Punk Medicine

…And Out Come the Wolves was nothing like Rancid’s previous punk albums. There were now catchy melodies and choruses, ska, rock, poetry, hooks galore, and one could (for the most part) understand the words. In short, nobody- least of all Rancid fans- expected this album when it hit the streets in 1995 and when I played it for some college stoners even they started tapping their feet. Since his days with Operaton Ivy, Tim Armstrong’s songs have always been rooted in his belief that music can heal- and this album is strong medicine, indeed.

It's no secret the Clash were a major influence on Rancid's sound and …And Out Come the Wolves was like a London Callling for the ‘90s but straight out of America's decaying urban streets. The songs- which grab you and shake you- take me back to college when I was going through a really hard time (sounds like Rancid was, too). ...And Out Come the Wolves crackles with urgency and is one of the few punk albums I can still enjoy from beginning to end (I recommend it). For me, Rancid would never get this good again and for those who don’t like punk this is probably a good album to have in your collection just in case one day you need to kick over some furniture, pump your fist, and let it all out. Grade: A

Listen to the album on Spotify...