Tim Armstrong and co. branch out on this diverse record
The Transplants may contain punk stars Tim Armstrong and Travis Barker but, for anyone unfamiliar with the band and expecting punk, this is the wrong place to look. Sure, some tunes are all about the punk rock but this album is far more diverse than that, even if it doesn't work sometimes - more so, even, than the last Transplants album. In true punk spirit, however, they've already started causing controversy to some degree - after all, the lazy, hazy 'Gangsters and Thugs' talks about friends selling drugs, and sounds like it's been smoking some too.
The first track rocks like bitch on heat. It may be a touch on the sexist side but it really doesn't matter, this is a hot piece of punk rap that'll make even the most reluctant dancer want to go crazy. It's got attitude, and hits you at a hundred miles an hour – the punk rap makes perfect sense, and is far superior to anything Linkin Park or Limp Bizkit have done. They don't let up either on 'Apocalypse Now', a crazy mix of punk, drum 'n' bass, and rap with subject matter as furious as the music. Chemical and biological weaponry is the topic of choice, declaring the post 9/11 landscape a 'nightmare'.
After the more chilled out ska/drum 'n' bass of 'Gangsters and Thugs', comes a total change of mood and direction. Funky, laid-back hip hop greets us, and the choice of guest artist (this time Boo Yaa Tribe) proves to be a good one again – it's so loose and easy, it doesn't matter that it's not punk. Together with the next track 'Doomsday', the Transplants show that they can create a sexy mood with a seductive, ska beat and tune. It's darker, delving into the world of the junky but it's no less effective.
But before long, the punk returns – well, a variety of punk that is. 'American Guns' takes the sort of line that Minutemen (the lot that did the theme to Jackass, for those who don't know) have – it even bears some resemblance to one of the songs 'If You're Gonna Be Dumb'. The 'Madness' doesn't stop there either, with the band clearly intent on carrying on the party. Carefree punk comes edged with a sinister edge that makes you feel a little bit uneasy.
Then the hip hop comes back, and it's there to stay. Even on the more punky 'Pay Any Price' there's a dubbed out, hip hop vibe going on - the rap like vocals often leaving you wishing for more singing at times. But it's on 'Crash and Burn' that things get a bit, well, interesting. A sexy salsa beat and tune dances uncomfortably with overly heavy vocals. It's the first time on the record that a guest vocal has been out of place, and it's a shame.
'Haunted Cities' is a good album, with some great tunes. It's refreshing to see that Armstrong and Barker haven't concentrated solely on the genre they're best known for, even if the hip hop doesn't always work. However, the quality of songs like 'Not Today' left me wishing for more punk tunes. It's still worth a spin, though.