Reviews (page 2 of 8)
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.
(5/7) punk with a brass section, fun stuff
If this were maybe 10 minutes shorter I would’ve probably gone with a 5 i LOVED this thing but would’ve been obsessed if it were trimmed down - great stuff team
Turns out I quite like punk when it's Ska
Nie von gehört, macht aber Laune!
Killer! But could probably be a 30 min album...
4.5
I really enjoyed this.
Что-то есть в этом, но скучновато
I thought I didn't like Rocket From The Crypt, because I had only heard that sort of annoyingly catchy On A Rope that was everywhere when it came out. Now I realise they're actualy effing great, that the Hives stole everything they didn't borrow from International Noise Consipracy from the Crypt, and have gone on to discovere the member's precious even better bands Drive Like Jehu and Pitchfork. Brilliant!
Pretty good album. Aged well. Had me singing on a rope, on a rope all day.
Muy buen álbum, de mis géneros favoritos así que ya tenía ventaja; Salt Future y On A Rope me gustaron, Young Livers es muy pegadiza. Sin embargo, un poco repetitivo en los riffs.
I actually quite liked this. Unknown to me band with a vaguely social distortion- adjacent sound. It’s fun
I liked this. Going to listen again.
I have never heard of them. American punk rock band. I really like it. Great punk music. It gets four stars Vocals excellent Every song is good. Not repatitious
High energy melodic pop punk
sums things up
Cool sound - worth a relisten
A mix of a load of songs like On A Rope (which I got very tired of when it came out) and some really cool tributes to older rockers. Enjoyed it more than I expected.
I’ll admit I judged this album by its title and cover. I was wrong. I enjoyed this quite a bit, especially Used and Ball Lightning.
A pleasant surprise. Had a Foo Fighters flavor. 3.5 rounded up because we haven’t had a banger in awhile.
3.5 stars. Lots of Less Than Jake + New Found Glory vibes, just a decade earlier. Punk rock but horns and catchy hooks, repetitive choruses with clear vocals make it more alt rock. Second half gets a bit repetitive but I would've been really into this album in my HS and college years.
On A Rope is fun. This whole thing was pretty fun. What terrible album art though. Fave Tracks: On A Rope, Drop Out, Fat Lip, Burnt Alive 3.9/5
Really solid 90's rock with punk sounding vocals
This took me by surprise and was quite brilliant, the perils of a stupid band name I guess.
I really dug this, could live without the horns though.
Snotty, fast paced punk n' roll. So much fun. Can’t believe I didn’t like this on a first listen.
Tag lidt Dog Eat Dog, rør sammen med en spand Turbonegro. Drys med Elvis Costello vokal. Bag i 43:33 minutter.
Another surprise and another great discovery from this project. I'll be listening to more Rocket in the future
FUN
I liked the aggressiveness and raw sounding nature of this album. The lead singer had a voice that was borderline a little too much, but it worked well with this music.
gran banda under
3 + 1 star for ‘On A Rope’!!
Very into this album. Solid!
Pretty fun punkish style
I’m surprised this is rated as low as it is. This is fun, catchy, well-done pop-punk music that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I enjoyed it.
A little overlong and samey, but On A Rope is a precision-tooled weapons-grade earworm!
rockin!
Not bad. Probably 3.5
One of their best
Ok, prenez une partie de ce que j’ai dit hier et mettez-la au vidange, parce que j’adore ce qui se passe dans ce punk là. C’est rythmé, énergétique et fun, pis j’étais investi jusqu’à la fin, d’habitude je me lasse vers le milieu. Je recommande, pis donnez moi plus de ça les prochaines fois!
The first two songs scared me but the rest of the first half banged. The second half fell off for me it just didn’t feel all that special. Regardless I really enjoyed this album and the good songs were super good.
Not as good as Hot Snakes or Drive Like Jehu but still good
Garage ska punk, my type of music, I liked it. Not sure why it's on this list, there are definitely more formative albums and more formative bands from this time and before. Operation Ivy off the dome.
reminds me of ski jeremy? got a classic 90s rock style
As a self processed ska guy it's so refreshing to hear just straight up punky horns that want to tear your face off as much as the guitars. A fantastic listen.
Very cool album - butt rocky ska but not cringe. Loved it
Ame este álbum, es una mezcla de rock con la voz de tame impala, bien producido , muy divertido y fácilmente estaría en una playlist de Linsey Lohan en freaky Friday.
Fun! Loud and punky. I enjoyed this.
why was that actually quite good
Fun album with loads of energy. The trumpet is an exciting extra
Nice! Fun to hear punk with a horn section outside of a ska context.
I was pretty skeptical of a 90s punk band with an album cover that looks like someone could have made it in MS Paint. Totally punk with a horn section is just ska. But this was great. The production felt inspired by 60s Beach Boys. The guitars were fun and the songwriting was good. So I was really surprised and I'll definitely listen to this more.
8/10 Best songs: On a Rope, Ball Lightning An album by a group I've literally never heard of before. It's kind of a mix of rock, punk, and metal, but I saw some definite influences by other genres in there (Used has '60s girl group vibes, of all things). One of my big critiques of the album is that on occasion it feels like the lyrics and vocals are ignored with all the emphasis put on the outstanding music (including harmonies and outstanding guitar/bass/drums). Like, sorry, but "would you like some cheese with your wine?" was just as dumb of a lyric in the 90s as it is today. (Doesn't stop me from loving that song though!) The album also goes a bit too long, with the second half being a bit of a drag. What I find particularly interesting is that the album has a very clear garage rock sound to much of it, which is sort of characteristic of this kind of heavy rock from the 90s - even in music that was not by any means garage rock. Overall it's a really, really good, enjoyable album.
