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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Scream, Dracula, Scream

Rocket From The Crypt

1995

Scream, Dracula, Scream
Album Summary

Scream, Dracula, Scream! is an album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1995 by Interscope Records. It was the band's first major-label release. Music videos were filmed for the singles "On a Rope," "Born in '69" and "Young Livers," and the band embarked on extensive tours of the US, UK and Europe. They experienced a surge of popularity in the UK, where "On a Rope" entered the music charts at #12 and was a hit on MTV Europe, earning them rave reviews in New Musical Express and allowing them to play Top of the Pops. The album also made the band an alternative rock hit in the US, where their videos were featured on MTV and the album received many positive reviews in both mainstream and underground music presses. A large headlining tour in support of the album ensued in 1996, and there were supporting tours with Rancid and Soundgarden. During these tours the band gained a reputation for a series of interesting and, at times, seemingly ludicrous gimmicks and stage antics which included holding raffles during live performances, spinning a large game show wheel to determine set lists, onstage fire breathing, annual Halloween and New Year's shows, and the wearing of coordinated and progressively more ornate stage costumes. In Europe the band also hosted a German variety show, played children's shows and morning shows, and did interviews with fashion magazines. While unorthodox, these antics increased the band's reputation as an energetic live act and helped to increase album sales. Scream, Dracula, Scream! was the last of three releases by Rocket from the Crypt in 1995. The EP The State of Art is on Fire and LP Hot Charity had preceded the album that year, and singer/guitarist John Reis would later refer to these three records as a "trilogy". "Scream, Dracula, Scream!" also had different copies for Japan and Australia. Both of them had songs from the 'Hot Charity' recording. The Japan release just had the songs put on the CD, but the "Australian Bonus CD Tour Edition" had a bonus CD. The Australian copy had "Pushed", "My Arrow's Aim", "Lorna Doom", "Shucks", "Cloud Over Branson", and "Feathered Friends". The Japanese copy also had "Pushed", "My Arrow's Aim", and "Lorna Doom". But instead of "Shucks", "Cloud Over Branson", and "Feathered Friends", they had "Guilt Free", "Poison Eye", and "Pity Yr Paws". All together, the whole 'Hot Charity' recording was released on the two versions.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.76

Votes

11475

Genres

  • Rock
  • Punk

Reviews

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Jan 29 2021
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5

Day 15 of Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Today I got another album from a band that I have never heard of. I’ve never heard a single song from the San Diego band, Rocket From The Crypt. The title of this album is Scream, Dracula Scream! Released in 1995, this was RFTC’s first major label recording. When I put on the first track, Middle, I was blown away with the energy and uptempo of the song. Surely, I thought, they can’t keep up with this throughout the record? Well, that’s exactly what they did. Scream, Dracula Scream! Keeps the pedal to the metal on all 14 songs. I can only imagine that being at one of their live shows would be a blast! The vocals of lead singer and guitarist Reis are aggressive, without screeching into my ears. The drummer, Sean Flynn, pounds away and gives the songs a serious back bone. Super talented drummer! Almost all of the band members lend backing vocals and the song Misbeaten shines because of it. (Maybe my favorite song by the way). Last but not least, they have horns beautifully blaring on all songs and I’m a sucker for that, really gives that 90’s Ska vibe. I really enjoyed all of the songs and had zero urges to skip any of them. Other songs that really need attention are Born In ’69, On a Rope, Come See Come Saw, and Fat Lip. Scream, Dracula Scream! Is filled to the brim with re-playability. If you want an album to pump you up, this will do the trick. It’s totally rad! One thing I like the most about this project, so far, is that some of the music is completely unknown to me, but becomes some of my favorites of the week. I must admit, I always get a little bummed and intimidated when I receive something totally unfamiliar, at first, but it can be so rewarding sometimes. Sure, I am excited to totally nerd out on albums that I know already like the back of my hand, and those albums will be fun to write about, but that’s not what this project is all about. It’s called Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, not re-listen to albums you’ve heard a gazillion times already and act like a Know It All… I’m having a blast! Please share your thoughts, opinions, and memories below. Even if that means shaming me for not knowing about this super dope band beforehand. Peace!

