Customer Reviews

Poets Life (Bonus Dvd) (Dig)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have to chuckle about some of these reviews. Especially the one that states "I can even overlook that Tim is singing with a pop punk teenager..." I'm so glad you can overlook that little fact, you must be so punk rock.

I'm in my mid-30's, I've been listening to punk rock since I was 12 and I listened (and went to the shows)of both Op Ivy and Rancid since the early days. To the tossers who want to somehow question the "punk" of this, give it a rest. This is a return, and homage, to one of the roots of punk. If you don't like it that's okay, just don't put on your punk rock sheriff's badge and presume to decide what passes muster for punk.

This might be the best Rancid-related project since "Life Won't Wait." "Rancid (2000)" and "Indestructible" were good, and The Transplants were tolerable, but "A Poet's Life" is fantastic. I'm guessing that, deep down, this is the album Tim always wanted to make. I'm glad he did. I'm especially glad he released it on CD instead of merely offering the songs as downloads.

Tim does it again! Great ska record. Into Action is the best single from any Rancid project ever, but all 10 songs are great. Like the dvd, but the grainy b&w thing is getting a little old.

It's been quite a while since a Rancid record (or a Rancid side project record) hasn't dissapointed me. The two Transplants records bored me, the second Lars Frederickson solo record embarassed me and "Indestructible" gave me the sense of deja vu that only having heard "Life Won't Wait" or "...and out come the wolves" could illict.
So when I heard that Tim Armstong was releasing a solo record I merely shrugged it off and went on about my day. Then I heard that he was giving it away for free, one song at a time, on his website(like that was gonna happen). So after hearing the first two tracks, the excellent "Wake Up" and "Hold On", my interest grew a little. And while Armstrong decided not to give the whole thing out on his website(again, not really a big surprise), when I saw it in stores recently I decided to give it a shot.
"A Poet's Life" will surprise anyone who is expecting a record that sounds like Rancid. While Rancid always had a ska/ reggae vibe to many of their songs they always backed them up with a a harder, more '77 vibe that is lacking from this record. This record is straight up reggae/ ska which is actually the smartest move that Armstrong could've made as it gives "A Poet's Life" a laid back, melodic, off the cuff groove that is infectious and impossible to resist. This record sounds like it was a lark, something fun to make while hanging out with one's friends, and that vibe is felt by listener.
Every track on "A Poet's Life" is strong, even if not every song is amazing. The first four songs--- the aforementioned "Wake Up" and "Hold On", the nearly perfect "Into Action" and the roots sounding "Translators"--- set the tone a little too well, as the songs that follow fail to keep the same energy and songwritting level. Also, like the last few records, Armstrong's lyrics are fairly spotty, though vocally he's never been in better form than he is here.
So "A Poet's Life" isn't perfect? Who expected it to be? But what "A Poet's Life" is fun, entertaining, melodic, energetic, brief and engaging. It's everything that you want and more.
Welcome back Tim. It's good to have ya back.

I've been a big fan of The Aggrolites for a while and a Op Ivy and Rancid fan for much longer. I heard a couple of these tracks on the website before this was an actual album. I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon right away and say this is amazing. The reggae music is awesome and really makes this worthwhile courtesy of The Aggrolites, but Tim as a solo vocalist is pretty disappointing. When he's with Lars and Rancid he can be amazing, but on some of the tracks on this album he sounds a little like he's trying to be raggaetone which is weird (especially on Into Action).

As far as comparisons to Op Ivy, I'm not sure you can even make a comparison. Op Ivy was extremely punky, fast and skacore. Not like this album at all. I would compare this one to Rancid's Life Won't Wait album a lot more easily than Op Ivy.

I'm glad he leaves out the gangster stuff he was getting into with the Transplants. There is definitely some Clash influence on this album. Overall, if you want a good pick-me-up reggae/ska album with some Tim Armstrong spirit pick this up.

Bravo Tim! Finally someone made an album that continues what two tone British ska started, but abruptly stopped. What the Selecter, English Beat, Madness, the Specials, The Bodysnatchers, and Bad Manners started should have continued well into the 80s, but unfortunately got killed in the flavor of the month atmosphere of the time (new romantic-next week "death rock" a la Specimen). This is true two tone style ska, not punk-throw-some-horns over "ska" or the painstakingly retro Slackers or Hepcat (who I love, by the way). This has the "new-wavey" guitar that is often missing in the revivalist groups around (especially track 5). Of course kudos to the Aggrolites, who I enjoy, but I must say they sound better on this project. Thank you Tim, and may this only be the beginning of many more ska albums. You know you've been wanting to do this for years!

I've been waiting months for this album. I got it the first day it came out and I'm very impressed with it. You never really know what to expect from the Rancid crew because every new album is different and fresh, but always good. Tim Armstrong is very creative and it shows here. This is Ska/Reggae with an two-tone groove. If you like most Rancid albums you'll probably like this. One great thing about Armstrong is his amazing ability to write lyrics. And this album has some good ones, especially track 9 "Among the Dead" is about his time with Ska/Punk Pioneers Operation Ivy. And things that happened after they broke up. Anyway great music, great lyrics from a very talented individual. This is an A+ album and I've been waiting for the Rancid crew to come up with something like this for a while now and I'm very Pleased. Highly recommended.

I cannot be more glad at Tim Armstrong going to his ska roots and even incorporating roots reggae into this album. When I fist heard that this was going to happen, I thought it was gonna be some crappy rap project. Thank heavens, it wasn't.

THIS is the Tim Armstrong I know and love.

Honestly, from Op Ivy to the ever changing/growing and fantastic Rancid (The best band in the world today), to the explosive Transplants and everything else in between from guest appearances to production, Tim Armstrong has provided the fix for music junkies for almost 20 years. That being said, did you expect his first solo album to be anything but superb? From the first day "Hold On" was released on MYSPACE, fans of Rancid knew we were in for something special. One thing is for sure about Tim, and that is that he is the farthest thing from a "one trick pony" than anyone can be. Look no further than the Rancid albums that have been released. From "Life Won't Wait", a complete departure from "Out Come the Wolves", back to the pure hard hitting punk rock that put them on the map on Rancid (2000), Tim Armstrong rarely shows you the same trick twice. This solo album continues on that trend and delivers in a way that we all knew was possible. A Poets Life can't really be compared to any of the Rancid albums (with the possible exception of Life Wont' Wait), and that's just fine with me... after all we are getting that Rancid albums soon. This album is funky to say the least. There is some ska, some funk and definetly lots of regaae influence on this album, and it furthers the idea that being "punk rock" means diong whatever the hell you feel like doing. Every song here is catchy, "Into Action" seems to be the highlight, "Wake Up" and "Hold On" still haven't gotten any less addictive then they were when Tim released them so many months ago. If I had to use one word to describe this album, it would be laid back. So head to the beach, pack some Coronas, hang back with your friends and pop on "A Poet's Life". You'll feel as good as I'm sure Mr. Armstrong felt making this for US, his fans. Thank you Tim.

Go ahead and buy this album. you wont be let down. me and my wife thouroughly enjoy it and she isnt into punk. it's a good album all around showing a great amount of musical ablitity on tim and the aggrolites parts!