Great heavy rock/garage rock, much energy and catchy corus, loved it
biased on the local angle, these guys rule. everything's fast and there's lots of style and mixing it up. extra star for the possibly apocryphal story about the lead guy vowing to never play a venue with a stage lol
Middle - no rating Born in '69 - 4/5 On a Rope - 5/5 Young Livers - 3/5 Drop Out - 4/5 Used - 4/5 Ball Lightning - 5/5 Fat Lip - 4/5 Suit City - 3/5 Heater Hands - 4/5 Misbeaten - 4/5 Come See, Come Saw - 4/5 Salt Future - 3/5 Burnt Alive - 3/5 Average score: 3.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this album has left me quite perplexed. i haven't heard anything like this before today like yes, i hear the alt/punk aspects. those horns and sax give me ska vibes... but not quite?? my ears were left wondering what the hell was going on the entire time i certainly don't hate it... but i don't think i love it either, which is weird to say since this album has influences from a few of the genres i love. i'm willing to listen to this in the future though, perhaps it'll grow on me with time. i'm feeling 3.5 stars at the moment, but I'll round up i suppose side note: as someone else previously commented, Come See Come Saw does sound suspiciously similar to Know Your Product by The Saints.
Great album. High energy
i didn’t expect to like this as much as i did but it was a fun little album
Pretty good!
Injecteer dit in mijn aderen. Geweldige jaren 90 punk. Gevarieerd, nummers met blazers en strijkers (en xylofoon?), gewoon lekker dynamisch. Top. Man. Edit: zelfde zanger als Drive Like Jehu, er valt ineens heel veel samen.
Another day, another artist I've never heard of. The album cover had me utterly intrigued. As did the tales of the band's live show exploits. But on to the songs! I didn't take notes as I listening so I'm just going to give my overall impression: I loved the genre fusions, and the really tight sound they came up with. A solid 3.5!
Not familiar with this album or band. It was... interesting. West coast 90's punk combined with horns and ska? Yes please. On a Rope BANGS and it sounds like 1995 San Diego punk but it aged well. Drop Out is very fun too from the first gravelly yell on "yeah!" at the beginning. Used has a fun beachiness to it and some twinkly percussion that stuck out. Tbh the first half of the record was better because the second half was kind of droning and started to sound the same to me, but I'm also working and distracted lol. This record fits really well into the punk (esp ska punk) landscape of the time and I can really see where they It's a little corny and schlocky but Rocket From The Crypt knew what they were doing. 4/5. Had a good time. Standout tracks: On A Rope Drop Out
I wouldn't normally think this was my type of music but I really enjoyed it. The drums were particularly good
Controversial opinion....? I kind of really liked this, the combination of his slightly rough voice and punk rock that's not too gratingly punky created something that though definitely not a piece of art is for me definitely worth listening too.
i really like them they remind me of ska music
How the hell did this not blow up in the states?
Overall I think this is a good album, but I do have some complaints that keep me from rating this higher. First off, I really like Drive Like Jehu, but I am not a big fan of this guy's voice in this context. Secondly, this is just a little too pop oriented for me. But besides that there are some fun songs here and I like the horns. This is right on the edge of a 3 and 4 for me so ill round up. Low 4.
Favorite Track: On A Rope
pretty good!
Highlights: On A Rope
Rather enjoyable after multiple listens. Feel like the singer's range could be explored more (maybe on their other albums) but overall liked it.
This was simultaneously a massive disappointment and a nice surprise. Massive disappointment as I've never heard of the band and I assumed album and band name must mean a fun horror themed concept album. Nope. What it was though was quite fun, even if samey American pop punk. The horns made them distinct and a bit like a slower Reel Big Fish. Come See, Come. Saw probably the best song. Album should have stopped there to go out in a high too.
Man, I feel weird about this one. I truly love John Reis. Hot Snakes and Drive Like Jehu are both hugely formative regarding my approach to guitar. His Swami stuff also has some truly great moments. This though, doesn't click in quite the same way. Maybe it was Rick Froberg who brought out his genius and truly let him shine (RIP, genius). RFTC feels more restrained. Too polished. Too many paths already trodden. I have tried to vibe with this record a few times, but utlimately end up putting on Automatic Midnight instead. 3.5 stars. Rounded up to four stars because....John Reis.
Never heard of this band before, but some damn good punk!
As this started I wasn't sure this would be one the list needed but actually I quite enjoyed it. Good fun, brassy punk.
This album made me remember how much I like 90s punk.
the chaotic punk scence of the 90's was sitll young but great album
Sounds cool
Fun punk rock.
I was skeptical based on name/album cover but this was highly enjoyable. I would have loved this in high school.
> the Beatles If you can listen to Yellow Submarine and say "masterpiece" but scoff at this, I don't want to know you, please leave my party.
I've always heard this era of grunge rock as "angry older brother music" but thats not a bad thing! I'm sure a ton of gen-x'ers loved the hell out of this. Actually more enjoyable than I thought, also it was nice to hear something completely unknown to me. Clean drums, loud but discernible vocals, good instrumentals all around. Its weird because it skirts that line of rock music in a PG kids sports movie in the 90's to a rock show in a smokey basement full of energetic druggie kids. Used was a really good banger on this album and I've put it in my rotation!
On a rope is a top track that elevates a fairly run of the mill album into a good one. There are a couple of other notable songs on here but quite a few others are just average. The punk sound is good but could do with a bit of variety.
Great Rock music!! loved it…
Acknowledging the awesome ethos and creative energy of RFTC.
Kinda liked this. Lots of energy. Plenty of joie de vivre. Debatable amount of talent. What can I say? This rocks and I'm a rock whore. Starting to think I might not even like music that much, I just like to rock.
Loved the early punk/ska with horns sound. Energy was great.
This got better. I was going to dismiss it as one of those mid 90s punk rock bands, swerving grunge and basically writing pop with louder riffs, perhaps whilst wearing backward-facing baseball caps, to attract a young audience. But it's more authentic than some of those, I think, and there are good songs, especially around the middle of the album. During this project, unexpectedly, I really liked Yank Crime by Drive Like Jehu. It was challenging, loud, but really edgy and original. I was a bit surprised to see that one of the core founders of that band came up with this at basically the same time, as it felt like it was going very mainstream (unexciting) to begin with. But he won me round. There are good songs here, too, and I concede - it deserves its place. Extra points for the brass. A solid seven out of ten, really, so as usual I'll decide in the morning whether to round up or down.
