Transplants - Transplants (Hellcat 2002) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

An inspired side project, Transplants features Tim Armstrong of Rancid, Armstrong's buddy Rob Aston rapping, blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, and a host of pals dropping in. They don't really sound much like Rancid, though at times one does hear the Clash in these tunes. A bit more rock & roll than punk rock, Transplants spare listeners any ska tunes. However, there is plenty of hip-hop courtesy of Aston, who raps in a macho and at times grating style with no shortage of borrowed gangsta clichés. In fact, Transplants sound best when he's not shouting about gats and hos. Every time Armstrong's gutter punk-accented, mushmouth voice appears, Transplants sound more soulful than rap-rock. Armstrong hasn't written hook-filled songs like these since And Out Come the Wolves. "Down in Oakland," the one song he wrote without Aston, is among the album's catchiest. Check out Armstrong's slick and reverby surf guitar on this one. Aside from singing like a punk rock Marvin Gaye and playing snazzy guitar leads, Armstrong is also responsible for the blues piano loops that anchor "Diamonds and Guns" and "California Babylon," songs that sound a good deal better than their titles. Perhaps the album's best number is the downbeat "Weigh on My Mind," featuring the throaty, understated background vocals of Brody Armstrong of the Distillers, who sings the chorus "I've got so many problems and they weigh on my mind" with her husband, Armstrong. Among the other key contributors is Vic Ruggiero of the Slackers, who lays down some cool piano and organ grooves throughout. And there's a not half-bad rap tune called "D.R.E.A.M”. Adam Bregman Allmusic.

NB. The ‘surface noise’, which can be heard in places, is an intentional part of the recording.

Track listing:

01. Romper Stomper
02. Tall Cans In the Air
03. D.J. D.J.
04. Diamonds And Guns
05. Quick Death
06. Sad But True
07. Weigh On My Mind
08. One Seventeen
09. California Babylon
10. We Trusted You
11. D.R.E.A.M.
12. Down In Oakland

Bonus Track:

13. Gangsters And Thugs (Explicit Version) (2005 La Salle/Atlantic single AT0213X)

Personnel:

Tim Armstrong: vocals, guitars, bass, loops, synth, percussion
Rob Aston: vocals
Travis Barker: drums
With:
Dave Carlock: bass/synth on 01, background vocals/synth on 03,
background vocals/piano on 04, background vocals/bass/synth on 06,
synth on 07 & 09, bass on 10, guitar/synth on 11, synth on 12
Matt Freeman: bass on 02
Vic Ruggiero: organ on 02, 06, 07, 09, 10, 12, piano on 09, 10, 12
Brody Armstrong: vocals on 02 & 07
Danny Diablo: vocals on 11
Recorded in Tim’s basement from January 2000 – June 2002
Produced, mixed and engineered by Tim Armstrong & Dave Carlock.