Scream, Dracula, Scream

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!

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.

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.

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 🌟

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

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

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.

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.

one noted high school drop out punk rock band.

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!

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".

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.

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.

I screamed.

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.

This is a pretty good straightforward rocker. Sort of hard to date by listening - at times it sounds like 90s, sometimes like 70s, sometimes 80s. It's pretty standard as far as the music goes. I don't really dig the vocals so much but they aren't terrible. Tempo is pretty much the same all the way through which isn't really my favorite thing. Lyrics are pretty bad. Overall not a horrible album but probably a one and done for me. 2.5/5 rounding up because I actually do like some of the songs and it was well-played.

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

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!

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.

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

I always resented and avoided these guys for their attempt to overwrite the memory of the legendary Rocket From The Tombs, a short-lived mid 70s band in whose wake was formed two of the best bands of the punk era, Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys. 'Tombs lasted maybe a year but originated many of the songs that Ubu and Dead Boys would later use to save the souls of countless punks, losers and creeps, like Sonic Reducer, Life Stinks, Final Solution, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, and more. If you are going to steal the name of one of the all-time greats of the underground, you better be lights out. Like Omar says in The Wire: You come at the king, you best not miss. They missed. It's not terrible music. I even might have liked this album if they hadn't fucked themselves and me with their bullshit name. Overall, the sounds are tight and I like the way they use horns - much better than how most rock bands use horns. But the singing is uninteresting and the tunes tend to be derivative (e.g., Come See, Come Saw lifts its melody over the verses directly from Smokey Robinson's Get Ready) and ultimately I can't get over their dare to compare to some of the most musical misanthropes Cleveland ever produced. Fuck no. Fuck you for even putting it out there. And fuck whoever made this list for perpetuating this violence on the soul of rock n roll. Rock n Roll isn't Hall of Fame-able. Rock n Roll is a lifeline for the lonely from someone who's been there. This is a serious hassle because in order to cleanse my soul and make things right again, after I finish typing this up I have little choice but to crank my 'Tombs bootleg, sniff some glue, pointlessly vandalize something, get in a terrible fight - preferably with my significant other - and wake up in jail. I had other, more respectable plans for this lovely summer weeknight but it won't feel right until balance is restored in the universe. Fuck - what a pain in the ass!

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.

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.

completely forgettable american drivel.

Scream, Dracula, Scream is such an amazing album. I already really like punkish sounding albums but even this album goes beyond those lofty standards. The album is of course fast, fun and frenetic and the vocals really do fit these songs well. But the main two things that really steal the show are the guitars and the trumpets. Both elements heavily support the album in very different ways. The guitars are what really carry the album with them being pretty heavy but still keeping the songs really catchy. The trumpets also help differentiate this album from a lot of other punk album by giving this album a more extravagant feel. Not every decision made with this album is perfect but i still absolutely love it. Best Song: Come See, Come Saw Worst Song: Misbeaten

High energy punk rock. The horns really help make this album. Listened through twice and really enjoyed it.

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

Started off quite strong. I remember On A Rope from back in the day. Still a bit of a banger. Guess I’m damning with faint praise. I do like the use of the horns but it all gets a bit samey and his voice starts to grate. Meh. 2.5

I loved this when I was 15, now I’m sadly, significantly older than 15 I can see it’s a bit repetitive. On a rope is great everything else is ok

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

What a bizarre inclusion on this list. It's up there with Come Find Yourself by the Fun Lovin Criminals for making me think "What the fuck is this album doing here". I have fond memories of On A Rope, it's a fun, if not particularly sophisticated song, delivered with a lot of energy. The rest of this album however, is shit.

A mix of psychobilly, punk and ska, but a very watered down mix. Punk rock should never be boring.

This one didn’t click with me. The overuse of horns made most of the tracks way too busy. Nothing stood out riff/hook wise either.