I think this band would have been a bigger part of my life it they had a song on Tony Hawk
This was a band that was pushed a lot by my local station KEXP back in the day. I never paid all that much attention, but boy, did I miss out! This has some great punk energy, good songwriting, and doesn't take itself too seriously. I enjoyed it quite a bit. That said, no one is going to get confused and think this is some profound work of art. It's a good listen though!
Great 90's punk. A ton of fun.
Such a killer record. I was turned on to this record like 15 years after it was released and was immediately mad I hadn’t heard it earlier. I’ve always loved the guitars on this thing. Really, if you take the ska out of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones but leave the horns then inject then inject a little more punk with slightly increased BPM’s you’d have this record. It’s raw and noisy and I love it! 4.5
Music to pierce your nipples to.
This was a fun new album to me. I’ve heard On A Rope somewhere or another, what a banger that song is. I really enjoyed Used as well, which I had to check to see if it was an Elvis Costello song. Actually, the lead singer sounds a lot like Costello to me (I know he has a disproportionately high number of albums on this list, but I love Costello). Ball Lightning is another highlight for me, as well as the Weezer-esque Salt Future. I didn’t know what to expect with this one, but it sounds fresh despite being 30 years old (holy shit…) and this ended up being one of my favorite discoveries here.
A loud and blistering debut.
Great energy and unique sound. Great horns.
Another triple blind album. I don’t know anything about this band, but in another universe I think they could have hit it as big as Nirvana (or at least on par with Pearl Jam). Great quintessential 90’s sound. Not sure what they’re doing now but this band goes to show that the difference between success and oblivion is a proper marketing strategy.
Had absolutely no expectations for this one, so I'm surprised by how much I loved it. Excellent guitar leads, tasteful horns add some punch, always catchy choruses and great harmonies. Really good album.
Didn't know them and thought they were going to be a completely different genre than what they were, which was a 90s pop punk band with less of the pop and emphasis on the punk.
Where's my PlayStation controller? If this isn't a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater soundtrack, then I don't know what is. Part of this felt nostalgic to me, even though I only knew On a Rope. Reminds me of discovering this sort of music in secret, and misspent youth in grungy rock clubs. Great fun; great doots.
Fucking ace rawk. Get in the pit, scream your lungs out, ravage your throat and start pummelling everyone. If you don't like this, then I have no interest in ever meeting you. Best Tracks: On a Rope; Young Livers; Fat Lip
I like it, too many elements, loud, screaming and all that my ever talkative brain needs to shut up
More “in my lane.” Although I had never heard of the band or the album. Rough, chaotic, but beautiful and alive. Really enjoyed this album. The blending of horns and brass create an interesting wall-of-sound effect, but they aren’t a bouncing melodic rhythmic presence, unlike ska. This was punk being willing to experiment with broader instrumentation, but it’s still pretty nuts. The songs really vary: I thought “Used” was especially outstanding with its painful, sweet melody: “That’s the way it goes, you put a bullet through your nose.” Sung with charming bells and vocal harmonies for relief?
Really enjoyed this. Glad I heard it before I died
High energy and fun punk rock. It has kind of a hard rock/grunge aesthetic too, and the occasional trumpet/saxophone part. But I wasn't a huge fan of the singing and some of the songs were a bit bland. On A Rope is a banger, and Ball Lightning is also great.
For a punk album, this is strangely and pleasantly nostalgic. I don't think I would listen to the album as a whole again, but there are many cuts I'd love to put on a playlist. 3.5/5
Standout Songs: On A Rope Drop Out Used Misbeaten Come See, Come Saw At first I was unsure, but after a couple songs I really started to get into it.
Today is my 900th album, and I was hoping for something universally beloved, like Dark Side of the Moon, Rumors, or Abbey Road to mark the occasion. I'd have also settled for a personal favorite, like Arcade Fire's Neon Bible, Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual, or Cocteau Twins' Heaven or Las Vegas. But it wasn't meant to be. I've never heard of Rocket From The Crypt before, but I was pretty bummed to get this album, and even more bummed when I saw that it's rated pretty poorly by other users. I have no idea what this album is going to sound like, but I guess it's time to give this one a go! Scream, Dracula, Scream! was a very pleasant surprise. This album was a bit short of five stars from me, but it was still a fun album, and I thought Rocket From The Crypt had a really unique sound here. The opening track, “The Middle,” did a great job of capturing my interest right off the bat. I loved the bass playing, and there were some elements of hardcore punk that I enjoyed. “The Middle” solidly established what was to come on this album. “On A Rope” and “Young Livers” both had some great guitar playing, and I loved how the horns rounded out the band’s sound really well. The bells during the opening of “Young Livers” were really great too. The vocal harmonies in the background on “Used” were awesome, and I loved the non-traditional percussion that they used as well. From there, I enjoyed “Ball Lightning,” “Fat Lip,” and “Come See, Come Saw” quite a bit as well. This album worked best when the sound was up tempo and the guitars and horns were playing off of one-another’s sound. The thing that kept this album from being five stars for me is that there was a fair amount of material on this album that felt like filler to me, and those songs didn’t really fit the overall sound of the album. This was still a fun album though, but there are a few songs that I’ll be inclined to skip on any future listens.
Never heard of them, but the description of mid 90’s rock suggested I’d enjoy it and I did. Will definitely listen to more of their stuff.
really enjoyed. 4.5?
Really cool punky album with some nice interesting flourishes that make it highly unique. Things like instrument choice, the occasional lush harmonies, and good hooks bring this beyond pure punk and unto something more accessible to my ears.
Good solid punk album
Decent grungey stuff but right after I put on bautista’s theme and it blew the whole album out of the water. Specific rating - 4.1 Fav song- ball lightning Least fav - burnt alive
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.