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Apr 01 2022
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1

Thai album is so boring. The energy level is consistent and just palls. It is recorded and mixed in such a way that an individual track would pop when played on the radio as the best thing you heard that hour, but listening to the whole album is exhausting. I hate his whiny voice, which just seems like posturing. I hate the arrangements. there is no point. It generically 'rocks', but there is no real grit to it. I'm sure they put on a decent live show (and it seems like they do a lot of live gimmicks), but these songs bore and tire me. I give it a second star because it is energetic and decently recorded. Actually, I think Come See, Come Saw is just a a re-write of Know Your Product by the Saints. One star off for plagiarism of a far better song.

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Jan 09 2022
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2

This wS a pretty underwhelming listen. Decent straight ahead rock and roll with a punk edge. Not sure why it should be on this list. I feel that the list should be reserved for albums that are either outstanding or influential and I don't think this either. 2.5 🌟

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Jan 25 2021
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4

I had heard of RFTC but never listened. I didn’t realize the same guy formed this band and Drive Like Jehu. This is obviously up my alley. It’s got some ska vibes on a some songs, which is usually about the amount of ska I can handle. I would probably give it a 4.5 realistically. It is a little too long. I wish it was 11-12 songs rather than 14. I don’t know which songs I’d cut, though. I tend to prefer front halves of albums to back halves anyway, not sure why.

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Mar 06 2022
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2

Sounds like the most generic 90’s punk rock ever, it’s very of it’s time. The singer has the typical snotty punk tone of a thousand punk rock singers before him. It’s basic and derivative and not special. I didn’t outright hate it, but I think a more impactful punk band should have their spot on the list.

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Mar 04 2022
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1

Why this atrocious mid-90s punk album could ever deserve a spot on this list is completely beyond me.

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Jan 25 2023
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1

one noted high school drop out punk rock band.

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Oct 03 2021
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5

When this started, I thought, oh lord this is not what my frayed nerves need today. And I turned it off. Then I restarted and turned the volume down and it was much better. I completely missed this band at the time but I dig this punky, grungey (grungy?), alt-rock sound. (My spell check likes grungy but my eyes don't.) Reminds me of Faith No More, Soundgarden, Elvis Costello. Misbeaten sounds like The Beatles feat. Frankie Valli. I love On a Rope, Young Livers (yes!), Ball Lightning, Suit City, and Come See Come Saw. WOW! I love this!

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May 30 2024
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3

i mean it’s fine but i don’t know why it’s on this list

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Sep 27 2021
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5

A thrill ride, like a rickety wooden rollercoaster hurtling at speed; driving rhythm section, stabbing horns, charismatic frontman; slick back you hair, rev up your motorcycle, pull on your leathers. Rock music like it should be done - get in, get out fast, look good whilst you do it.

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Feb 12 2021
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4

Well damn. This is a fine gem that I never knew about. It's like this album is perfectly situated at the crossroads of everything punk - what came before, and what came after. I was surprised to to get something that sounded so much like old school punk in the mid-90's (i.e. paralleling the development of pop-punk, without crossing over). And yet it also has those horns/sax to give it that ska feel without being a "college rock" album in the style of Reel Big Fish. And heck, there was even some noodling in there that spoke to the midwest emo/math rock sensiblities. Good listen.

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Apr 15 2021
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4

Damn, what a fun album! Just packed with jams, I bet they would be a blast to see live

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Oct 07 2021
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3

Hi-Octane rock and roll energy, hollering and whooping, cracking riffs and pounding drums, with the salsa piccante of a horn section. The sound of a rock and roll gang. They do rather run out of puff by Ball Lightning - the album is "front-loaded", with Born in 69 and On A Rope the best tracks by far, and there are several songs towards the end that are a bit lumpy - but it's still a refreshing blast!

