Posted in: Rock by Joel West on December 4, 2007 | 0 Comments
Tim Armstrong of Rancid, and his recent solo album.
Any self-respecting punk rocker knows the name Tim Armstrong. From his membership in the seminal punk/ska band, to his founding father status in the punk powerhouse Rancid, Armstrong is an artist that consistently leaves fans begging for more, no matter what project he involves himself in.
In A Poet’s Life (Hellcat 2007), Armstrong has once again outdone himself, and has exceeded the expectations of many in the punk rock community in the process. The album is reminiscent of ska music of days gone by. Tracks eight and nine, “Lady Demeter” and “Among the Dead,” respectively, both invoke the spirit of ska legends The Specials, while still remaining easily recognizable as creations of Armstrong.
Armstrong at forty-two years old is going strong and A Poet’s Life is a testament to his versatility. Over the years, he has collaborated with punk legends Bad Religion, No FX, and even helped co-author eight songs on Pink’s Try This in 2003.
A Poet’s Life starts with Armstrong’s guttural growl, calling listeners to pay attention, echoing through effects appropriate for any dub dancehall. Track one, “Wake Up,” gives a nod to his collaborating back-up band The Aggrolites, and talks of relationship woes and redemption, and the need to take the turbulent world of male/female relations “one day at a time.”
The inspiration for this song, among others, is most likely the very public divorce and remarriage of his now ex-wife, Brody Dalle of Distillers fame.
Track two, “Hold On,” tells a story in typical Armstrong fashion, lending a knowing voice to tales of travel and musicianship as a rock star. He says, “do what you do girl, but please don’t leave/I’m gonna hold on to you as long as I can…” This song gives the life of a rock star dimension; it’s not all fun and games. Fun, maybe, but the game is trying to figure out who is real when everyone wants a piece of you.
Armstrong’s storytelling in his songs is legendary. He is a punk rock balladeer, telling tales from back alleys, childhood, love lost and found, and friendship with equal feeling. His honest, almost careless atonal delivery lets listeners know what punk rock is all about: it’s about the message and feeling that message, not about being perfect.
Originally slated to be a free internet album released in April 2007, the success of track three, “Into Action,” required Armstrong’s Hellcat Record label to release a compact disc for fans seething to get their hands on a copy of the legend’s most recent work. The album, released in May of 2007, was coupled with a DVD that featured a video for every single song on the album. Each video features Armstrong in and out of his element, filmed around the world on tour, in clubs, on the streets, with fans sporting Mohawks and tattoos, scantily clad women gyrating to his reggae-influenced easy going songs.
Every single song on the album is excellent, and a tribute to the songwriting genius of this prolific artist who came from nothing to ride the wave of success doing what he loves. On “Among the Dead,” Armstrong takes listeners through his story, from Operation Ivy all the way to the present day, giving a nod to bassist and long-time friend Matt Freeman for suggesting that they try one more time to succeed at music. This was at a pivotal time in Armstrong’s life: he was a homeless junkie.
The chorus of that song says “Among the dead we will rise.” Armstrong has indeed risen, delivering another brilliant album to add to his catalog, as well as to the punk rock canon that desperately needed to recognize its roots. A Poet’s Life is a must-buy for any lover of punk rock. A+