“Scream, Dracula, Scream” is an enjoyable album. There are a few genuine rippers that I imagine would have been really fun to see live, especially with the theatrics described in the Wikipedia summary; “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 setlists, onstage fire breathing, annual Halloween and New Year's shows, and the wearing of coordinated and progressively more ornate stage costumes.” There’s also a few clunkers I didn’t enjoy at all. This album highlights something I’ve been thinking about broadly with this project which is that 1001 albums feels like too many. I know, I know – patience, enriching yourself by listening to things outside your normal realm of discovery, diligence with overcoming the urge to skip things, etc. As I am thinking about it now with this album, my real hangup is that it’s called Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. That makes me feel a sense of urgency that is counter to the patience needed to really enjoy the experiment of stretching out to 1001 albums, because if it’s “before you die” I start expecting everything to be monumental or earth shattering in some way but that’s not really the point is it? When I first started listening my reaction was “shit, 1001 is just too long of a list to be 100% brilliant, pre death must-listens” but after I refused to skip tracks, and the album getting better as it progressed, I started appreciating both the album and this project more. The problem is I have less time / my brain is less conditioned for this type of intentional friction than it seems like ever before. If you haven’t read the book “Filterworld” by Kyle Chayka it’s relevant here. I enjoy punk rock so that made this one easier, as did the manageable run time. Would I put this album in my top 1001 albums of all time list? Probably not, but honestly maybe now that I forced myself to listen all the way through? 1001 is a lot of albums. I guess what I’m struggling with is that 1001 albums to listen to as an exercise in musical enrichment before you die is different from the best albums of all time that I always enjoy revisiting.
Savage! Great line-drive rock and roll. Didn’t give them much of a listen back in the ‘90s (I think I imagined them as some pretentious goth’punk band because of their name). My mistake! Good stuff.
I came into this one with no idea what to expect, but boy was I not expecting that. Based on the name I figured it was probably a goth college rock band, in the same vein as Ministry or the Cure. This is not like either of those. Just a fun album, kinda like a mix between Oingo Boingo and The Presidents Of The United States Of America. A lot of punk influence with a little ska horns added for good measure. My standouts are "Come See, Come Saw" and "Drop Out" but most of the album is good. Worth a listen, and definitely a fun album too listen to.
That's an album that I would love as a teenager, if I would ever heard of this band before. On a Rope is a pretty special song, I'm happy to listen to it for few weeks non-stop, even if it's 30 years too late. The vocalist's voice is not the greatest ever, slightly too nasaly, I guess? But otherwise nice 90s mtv style rock.
I was not familiar with this band and I enjoyed this album, it was fun. I like the energy.
I let this one run a couple times in a row. Pleasantly surprised at the rowdy edge this group has and how they've channeled into some gnarly riffs.
Fun listen. Sounds like punk rock party music. Catchy songs and plenty of hooks. I like the background vocals and horns. kind of a classic sound for 1995. Some parts remind me of Elvis Costello. 4
Really enjoyed this one, was not expecting to but i was into it the whole way. Had some cool textures and vibes. Reminded me of 90’s skate videos. 4.5
I actually liked this album a lot. It went a little long but it made me feel like I was in a 90s rom com
Rating: 8/10 Fun, catchy, and punchy punk rock.
This was really good. I had difficulty finding the time for a single front-to-back listen, so there were multiple mini sessions, which ultimately had me listen to the record more than once in total. Each session reinforced my appreciation of the RFTC's songwriting—riff writing—and attitude. Reminded me a lot of The Supersuckers, a band you've probably never heard of, and these guys might write better tunes, if I'm being objective. Great concise mix of punk and rock. I dig it.
I’m pretty sure I saw them open for the Foo Fighters in 1998. Which is interesting because parts of some of these songs bear striking similarities to parts of Foos’ songs, likely owing more to both bands’ influence from the Beatles than any direct influence between each other. Overall this is boisterous punky ska-infused hard rock that’s way less obnoxious than most other examples from that genre.
Ik was een beetje bang dat dit NSFW was, maar het valt alles mee. Het is prima (ska)punkrock, dat me doet denken aan Less Than Jake door de toeters en Smashmouth door de zanger. Vrij toegankelijk wel. Door de toeters en de manier waarop ze zich kleden, plaats ik dit in de skahoek, en dat is niet de hoek waarin ik punkrock luisterde. Ook dat ze zichzelf van die kinderachtige punkartiestennamen hebben gegeven, vind ik altijd een beetje treurig. Toch wel apart dat ik hier nog niet eerder van gehoord had. On a Rope herken ik wel, waarschijnlijk van een coverversie van een andere punkrockband, ik kan alleen even niet voor de geest halen welke dat dan zou moeten zijn. In ieder geval een bandje dat in plaats van Rocket from the Crypt in de snoblijst had kunnen staan. Want waarom hiervoor is gekozen, terwijl er toch veel invloedrijkere/betere/bekendere punkrockbandjes zijn, dat begrijp ik niet zo goed. Als ik doorklik op de wiki, dan was de zanger de oprichter van Drive Like Jehu, dat ik dan weer via deze snoblijst heb leren kennen en waardeerde met 5 sterren. Het is voor punkrock niet zo interessant of bijzonder en daarom weet ik even niet zo goed hoe ik dit moet waarderen. Maar met het hele genre heb ik toch jarenlang veel plezier beleefd. Laat ik het als voorbeeld van een genre waarderen en alvast wat compensatiepuntjes geven voor de zure broeders.
I'm mixed on this one. The riffs are fun and I found myself tapping my foot a lot, but the vocals are rough and offputting to me. I like the music though. 4/5 on riffs alone
Absolutely rockin album. I'm not sure how I missed this when it came out. Huge production, moshable riffs, poppy songs. The glockenspiel on Used had me worried that we were going to swerve into Springsteen territory but thankfully that never happened.
Some solid '90s punk with a creative use of instrumentation. 8.2/10
Pretty good rock from a group i haven’t heard of before. Also the band name and album name are both very cool.
Not what I’d normally listen to, however some songs are bangers. Young Livers reminds me of Rancid / Less Than Jake; very 90s skate punk
Ska Punk Hives
A solid punk album, if nothing revolutionary
Good, but not my thing
Forgot “On A Rope” existed. This is a solid punk rock album. Enjoyed it.
Rock. I was kinda getting a punk vibe from this one. It grew on me. I’d like to give it another listen.
Way better than I thought it was going to be! Loved it!