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Apr 19 2023
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3

In the middle of punk/ melodic hardcore revival of the mid nineties, these beasts popped up and showed us what concepts like punk or attitude really meant. Honestly, I still preferred 'Dookie' or 'SMASH' -and still do, but this one was a great companion, a well received and deserved fist in the face

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Jun 05 2024
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3

I’m right on a 3. When this album hits, it hits pretty good – there are some genuinely energetic songs here that come together in complete harmony between the vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation, and I’d say that comprises about half the album. The other half tends to hit on just one or two of the three, but never quite hits that perfect balance on all 3; sometimes, it’ll reach it briefly during one of the other 7 songs, but it never sustains it for long enough to really click like the other 7 do. I’ll say this – it never falters on the instrumentation. I especially love the usage of the horns here, giving everything a sort of Ska vibe that I think is kinda underrated. The mixing is… a bit suspect at times, with the guitar especially overwhelming almost every other instrument here on most of the songs, but I never thought it was that big of a deal. I mean, ultimately, it’s a fine album, but it’s just kind of underwhelming for an album to really peak around Track 6 or 7 and then kinda just walk its way to the finish line, you know? I felt less engaged by the halfway mark, and it just sort of wore me down by the end. There’s solid stuff here, and I’d imagine someone will stay engaged the whole way through, but it just doesn’t feel like I needed to listen to this before I die. It’s a solid 3, and that’s really about it.

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Jul 15 2024
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3

Solid 90’s alt-rock record. I’m not a huge fan of horns in rock music, but it mostly works here.

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May 29 2021
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2

The expeditions into genre territory like ska and surf are the most fun and also the best parts of the record. However, I have no taste at all for the (grungy?) vocal style and that is constant over far too long a time. I'm intrigued by some of the music and my take sweetened after the first two tracks. Please, people, lose the butt rock "growl".

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Jul 21 2022
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2

Competent snotty chanting and surprisingly early-00's for the release date. But it's basically obsolete by design.

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May 22 2024
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2

No. 181/1001 Middle 2/5 Born in '69 3/5 On A Rope 2/5 Young Livers 3/5 Drop Out 2/5 Used 3/5 Ball Lightning 3/5 Fat Lip 2/5 Suit City 2/5 Heater Hands 3/5 Misbeaten 2/5 Come See, Come Saw 2/5 Salt Future 2/5 Burnt Alive 2/5 Average: 2,36 Not for me.

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May 04 2022
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1

So they pumped up their obnoxious sound with horn and string arrangements to make it even more obnoxious? Has no business on this list. I could think of several dozen albums from the era that could take its place. Would normally be 2 stars but I'm feeling crabby today and the shitty font choice and graphic design on the cover are pissing me off. At least Photoshop that grey speck out near the scorpion's right pincer.

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Jun 22 2022
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1

completely forgettable american drivel.

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Nov 28 2022
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1

Just lacks character. I don’t like this era of rock at all. Sounds like a garage jam band that wants to be edgy. Tried to find a redeeming song but couldn’t.

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Jan 16 2023
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1

Oh god American Garage Punk. really tried to give this a shot but I was cringing the entire time and had to turn it off as I hated so much.

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Dec 14 2023
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1

I mean, it’s a serviceable post-punk, but so would be My Chemical Romance, or Ween, or hell….Devo. I am left severely-wanting in comparing this to what I’ve not seen on this list so far. Fair? Not really, but I have no direction that tells me I need to be fair.

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Apr 11 2024
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1

I'm pretty sure I've listened to a song or two from them before and liked them and got upset because this is such a lame band name and album cover. I realize that is a massively dumb reason to not be into a band but here it is. Can an album be described as so bad it’s good. Because this album is HILARIOUS. Why’s the singer sound like that? It’s too bad to be considered good, but way too annoying to be considered interesting. The lyrics are just abysmal, when “you want some cheese with all that whine” is a hook treated with genuine sincerity you know you’re in for a trash fire. And then the instruments are so loud and dumb, and some of the riffs are so annoying. There are occasional glimpses of SOMETHING interesting, but god it’s so dumb. I love this album it’s so funny. 1/5

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Jun 25 2021
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5

After some crappy albums I couldn't connect with, we get this one, which I absolutely adored. Such great energy! I feel like this album doesn't deserve to be on the list- but it is an absolute classic in my opinion "Used" was a really standout track.

