Track Listing

1. Romper Stomper
2. Tall Cans In The Air
3. DJ, DJ
4. Diamonds And Guns
5. Quick Death
6. Sad But True
7. Weigh On My Mind
8. On Point
9. California Babylon
10. We Trusted You
11. D.R.E.A.M.
12. Down In Oakland

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16576 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
So, something such as Transplants is what ska-punks do in their spare time. Over the period between January 2000 to June 2002, Rancid's guitarist and vocalist Tim Armstrong was sat in his basement studio, laboriously poring over loops and samples, collecting synth-squeals and snatches of howling guitar and, naturally, writing songs. Aided by raging rapper Rob Aston, he's put it all together to form this often intriguing and strangely beguiling side project. The opening's not promising. With the death-riff of "Romper Stomper" followed by the urban R & B and chanted party-rock chorus of "Tall Cans in the Air", you get the awful feeling that Armstrong is dealing in lowest common denominators here. But then his Clash-obsession kicks in once more, his Mick Jones-aping vocal darkly murmuring over the reggae-come-rock of "D.J.D.J.". This London-Kingston-California hybrid is thoroughly weird, initially comical, but oddly touching. It rings out again in "Weigh on My Mind", and "Diamonds and Guns", with its Sex Pistols' marching intro, rollicking piano and Stonesy woo-woos, while the closing "Down in Oakland" is an enthusiastic take on the Clash's later spaghetti western reggae. These, and Armstrong's sonic experimentations, provide interest, with adrenalin added by bursts of searing punk-metal. Though Aston's outbursts are often confrontational in the most predictable and tedious sense, Transplants are genuinely something new. --Dominic Wills

CD Description
The self-titled Transplants album represents Rancid vocalist Tim Armstrong's variant on that great rock & roll staple, the side project. As is often the case with such endeavors by members of famous bands, TRANSPLANTS was recorded bit by bit over the course of a couple of years (presumably during Armstrong's downtime from Rancid). Still, it all hangs together with its raw, organic vibe. Though loops and synthesizer are present nearly every cut, the album maintains an agreeably rough-and-ready rock & roll feel. Fans of Rancid should feel at home with the punk quotient here, but healthy doses of hip-hop, funk, and reggae are injected into the mix as well, and Armstrong shares vocals with cohort Rob Aston throughout the album.

Customer Reviews

Woot Woot...
This album has generated quite a lot of interest mainly due to the fact that is made by a supergroup that isn't a supergroup... comprised mainly of veteran punk Tim Armstrong, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and rookie vocalist Rob Aston, along with a handful of session musicians, the people in the inlay sheet really are a who's-who's of todays music scene.

The sound is pretty straightforward, but done in a way that makes it sound overly busy at the same time. Vocal slurs, shouts and raps lead the charge through a barrage of buzz-saw guitars, feedback-filled Bass and a mixture of tradional and looped drumming make this a very strong sounding record, add in a few samples and a bit of piano and hip-hop grooves for good measure and you have a record that will be loved by multi-genre music fans and hated by people not willing to give more than one genre a chance. From the heavy cruch of 'Romper Stomper', to the chest-beating raps of 'Tall Cans In the Air' to the piano filled 'Diamonds And Guns' the record fires back and forth using any style of music it can think of to get its musical message across... true, its very much a punk record, but a wonderfully varied punk record that deserves a listen from everyone.

Album Highlights:- "DJ, DJ", "Diamonds and Guns", "Weigh On My Mind" and "On Point"

Tall Cans In The Air
Well Tim Armstrong has managed to impress again, after Operation Ivy and still with Rancid he has created a fantastic new band and a awesome new sound. This incorporates loads of new sounds such as drum n bass and hip hop. In fact the whole album is based around hip hop and vocalist Rob Aston is a very good MC.

At first listen you may wonder what Armstrong has done to the punk sound but he has strayed but in a way stayed true to the sound. Travis Barker of Blink-182 fame does an excellent job on drums.

The album starts with the very disappointing Romper Stomper the lowlight of the album, dont be dismayed Tall Cans In The Air is a highlight as are D.J.D.J and Diamonds and Guns (best song).

Each song has its own unique sound and has many additional personnal on other instruments including Armstrongs other bandmates Lars Frederikson and Matt Freeman, his wife Brody and guest MCs.

Overall a fantastic album and a creative masterpiece a must have for any punk, hip hop fan.

rancid meets cypress hill (well kinda)
at the first listen i wasn't overally impressed 2 b honest, but this album is now one of my favourites, tim armstrongs recognisable gravely vocals perfectly backing up the rapping from rob aston, with blink 182 drummer travis barker making up the band. As i said this album might not be an instant hit, but give it time, its well worth the money.