Surprisingly listenable and fun. Reminds of supersuckers. would definitely listen to this again
headbangin' pop-punk rock. many songs have an energetic roadside big band sound, i wouldn't call it ska but the brass that comes in here and there is similar to what you'd hear in that genre. it's not winning awards but i was movin' along the whole time. i could listen to this on the radio and keep it playing all the way through. these guys are showoffs in their act, and i'm guessing that if these guys performed live they would get the crowd jumping in seconds.
Some good punk right here.
Started this, didn’t finish it but was pleased
Very good, definitely reminds me of the era!
surprisingly solid
Good 90s punk. I enjoyed when the horn section showed up.
I enjoyed listening to this one. I'll play it again.
first listen pretty great
This one was fun. This album makes me think of every 90s early 2000s teenage drama show I watched. Malcom in the middle, king of queens, all of them.
Solid, though leaned into the samey territory a bit for me. Good energy, fun instrumentals and vocal work! 'On A Rope' is an incredibly simple but engaging song. Definitely my fave from the lot!
Decent listen.
Ahhh a band I have heard of but had no clue what they sounded like. I thought more indie than punk. I’d say they are leaning strongly into the full fledged punk sound with splashes of hooks that pop punk bands rely heavily upon. The songs roll through fast making it seem like one of those bands that whip through a 10 song set in concert before acknowledging the crowd. Choice cut: On a Rope
I could hear a lot of other bands in this album. Not super innovative or anything, but I wouldn't turn them off.
Apple Music says that Rocket From The Crypt are pop music, which may be the wrongest genre tag I’ve seen so far. They remind me quite a lot of Pennywise, being the more modern take on punk music (when compared to 70s punk) without any of the pop sensibilities found in other bands that are known as punk. This was a fun, high energy album that I quite enjoyed. It wasn’t overly produced, but also wasn’t too messy. it’s just a good slap in the face of punk music!
Excellent album, highly recommended! The writing and lyrics here are unmatched.
High energy, catchy, musically risky, decent lyrics, I mean, what’s not to like?
I would have been 21 when this came out, but I've never heard of it. It's hard rock with some punk vibe. Wikipedia has "hardcore punk" as a genre. I don't know if I'd go that far. The vocalist has a screamy voice, so maybe that's it. It was fun, maybe not amazing. Could have used a couple of guitar solos in my opinion. I am putting it on this list to hear again.
One of the pleasant surprises from this list, never heard of the band in my life and expected it to be crap based on the cover art of what looks like Word Art next to a GettyImages photo of a scorpion. Don't judge an album by it's cover, i suppose Not far off giving this 5* but I'm not a massive fan of the vocals, and a bit of pacing would help. Really love the energy and spirit though, it's a riot for its running time. The inclusion of brass in some tracks give it a bit of a ska-feel and reminds me of something like Reel Big Fish.
Faust IV
Really liked it.
I’m honestly surprised this album slipped through the cracks for me back in the ’90s. It’s a perfect mix of punk, garage rock, and some excellent trumpet and saxophone work. Just to be clear, this isn’t ska—the core rhythm is driven by straightforward punk and rock beats, not the offbeat “skank” rhythm typical of ska. The horns here are more of a rock embellishment, adding flair without taking over. Overall, the album is raw, gritty, and energetic, but it’s also light and easy to digest. It has plenty of catchy hooks that stick with you.
Rocket from the crypt: Rips and roars, hoots and hollers, but in the end it seems a decent bit more noise than heat or light. Likably raffish and the commitment to brevity is wholly commendable. The nice-touch horns and here-and-there harmonies do not prove ultimately redemptive. “Young Livers” and “Used” are best cuts, and the second half of the record seems better than first. Though a little later and more polished, this sounds like an apotheosis of a certain wild, grit-centric style and rockabilly-inflected strain of indie rock circa late-’80s to mid-’90s reminiscent of Dash Riprock and Fetchin Bones among other lesser known practitioners and maybe Superchunk and Smithereens among the more polished and popular. Rounding up because one misses those days and was inspired to go down some rabbit holes.
top album...
RFTC was a criminally underrated band, deserving the same attention that was given to other Punk bands of the early 90's like Green Day, The Offspring, and Rancid. This album, however, was the beginning of their slide towards total obscurity. "Circa Now!" would have been a much better choice for this list. The move to a major label for this record did them no favors. They became lost in mess of Ska-Punk bands (even though they themselves were not Ska-Punk, but simply a Punk band with horns) whose greatest achievements were features in Tony Hawk video games. A half-star is taken away because the name of the band is a confusion-inducing reference to Cleveland's Proto-Punk band, Rocket From The Tombs.
