Transplants – Self Titled

Hip-hop, rap, and punk, mix them all together and what do you get? The Transplants, that’s what. The Transplants have a unique style of music which you will either hate or love. I believe that you must have a open mind to like this album.

The Transplants, which is Tim Armstrong (from Rancid, one of the most successful punk bands), Rob Aston (this is his first project) and then rounded it all off is Travis Barker (drummer for Blink182 andBox Car Racer and previously for Aquabats. Travis is one of the best drummers around right now), are one of the most unique side projects I have ever seen. Almost all the lyrics were written by Tim and Rob and they both share vocals on the album. Like I said before, you have to have a open mind to listen to the album, since t is a mixture between hip-hop, rap and punk. There are some things in the album which I just love, while others parts which I cant stand. Overall though, I say they did a pretty impressive job, and it is really good quality for being recorded in a basement over a two year period. Almost all the songs have some guest appearance somewhere.

They open the album up with Romper Stomper. This has vocals by Eric Ozenne as well. It is a fast song with hard vocals and more of a punk beat then hip-hop or rap. It is an effective song to open with. Then we come upon the so called “party song” Tall Cans In The Air.  It is the first single of their album and has a definite hip-hop feel to it, although with punk vocals, except for one verse where it is more of a hip-hop type vocals. This is one of my least favorite on the albums. I’m just not pulled to it that much. D.J D.J is the third song. This one is definitely leaning a lot more to the hip-hop side with punk vocals through out.

Diamonds And Guns is a cool song with a weird beat in it. Son Doobie lends some vocals and Dave Carlock has background vocals and piano. Quick Death is a song about death with a hip-hop beat and rap vocals. I’m not a big fan of the song, and I think is probably the worst on the album.

Sad But True (song 6) Weigh On My Mind (song 7) and We Trusted You (song 10) are the slower songs on the album. The first of the three is a song about the passing of a loved one. It has Dave Carlock on background vocals/bass and synth. Its a good song, and one which I really like. The second is a powerful song with Brody Armstrong (The Distillers) lending her vocals. Its a song about problems pilling up and being too big. We Trusted You is a song about a failed friendship. Its a good song with catchy lyrics, probably one of my favorite songs on the album.

Now backing up to One Seventeen and California Babylon. The first song is the only song on the entire album which is only the three members, with no guests. It is a fast paced song, a good old fashion punk song which I like a lot. It is the shortest song, clocking in at 2:01. Then California Babylon is the song that resembles rap the most. It has a fast paced rap chorus with punk and rap choruses. Even though I am not a fan of the rap genre, it was done effectively and is different then a lot of songs you hear.

D.R.E.A.M  is a hip-hop song, it is a different version of the Wu Tang’s C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me). This time it is Drugs Rule Everything Around Me. Its a good song, but one which you need a respect for hip-hop to like. The final song Down In Oakland. This is another hip-hop song, with some rap vocals. This is the only song which Rob Aston does not make an appearance. It is a good song, and a appropriate way to end the album.