Unless you’ve been doing the Ted Kaszynski thing in the Australian outback, haven’t sold your soul to social media or had any contact with another living punk for the last thirty years, you’ll know who Rancid are, and you’re probably familiar with what they do. And, what they do is play balls out punk rock, which they do incredibly well, much to the chagrin of some of the holier than thou more hardcore than you elements of the scene. 

Fortunately, I’m not, and never have been, cool enough to be one of those hip and happening HC folks, and that’s probably why I’m a fully paid up member of the Rancid fan club. At least I would be if it existed, which I’m pretty sure it doesn’t. It’s like I already told you, I’m not cool enough to be welcomed into things like scene clubs and cliques, and even if I was, I probably wouldn’t join them, because I wouldn’t want to be a part of any group that would have me as a member. 

B Sides and C Sides is a staggering collection of twenty four rare, unreleased and nearly impossible to find tracks that were on the flip sides of seven inches, EPs, hidden away on comps and left over from album sessions, and for the most part, this double album is Rancid by numbers. There’s no weird ballads, no secret speed metal covers, no collabs with unexpected and strange guests or unwanted and unwelcome surprises, and what you get for your hard earned pennies is exactly what you’d expect, and want from this East Bay institution. Twenty four punk rock anthems that you’ll be singing along with by the time you’ve played the record(s) twice, all of which will end up living rent free in your head for the next month. What can I say? It’s Rancid, you’ll either love the record, or you won’t. Me? I’m digging the ever living hell out if it… Tim Cundle