If I was still 16, still heavily into the punk scene and still taking most of my cues about ✨good tastes✨ from the older hardcore kids and record store clerks and the back of Alternative Press, I would’ve stumbled upon this moderately popular album and never shut the fuck up about how it’s an underrated masterpiece that should be appreciated on the level of Punk in Drublic or …And Out Come the Wolves. Hell, I probably would’ve even had less tact and said it’s better than Enema or Dookie. And honestly, it’s shocking that I didn’t come into contact with Rocket From The Crypt earlier, given the Angels and Airwaves *and* Drive Like Jehu connections, but then again, I was the kind of girl who said dumb shit like, “No Doubt is better than Op Ivy.” Because I lacked tact, because I was 16, and because I never really understood the appeal of ska. There’s a ton to love about Scream, Dracula, Scream!, even if it’s not really on the level of a ✨true✨ punk classic. First off, the drums are goddamn flawless, and have such a nuanced feel to them; what sounds like just a basic bass-snare 1-2 with hard cymbal hits actually has some really smart yet not-distracting fills, and the drums overall are really balanced in the mix. The same actually goes for the guitar playing, which crams in a lot of chords without feeling like it’s constantly shifting, and it feels less punk and more classic rock. It helps a ton that this is really well-produced, and I picked up a lot of the details after multiple listens. Mix that in with the light-touch of a horn section to ska it up just a smidge, and the gritty vocal energy, and there’s a lot to love about this record, and Rocket From the Crypt in general. There are a few glaring issues, though. For one, Scream, Dracula, Scream! goes on for wayyyy too long. 14 tracks is a lot for punk album that isn’t a pure hardcore, in-and-out-in-17-minutes thing. It would benefit a ton from a trimming. Nothing massive, just like, a song here and there. The two worst tracks I think are towards the backend, “Misbeaten” and “Salt Future,” but I also think there’s a good amount of “decent, not special” songs like “Young Lives,” “Burnt Alive,” and “Fat Lip” that could be considered for the cut. But even with a bit off the sides and a straightened neckline, I don’t know if I’d say this is a masterpiece. Rocket From The Crypt can write very good songs, and have some clear hooks throughout this record, but none of them ever reach that truly transcendent level of so many pop-punk hits. Especially when those hooks are eclectically buried outside of a chorus, and are something more a riff tangent, bass line, or horn line. And while the production *is* great, it’s also very ‘90s, pushing the red and chaotically overwhelming your ears. Even though I ended up overall enjoying Scream, Dracula, Scream!, it’s still one of those records where I can envision a better version of what could be: more refined, more essential, more impactful, more hard-hitting. That doesn’t mean it’s lacking any of those things, just that they’re at a strong 7, a light 8, racking up points but never delivering a KO. And sure, a TKO counts, but it’s not as bombastic as it could be, y’know? Rocket From the Crypt crosses the finish line with a positive score from me, but I’m also very much the target audience here. I can look past its flaws. I’m not 16, though, so even though I like it, I get that’s a ✨me✨ thing specifically; I won’t sit here and argue it’s an underrated masterpiece. It’s pretty great for what it is, and I’m glad that *I* personally heard it before I die, but there’s so many other punk-esque albums from this era that are more deserving of a spot that I can’t in good faith say it belongs in the pantheon of essential punk records. But if this type of stuff is typically your jam, you’ll definitely be receptive to this.
I have heard two songs from this album from Rocket from the Crypt before. What I did not know before is that frontman John Reis founded this band and Drive Like Jehu at the same time. I already enjoyed Yank Crime from the latter on this journey, though I did temper my expectations here from my understanding that these are two different kinds of punk bands. Where Drive Like Jehu was a post-hardcore outfit with visceral lyrics and complex rhythmic structures, Rocket from the Crypt is the more straightforward "party-vibe" punk band with angsty lyrics, popping guitar riffs, big hooks, and liberal use of horns. I can see why these guys toured with Rancid back in the day. Also like with Rancid, this album goes on longer than it should. I started feeling the length around "Misbeaten", track 10 of 14. That track and a couple of others would have been better left on the cutting room floor. Still, I had a pleasant time with Scream, Dracula, Scream! It's a nice party album to have on during the day and gets a solid recommendation.
fire
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to! Great, high energy songs. Some interesting riffs and some unique sounds on a few songs.
I've heard of this band but never listened. This was a very fun version of a genre that can very easily become super cringe worthy. I kind of wish that I'd discovered this at 15 because I would've been obsessed. As I am now this was borderline 3/4 but I will go with a 4 for generosity.
Super good! I just finished the book Sellout that looks into the rise of punk bands signing to major labels in the mid 90s to early 00s. Rocket doesn’t get their own chapter, but they do get name checked quite a bit. This might not have been a huge band, but they were very influential to the movement.
Bastante divertido. Buen disco para poner por las mañanas y agarrar buena y potente pila. Me gustaron sus arreglos trompetosos, le dan una onda padre.
this album is terrific. It’s got all you want from a punk rock record: the attitude, the raw guitar riffs, the high energy tempo. And they give you a bonus horn section https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-scream-dracula-scream?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Non male!
lepší, než jsem čekal, hudebně o něco předběhlo svou dobu, přitom referencuje starší punkové počiny, nepoužitý soundtrack pro Flatout 2
pre: I owned Circa: Now! at one point, back in the days where a CD purchase was a big deal and you sometimes bought blind. I wanted to like this band more than I actually did. The only song I remember liking at the time was Hippy Dippy Do, which is basically a novelty song. Looking forward to seeing if I like this album more I don't know when but I've definitely heard On A Rope before. This should be a 5 star album for me based on genre and content. There's just something about these guys that are slightly too try-hard. One too many guitar? Too many harmonies/bv for the genre? Some of the back half of this album has early QOTSA vibes, in particular You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar... keeps popping into my head. It's definitely not as good though. I'm so puzzled by this album. It should be up my alley but it's not. Even weirder, there are definite similarities between this album and the s/t album by Dig which is one of my guilty pleasure albums. Shrug. The heart wants what it wants I guess 3.5, a mixture of neutral and I might listen to this again
Wow, I knew of them, but didn’t know them. I really liked this album. Will definitely have to listen to more of their catalog. Very nice, pre/early punk, I’m a fan.
These guys are great!
This ... isn't goth? I was not expecting a punk/hard rock band from that band name and album title. There's a horn section? Huh. Interesting. I guess "Born in 69" does sound like it could be part of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer soundtrack. I've never heard of this band in my life, which I've come to expect from Dimery's list. But for once I'm actually kind of surprised they didn't make a bigger splash in the US. It's very catchy and high energy, and I'm not quite sure why US audiences wouldn't be into them. Maybe it's just my own ignorance in not knowing them despite them supporting bands I did listen to, like Offspring and Rancid, but I have zero memory of these guys existing. At times this album sounds like a harder version of the ska bands that were popular at the time (Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, even No Doubt). At other points they seem ahead of their time in that they sound a lot like the bands that became popular in the early 200s — Fall Out Boy, Pan!c at the Disco, My Chemical Romance, etc. There's also a bit of Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, and Pogues here. Maybe that's why they weren't bigger in the US — they're a little hard to categorize, and marketers might not have known what to do with them. Maybe if this album had come out a few years later it could've fit in better with bands like Lit, who they also remind me of. This is a fun album. The singer's voice sometimes teeters on the edge of grating, but there are enough harmonies and big melodic instrumentals to buffer it. It can be hard to make out the lyrics sometimes, so I can't comment too much on the songwriting without doing a deeper dive (lines like "It's all fine/why you crying/want some cheese with your whine" on Ball Lightning are a little cringe, but not the worst I've ever heard). But I don't think the lyrics are supposed to be the focus here. it's all about the high-octane music. And it definitely has that in spades. Wait, this is the same guy from Drive Like Jehu?? I haaaaated that album. This is so much better that it's honestly a little shocking that one dude is responsible for both. The album does start to lag in the middle. The songs blur together some with the same punk-beat drum part and heavy power chords in every song. The horn sections are more varied, but even they get a little samey since you come to expect one in each song. I'm not entirely convinced this album should be on this list, but at the same time I'm not that mad about it. It's a good album I wasn't aware of, and though they bear a resemblance to quite a few bands, there is something that feels different about them. They're kind of a pastiche of a lot of different styles, but it works. I don't know if this is an essential album that I needed to hear, but I'm glad I heard it. I'll give it a 4/5 but it's probably a 3.75.
