Rocket From the Crypt | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Pledging to never play a venue with a stage, singer/guitarist John Reis formed San Diegos Rocket from the Crypt in the summer of 1990 after becoming disillusioned with his then-current hardcore punk band, Pitchfork. Bassist Petey X, guitarist N.D., drummer Sean, and backing vocalist Elaina joined the bands initial lineup, and Rocket from the Crypt released Paint as a Fragrance in 1991. While the debut increased the bands profile, a lineup change ensued as Sean and Elaina left the San Diego area. Adam "Atom" Willard climbed aboard as the bands new drummer, and one of Reis drinking buddies, Paul "Apollo 9" OBeirne, joined as saxophonist. After 1992s Circa: Now! was released on Cargo Records and experienced a good deal of underground success, a major-label bidding war broke out, resulting in Rocket from the Crypts decision to join Interscope Records. Interscope then re-released Circa: Now! in 1993, and the single "Ditch Digger" spent some time in MTVs Buzz Bin. Eventually, a sixth member -- saxophonist Jason "JC 2000" Crane -- was added, and the band moved onward as a punky, horn-influenced outfit, releasing the 10" record The State of Art Is on Fire in 1995. Rocket from the Crypt issued a total of three records that year, including the limited-edition Hot Charity LP and the bands most acclaimed album to date, Scream, Dracula, Scream. The album spawned three singles, including the international hit "On a Rope," which endeared Rocket from the Crypt to British audiences. RFTC followed in 1998, and Group Sounds was issued on the bands new label, Vagrant, in early 2001. Rocket from the Crypt proved to be a rock & roll machine throughout the early 2000s, their garage punk style as fresh as those following the punk revival trend. The members gradually began pursuing individual side projects, however, and 2002s Live from Camp X-Ray suffered accordingly, as the bandmates alternate commitments prevented them from launching an effective tour. Three years later, Rocket from the Crypt disbanded after playing a farewell show on October 31, 2005. Vagrant documented the hometown gig by releasing the live album R.I.P. in February 2008. In 2013, Rocket from the Crypt reunited for a handful of live shows, and have continued to play occasionally since. In 2015, Reis and his Swami label resurrected a long-lost project in which RFTC recorded a collaborative album with Sonny Vincent of the influential New York punk band the Testors. Assembled from abandoned sessions recorded in 2003, Vintage Piss was released in April 2015. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 14 Title: Paint as a Fragrance Released: 1991-02 Tracks: 10 Duration: 27:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 French Guy (03:16) 2 Maybelline (01:56) 3 Shy Boy (02:28) 4 Basturds (03:17) 5 Velvet Touch (03:47) 6 Evil Party (01:50) 7 Stinker (02:15) 8 Jiggy Jig (02:38) 9 Weak Superhero (03:10) 10 Thumbmaster (03:17) |
| Paint as a Fragrance : Allmusic album Review : This record lurches through ten solid songs, which, though as aggressive as punks roots, offer much more than your typical power-chord mosh pit anthems. John "Speedo" Reis stuns with his soulful, Sammy Davis, Jr.-meets-Eddie Cochran lead vocals, while backing vocalist Elaina adds rich harmony. In addition to more immediate punk scorchers, Rocket From The Crypt also explores other musical terrain; the band gears up with rockabilly-laden guitar riffs, which are then unleashed with some dissonant guitar harmonies and breakneck piano. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 14 Title: Circa: Now! Released: 1992-11 Tracks: 11 Duration: 39:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Short Lip Fuser (04:40) 2 Hippy Dippy Do (02:45) 3 Ditch Digger (04:51) 4 Don’t Darlene (01:42) 5 Killy Kill (02:45) 6 Hairball Alley (04:13) 7 Sturdy Wrists (02:10) 8 March of Dimes (02:34) 9 Little Arm (02:36) 10 Dollar (02:36) 11 Glazed (08:22) |
