Let the Dominoes Fall
Encyclopedia
Let the Dominoes Fall is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock
band Rancid
. It was released on June 2, 2009 through Hellcat Records
. It is their first album of new material in nearly six years, following 2003's Indestructible, and their first with drummer Branden Steineckert
, who joined the band in 2006 after the departure of founding drummer Brett Reed.
The span of nearly six years between Indestructible and Let the Dominoes Fall was Rancid's longest gap between studio albums in their career. The band had begun working on new material after their temporary hiatus in 2004, but showed no signs of a new album until January 2008, when they announced that they had begun recording with producer and Bad Religion
guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The writing and recording process was finally finished in February 2009.
The album's first single "Last One to Die
," was released on April 7, 2009 via the band's Myspace
page. As of May 26, 2009 the album can be heard on MySpace entirely. "Up To No Good" was released as the album's second single.
A deluxe edition of the album was also released on June 2, 2009. In addition to the regular album, it includes a bonus CD featuring twelve of the songs from the album in acoustic form, a DVD featuring a documentary about the making of the album, three posters and four guitar picks. It debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200
, making this Rancid's highest charting album to date.
"The Bravest Kids" was featured on EA Sports
' NHL 2010
.
mentioned that it would surface sometime in 2006.
On April 13, 2006, Rancid posted a large update to their MySpace page and mentioned that the album would be released in the spring of 2007. For sometime later, it was announced that the release date had been changed to summer/fall 2007, despite frontman Tim Armstrong
's solo tour schedule, supporting his first album A Poet's Life
. On June 12, 2007, drummer Branden Steineckert
posted on his MySpace blog stating that members of Rancid were expected to get back together in the fall to begin writing the album, then resume recording it in January 2008. In December of that year, it was reported that Rancid had finished writing the album.
Recording of the album at Skywalker Sound
began in January 2008. The album was completed in early February 2009. The album is the band's fourth with producer Gurewitz, who previously worked with the band on Let's Go, their self-titled 2000 album
, and the previous album, Indestructible.
and Amazon MP3
. Note that all the songs here are acoustic
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
. It was released on June 2, 2009 through Hellcat Records
Hellcat Records
Hellcat Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. The label, an off-shoot of Epitaph Records, was started as a partnership between Brett Gurewitz carp Bad Religion, the owner of Epitaph, and Tim Armstrong of Rancid, the latter of whom is generally responsible for...
. It is their first album of new material in nearly six years, following 2003's Indestructible, and their first with drummer Branden Steineckert
Branden Steineckert
Branden Steineckert , is the drummer for the punk rock band Rancid. He was previously the drummer of The Used, but it was announced on September 12, 2006 that he was no longer a part of the band.-Biography:...
, who joined the band in 2006 after the departure of founding drummer Brett Reed.
The span of nearly six years between Indestructible and Let the Dominoes Fall was Rancid's longest gap between studio albums in their career. The band had begun working on new material after their temporary hiatus in 2004, but showed no signs of a new album until January 2008, when they announced that they had begun recording with producer and Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The writing and recording process was finally finished in February 2009.
The album's first single "Last One to Die
Last One to Die
"Last One to Die" is a song by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released as the first single from their seventh album, Let the Dominoes Fall. It first primered on April 6, 2009 on the Los Angeles modern rock radio station, KROQ, and is currently available on their MySpace page. Frontman...
," was released on April 7, 2009 via the band's Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. As of May 26, 2009 the album can be heard on MySpace entirely. "Up To No Good" was released as the album's second single.
A deluxe edition of the album was also released on June 2, 2009. In addition to the regular album, it includes a bonus CD featuring twelve of the songs from the album in acoustic form, a DVD featuring a documentary about the making of the album, three posters and four guitar picks. It debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, making this Rancid's highest charting album to date.
"The Bravest Kids" was featured on EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
' NHL 2010
NHL 10
NHL 10 is a video game in the NHL series developed and released by EA Canada and published by EA Sports, and is the 19th game in the series. The game debuted at Hockey Fest '09, a three-day interactive festival celebrating the sport of hockey and the Los Angeles Kings, which took place in downtown...
.
Writing and production
After a break in 2004, Rancid began writing their follow-up to Indestructible a year later. In November 2005, it was announced that the band had begun working on a "large amount of new material" for the album and guitarist Lars FrederiksenLars Frederiksen
Lars Erik Frederiksen is an American guitarist and vocalist, most notably for the punk rock band Rancid, and as the frontman of Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and The Old Firm Casuals. He was also briefly a member of the UK Subs in 1991...
mentioned that it would surface sometime in 2006.
On April 13, 2006, Rancid posted a large update to their MySpace page and mentioned that the album would be released in the spring of 2007. For sometime later, it was announced that the release date had been changed to summer/fall 2007, despite frontman Tim Armstrong
Tim Armstrong
Timothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
's solo tour schedule, supporting his first album A Poet's Life
A Poet's Life
A Poet's Life is the first solo album by Tim Armstrong , made in collaboration with Hellcat-signed reggae band The Aggrolites. It was released on May 22, 2007 on Armstrong's own label, Hellcat Records....
