Time Bomb (Rancid song)

Last updated
"Time Bomb"
Rancid - Time Bomb cover.jpg
Single by Rancid
from the album ...And Out Come the Wolves
ReleasedNovember 1, 1995
RecordedFebruary–May 1995
Genre
Length2:24
Label Epitaph
Songwriter(s) Tim Armstrong / Lars Frederiksen / Matt Freeman
Producer(s) Jerry Finn, Rancid
Rancid singles chronology
"Roots Radicals"
(1995)
"Time Bomb"
(1995)
"Ruby Soho"
(1995)

"Time Bomb" is a song by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released as the second single from its third album, ...And Out Come the Wolves . The song reached number 8 on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, marking the highest initial charting single in Rancid's career.

Contents

Composition

"Time Bomb" is a ska punk [1] [2] ska, [3] ska rock [4] and reggae rock song, [5] similar to the sound of Operation Ivy, in which Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman used to play before Rancid. The lyrics for the first verse of the song were sampled from an earlier song, "Motorcycle Ride", which appeared on the band's previous album, Let's Go .

This song is about Eric Hogan (a good friend of the band, particularly Tim Armstrong) who used to own American Graffiti Tattoo. He was murdered by Hells Angels (supposedly) for sleeping with one of the gang members wives. [6]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Marcus Raboy. It was partially filmed at 155 Rivington in New York City's Lower East Side; the building later became the headquarters of Kickstarter. [7]

Reception

Reception to the song was widely positive. Loudersound ranked Time Bomb as Rancid's second best song. [1] Consequence ranked the song as the band's 5th best song, [8] and the 44th best punk song of all time. [9] Diffuser listed it as their 10th best song. [10]

Track listing

  1. "Time Bomb" - 2:24
  2. "The Wars End" - 1:53
  3. "Blast 'Em" - 2:29

Charts

Chart (1995–1996)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [11] 76
UK (Official Charts Company) [12] 56
U.S. Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [13] 8
U.S. Radio Songs (Billboard) [14] 48
RPM Top Singles [15] 7

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References

  1. 1 2 Brannigan, Paul (August 17, 2016). "The Top 10 Best Rancid Songs". Louder Sound. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  2. Williams, Rob (June 28, 2009). "Range rockers refuse to let rain ruin the day". The Free Press. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  3. Stegall, Tim (November 2, 2021). "Rancid were absolutely crucial to the fusion of ska, reggae and punk rock". Alternative Press . Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  4. Gerard, Chris (April 19, 2021). "The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '90s: 100 - 81". PopMatters . p. 2. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  5. Bryant, Tom (June 25, 2014). "17 rock-reggae crossovers that work... and three that don't". Classic Rock .
  6. "Rancid - Time Bomb Lyrics & Meaning". Song Meanings. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  7. "Proving Rancid filmed "Time Bomb" at Kickstarter's Old HQ – Fred Benenson".
  8. "Rancid's Top 10 Songs". Consequence . June 8, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  9. "50 Best Punk Songs Of All Time". Consequence . August 17, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  10. Ozzi, Dan (August 8, 2013). "10 Best Rancid Songs". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  11. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 25 Feb 1996". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved July 21, 2017. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
  12. "Official Charts > Rancid". The Official UK Charts Company . Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  13. "Rancid Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard . Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  14. "Rancid Chart History: Radio Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  15. "Rancid Rock/Alternative positions". RPM . Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2022.