| Circa: Now! : Allmusic album Review : Circa: Now!, Rocket From the Crypts second album, represents the toughening up and expansion of the bands sound. Never content to play their punk rock by the book, the band uses dynamics, songcraft, and the sax of Apollo 9 to add texture and power to their rock hard guitar-bass-drums foundation. The album was recorded as the band was barricaded inside a L.A. studio during the April 1992 riots that tore the city apart. Some of the songs like the frantic "Killy Kill," "Short Lip Fuser," and "Dollar" are back-to-the-wall rockers that sound like the work of a band in the middle of something heavy. Elsewhere the band shows it isnt afraid to get melodic on the Soul Asylum-influenced "Hairball Alley." They arent afraid to strip the guitars back and get atmospheric either as the Brill Building punk ballad "March of Dimes" illustrates. The truly epic track on the album that points toward the brilliance of 1995s Scream, Dracula, Scream! is "Ditch Digger," a track with amazing dynamics and a bullfighters bravado that actually threatened to become a hit in the crazy post-Nirvana daze of 1992. Speaking of post-Nirvana madness, after Circa: Now! was released on Cargo/Headhunter the band became the subject of a frantic major-label bidding war which Interscope won after throwing a ridiculous wad of cash at the band. Circa: Now! isnt their best work; Scream, Dracula, Scream! takes that honor with RFTC close behind, but it is an album that will help clear out any lingering post-grunge hard feelings about the early 90s with a blast of good old-fashioned rock & roll energy, and that is nothing to sneer at. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 14 Title: All Systems Go Released: 1993-02-10 Tracks: 19 Duration: 54:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Live the Funk (04:16) 2 Bad Song Ninja (02:55) 3 Good Bye (04:24) 4 Boychucker (02:36) 5 Jumper K. Balls (02:21) 6 Lefty (02:29) 7 Normal Carpet Ride (02:19) 8 Where Are the Fuckers (01:12) 9 Slumber Queen (02:24) 10 Flip the Bird (02:00) 11 Cha Cha Cha (02:01) 12 Pressures On (01:18) 13 Pigeon Eater (02:31) 14 The Paste That You Love (05:02) 15 Pure Genius (01:21) 16 Lift and Love (05:18) 17 Press Darlings (03:29) 18 Killy Kill Again (03:42) 19 Chantilly Face (02:25) |
| All Systems Go : Allmusic album Review : More than many so-called punk bands of the 90s, especially as corporate release structures took precedence over fun and music, Rocket From the Crypt celebrates the original spirit of releasing single after single, in its case via a huge number of labels. Indeed, the band was productive enough on that front to be able to release a fantastic compilation of its various 7" and comp appearances after only two studio albums. All Systems Go contains what for many are the groups best early efforts, tightly wound and fiercely performed garage/punk monsters that burn attitude and sly intelligence all at once. John Reis leads his merry crew with all the power needed, as well as writing the often hilarious liner notes explaining where everything originally came from. (His conclusion on the Italian label that put out Rockets debut and then ripped the group off: "[Theyre] still pressing copies of this inferior punk product -- Thank you. Indie Rock Lives.") Self-deprecation aside, "Live the Funk" and "Bad Song Ninja" appear in smoking re-recorded versions, and from there the band careens from one happy blast to another, soul shouting and call-and-response choruses as much a part of things as chunky riffs and slamming drums. Add in the smoking horns of Apollo 9 and all is raunchy bliss. Listening to "Jumper K. Balls" and "Pigeon Eater" is as solid a way to get charged up about something without the use of illegal stimulants, and there are even slower grooves here and there, like the semi-anthem "The Paste That You Love." One great rarity is a cover of Adam & the Ants "Press Darlings," which Reis sounds almost apologetic for in the notes, but which still kicks major butt. Then theres the goofy "Chantilly Face," which takes the Big Boppers early rock classic and does rather strange things to it. On a technical note, All Systems Go initially appeared in Japan as part of a tour promotion; demand for it back in the States prompted its American release, with a slew of extra tracks. However, four songs from the original release didnt make it -- two finally ended up on All Systems Go, Vol. 2, but the others are still in limbo, including a damn good version of the MC5 rarity "Gold" that ends with Reis puking on the mic! | ||
 | Album: 4 of 14 Title: The State of Art Is on Fire Released: 1995-04-01 Tracks: 8 Duration: 21:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Light Me (01:45) 2 A+ in Arson Class (01:40) 3 Rid or Ride (01:31) 4 Human Torch (03:12) 5 Ratsize (03:42) 6 Human Spine (05:13) 7 Trouble (02:10) 8 Masculine Intuition (02:00) |