This is a direct quote from Apple Music: Though it was a bigger hit in the U.K. than the United States, 1995’s Scream, Dracula, Scream! remains a pivotal work of '90s rock 'n' roll. With the exception of Nirvana’s In Utero, no other album succeeded more in translating the sounds of late-'80s American indie rock to a modern radio rock setting in the '90s. In “Born in ’69,” “Young Livers,” and “Burnt Alive,” RFTC kept the spirit of Squirrel Bait and Dag Nasty for a generation that missed those bands. And despite John Reis’ cheekiness, “Used” and “Come See, Come Saw” are as rousing and inclusive as any songs by Springsteen. Let me translate: this album which didn’t chart at all in the US is evidently as important as an album from perhaps the most important artist of the 90s, brought to you by a band that neither you or me have ever heard of, keeping alive the tradition of another couple of bands that neither of us have ever heard of, fronted by a guy creating songs that are supposedly as great as those created by arguably the most important US rock singer of the last 40 years. Got it. With that as backdrop, I think I can sum this up more quickly. It was neither great, nor influential. In fact, it was repetitive and not good. And I, or really anyone, didn’t need to hear it. What a waste of a slot on a greatest of list. There is nothing about this album which provides any inkling of a reason as to why we had to hear it.

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

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.

I toured with RFTC great guys - this album was just out - memories of course

It's been a while since I last listened to this album and I read some other people's reviews first and saw a lot of negative ones. It made me question my memories of how good RFTC are, but no, this is still great from start to finish. I don't know what the people who didn't like this album were hearing but I feel sorry for their ears if this sounds bad to them.

A fun fast album. The drum and bass are really strong!

I really enjoyed this!

There is something to geek out about in every song. Great grooves and hooks. Really cool use of horns for adding texture to guitar riffs.

Loved it!

This is a really cool and energetic punk album. It's impressive how it manages to maintain a high level of energy for so long!

This is rock n roll and it’s meant to be played at extremely loud levels.

I lived in San Diego for a spell and loved the local music scene. Every bar had a poster for these guys. The love is well deserved.

Perfect album. Rock at full blast. Long live the Swami.

Hell yeah! The epitome of '90s post-punk rock 'n' roll! And I mean that as a compliment. Fell in LOVE with this band with the release of Circa Now, and this was such a great follow up. This band gives some of the best live performances I've ever witnessed and this album really captures the power and energy those live sets deliver.

Had a great time with this one. Maybe it's the heavy diet of Less Than Jake I grew up on but there isn't much music can't be made better with horns

Puur genieten

Straight out of 1995. Good jams.

This was such a delightful surprise. Really enjoyed this one. Going to check out more from them for sure.

Perfect! I like this 'noise'!

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.

this was cool ... just like its name?

Chaotic punk glory

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

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.

Solid Stuff

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

Didn't know those guys, that shit is dope

Molt guapo 5/5

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.

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.

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

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

Excellent.

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

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.

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.

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.

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)?

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!

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.

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.

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.

excelente!! it was very moody and energetic

meh

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

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.

Class record

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

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

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

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.

Why did I love this

Best finding so far... Imo

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!

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

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.

Mid-90s Punk-ish stylings, and I really enjoyed it. I remembered the "On A Rope" song after it was a surprising hit in the UK 30 odd years ago and the rest of the album was a similar delight.

Punchy

A fun listen.

On A Rope

Thoughts before listening: This is one of my favorite albums and bands from the 90s that has seemingly disappeared. You just don't hear much about Rocket From The Crypt anymore. However, I loved these guys' punky rock n roll style back in the day. I am pleasantly surprised to see them make this list. Review: Oh man...what a blast from the past this is. I really loved this album in the 90s, even though it was a little different from the melodic punk I was listening to at the time. In fact, listening again for the first time in years (20+ years maybe?) its interesting to me how songs I used to think were the best (i.e. the punky "On a Rope") are now less interesting to me than some others on here that incorporate more interesting song structures and instrumentation (i.e. "Young Livers" and "Used"). Overall this is a fun album, with lots of nostalgia for me, that seems to have been mostly lost to time (the band has ~40,000 monthly listens on Spotify). 4-stars

Original.

Hadn’t given it a serious listen in the past. This would have been on heavy rotation in my late teens/early 20s. Fun songs.

ROCK ON!!!!

Great, but a couple of songs too long. It's more rock 'n roll than most punk bands of that time. They were great live, with glitter suits and sarcasm. Favorite song: ball lightning

אלבום מצוין! זה רוק עשוי טוב שיר מועדף - On a rope

This fucking rocks! I've heard of the band before but never listened. It's high octane punk rock, with the occasional touch of horns (not ska, but ska adjacent which I'm all for). There's not much to say of tempo change throughout the record, which I'm really fine with. It's just balls to the wall. I am surprised I haven't heard this before. I love 90s pink. On a Rope is an anthem. I'll definitely be relistening to this one.