An inspired side project, Transplants features Tim Armstrong of Rancid, Armstrong's buddy Rob Aston rapping, blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, and a host of pals dropping in. They don't really sound much like Rancid, though at times one does hear the Clash in these tunes. A bit more rock & roll than punk rock, Transplants spare listeners any ska tunes. However, there is plenty of hip-hop courtesy of Aston, who raps in a macho and at times grating style with no shortage of borrowed gangsta clichés. In fact, Transplants sound best when he's not shouting about gats and hos. Every time Armstrong's gutter punk-accented, mushmouth voice appears, Transplants sound more soulful than rap-rock. Armstrong hasn't written hook-filled songs like these since And Out Come the Wolves. "Down in Oakland," the one song he wrote without Aston, is among the album's catchiest. Check out Armstrong's slick and reverby surf guitar on this one. Aside from singing like a punk rock Marvin Gaye and playing snazzy guitar leads, Armstrong is also responsible for the blues piano loops that anchor "Diamonds and Guns" and "California Babylon," songs that sound a good deal better than their titles. Perhaps the album's best number is the downbeat "Weigh on My Mind," featuring the throaty, understated background vocals of Brody Armstrong of the Distillers, who sings the chorus "I've got so many problems and they weigh on my mind" with her husband, Armstrong. When are they going to make a record together? Among the other key contributors is Vic Ruggiero of the Slackers, who lays down some cool piano and organ grooves throughout. And there's a not half-bad rap tune called "D.R.E.A.M.," which bites an overused Method Man refrain from the Wu-Tang Clan song "C.R.E.A.M.," but sports a beat that's as G-funk as punk gets. ~ Adam Bregman, All Music Guide
Davey Havok (Vocals), Rob "SR" Aston (Scratching), Dave Carlock (Synthesizer), Brody Armstrong (?), Tim Armstrong (Bass), Tim Armstrong (Synthesizer), Estavan Oriol (Artwork), Danny Diablo (Vocals), Son Doobie (Vocals), Eric Ozenne (Vocals), Mister Cartoon (Artwork), Dave Carlock (Bass), Dave Carlock (Guitar), Estavan Oriol (Photography), Mister Cartoon (Design), Dave Carlock (Producer), Lars Frederiksen (Vocals (Background)), Estavan Oriol (Design), Brody Armstrong (Vocals), Tim Armstrong (Guitar), Dave Carlock (Engineer), Tim Armstrong (Vocals), Tim Armstrong (Engineer), Travis Barker (Drums), Tim Armstrong (Producer), Tim Armstrong (Percussion), Gene Grimaldi (Mastering), Dave Carlock (Vocals (Background)), Matt Freeman (Bass), Dave Carlock (Piano), Victor Ruggiero (Piano), Rob "SR" Aston (Vocals), Tim Armstrong (Loops), Victor Ruggiero (Organ (Hammond))
The singles, "Diamonds and Guns" and "D.J. D.J." quickly became MTV favourites and they received commercial success and critical acclaim. They followed up by touring with bands such as the Foo Fighters.
The song "California Babylon" appeared on the soundtrack of Tony Hawk's Underground. UK alternative band Pop Will Eat Itself covered "California Babylon" halfway between their song Bulletproof (due to the similar sound of the song) on The Reformation tour in January 2005.
The single "Diamonds and Guns" is played as the background music in most Garnier Fructis commercials. The song is edited with no lyrics except the chorus' "woo woo".