 | Album: 5 of 14 Title: Hot Charity Released: 1995-08-08 Tracks: 9 Duration: 27:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pushed (02:28) 2 Guilt Free (03:41) 3 Poison Eye (02:42) 4 My Arrow’s Aim (03:17) 5 Feathered Friends (04:19) 6 Cloud Over Branson (02:54) 7 Lorna Doom (02:19) 8 Shucks (02:15) 9 Pity Yr Paws (03:29) |
| Hot Charity : Allmusic album Review : 1995 was Rockets year of sheer productivity -- no less than three separate major releases, counting the fantastic The State of the Art Is on Fire EP, not to mention another slew of singles. The rarest of the three is for many the best, the limited-edition vinyl-only release Hot Charity. Just under half an hour long, this particular album has never been reissued on CD, though its been sought after more than a few times by obsessed fans, while Japanese and Australian special editions of other Rocket albums have included tracks from it on bonus discs. Starting with the dramatic slow build of "Pushed," making for an almost cinematic opening to the proceedings (helped by the fact that its an instrumental), Hot Charity smokes from the start and takes special care not to let up. The recording quality sounds fantastic, the band is as playful as it is utterly hard-edged, and everything, simply put, rocks. Theres the party grooving of "My Arrows Aim," with some smart guitar playing increasing the nerviness as everything gets more driving, ending up in a great, strutting chorus interspersed with Apollo 9 and JC 2000 blowing like fiends. Or one can just simply let the amazing blend of Reis vocals and the backing singing from others on the downright soaring "Guilt Free" do its work. Slower grooves arent forgotten, like the twangy, measured kick of "Feathered Friends," piano adding to the wooziness here and there. Mostly, though, its music like the addictive handclap/rockabilly bass and echo leading into the rip-roaring "Lorna Doom," quick, amazing end solo and all, which leads the way, and thats nothing to regret in the slightest. In lieu of a wider issue, this is one to search for -- either in and of itself or on the Internet. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 14 Title: Scream, Dracula, Scream! Released: 1995-10-10 Tracks: 14 Duration: 43:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Middle (01:01) 2 Born in ’69 (02:17) 3 On a Rope (02:53) 4 Young Livers (02:54) 5 Drop Out (03:00) 6 Used (02:39) 7 Ball Lightning (03:50) 8 Fat Lip (02:42) 9 Suit City (02:34) 10 Heater Hands (03:36) 11 Misbeaten (04:02) 12 Come See, Come Saw (03:39) 13 Salt Future (03:51) 14 Burnt Alive (04:38) |
| Scream, Dracula, Scream! : Allmusic album Review : Rocket from the Crypt keep the rock & roll torch burning with their fourth full-length, Scream, Dracula, Scream! (named after the infamous 70s black horror flick Scream, Blacula, Scream!). The presence of RFTCs innovation and energy is still right in your face, and with an added trumpet player in the bands lineup, the horn section is more apparent than ever; also, theres a loud party atmosphere that fails to cross the line of obnoxious. Tracks like "Born in 69" and "On a Rope" provide headbanging fun, but Rocket from the Crypt play anything but long-haired butt rock; this has enough of a cool edge to scare Henry "The Fonz" Winkler out of any roller rink. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 14 Title: RFTC Released: 1998-06-02 Tracks: 13 Duration: 41:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Eye on You (03:39) 2 Break It Up (03:22) 3 I Know (02:12) 4 Panic Scam (01:51) 5 Made for You (02:18) 6 Lipstick (03:23) 7 You Gotta Move (04:43) 8 Your Touch (03:09) 9 Let’s Get Busy (04:04) 10 Dick on a Dog (03:07) 11 Back in the State (02:11) 12 When in Rome (03:56) 13 Run Kid Run (03:49) |
