Rancid Albums Ranked
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by former members of the band Operation Ivy, Rancid is often credited as being among the wave of bands that revived mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States during the mid-1990s. Over their 29-year career, Rancid remained signed to an independent record label and retained much of its original fan-base, most of which was connected to its underground musical roots.
Rancid has had two lineup changes since its inception, with Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman being the only continuous members. Their current lineup consists of Armstrong on guitar and vocals, Freeman on bass and vocals, Lars Frederiksen on guitar and vocals, and Branden Steineckert on drums. The band was formed by Armstrong, Freeman, and former drummer Brett Reed, who left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Steineckert. This lineup recorded their first album, with Frederiksen joining the band on their subsequent tour.
To date, Rancid has released nine studio albums, one split album, one compilation, two extended plays, and a series of live online-only albums, and has been featured on a number of compilation albums.[ The band has independently sold over four million records worldwide, making it one of the most successful independent punk rock groups of all time. The band rose to fame in 1994 with its second studio album, Let’s Go, featuring the single “Salvation”. In the following year, Rancid released its highly successful album …And Out Come the Wolves, which produced its best-known songs “Roots Radicals”, “Ruby Soho”, and “Time Bomb”, and was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA, selling over one million copies in the United States alone. Its next five albums – Life Won’t Wait (1998), Rancid (2000), Indestructible (2003), Let the Dominoes Fall (2009), and …Honor Is All We Know (2014) – were also critically acclaimed, though not as successful as …And Out Come the Wolves. Their most recent studio album, Trouble Maker, was released on June 9, 2017, and they are currently working on a follow-up album for a tentative 2020 or 2021 release. Here are all of the Rancid albums ranked.
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9. …Honor Is All We Know (2014)
“Rancid is one of the best rock (and not only punk rock) bands of the last 20 years and you need only to listen to this album to confirm that. Original creative songs, pure punk-ska-hardcore music flowing through your brain, simply amazing!!”
8. Rancid (1993)
“As with so many punk / rock bands the early albums are the best, before they learn to play too well and the record company employs a slick producer, this album is no exception. Raw, thrashy and uncomplicated Rancid at their punk best, not as Ska influenced as some their later stuff, but there’s definitely an air of Operation Ivy about a lot the tracks. An absolute must for all Rancid, Operation Ivy, Punk,or Ska-punk fans”
7. Trouble Maker (2017)
“One of their best albums not just in years, but entirely. Varied high energy punk and ska without being too preachy. Catchy lyrics and amazing riffs scattered through the whole thing. Hard to believe all these years later rancid is still bringing their A game.”
6. Let The Dominoes Fall (2009)
“This has grown on me to the point I can honestly say its on of my favorite albums, liked it at first, LOVE it now, there is not a skipper on it. Some people don’t like “I ain’t Worried” but I really like how weird Tim’s voice on it sounds. Favorite tracks are East Bay Night, Bravest Kids, You Want It, You Got It , The Highway, and Disconnected, but they are all good IMO”
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5. Indestructible (2003)
“What can I add, this is by far their best and most varied album, very good melodies and lyrics, from the fast and fury of indistructable to laid back arrested in shanghai and everything in between ….If you liked ‘out come the wolves’ and ‘life won’t wait’ than you won’t be dissapointed!! This record is a breath of punky fresh air”
4. Rancid 2000 (2000)
“The 1st 3 songs set a brilliant tone for the rest of this record. Loud, fast, flows one track into the next. Glad to hear that Matt is sings again (see tracks 16,19,21). His voice and bass playing are like to breath of fresh air. Favourite tracks are It’s quite alright, Blackhawk Down, Corruption (this track rules!), Dead Bodies and Rigged on a Fix. I must admit it took me a little while to really appreciate this record, but now I think it rules! I have every record and 7″ by Rancid and I respect how they reinvent themselves with each new release.”
3. Let’s Go (1994)
“Cool album, great songs, whats not to like. This reissue is a classic. It sounds good and well, not a whole lot more to say about it. The cover is neat and all but it is the music that makes it. I realize 25 bucks for an album might be a lot but this is a keeper.”
2. Life Won’t Wait (1998)
“One thing I love about Rancid is that they never get stagnant. This album is a departure from their previous effort and is completely different from it. There are some great songs on here, and as a whole the album works very well. It is a tour of the world musically and I love the way Rancid incorporated so many different influences into a cohesive work. No, it doesn’t have the “hits” like Wolves or Let’s Go, but it is just as good in my opinion. Different, but just as good.”
1….And Out Come The Wolves (1995)
“An excellent record, some cracking ska / punk tunes on an all round marvellous album. None of Rancid’s albums disappoint & this is (arguably) their best effort. The Clash influences in their music are plain to hear but they still manage to sound fresh & original, which is a credit to the band.If you were to buy a Rancid record then this would be the one but if you get this, then how could you not get the the others ?”