Let's Go (Rancid album)

Last updated
Let's Go
Rancid - Let's Go cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 21, 1994 (1994-06-21) [1]
RecordedOctober 1993 – March 1994
Studio
Genre Punk rock, street punk [2] [3]
Length44:13
Label Epitaph
Producer Brett Gurewitz
Rancid chronology
Radio Radio Radio
(1993)
Let's Go
(1994)
...And Out Come the Wolves
(1995)
Singles from Let's Go
  1. "Nihilism"
    Released: 1994
  2. "Salvation"
    Released: February 3, 1995

Let's Go is the second studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released on June 21, 1994, through Epitaph Records [1] and was the band's first album to feature Lars Frederiksen on guitar and vocals. The album initially achieved little mainstream success, though it appealed to the band's fanbase. However, the surprise success of punk rock bands such as The Offspring, Green Day and Bad Religion in the mid-1990s brought forth more mainstream interest in Let's Go, and it peaked at number 97 on the Billboard 200. "Salvation" was released to alternative radio on February 3, 1995. [4]

Contents

Let's Go is the first Rancid album to be produced by Brett Gurewitz. He would go on to engineer the band's third studio album, ...And Out Come the Wolves (1995) and returned as the band's permanent producer in 2000, starting with their fifth album.

Writing and production

After Rancid hired second guitarist Lars Frederiksen, they returned to the studio in October 1993 [5] with producer Brett Gurewitz to begin work on its second studio album. It took the band just six days to record the twenty-three songs selected for the album. [6] "Radio" and "Dope Sick Girl", two songs previously included on a 7" vinyl for Fat Wreck Chords, were altered for inclusion on Let's Go. [7]

Release

Let's Go was released through Epitaph Records in June 1994. They toured the US that month, before taking the following month off. They played two local shows, as well as five shows with Sick of It All. In September, they embarked on a tour of Canada, and an east coast US tour. [7]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Punk Planet Favorable [9]
Robert Christgau Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [10]

Critical response

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described the album as "sheer energy". He praised the music as a "less-serious, party-ready version of The Clash". The album received a rating of four out of five stars, while "Salvation" earned Rancid its first moderate success. [11]

Commercial performance and accolades

Let's Go peaked at number 97 on the Billboard 200 album chart. [12] The album was certified gold by the RIAA on July 7, 2000. [13]

In November 2011 Let's Go was ranked number eight on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1994. [14]

In April 2014 Rolling Stone placed the album at No. 24 on its "1994: The 40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative's Greatest Year" list. [6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, except where noted

No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Nihilism"Frederiksen, Armstrong2:03
2."Radio" (written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Tim Armstrong, Freeman)Armstrong2:51
3."Side Kick"Armstrong2:02
4."Salvation"Armstrong2:54
5."Tenderloin"Freeman1:32
6."Let's Go"Armstrong1:26
7."As One"Armstrong1:34
8."Burn" (written by Armstrong, Freeman, Eric Raider)Armstrong2:11
9."The Ballad of Jimmy & Johnny"Armstrong1:39
10."Gunshot"Freeman1:49
11."I Am the One"Armstrong1:57
12."Gave It Away"Armstrong1:13
13."Ghetto Box"Armstrong, Freeman1:11
14."Harry Bridges"Armstrong2:21
15."Black & Blue"Freeman1:59
16."St. Mary" (written by Armstrong, Freeman, Lars Frederiksen)Frederiksen, Armstrong2:09
17."Dope Sick Girl"Armstrong2:15
18."International Cover-Up"Armstrong1:44
19."Solidarity"Armstrong1:31
20."Midnight"Armstrong1:55
21."Motorcycle Ride"Armstrong1:20
22."Name" (written by Armstrong, Freeman, Eric Dinn)Armstrong2:12
23."7 Years Down"Armstrong2:35
Total length:44:13

Personnel

Production

Album notes

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References

  1. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - Let's Go by Rancid". iTunes .
  2. Bray, Ryan; Brennan, Collin. "Rancid's Top 10 Songs". Consequence . Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  3. River, Julie. "Rancid Trouble Maker (2017)" . Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  4. Alexander, Shawn (February 3, 1995). "Alternative" (PDF). Radio & Records : 65. ISSN   0277-4860.
  5. The exact date that the recording of Let's Go began is uncertain.
  6. 1 2 "1994- The 40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative's Greatest Year - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . April 17, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Dandy, Will (July–August 1994). "Interviews: Rancid". Punk Planet (2): 32.
  8. Let's Go at AllMusic
  9. Dandy, Will (July–August 1994). "Record Reviews". Punk Planet (2): 54.
  10. "Album: Rancid: Let's Go". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  11. "Let's Go". AllMusic . Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  12. "Let's Go's entry at Billboard.com". Billboard.com. February 2016. Archived from the original on October 11, 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  13. "RIAA Certification". RIAA . Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  14. Grassi, Tony. "Photo Gallery: The Top 10 Guitar Albums of 1994". GuitarWorld.com . Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  15. 1 2 3 Let's Go liner notes. Retrieved 2011-02-02
  16. "Rancid - Let's Go". Discogs.com . 1994. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  17. "AFTER THE FALL LYRICS - 1994". Plyrics.com. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  18. "After The Fall (2) - Fort Orange at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-27.