| RFTC : Allmusic album Review : Its a bit of a mystery why it took Rocket from the Crypt a full three years to deliver RFTC, the followup to their major-label debut Scream, Dracula, Scream. After all, diversity isnt Rocket from the Crypts bag -- they just love rock & roll, baby, and all of the sleaze, leather, booze, bikes and babes that come with it. Before, they kept raw by producing their own records, but here they hired an outside producer in Kevin Shirley, who previously worked with Journey. Theres not a trace of Journey on RFTC, but Shirley has given the band a bigger, glossier sound that may distress longtime followers, who were into the whole MC5/Stooges/Stones biker vibe of the earlier albums. That said, RFTC rocks harder and with more attitude than almost any other record released under the alternative umbrella in the late 90s. The guys havent lost it -- theyve just found another way to say it. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 14 Title: All Systems Go, Volume 2 Released: 1999-10-26 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:11:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Tarzan (03:36) 2 UFO, UFO, UFO (02:13) 3 Birdman (02:27) 4 Ciao Patsy (03:23) 5 Heads Are Gonna Roll (03:18) 6 Cheetah (02:48) 7 Turkish Revenge (02:55) 8 U.S. Aim (03:28) 9 Raped by Ape (04:14) 10 Crack Party (04:40) 11 Strangehold (03:25) 12 10 Forward (02:52) 13 Call It a Clue (01:52) 14 Cut It Loose (02:46) 15 Hot Heart (03:01) 16 I Drink Blood! (02:57) 17 Slow (02:18) 18 Who Needs You (03:19) 19 Allergic Reaction (01:46) 20 You and I (02:55) 21 Transcendant Crankiness (02:31) 22 Lose Your Clown (02:19) 23 Burning Army Men (01:04) 24 Ballot Fire (02:53) 25 Nobobby (02:15) |
| All Systems Go, Volume 2 : Allmusic album Review : Some years after the initial collection, this follow-up to the first All Systems Go follows the same method as the original, right down to similar cover art, disc art, and even inlay tray track-listing style (no comments about Garth Brooks being a "puppet asshole" this time around, though). Besides a slew of B-sides from British singles taken from their "regular" albums like Scream, Dracula, Scream, any number of one-offs, contributions to split singles and compilations, and more are again assembled, an amazing 25 songs worth of great times. If a few numbers seem too obscure, most work just fine on their own. With JC 2000 on board throughout, one or two early cuts aside, the distinct horn attack that makes Rocket such a treat is on full display. Everything from almost winsome pop -- check the downright sweet verses on the opening "Tarzan" -- to nuclear-strength guitar obliteration gets the Rocket treatment here. The recording quality generally sounds a bit better here than with the original All Systems Go, likely because of the major label cash that helped in the recording here and there, but thankfully nothing ever sounds too slick. Some all-time greats include the almost-too-explosive-to-live "UFO, UFO, UFO," piano careening amidst the groove-heavy tune with Reis in his rough-voiced crowd-inspiring glory; the energetically pissed kiss-off "Heads Are Gonna Roll"; and the frenetic Halloween-themed "I Drink Blood." A fine treat is the inclusion of a slew of cover songs, with the band touching on expected and unexpected roots alike. Bands like the Drags and the Real Kids make perfect sense in context -- even Ray Charles -- but hearing Rocket snarl through the Silver Apples "You and I" makes for a one-of-a-kind experience. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 14 Title: Cut Carefully and Play Loud Released: 1999-11-16 Tracks: 5 Duration: 13:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 If the Bird Can Fly (02:27) 2 Blood Robots (01:37) 3 Waste It (04:46) 4 Hot Wired (01:40) 5 Who Let the Snakes In (03:15) |
 | Album: 10 of 14 Title: Group Sounds Released: 2001-03-06 Tracks: 16 Duration: 43:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Straight American Slave (01:54) 2 Carne Voodoo (01:52) 3 White Belt (02:41) 4 Out of Control (01:56) 5 Return of the Liar (02:00) 6 Heart of a Rat (02:57) 7 Venom Venom (03:18) 8 Savoir Faire (01:54) 9 S.O.S. (03:07) 10 Dead Seeds (03:40) 11 This Bad Check Is Gonna Stick (02:24) 12 Spitting (02:04) 13 Ghost Shark (05:33) 14 Chariots on Fire (02:38) 15 I Wont Stare (02:52) 16 Alone (02:27) |
| Group Sounds : Allmusic album Review : Rebounding from both a messy extrication from Interscope and the departure of founding drummer Atom, Rocket recruited San Diego scene vet Mario Rubalcaba to fill in and whipped out the fierce and fine Group Sounds. Superchunks Jon Wurster actually plays the skins on most of the tracks, as Rubalcaba (redubbed in Rocket-style Ruby Mars) only officially joined towards the end of recording, but either way the band sounds fully up to necessary events. "Straight American Slave" says that much at the start -- its Rocket as all have come to know and love them, garage/punk/R&B grooves tightly wound as hell, horns ripping joyfully through the mix, call and response choruses, and Reis as always the at-once