Let the Dominoes Fall
Rancid's seventh studio album, their first in six years.
Rancid's seventh studio album, Let the Dominoes Fall, arrived on June 1, 2009 in Europe and a day later in the US via Hellcat/Epitaph. It ended a nearly six-year gap since 2003's Indestructible and marked the first record with drummer Branden Steineckert, who replaced founding member Brett Reed in 2006. The band began writing after a 2004 hiatus, then started recording in January 2008 with producer Brett Gurewitz, finishing in February 2009.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Rancid
- Released
- 1 June 2009 (Europe)
- Recorded
- January 2008 – February 2009
- Studio
- Skywalker Sound
- Sound City Studios
- Joe's House of Compression
- Bloodclot Studios
- Genre
- Punk rock; ska punk
- Length
- 45:29
- Label
- Hellcat; Epitaph
- Producer
- Brett Gurewitz; Ryan Foltz
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Bay Night | 2:05 |
| 2 | This Place | 1:03 |
| 3 | Up to No Good (Rancid, Brett Gurewitz) | 2:40 |
| 4 | Last One to Die | 2:23 |
| 5 | Disconnected | 2:00 |
| 6 | I Ain't Worried | 2:36 |
| 7 | Damnation | 1:30 |
| 8 | New Orleans | 3:04 |
| 9 | Civilian Ways | 4:11 |
| 10 | The Bravest Kids | 1:36 |
| 11 | Skull City | 2:51 |
| 12 | LA River | 2:35 |
| 13 | Lulu | 2:11 |
| 14 | Dominoes Fall | 2:43 |
| 15 | Liberty and Freedom | 2:45 |
| 16 | You Want It, You Got It | 1:36 |
| 17 | Locomotive | 1:38 |
| 18 | That's Just the Way It Is Now | 2:52 |
| 19 | The Highway | 3:10 |
| Total length | 45:29 | |
Track listing from the source article.
Background and composition
After the release of Indestructible in 2003, the band became dormant as members toured or released albums with other projects. Following a break in 2004, Rancid began writing a follow-up a year later. In November 2005, the band announced they were working on a large amount of new material, with guitarist Lars Frederiksen suggesting a 2006 release. An April 2006 MySpace update projected a spring 2007 release, later changed to summer/fall 2007 due to frontman Tim Armstrong's solo tour. In November 2006, drummer Brett Reed left the band and was replaced by Branden Steineckert, formerly of The Used. Alternative Press reported the group would record in early 2007 for a mid-2007 release. Steineckert posted in June 2007 that the band would regroup in the fall to write, then record in January 2008. Writing was completed by December 2007.
Recording
Recording at Skywalker Sound began in January 2008 and was completed in early February 2009. The album is the band's fourth with producer Brett Gurewitz, who had previously worked with them on Let's Go, their self-titled 2000 album, and Indestructible. Tracks left off the album include 'Darlene', later reworked for the Devils Brigade self-titled album; 'Just For Tonight', reworked for Tim Armstrong's Sings RocknRoll Theater; and an electric version of 'The Highway'.
Release
On March 30, 2009, the album was announced for release in three months; the track listing and artwork were posted online the next day. 'Last One to Die' was streamed on the band's Myspace page on April 7. From late April, several making-of videos were posted online. A music video for 'Last One to Die' was released on May 12, and 'East Bay Night' was posted on Myspace a week later. The album was streamed on Myspace on May 26 before its June 2 release through Hellcat Records. 'Up to No Good' was released as the second single. A deluxe edition included a bonus CD of the entire album in acoustic form and a DVD documentary. The band performed 'Last One to Die' on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on June 10, and supported Rise Against on tour in June and July. A music video for 'Up to No Good' was released on October 12.
Reception
The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200, becoming Rancid's highest-charting album. Jim Kaz of IGN gave it an 8.8/10, noting that the band continued to cross boundaries and genres while retaining its punk core. Tim Sendra of AllMusic wrote that despite the six-year gap and drummer change, the band's fire, spirit, and strength had not faded, with only cosmetic differences in sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who produced Let the Dominoes Fall?
Let the Dominoes Fall was produced by Brett Gurewitz and Ryan Foltz.
How long is Let the Dominoes Fall?
Let the Dominoes Fall runs 45:29.
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