Customer Reviews

Haunted Cities

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Notice how every review with five stars has no content? Hmmm..

It is with great regret that I am writing a review stating that "Haunted Cities" continues the pattern of Rancid and company's decline. This new Transplants record is another chapter among the 2003's de-volving "Indestructible" and the ego-a-thon that is Frederiksen's 2004 "Viking" (my least favorite record of 2004 hands down).

This record is suffering greatly in the lyrics department. Along the lines of "Viking," this album's lyrics are just a tad above because they touch on politics (Apocalypse Now and American Guns). But, rest assured, you will find that nearly every other song is talking about bad-ass they are, how hard their life has been, etc. Where is the storytelling style that Tim Armstrong used to incorporate into songs so well? Not here.

Remember how "Skinhead" Rob was a cool addition on the first Transplants album, and not a crucial member? Well, that has changed on this record. In fact, the record ought to be called "Rob Austin and the Transplants - Haunted Cities." You'll find Rob's raspy, smokes-too-much vocals singing the main parts of most of the songs, and coving about 70% of the lyrics in total. I could deal with this if there was some content to his lyrics, but nearly every line he says has to do with him being tough, a drug dealer, or using some random cuss word. This "we're so hard" thing has really gone to their heads.

If you'll recall on the first Transplants album the guest stars fit on the songs very well. From Lars, to Brody, and even Davey Havok, these guests were long time friends and they fit their parts perfectly. This is not the case on "Haunted Cities," you'll find every guest is now some "gangster" from the LA rap scene rapping about how hard he is, and it just seems ridicules-I can't take it seriously. Where is the honesty? B Real's part on "What I Can't Describe," as well as the whole song, is beyond laughable.

There are a few highlights worth mentioning. "Crash and Burn" has a great Latin dance beat and is incredibly catchy, "Apocalypse Now" has a good hard chorus worth hearing, "Madness" has a great hook in the chorus which is probably one of Tim's best, and the politically charged (sounds like a Clash song on many levels) "American Guns" is worth hearing.

2 Stars because four songs worth listening to, but this is overall a non creative, ego boasting, repetitive record. Get the songs I recommend off I-Tunes and save your $15.

Well there is both good news and bad news for Rancid fans. On the good side of things, the second record from "punk rock supergroup" the Transplants(Rancid's Tim Armstrong, Blink 182's Travis Barker and former Rancid/ A.F.I. roadie "Skinhead Rob" Aston) is a step up from last years dreadful Lars Frederickson record "Viking". The bad news? "Haunted Cities" isn't much of a record.
Now I thought the Transplants debut record a few years ago had some cool moments("Sad But True", "California Babylon" and "Down in Oakland" were inspired tracks), but "Haunted Cities" doesn't really have any cool moments or even really any memorable or likable songs. And it boils down to three things.
One: Tim Armstrong, it would appear, has lost for lack of a better word his mojo. In the mid to late ninties he was one of the best songwritters around, knowing how to blend hard runk aggression with pop melody and smart, honest lyrics. He could go from hardcore punk to ska to blues inspired pop tracks without losing much of a beat(don't believe me? Take a listen to the records Rancid cut from 1994-2001), but here he sounds bored. Every track find Armstrong going through the motions, not really seeming to care either way if the track he's doing is interesting or even good, floating by on fake bravado and tired hooks. To add insult to energy whenever Tim takes to mic he sounds bored with himself. There is never an excitement to his voice or his tone, and it gets pretty boring listening to a dude who sounds bored. Actually, it's pretty contagious.
Problem two is Skinhead Rob who rivals Fred Durst in the rapping skills department. Rob is all fake bravado and trite, unoriganel rhymes who goes to the same topic over and over again: how much of a badass he seems to think he is. He was a nuisiance on the last Tranplants record, but at least then Tim's heart was at least into the songwritting to distract you from him. This time, he's in the front of the band. And that's not a good idea.
And that leads to the third problem. Like Lars' "Viking" last year, "Haunted Cities" becomes a cocept record about how tough, how hardcore the Transplants are. This motif works for Motorhead.It doesn't work for these guys. The first problem is how unconvicning Aston is on the mic, but another problem is that these guys seem to think tatoos make you a badass. Sorry. Tatoos aren't particuarly scary to anyone over the age seventy five. Neither are motorcycles or drugs or whatever else the group seems to be singing about. There was a sense of intellegence above this nonsense on the first Transplants record, a sense of humor and vulnerability that made the band seem hard as nails. When you feel the need to write about it for fifty minutes? Well that's just pretending there.
And there you go. I was dissapointed by "Haunted Cities". I give it two stars becasue it's better than "Viking", but not by much. Someone needs to wake up Armstrong and put a muzzle over Rob's mouth. Or maybe they should've just left well enough alone.