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Feb 04 2021
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5

Strange mix of rockabilly music and instrumentation with vocals that tended towards metal.

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Jan 25 2021
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5

Fun fact: these guys wrote a song for yo Gabba gabba. I knew a few songs from this album in advance - on a rope, dropout, and used. Listening to the whole thing, those songs are still the standouts, but the whole album has an energy that I love - specifically how the rhythm section drives it and is bolstered by the horns throughout. Bass clef represent! I love how the horns blend into the background at times, but add richness to the low tones. I’m probably being a star too generous, but I gotta respect when an album makes me move around and gets me amped!

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Jan 25 2021
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5

By far the best album on the list so far. Fell off a bit for me at the very end, but very solid throughout. Plus if its good enough for Yo, Gabba Gabba! Its good enough for me.

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Mar 25 2021
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5

It's kinda retarded I had never listened to this before. Good stuff

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May 03 2021
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5

How has it taken me 35 years to become a fan of these guys? Right up my alley!!

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May 19 2021
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5

Absolute rock and roll bliss, incredible energy, felt like I wanted to run a marathon and punch something at the same time

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Dec 16 2021
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5

Loved the singles from this at the time, but I never had the album. They were so different to everyone else at the time, the kind of rock and roll Primal Scream road tripped, but with a hint of ska. Loses a bit of momentum after the first three tracks, but still one-of-a-kind.

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Jan 21 2022
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5

There’s something about this that I really like and I can’t figure it out

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Mar 30 2022
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5

excelente!! it was very moody and energetic

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Apr 27 2022
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5

Rocket From the Crypt should have been huge. A punk rock band that thought they were a Stax soul revue. Scream, Dracula, Scream may be their best. Their major label debut is a very impressive, creative endeavor.

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Jun 06 2022
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5

Wow! I was not expecting a RFTC album to be on the list. I love the band as well as all things John "Speedo" Reis. I didn't know they got a lot of love outside of the punk scene. Anyway, this album is just rock n roll goodness. Very catchy, very fun. And those horns are just a cherry on top. You know when I was a young man I wondered if RFTC were a ska band. Ah, to be that naive again. This is probably a 4-4.5 max if I'm being honest but it gets a 5 for being so damn fun on this beautiful June day and for the overall career of the band.

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Jul 27 2022
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5

Summer of 69 and On a Rope don't get old. Love the horn section. It's a blast. Come see Come saw is basically Jumping Jack Flash, but hey the whole album is a gas gas gas.

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Aug 08 2022
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5

Blast back from the 90’s forgot how much I loved these guys at the time. Ball lightening very foo fighters - on a rope -classic!

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Sep 11 2022
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5

Very uplifting and energetic but also artful if you stop to listen more carefully. The lyrics don't really matter. There is even a song involving lightning (can you guess which other song about lighting I am thinking of)?

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Sep 16 2022
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5

This is NOT what I assumed from the name and album art! I love that so many different songs remind me of other bands I like, but never all at once? One song sounds like Morphine, one song sounds like Sponge, one song sounds like Arctic Monkeys, Rancid, etc. On a Rope is an all-time great.

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Aug 23 2023
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5

Fun, awesome punk rock. Really nice guitar riffs throughout and great instrumentals in general. I love the energy, it just goes and goes but without becoming same-y. I look forward to listening to more from this band soon.

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Aug 23 2023
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5

This album is fuckin’ FUN. Solid punk rock with some ska flavor sprinkled in to keep it interesting, I’d never heard of this band before and I’m glad I have now.

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Oct 18 2023
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5

A little one note tbh but between Born in 69 and On a Rope, they've made a classic

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Nov 03 2023
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5

Oooh cover me in spazjazz and tickle my arse. We have a winner. Can I be unmasked? Will we ever know?