W zasadzie to mi się całkiem podobało, ale jest jednak dosyć jednostajne. Na pewno na plus względem niektórych albumów na tej liście. Głos wokalisty nieco płaczliwy niestety co może męczyć pod koniec płyty. 4/5
Off the bat, the instrumentation on this is really interesting: a stereotypical rock band, but also a brass section and some other miscellaneous instruments that show up on individual songs. Even though their musical formula doesn't change much, I'm still slightly surprised every time the brass section pops up in a song, and I'm occasionally searching to find them, keeping me engaged in even some of the worse songs on the album. This would have been awesome to see live which, based on the Wikipedia excerpt, sounds like it's part of the reason it shows up on this list: the fame/excitement from their live performances and on-stage antics. I honestly really enjoyed the album, and wasn't really expecting much. Favorite Song(s): Born in '69, On a Rope, Salt Future
This is radical! This is what the punk resurgence that Green Day thinks they are should really sound like.
Hyvää punkkia. Sopivasti pop, muttei kuitenkaan ihan pop punk. On kyllä iskeviä kappaleita. Paehaat: On A Rope, Fat Lip, Born In 69
I should assume that I love punk rock when accompanied by a saxophone(?!)
Good rocky stuffs!
Scream, Dracula, Scream! is the fourth release, and the major label debut, from Rocket From the Crypt, and is regarded as the band's best work. Rocket From the Crypt is a punk band that makes music with much more technical ability that most punk bands. This album could be called relatively "mature" punk in that the songs have complicated orchestrations - even a string section - and much cleaner production than is typical of the genre. Scream, Dracula, Scream! includes "On a Rope," which is the band's most successful single, and other tracks like "Young Livers" that show the potential mainstream appeal of well-produced punk rock.
Great album. I don't love the production but the songs are top notch punk rock n roll. Definitely worth a listen.
Kinda mid
This record is real fun. Sounds like stuff I was into back in high school, though I somehow just missed Rocket from the Crypt completely.
First things first, this album has absolutely no right to be on this list. Having said that, it is so much better than reviews suggest, and than I expected. I remember them being a big thing in the UK when this cane out and I thought they were shit. This morning I saw this and decided that they were going to be the band a kids TV show has on when they want to pretend to have Misfits on ... and I'm not a million miles away from them sounding not unlike Misfits, and in a good way. I fucking love Misfits, and this album really, really grew on me as I listened. It's nowhere near perfect, but it's very enjoyable and there are some really good tracks. Way better than I expected
this actually slapped. Definitely worth another listen.
Just a really solid punk album. I got nothing much to add to it, but I really liked it.
Really fun hardcore punk with horns sometimes. Reminded me vocally of The Clash in a lot of places. I'unno, I just had a lot of fun with it. Shows what I know for giving it the ol' "Who the hell are you?" treatment.
It's most likely my punk and ska loving tendencies, but I really dig the sounds on this album.
This was a fun album and it was probably influential to some bands like Teenage Bottle Rocket. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
This album is punk in its purest form.
Id never heard of this band before. Was pleasantly surprised. Like the laid back but energetic vibes.
I love that this record made the list. Often overlooked band.
fun ska/garage punk that i enjoyed much more than i expected
This is the first punkish album to sting this good in my earhole for quite some time. I actually really liked this a lot, which is a rarity in a sea of punk albums I find pretty boring. Also, I guess I know now where legend, Wesley Willis got his inspiration for his track, "Scream Dracula Scream"!! Or wait, did these guys rip it off from Wesley Willis!!?? Wiki confirms, they DID GET THE ALBUM TITLE FROM WILLIS! "The album's title was taken from the lyrics of a Wesley Willis song." Barely a nod to the schizophrenic genius of WW (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Willis).
I was worried this might be another album with a bunch of screaming but I really enjoyed it.
I vant to suck your blood. Eeeek!!! I’ve been turned into a vampire. I definitely remember On A Rope from long ago. I’m happy to listen to the rest of the album 30 years later. I like the edge to their sound yet there are saxophones, trumpets, and strings. And these guys can harmonize too.
Cooler than I expected at first! Can't really compare them with anything else. I think I'd need a bit more variation for a perfect score, but cool listen!
Wow! 80's punk a decade past its prime! Bless tham and their moshpit-loving fans.
punk revisited
Although I did not love the lead singer's voice (kind of reminded me of SmashMouth) I liked the rest of the music enough to round 3.5 up to a 4.
This was great! Not even a punk fan much but now I might be!
One of the best bath rock bands to ever do it. High energy, discordant chords, rock and roll belting.
Punk rock noventero. No llega a vinilo.
About as complete a punk rock album as you can get! Nothing much more to say other than it’s a great example of punk/rock and a staple of that genre. 4.5
Strangely never listened to these, given it has all the things I was into as a teenager. Bit skate punk, with the trumpets, but Jamie is right, not quite enough to be really fun! Singer sounds very like Roger from Less Than Jake too, which can't be a bad thing. Knew on a rope, but wouldn't have known it was by these guys to be honest. Hope there's more stuff like this on the list, but won't hold my breath. 3.5, probably would've been a 5 if I was still a teenager
Some solid songs in the first half.
interesting sound, I liked it quite a bit. On a rope is great!