If your too brainwashed by MTV and clear channel, don't f*ckin buy this album. If you're too busy trying to put bands into certain categories, don't buy this f*ckin album, because that is what it is, an ALBUM. These brilliant musicians have made an album for MUSICIANS, music lovers, and just plan open minded folks. Not everyone is going to like it and they don't CARE. From the opening salvos of Not Today and Apocalypse Now to the closing tunes I Want It All and Crash and Burn (which are an album unto themselves) this album is a party masterpiece. Gangsters and Thugs, the single, sounds like nothing that's ever been played on the radio before; What I Can't Describe is a perfect lazy summer soul tune that doesn't fit any category; Madness: phat. Anyway, buy this album if your interested in something different and tuneful. Otherwise, tune in to yer local bullsh*t radio/cable station. Peace out, b*tches.

Everybody who's writing those "I was eargerly anticipating the 2nd album, but it's crap etc etc" reviews, forget that EVERYONE when they first heard the Transplants, were slightly nonplussed - admit it. Haunted Cities - Just more innovation & grooves.
...Download it today.....

The Transplants' new CD, "Haunted Cities" is an album that defies categorization. If you only like to listen to one genre of music, then you'll not care for it. If you like music for the sake of music, then there will certainly be something here for you. There are straight ahead classic punk tracks, followed by some pretty pop sounding tunes. Most songs twist genres in a way you'd not expect to hear. If you buy the album for "Gangsters and Thugs," you'll probably be disappointed. It is the most radio-friendly of the tracks, but not necessarily representative of the album.

I bought the CD for Travis Barker's percussion work, and he shows a fine and innovative hand in every track, from the hard-ish punk in "Not Today" to the classically delectable soul track "What I Can't Describe."

Although the band is just three guys, there is a page full of guest artists that helped to fatten out the sound and add to the texture of the various tracks. And unlike some "conceptual" albums (bunch a'guys havin' fun in the studio), this is one you'll actually listen to.

My only problem with this CD is it's not very kid friendly. These guys have serious potty mouths and there are abundant drug references. I'm less likely to let my kids listen to it, even though I'd like them to hear some of the tunes. But if you're a grown up, give it a try. You might find something you like.

ive been listening to the transplants since their first cd came out and it was one of those cds that when you first listen to it you dont know what to think but then it grows on you. with the new cd out i heard gangsters and thugs and it was so different. they totally expanded their musical style. this cd is not as heavily influenced by punk/hard rock and has a little bit of everything from the raw sounds of not today to the the cool layed back latin sound of crash and burn its even got an R&B almost motown feel in what i cant describe. tim and rob blend their two completely opposite lyrical styles together almost perfectly. i bought this cd the day it came out and the first time listening to i didnt know what to think. but after the 3rd time listening to it, it totally grew on me and i couldnt stop listening to it. it has been in my stereo since i got it and i put it on my mp3 player so i can have it wherever i go. i definitely recomend this cd to anyone who isnt close minded.

I dont know how anybody could possibly give this album 1 star. Transplants self titled 2002 album was good, but this is still superior. They'll both have a space in my collection. Do you really want Transplants to regurgitate the same sound album after album? The people writing negative reviews are likely the same people who hate every Rancid album except "And Out Come the Wolves."

I keep reading that people are upset with the "I'm a thug with drugs and guns" theme they are fabricating in their imagination. These people were not listening to the lyrics, and mostly likely haven't listened to the album as a whole. Reminds me of the time a college kid killed himself while playing Blink182's "Adams Song" on repeat. He obviously didn't realize the point of that song was to dissuade people from killing themselves. This album to me is about how people get sucked into and stuck in a repressive and violent cycle. Play tracks 6-12, listen to the lyrics, tell me you think they're glorifying drugs and guns and you need to be slapped silly.