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Dec 05 2023
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5

Lang geleden dat er nog een verrassing te boven kwam. Deed me ook wat denken dat The Hives hier wat mosterd haalden

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Jan 19 2024
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5

A thrill ride, like a rickety wooden rollercoaster hurtling at speed; driving rhythm section, stabbing horns, charismatic frontman; slick back you hair, rev up your motorcycle, pull on your leathers. Rock music like it should be done - get in, get out fast, look good whilst you do it.

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Mar 08 2024
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5

I get the criticism about it feeling slightly held back, but this is still a super album. I really enjoyed Drop Out, Ball Lightning, Heater Hands, and Misbeaten. One of those where you maybe have to be in the right mood to listen. Hovering between a 4 and 5, but I was in the right mood to listen. Punk music should sound "loud", and this does.

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Apr 03 2024
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5

Didn't know those guys, that shit is dope

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Apr 03 2024
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5

I love it! Super rocky, a bit like an angry Eve 6. Listened to non-stop for days.

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Aug 01 2024
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5

I absolutely love this album and band and the main mind behind it, John Reis. The riffs are powerful but also "groove" in the way old rock and roll does. The lyrics and vocal style is fun and hooky. And this is one of the first bands to ever show me that you could have horns in a rock band without it sounding like "ska" (the latter being a genre I've always dislike). Overall, critically, I might give this 4 stars, but it is 5 stars for me all the way.

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Aug 19 2024
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5

This is my second time with this album, and it really connected with me this time. Reminds me a lot of Less Than Jake, whom I will always love. Very fun album to come back to. Favorite track: On a Rope

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Aug 30 2024
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5

this was cool ... just like its name?

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Sep 05 2024
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5

I e heard of this band, but this is the first time I’m listening to them. I think I was expecting more psychobilly, but this is 90s rock with some horns in there. I dig these guys. Great album. I want to check out more of their stuff now.

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Apr 27 2021
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4

Interesting album, enjoyed the energy

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Jun 21 2021
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4

More fun than I was expecting, a bit of ska in there. I didn’t realise they did On a Rope.

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Feb 04 2021
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4

Enjoyed it, no songs I initially recognised but it was a nice change of pace

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Jan 21 2021
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4

REALLY dig this album. Will give this another spin for sure.

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Jan 21 2021
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4

I never gave this a shot because I hated how their name so clearly aped Rocket from the Tombs. But it’s nice solid well crafted mid-90’s alt rock. Crunchy and tasty.

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Jul 22 2021
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4

Good punk rock (maybe pop-punk?). It's so whiny that if they made it today you'd be certain it was ironic, but in the 90's, who could really tell? I wasn't sure about this album the first time around but sat on it for a while and gave it another spin and felt a bit better about it second time. I give it 4/5, but only barely, it's right on the edge of being a 3.

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Jul 13 2021
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4

Honestly a pretty fun punk album for me.

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Jul 13 2021
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4

Dont care much for his voice, but the music was actually really solid. Favorite tracks: “Young Livers,” “Fat Lip,” and “Salt Future”

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Mar 25 2021
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4

pleasant surprise, did not know these guys

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Feb 17 2021
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4

never heard of them but surprisingly liked them for this style of music

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Jan 25 2021
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4

This one brings me back! The title got my attention and I bought this CD (remember those?!) right off the rack when it was first released - thought it was going to be kind of hardcore punk, but was closer to the pop/ska band Madness than the Sex Pistols. Standout track is “On a Rope”, but I like the rest of the album too. Good for an upbeat party, or easy feel good listening. Cool artwork.

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Mar 12 2021
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4

I got such hyped with this. That's how I imagine classic rock music. Definitely I will listen it again. However I don't think it's something special for 5.

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May 03 2021
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4

Really liked On a Rope. A very repetitive song but not long enough for it to be a problem haha.