. On June 12, 2007, drummer Branden Steineckert
Branden Steineckert
Branden Steineckert , is the drummer for the punk rock band Rancid. He was previously the drummer of The Used, but it was announced on September 12, 2006 that he was no longer a part of the band.-Biography:...
posted on his MySpace blog stating that members of Rancid were expected to get back together in the fall to begin writing the album, then resume recording it in January 2008. In December of that year, it was reported that Rancid had finished writing the album.
Recording of the album at Skywalker Sound
Skywalker Sound
Skywalker Sound is the sound effects, sound editing, sound design, sound mixing and music recording division of George Lucas' Lucas Digital motion picture group. Its main facilities are located in Lucas Valley, near Nicasio, California...
began in January 2008. The album was completed in early February 2009. The album is the band's fourth with producer Gurewitz, who previously worked with the band on Let's Go, their self-titled 2000 album
Rancid (2000 album)
Rancid is the eponymous fifth studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It is the second eponymous album and was released on August 1, 2000 through frontman Tim Armstrong's label, Hellcat Records. It was the band's first album released through Hellcat...
, and the previous album, Indestructible.
Track listing
Bonus tracks
Let the Dominoes Fall Acoustic
A version of the album was released on CD with a bonus disc of acoustic versions of songs from the album. These songs are also included in expanded editions of the album at digital download stores such as the iTunes StoreITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
and Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3 is an online music store owned and operated by Amazon.com. Launched in public beta on September 25, 2007, in January 2008 it became the first music store to sell music without digital rights management from the four major music labels , as well as many independents...
. Note that all the songs here are acoustic
Chart performance
| Charts (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... n ARIA Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
31 |
| Finnish Albums Chart Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
29 |
| New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... Albums Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
32 |
| Swedish Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
27 |
| UK Albums Chart | 41 |
| US United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
11 |
Personnel
- Tim ArmstrongTim ArmstrongTimothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
- Guitar, Vocals - Lars FrederiksenLars FrederiksenLars Erik Frederiksen is an American guitarist and vocalist, most notably for the punk rock band Rancid, and as the frontman of Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and The Old Firm Casuals. He was also briefly a member of the UK Subs in 1991...
– Guitar, Vocals - Matt FreemanMatt FreemanMatthew "McCall" Freeman is an American musician. He is best known for his bass guitar work with the punk rock bands Operation Ivy, Rancid and as the frontman of Devil's Brigade.-Playing style:...
– Bass, Vocals - Branden SteineckertBranden SteineckertBranden Steineckert , is the drummer for the punk rock band Rancid. He was previously the drummer of The Used, but it was announced on September 12, 2006 that he was no longer a part of the band.-Biography:...
– Drums
Additional musicians
- Michael Bolger - horns on "Up to No Good"
- Ryan FoltzRyan FoltzRyan Foltz is an American producer, audio engineer and musician from Cleveland, Ohio. A former member of Dropkick Murphys and Motel Blonde , Foltz has also played tin whistle, trumpet, , in renowned The Pogues cover band, for ten years...
- mandolin on "Civilian Ways" - Greg GraffinGreg GraffinGregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D. is an American punk rock musician, college professor, and author. He is most recognized as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the noted Los Angeles band Bad Religion, which he co-founded in 1979 and is the band's only constant member, even though it now features two...
- gang vocals on "Disconnected" - Brett GurewitzBrett GurewitzBrett W. Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and sister-labels ANTI-, Burning Heart Records, Fat Possum Records, and Hellcat Records...
- producer, background vocals, percussion - Booker T. JonesBooker T. JonesBooker T. Jones is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and arranger, best known as the frontman of the band Booker T. and the MGs. He has also worked in the studios with many well-known artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, earning him a Grammy Award for lifetime...
- keyboards on "Up to No Good" - Tom Lea - viola on "Up To No Good"
- Joel Pargman - violin on "Up To No Good"
- Vic RuggieroVic RuggieroVictor "Vic" Ruggiero, is a musician, songwriter and producer from New York City who has played in many ska bands, such as The Slackers, Stubborn All-Stars, SKAndalous All Stars, Crazy Baldhead and The Silencers...
- keyboards - Jay TerrienJay TerrienJay Terrien is an American musician and composer.A 1992 graduate of Burlington High School in Vermont, Terrien moved to Maine to study viola at Bates College. Terrien's album, All the Dolls in the Same Place was released in 2006...
- string arrangement on "Up To No Good" - Ina Veli - violin on "Up To No Good"
- Pat WilsonPatrick Wilson (musician)Patrick "Pat" George Wilson is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band Weezer. He joined the band in 1992. In addition to his work in Weezer, he also fronts his own band, The Special Goodness....
- gang vocals on "Damnation" - Adrienne Woods - cello on "Up To No Good"