Russ Rankin
Come Together Fall Apart
SBAM Records
Released: January 28, 2022
Good Riddance frontman extraordinaire, Russ Rankin, drops a new solo record, Come Together Fall apart, through SBAM Records.
Produced by the mighty Bill Stevenson, of legendary bands such as Descendants, All and Black Flag, and recorded at Blasting Room Studios in Fort Collins, Colorado – Rankin’s sophomore record comes a decade after his debut, Farewell Catalonia.
Rankin’s voice is perfect for a band like Good Riddance; to the point where I can’t imagine anybody else in his shoes. Together, Rankin and Good Riddance have put together and released some of the best skate punk records in the genre’s history – there’s no denying that. However, when a musician steps outside the comfort zone of his or her main band, they really do need to have something fierce to offer on a solo record, and this I fear is where Rankin falls flat. His voice just does not translate well to acoustic orientated music. At all. His drawl that has been used for used successfully in Good Riddance comes across as forced and irritating when paired with an acoustic guitar – and that is where we encounter our second major issue. When playing an acoustic style, the key ingredients that would normally work on a punk rock record won’t necessary translate well to other mediums. As is the case here.
See Also: The Rumperts “Escapism” Review
Unfortunately, much of Come Together Fall Apart feels dull and boring. There isn’t any real catch or hook to compelle someone to want to listen to this record more than say once, maybe twice. It lacks replay value. Overtly simplistic, painfully repetitive and unable to capture the listeners attention. More often than not, Come Together Fall Apart sounds like something recorded at an open-mic night down at the local watering hole, and subpar for a musician as talented and as well respected as Russ Rankin rightfully is. There needs to be something more than this, and hopefully Rankin progresses on his song writing for his next solo record.
When musicians such as Joey Cape and the late, great Tony Sly began trading amplifiers for stools and unplugged instruments, it was fresh and new. Both frontmen could write an interesting song and both could sing. What should have been a one-off soon became a trend, and before we knew it, punk rock musicians the globe over were throwing their hats into the ring, and going solo – acoustically. The majority of the time, those records didn’t work out so well, and with the global pandemic that practically shut down every touring band on the sphere we call earth, acoustic solo albums seem to be the way out many a bored musician has opted for.
Finally, if I hear one more American waxing poetically about the politics of Ireland, I might vomit. Stick to your own country and the many, many issues it has to sing about.
Copies of Come Together Fall Apart are available for purchase from SBAM Records in various colored vinyl variants, including a pretty nifty multi-colored splatter exclusively available through the SBAM website.
For Fans Of: Tony Sly, Joey Cape, Chuck Roberts And Friends
Track Listing:
01. All Our Lives
02. Babel
03. Fractured Legacy
04. True Believers
05. Considering the End
06. Statues of Kilkenny
07. Worse Than it Seems
08. Abolish the Senate
09. Next Best Thing
10. Last Conversation
11. You Woke Up My Neighborhood