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Jun 05 2021
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4

Took some time to warm up to, not the best start to an album, almost threw me up. But as it went through it became more enjoyable.

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Apr 19 2021
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4

Great punk. Better than most of Nirvana's catalog.

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May 31 2021
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4

Really enjoyable, not sure why i never got into these guys. Like a nice mix of Rancid, Less Than Jake, and indie rock.

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May 10 2021
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4

lowkey really liked this one, i was vibing. 8/10

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May 16 2021
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4

A good punk album Raucous yet palatable, would listen again

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Aug 06 2021
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4

Surprised by this album, really enjoyed it.

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Aug 06 2021
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4

Never heard of them, but this album was great! Exactly my type of rock. Dips a bit in quality by the second half, could have been 10 minutes shorter given the genre, but I really did enjoy it!

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Aug 12 2021
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4

Soft 4 stars. Had low expectations for an album with a scorpion on the cover, but was not disappointed.

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Sep 20 2021
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4

Great punk music after the 80s is tough to come by, but this is great punk music. They’re using horns without skewing into ska, which is impressive in and of itself. Definitely an album and a band I will revisit. Atom Willard’s drums are a highlight, but he’s one of my favorite players so I may be a little biased here.

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Oct 03 2021
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4

Hmmm. This cover looks like a warning to listeners like me. Although that font draws me in. Dracula and a scorpion? Never mind that. Into the breach! The first two songs were a bit rough. Although the lyric “you only kick half an ass” interests me… Actually found myself enjoying “On A Rope”. Pretty sure I’ve have heard this song before. Really like “Young Livers”. The opening sounds almost festive! Are those bells? Is this a metal ska album? Those are some nice harmonies. What is happening? “Drop Out” is pretty good too. I’m not sure I can sustain the necessary energy for a whole album of this, but I’m liking some of this quite a bit more than I thought. “Used” is my favorite song yet. Throw in a sax and some orchestration and… bells?! This song is pretty great. “Ball Lightning” - ‘you want some cheese with your whine?’ Really liking this song too! Nice backing vocals! So glad to have pressed on in this journey. Enjoying some good 90s guitar work. Ok now we are on “Fat Lip”. I can barely take the verses. But I am liking the chorus. Rocket From Crypt is not making this easy… then again “fat lip learns slow.“ I started to notice some quality percussion in “Suit City” but it and “Heater Hands” feel like too much work for me to listen to. “Misbeaten” is a little more melodic and adds a horn section… and the backing vocals at the end are a pleasant surprise! Love the ending! “Come See, Come Saw”... Horn forward with a pun title? Guitar solo at the end? Temptations-style backing vocals?! Yes, please! This might be my favorite track. “Salt Future” takes it down a notch. A song about Salt Lake? Well it probably won’t be embraced as the city’s unofficial song but there are those harmonies again. “Burn Alive” ends with a high production value song that I warmed up to as it progressed. Listened to this three times now and, while there’s three or four tracks I’ll likely keep skipping, I’ve added this to my library and will be listening to this again. I did not expect this to be the case at all…There’s variety, cleverness and quality musicianship throughout the album. A genuine surprise to me!

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Nov 15 2021
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4

Dug it. Very much my kind of sound.

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Dec 08 2021
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4

Not sure why I enjoyed this as much as I did

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Dec 24 2021
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4

Pretty interesting and unique album. Like punk rock with real instruments. Talented instrumentals behind shouting lyrics.

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Jan 20 2022
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4

Nice discovery here! Steady side A. Connected with most of the songs. Side B is a different story. Made some research on the band and looks like the guys were real characters, hosted raffles during concerts, used gigantic spin wheels on stage to decide set lists, played kids shows… fun stuff I will definitely include some of these songs to my playlists

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Jan 23 2022
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4

J'ai lancé en mode "du punk... Meh", mais finalement c'était bien cool.

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Feb 18 2022
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4

Great energy and really fun melodies, just not catchy enough. Also not a fan of the vocals. I feel like if this album was redone and tightened up, it could be this really cool vampy theatrical piece

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