File Under: Punk rating: C tracks 1. Indestructible 2. Fall Back Down 3. Red Hot Moon 4. David Courtney 5. Start Now 6. Out of Control 7. Django 8. Arrested in Shanghai 9. Travis Bickle 10. Memphis 11. Spirit of '87 12. Ghost Band 13. Tropical London 14. Roadblock 15. Born Frustrated 16. Back Up Against the Wall 17. Ivory Coast 18. Stand Your Ground 19. Otherside related links Rancid Epitaph Records

Excited is hardly the word to describe how I felt when I heard Rancid was about to release a new C.D. Ecstatic is a more appropriate adjective to relate my feelings, however my ecstasy turned to disbelief when I actually heard the new Rancid full length.

Operation Ivy has been my favorite band for as long as I have been listening to punk rock. They have been my inspiration, my reluctant muse in many a situation and most importantly they have changed the way that I look at music. Music, to me, is more than just some notes and a harmony making its way into an eardrum. Music is a force for change and a median through which ideas can be freely expressed in the most pure element, free speech. So, naturally feeling this way about Operation Ivy (Tim and Matt's previous band), Rancid has always been a beloved edition to my music collection.

The previous self-titled release by Rancid was to say the least, amazing. It was raw, energetic and Rancid in their most primal state. Loud, fast and dirty, the so-called "black album" must have been a tough act to follow. Keeping that last statement in mind, it seems like Rancid set themselves up to fail with their new full length. The latest release, Indestructible, seriously lacks when compared to the bands prior releases and in my mind, is not a good representation of one of the greatest punk rock bands of all time.

By no means would I recommend this album to you or any of my punk rock friends. I would however recommend Indestructible to your little sister who listens to Brittany Spears and J-Lo. I hate to say such things about one of my all time favorite bands, but to be brutally honest; Rancid over produced and under wrote the majority of their latest songs. The only exceptions to this rule are the title track and "Out of Control." These two songs are really the only tracks on the album that made me remember that I had purchased a Rancid cd and not something by Smash Mouth.

Indestructible is terribly over produced and lacks feeling. The songs may be catchy, but are very shallow. Musically, Tim and Lars play some great riffs but both of their vocals tracks are really over done and there is an abundance of back up tracks that give the entire album a "pop" feel. Matt's bass work is still impressive and their drummer Brett is solid as always.

Overall, I am disappointed with Indestructible, it was not what I had hoped it to be and it pales in comparison to And Out Come the Wolves..., Life Won't Wait and both of the self-titled releases. I will always believe in punk rock and I still love Rancid, but their latest release is not going to be a standard in my cd play list the way their earlier works have always been.

Steven Dean is a Contributing Writer. Contact him at david@rockzone.com.