slick and raging frontman. From there its barely a breath taken before launching into "Carne Voodoo," and the instant party atmosphere that Rocket know how to nail just so runs rampant. Having participated in a slew of fine solo efforts and projects all throughout 2000 like the Hot Snakes and the Sultans, hearing Reis take full charge with Rocket again seems like coming home to something especially great. Hints of other influences and approaches certainly crop up on the slightly calmer "S.O.S." and most notably with the marvelous closing track "Ghost Shark." A big woozy slow number with a bit of emotional bite, it makes for a perfect ending, with legendary producer Jim Dickinson adding piano. Those who want more of what Rocket does so well cant be disappointed, though. Sure to be future classics include "White Belt," which never seems to stop building up, the utterly anthemic "Heart of a Rat," and the no-less-so "This Bad Check Is Gonna Stick" -- with bells, even! Ten years since Rockets first full-length, the sextet still sounds like theyre on a live wire with an endless power source, as inspiring here as ever before. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 14 Title: Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud Released: 2002-07-16 Tracks: 14 Duration: 41:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Pushed (02:28) 2 Guilt Free (03:41) 3 Poison Eye (02:42) 4 My Arrow’s Aim (03:17) 5 Feathered Friends (04:19) 6 Cloud Over Branson (02:54) 7 Lorna Doom (02:19) 8 Shucks (02:15) 9 Pity Yr Paws (03:29) 10 If the Bird Can Fly (02:27) 11 Blood Robots (01:37) 12 Waste It (04:46) 13 Hot Wired (01:40) 14 Who Let the Snakes In (03:15) |
| Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud : Allmusic album Review : Rocket From the Crypts 60s-influenced, horn-infused, and caffeine-fueled punk rock onslaught is captured in peak form on this CD reissue of two (previously) vinyl-only EPs. Hot Charity was recorded during a break from the recording of Scream, Dracula, Scream!, when Rocket From the Crypt was growing weary of the constraints of big-budget major-label production, and these nine tunes scream of passion and release. Previously available in a long-gone limited-edition pressing, this wonder of modern science rocks hard with a very sweaty and human sense of swing, and its no wonder that its become a much-sought-after collectors item -- it ranks with the bands best work, especially "My Arrows Aim" and "Guilt Free." Recorded not long after Rocket From the Crypt became free agents following their busted relationship with Interscope, Cut Carefully and Play Loud (so named because the original 12" package featured a sticker that glued the disc to its cover) sounds noticeably more fierce; these guys had some bad karma to work off, and theres a wildly liberating snarl in "Waste It" and "Blood Robots." Two great records from one great band in a convenient package for the turntable-deprived -- dont tell me this aint good value for the money! | ||
 | Album: 12 of 14 Title: Live From Camp X-Ray Released: 2002-10-22 Tracks: 10 Duration: 26:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I’m Not Invisible (02:39) 2 Get Down (02:08) 3 I Can’t Feel My Head (02:25) 4 Can You Hear It? (03:14) 5 I Wanna Know What I Wanna Know (02:47) 6 Bring Us Bullets (03:13) 7 Bucket of Piss (02:13) 8 Dumb, Blind and Horny (01:25) 9 Outsider (02:32) 10 Too Many Balls (03:47) |
| Live From Camp X-Ray : Allmusic album Review : As a fan of music and of a band, nothing can be more frustrating than seeing a great band make a fantastic album or albums and then flat line. Rocket From the Crypt would be such a band. After a few solid albums, culminating in the release of their classic Scream, Dracula, Scream! album on Interscope, the band seems to have been trudging over the same ground for the past few albums. Yeah, they survived that horrible ska ordeal where they were lumped among many ska bands just because they had horns, and theyre still alive and kicking, yet it seems that they havent truly ROCKED for many years. And with this album containing song titles such as "Bucket of Piss," "Dumb Blind Horny," and "Too Many Balls," its hard not to feel as though this is some poor excuse for a jocks idea of a "punk rock" album. Whats located on Live From Camp X-Ray is what has unfortunately become a tired routine for RFTC: proficiently crazy guitars, Speedos contagious party vocals, and the horns thrown intelligently in to the mix. Yeah, it may sound good, and the strings on "I Wanna Know What I Wanna Know" are a step in the right direction as far as creativity, but the problem is that its been done before and the ability to differentiate between RFTC albums is becoming harder and harder. Die-hard fans of the band will dig this as they have been digging these boys for years now. The rest will buy Scream, Dracula, Scream!, party hard to songs like "On a Rope" and "Born in 69," and leave it at that. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 14 Title: The Name of the Band Is Rocket From the Crypt Released: 2007-10-08 Tracks: 13 Duration: 33:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Light Me (01:45) 2 A+ in Arson Class (01:40) 3 Rid or Ride (01:31) 4 Human Torch (03:12) 5 Ratsize (03:42) 6 Human Spine (05:13) 7 Trouble (02:10) 8 Masculine Intuition (02:00) 9 Boychucker (02:36) 10 Jumper K. Balls (02:21) 11 Lefty (02:29) 12 Come On (03:09) 13 On the Prowl (01:46) |
| The Name of the Band Is Rocket From the Crypt : Allmusic album Review : This 13-track collection from manic, 90s alternative rock outfit Rocket from the Crypt culls all of its material from the groups stint with the Sympathy for the Record Industry label. Oddly, the first eight tracks represent the 1996 album State of Art Is on Fire/Plays the Music Machine in its entirety, while the remaining cuts are pulled from throughout the groups tenure. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 14 Title: R.I.P. Released: 2008-02-25 Tracks: 20 Duration: 51:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intro (01:42) 2 French Guy (02:38) 3 Don’t Darlene (01:37) 4 I’m Not Invisible (02:34) 5 Get Down (02:23) 6 Boychucker (02:46) 7 Pigeon Eater (03:26) 8 Used (02:30) 9 Hairball Alley (03:50) 10 Shy Boy (02:22) 11 Velvet Touch (03:24) 12 Light Me (01:37) 13 A+ in Arson Class (01:38) 14 Middle (00:59) 15 Born in ’69 (02:22) 16 Straight American Slave (01:53) 17 Carne Voodoo (01:51) 18 Sturdy Wrists (01:52) 19 Ditch Digger (04:52) 20 Come See Come Saw (05:31) |
| R.I.P. : Allmusic album Review : Over the course of the 1990s few rock & roll bands put up the kind of numbers that Rocket from the Crypt did. One classic album (1995s Scream, Dracula, Scream), three albums that rocked far harder than 99-percent of the competition (1992s Circa Now, 1995s Hot Charity, 1998s RFTC), and a boatload of excellent singles (collected on All Systems Go and All Systems Go, Vol. 2) alone would have made them a band to remember and love forever. On all these albums, and especially in their live set, the group played every note like it mattered and they created a joyful, intense, and wildly energetic noise that jumped out of the speakers like flames. Sadly, due to the usual reasons that bands break up, RFTC split up in 2005. Happily, all the albums still sound fresh and alive many years after their release, and more specifically, R.I.P. exists to document the bands raw power, thunder and lightning live set. Recorded at their farewell show in front of a hometown San Diego crowd, the band is hyped up for the occasion and tight as hell. The guitars are raw and ready, the horns awesome as ever and Speedos vocals are even better than on the bands studio records; tough, rough and perfectly imperfect as he spits fire, gargles razorblades, and tosses off bitterly hilarious asides. (And his liner notes are great -- a wonderful mix of self-deprecation and self-mythologizing.) The set list the band charges through with barely a stop for breath reads like a greatest hits: "On a Rope," "Boychucker," "Pigeon Eater," "Born in 69," "A+ in Arson Class," and "Used" all have the stuffing kicked out of them, and the finale of "Ditch Digger" and the mighty "Come See Come Saw" will have hardcore fans of the band wiping away a tear at the sheer fury and brilliance. Along with the CD, you get a DVD of the set. The band rise to the occasion with numerous costume changes (Speedo looking particularly dapper in his Screamin Jay Hawkins getup) but the shaky, grainy camera work makes it kind of a slog to get through the whole set. Its a good idea to watch the show once for posterity but you wont keep going back to it like you will the CD. R.I.P. is both a testament to one of the great American rock & roll bands and a swift kick to the hindquarters to anyone who slept on the band back in the day. You missed something truly inspiring. | ||