Life Time (Rollins Band album)

Life Time is the debut studio album by the American rock band Rollins Band, fronted by ex-Black Flag singer, Henry Rollins. The 1987 album was produced by Ian MacKaye. It was reissued in 1999, 2014 and 2021.

Life Time
Studio album by Rollins Band
Released	1987
Recorded	Off Beat Studios, Leeds, UK Kortrijk, Belgium
Genre	Post-hardcore
Length	64:07
Label	Texas Hotel
Producer	Ian MacKaye
Rollins Band chronology
Drive by Shooting (1987) Life Time (1987) Do It (1987)

Production

The album was recorded in 1987 at Off Beat Studios in Leeds, England. It was produced by Ian MacKaye who was active in the hardcore punk scene; as a musician and co-owner of Dischord Records. Rollins was a childhood friend of MacKaye and had worked as a roadie for MacKaye's band, The Teen Idles.

Musical style

The album has a more punk-influenced sound when compared to the band's better-known work from the 1990s. Guitarist Chris Haskett later said that, "Lifetime is our first album playing together and there are a bunch of different styles from the individual players but they haven’t combined yet."

Release

Life Time was originally released in 1987 and included four live tracks recorded in Kortrijk, Belgium in October 1987.

The album was subsequently re-mastered and re-released in 1999 without the live tracks but with the addition of three tracks from the Do It album; "Do It", "Move Right In," and "Next Time".

In 2014, it was reissued on Dischord, including the original live tracks but not the 1999 bonus tracks.

In 2021, the album had a digital and limited vinyl release.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Alternative Press
Spin Alternative Record Guide	5/10

In an AllMusic review, Chris True says "When Henry Rollins emerged from the breakup of Black Flag, many thought he couldn't be successful without guitarist Greg Ginn. If nothing else, Life Time proves the detractors wrong. With Ian MacKaye of Fugazi in the production chair, Rollins Band was able to distance themselves from Black Flag with a tight, visceral, and sometimes bluesy album. While more abrasive than later Rollins Band releases, this is worth picking up to better understand the progression of Rollins Band's unique style of emotional funk metal.

Track listing (1987)

1987 original, 2014 vinyl reissue

1. "Burned Beyond Recognition" – 2:56
2. "What Am I Doing Here?" – 3:21
3. "1,000 Times Blind" – 2:57
4. "Lonely" – 4:16
5. "Wreck-Age" – 5:33
6. "Gun in Mouth Blues" – 8:57
7. "You Look at You" – 3:31
8. "If You're Alive" – 2:42
9. "Turned Out" – 5:57
10. "What Am I Doing Here?" – 3:20^†
11. "intro" – 1:19^†
12. "Burned Beyond Recognition" – 2:51^†
13. "Move Right In" – 8:34^†
14. "Hot Animal Machine II" – 8:36^†
    † – Recorded live in Kortrijk, Belgium (October 16, 1987)

1999 reissue

1. "Burned Beyond Recognition" – 2:56
2. "What Am I Doing Here?" – 3:21
3. "1,000 Times Blind" – 2:57
4. "Lonely" – 4:16
5. "Wreck-Age" – 5:33
6. "Gun in Mouth Blues" – 8:57
7. "You Look at You" – 3:31
8. "If You're Alive" – 2:42
9. "Turned Out" – 5:57
10. "Do It" – 2:43
11. "Move Right In" – 7:27
12. "Next Time" – 3:20

Personnel

Rollins Band

• Henry Rollins – vocals
• Chris Haskett – guitar
• Andrew Weiss – bass
• Sim Cain – drums

External links

• Dischord Records album page
• Comeinandburn.com album page