Tim Armstrong — A Poet's Life

Buoyed by the surprise success of "Into Action," Rancid/Transplants frontman Tim Armstrong is riding high as he releases a full-length of solo material recorded in collaboration with L.A.-based reggae/rock outfit, The Aggrolites. The result is a collection of non-punk, dirty reggae anthems about the disenfranchised. Regardless of how many bands he's fronted or projects he's been involved with, it's hard to tire of Armstrong's distinctive snarly, punk drawl, which complements the album's slow-burning reggae backdrop. Standouts include the harmonica-soaked "Lady Demeter" and the melodious "Hold On," which has a chorus that's sure to brand itself into your subconscious. The one drawback is the similarity of one song to the next, both in tempo and structure, which might limit A Poet's Life's playability to one or two spins. Nevertheless, it's good for a listen and is sure to impress longtime fans of the Berkeley punk scene troubadour, and gain some new ones in the process.