Feels very teenage or like it's made for children's TV for some reason. But punky and good!
Pretty standard 90's alt rock vibes. Pretty solid.
Pretty fun!
Had never heard of this group before but this album is making me going back to listen to their other releases
First time I had ever heard of this band was from the show "Rubicon" on AMC. The song "On A Rope" was played in the show and it captured me right away. Much like that song, the entire album is up to that level. I'd argue they never really got any higher, but what a ride this one was. 8.8/10
Solid punk vibes. Simple construction and a lot of energy, solid guitars, and melodic hooks.
Truthfully, this was alot better than I'd thought it'd be, especially given the terrible album cover. They sound pretty good and unlike earlier punk bands (granted, this one is from the mid90s) not all of their songs sound the same. 8/10.
Song: Born in '69 This is absolutely the type of thing I would typically rate low, but I was in the right mood today, I guess, because I very much enjoyed this. The lyrics, even though sometimes fairly bad, are endearing and kind of funny, and I enjoyed this track a lot.
Nice rock punk album. Like it
Never heard of these guys before but I enjoyed it. Will add to my rotation!
I enjoyed this one. I can see why it had underground following. Fun, weird, punk, indie - who doesn't love that?
I never actually listened to an entire album from TFTC, but I have heard of them. Pretty good stuff. Takes me back to the 90s. 4/5
When this popped up on my home page, my first thought was “Ugh.” The ugly cover, the stupid font choice, the cringey band name. My expectations were low. I judged the album by the cover. Shame on me. The very beginning of the album seems to confirm my suspicions, but about halfway through track one, something shifted. Starting with the second track, I realized I liked what I was listening to. It has a heavy sound, and the vocals are rasping and intense—but the brass and strings are an interesting element that works quite well with the overall sound they were going for. There are some really exciting backing vocals, and the album is full of clever musical ideas. It’s an album that doesn’t want to be put in a box, and it succeeds at that. Top tracks: “Born in ‘69,” “Young Livers”
Started off a little samesy but I was pleasantly surprised by the variety here
🤘😝
I enjoyed this. Nothing earth shattering, and I'm not sure why it's on a 'must listen' list.....but good stuff.
Not really sure why it's on the list...but good songwriting!
Very very fun - with one all time classic single - on a rope is genuinely one of my favourite songs of the 90s! The rest is less memorable, but still really enjoyable. Very nearly 5 🌟 for me
"Scream, Dracula, Scream" is the fourth studio and first major label album by American punk band Rocket from the Crypt. Punk rock, hardcore rock. Yeah, and just plain rock. With its major label debut, the band was given a bigger budget for the album which they used on guest musicians, a string section, additional engineers and different instruments. Rocket from the Crypt members at this time included Speedo (John Reis, guitar, lead vocals), ND (Andy Stamets, guitar, vocals), Peter X (Pete Reichert, bass, vocals), Apollo 9 (Paul O'Beirne, sax, percussion, vocals), JC 2000 (Jason Crane, trumpet, percussion, vocals) and Atom (Adam Willard, drums). The album received mostly positive reviews. "Middle" kicks things off in typical punk fashion...drums, a scream and the guitars coming in to crank it up. He's stuck in the middle. Layered guitars, vocal choruses and pounding drums highlight "On A Rope." Always appreciate a guitar solo in a short song. The chanting of "Hanging on a Rope." They go more melodic in "Young Livers." There is a definite Ramones' influence here. They throw in some horns too. They continued the catchy melodies in "Ball Lightning." Layered guitars and vocals. You can really see the higher production. I also noticed the songs started to be a little more rock-orirented than punk. The album closes strong with two good songs. Horns, more layered guitars and vocals in "Salt Future." This is actually quite poppy. I'm a sucker for the Peter Gunn-sounding guitar and "Burnt Alive" has one. Eerie, screaming vocals from John Reis. Horns elevate and accentuate the melody. This is a very good album with the style I like. The songs are quick and melodic. As mentioned above, the album starts out harcore punk and transitions to more straight-forward rock. The high production does take the low-fi-ness out of the punk which is sometimes desired. Overall. A recommendation for mostly everyone.
Really love the horns on this one. Reminds me of the bosstones.
pretty flawless for what it is but what it isn’t is ambitious, still a solid 4 star banger
What gets missed about this band and this record is where Punk as a whole was in the mid-90s. Following the ascension of grunge most up and coming bands were in the mold of Nirvana and Soundgarden and it’s clear RFTC was not that. What they were was a band that mixed punk and modern rock in a way that would both call to the past and influence the future.
Nice riffs, nice lyrics
Best prima 7/10
First couple tracks didn't do much for me, but glad I stick with it! Really solid, with a few standout tracks.
Being of an age to have seen RFTC live at Reading in '96, this has a certain nostalgia for me. It does fairly rock along too, although it's not the most sophisticated music going, and the well-known songs (On A Rope, Born In '69) are probably the highlights.
it has a very Elvis Costello-y punk sound to it that I really dig — 8/10
This is a pretty fun compilation of many genres I love. The feel is moderately repetitive, which makes 14 tracks entirely too long for this album. The singer's voice also grates on me at points. All that being said, the arrangements are all on point. The balance between the heavy guitars and drums and the horns is pretty great. Favorite track: Come See, Come Saw
Fun and high energy
really enjoyed this one, actually! i absolutely adore punk and harder music, and this was a very nice change as compared to the softer albums this site has been giving me. the only thing knocking this album down a star is my expectation that this would be psychobilly being completely destroyed--kidding, although i am disappointed. it's really just the whininess of the singer's voice.
Pretty cool proto-punk with some early Ska elements. Both heavier and poppier than I expected. I dig it. Four stars.
This was a riot of a discovery, some good straight-down-the-pipe grunge punk, good guitar sound, good energy, singer is so-so but the music allows him to get away with it, bet they're great live. 4.
A punk classic. Some ska influence throughout. I was surprised to see it pop up on this list, but it was fun to revisit it and feel 16 again.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Middle, On a rope