Basically, there are a few tracks on this album that I dont care for, but thats every CD I've ever owned. There are tracks I do like and cant stop listening to. They Include:

Not Today (Feat. Sen Dog)
Apocalypse Now
What I Can't Describe (Feat. Boo Yaa Tribe)
Doomsday
Killafornia
Hit the Fence
Crash and Burn (Feat. Rakaa)

If you have an open mind about music; if you enjoy both punk and hip-hop, you'll love this CD.

This CD is spectacular, that's the only way to describe it. Anyone who has written a bad review for this album should stop commenting on music because they don't know much about it.

The Transplants are the sh%t, enough said. Travis has an amazingly creative rhythmic mind... which transposes into some amazing beats on "Haunted Cities". Tim, being the very talented musician that he is, managed to somehow create amazing baselines, guitar riffs, and piano rolls. And Rob Aston is border line poet for god's sake.

The first Transplants CD was much more stripped down than the new one, and that was almost better for their sound, but their new CD has much more meat to it and development. But I know that if you liked the first CD at all, then you loved it and already have the second CD.

The Transplants are push the pedestal of sublime... enough said. Do yourself a favor and listen to this CD; even if you don't like the style, you'll respect the sound and the musicianship. The Transplants are push the pedestal of sublime... enough said.

(3.5 would have been more fair)

ok. i'll admit it, i loved the 1st transplants cd - it was punk inspiration fused with anger and great hooks - even rob aston, who im not a big fan of, filled the cd with energy and life.

The second cd, haunted cities i do like. i like it. i don't love it. this is because from the punk with subordinate hip-hop music they had, they have reversed it, so its hip-hop with punk extras. I can't be annoyed at the transplants for changing their musical direction, because if no-body did that, then music would be boring (and the transplants are NOT boring.)

here's how i rated each song:

Not Today - 5 / 5 this is probably the best song on the cd, it could have come straight off of the self titled debut, and sounds like it.

Apocalypse Now - 4/5 - predictable chorus, but a rousing, armstrong led song

gangsters & thugs 4/5 - another good song, one of the best on the cd.

what i can't describe - 2/5 - my least favourite song on the cd, its r & b, not even hip hop.

doomsday - 4/5 i really like this song, good chorus

killafornia - 3/5 hip hop - but a good song, i like it infact, but it does NOT fit in with this cd.

American Guns - 5/5 - excellent punk song, great hook with the line "american guns, american guns"

madness - 4.5/5 - excellent song, but made by armstrongs chorus

hit the fence - 3/5 - abrasive rap by aston, armstrongless.

pay any price 4.5/5 - another good song, made by tim armstrong

i want it all 3.5/5 - slowish, not my favourite

crash and burn - 4.5/5 - great hook on the chorus, good song all round

without - what i cant describe & killafornia (notice armstrongs vocal absence from these two songs) this would have been an excellent cd.

hit the fence is this cd's romper stomper, with doomsday the equivalent of california babylon, not today replacing tall cans in the air, gangsters and thugs in for dj dj.

The orignal is the best, but this follow up is good too, andi have listened to it many times, but would be better without What I cant describe, killafornia (which i actually like as a song, but does not fit in with the cd) and i want it all.

I didn't really hear of the Transplants until mid 2004 with the tony hawk underground game with their song califonia babylon on it so I thought it was a good song so I checked out the album and I enjoyed it. So when I heard Gangsters and Thugs I waited till the album came out and bought it. I gotta to tell you that it is better than the first album a lot due to the fact that the music quality has been improved. But not only that it's also because the songs are a lot catchier like Not Today, Crash and Burn, Killafornia just to name a few. You can hear Tim and Rob a lot better which I had hoped when I heard this album was coming out and it made the songs sound a lot better too with featured artists like B.Real and Rakaa.

Highlights on the album are the guitar parts with some solos done by Tim and there's more Bass guitar and of course the songs on which are all great except just one I don't like which is Why I Can't Describe because the chorus is a little weird but the verses are alright. One thing we have to highlight is Travis's drumming on songs like Gangsters and Thugs, Apocalypse Now and Crash and Burn because he does do a good job making it sound like hip-hop beats so you don't really have to be a fan of rock or punk to like this album because they have rap/hip-hop based songs on it.

All in all this is a great album with great songs and I think it's better than their first so if you're a fan of rap, hip-hop, rock, punk whatever you should pick up this album you will enjoy it.