32]

The album was met mostly with critical praise and made its chart debut at #15 making it the band's biggest debut at the time however some fans criticized the album for being a bit "poppier" with its sound claiming a major label had an influence over the band's music making it more appealing to mainstream listeners (despite the album being written prior to the band's agreement with the label), while some felt the album to be a mixture of ...And Out Come the Wolves and Life Won't Wait. The album's first single "Fall Back Down", a song Armstrong wrote about his divorce and how he could always rely on his close friends, was also met with some backlash from fans for the music video for featuring members of Good Charlotte and Kelly Osbourne. The album's second single, the ska-influenced "Red Hot Moon" features a rap at the end by Skinhead Rob, a member of Armstrong's side project, Transplants.

Track listing[]

All tracks are written by Tim Armstrong and Lars Frederiksen except where noted.

No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Indestructible"Armstrong1:36
2."Fall Back Down"Armstrong3:43
3."Red Hot Moon (featuring Skinhead Rob)" (written by Armstrong, Aston, Frederiksen, Reed)Armstrong, Aston3:36
4."David Courtney"Frederiksen2:44
5."Start Now"Armstrong3:05
6."Out of Control"Frederiksen1:41
7."Django" (written by Armstrong)Armstrong2:25
8."Arrested in Shanghai"Armstrong4:11
9."Travis Bickle"Armstrong2:16
10."Memphis"Armstrong3:25
11."Spirit of '87" (written by Armstrong, Dave Carlock, Frederiksen)Armstrong, Freeman, Frederiksen3:22
12."Ghost Band"Armstrong1:37
13."Tropical London"Armstrong3:01
14."Roadblock" (written by Armstrong, Frederiksen, Reed)Armstrong, Freeman, Frederiksen1:58
15."Born Frustrated"Frederiksen2:56
16."Back Up Against the Wall"Armstrong3:20
17."Ivory Coast"Armstrong2:19
18."Stand Your Ground"Armstrong3:24
19."Otherside"Armstrong, Frederiksen1:52
Total length:52:31
iTunes bonus track
No.TitleLength
20."Stranded"2:24
LP/Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
20."Killing Zone"2:39

Album notes[]

Personnel[]

Chart positions[]

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
2003 Billboard 200 15

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
2003 "Fall Back Down" Modern Rock Tracks 13

References[]

  1. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/indestructible-mw0000592939
  2. ^ http://www.punknews.org/article/6448/rancid-warner-deal-details
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  4. ^ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/70588/rancid-hops-to-warner-bros
  5. ^ White, Adam (January 26, 2002). "A message from Lars". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  6. ^ White, Adam (November 9, 2002). "Punk International: Upcoming Transplants / Rancid plans". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  7. ^ White, Adam (May 15, 2003). "AP: Rancid's Indestructible On July 22". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "July 2003 #180". altpress.com. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  9. ^ White, Adam (June 6, 2003). "Tentative 'Indestructible' Track Listing". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Staff (January 14, 2003). "Used, Simple Plan, Rancid, Distillers On Warped Tour '03". MTV. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  11. ^ White, Adam (July 24, 2003). "Rancid Posts 'Indestructible' Tracks". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  12. ^ White, Adam (August 4, 2003). "'Fall Back Down' Video Online". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  13. ^ White, Adam (April 30, 2003). "Upcoming Rancid Release Date". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  14. ^ [1][dead link]
  15. ^ White, Adam (July 26, 2003). "European Dates: Reconstruction, Terremoto and more". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  16. ^ White, Adam (August 23, 2003). "Rancid European Tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Heisel, Scott (September 29, 2003). "Bands on TV - week of 9/29/03". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  18. ^ White, Adam (September 19, 2003). "Rancid / Tiger Army Dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  19. ^ White, Adam (October 30, 2003). "Rancid's 'Red Hot Moon' Video Online. Skanking!". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  20. ^ White, Adam (October 26, 2003). "F-Minus US / UK / Spain Dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  21. ^ Heisel, Scott (November 20, 2003). "Tim from Ensign to temporarily replace Skinhead Rob on Rancid tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  22. ^ White, Adam (November 22, 2003). "Rancid, AFI, Thrice & more @ KROQ's Acoustic Christmas". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  23. ^ "Rancid to put on four "Hellcat Nights" in L.A. this March". Alternative Press. February 8, 2006. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  24. ^ "Indestructible". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  25. ^ "Album Review: Rancid - Indestructible". DrownedInSound. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
  26. ^ Weingarten, Marc (2003-08-18). "Indestructible". EW.com. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
  27. ^ "Album: Rancid: Indestructible". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  28. ^ Madsen, Nick (August 22, 2003). "Indestructible". IGN. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  29. ^ Williams, Adam. "Rancid: Indestructible < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  30. ^ "Rancid: Indestructible : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". RollingStone.com. 2003-08-12. Archived from the original on 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  31. ^ Milner, Greg (2003-10-01). SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. p. 108.
  32. ^ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/70337/rancid-takes-indestructible-to-warner-bros
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