Rocket From The Crypt - RFTC
Remember that scene in Pretty In Pink where Duckie loses his shit in the record store to Try A Little Tenderness by Otis Redding? That’s exactly how this album makes me feel. It’s an odd thing too, because when this album first came out in 1998, I had a real distaste for it. I’ve spent the last couple weeks listening and re-listening and listening some more to it and trying to figure out why I didn’t initially like it. I’ve come up with two plausible reasons. The first is that this is one of the first and only Rocket From The Crypt albums that had semi-accessible lyrics and at the time I probably held that against them, which leads into my second possible reason. I’m a stubborn asshole when it comes to music sometimes.
Since “Circa Now” I’ve been a diehard Rocket fan to the point where I often tell people they’re my favorite band. Other times I say it’s either The Clash or The Afghan Whigs. It depends what mood I’m in really. But the important part is that they are Top 3. Their live shows encapsulated everything a live show should be (I’ve seen Speedo blow fire for chrissakes, and I even once caught and still have one of Atom’s drum heads). I saw them a bunch and never once left without getting more than my money’s worth. In terms of live performance they are bar none my favorite band. The period of time in 1995 where they released “Scream Dracula Scream”, “The State of Art is on Fire”, and “Hot Charity” was one of the greatest 7 months in my life. So maybe the real answer as to why I didn’t like “RFTC” at first is my expectations were just too high after waiting close to three years after this for a new album. There’s nothing wrong with setting one’s expectations high when it comes to something you love but I probably set them unrealistically high to a degree no band could ever live up to.
Now it’s 2009 and Rocket From The Crypt are no more. All that I am left with are their albums and there’s no more waiting for something new (with the exception of studio outtakes and rough cuts… “All Systems Go, Vol. 4” anybody?) So it’s at this time that I can see things a little clearer. If I had no problem when they added JC 2000 on trumpet and brought their horn section more to the forefront of their sound, why was I so hung up on the lyrics (just listen to All Systems Go Vol. 1 and 2 back to back to see what I mean about the horns)? Speaking of which, another thing “RFTC” did differently as an album was printing the lyrics in the liner notes. Up until then you had to figure them out yourself. It was part of the fun really. But fuck it I’m over it now and just want to get down with this album. And it’s not that hard, insert disc, press play and dance around the room like Duckie.
Unlike “Scream Dracula Scream”, “RFTC” was recorded live and it sounds it in the best possible ways. They even managed to use microwave technology to raise the industry standard 20 digi-bit compact disc to an unheard of 23 digi-bits (it seriously says this in the liner notes). Also there is a very serious photo of velour suited Speedo with a pencil thin mustache sitting with his hand on a crystal ball and a live tiger at his feet. And he looks dead serious about the whole thing.
The cover art by Rick Froberg (a co-conspirator of Speedo’s from Drive Like Jehu and Hot Snakes) is intense. It may be one of the most rock and roll images I’ve ever seen. It’s a bear. No. It’s a beast breaking free of shackles in mid primal scream. This is all you really need to know about this album. It’s the perfect summation of the music therein. Rocket from the Crypt are Rock and Roll beasts. They’re probably the last great Rock band of my generation. They understood everything Rock has to offer from the switchblade spirit to the matching suits.
I normally hate song-by-song reviews so I’ll make it quick. It’s worth mentioning that Holly Golightly guests on the first track Eye On You, which kicks things off nicely. Break It Up follows and if I remember correctly was the first single off the album with a music video of Rocket playing live to a bunch of ape-men sending them into a frenzied riot in the streets (I think I was at that show). I Know has my favorite line on the album. “I know – you know. I’m a shark I never sleep – I’m totally wired. I know – you know. Like a tiger in a cage – don’t want to be admired.” Panic Scam is no joke one of the most furious Rocket jams ever. On Made For You Speedo threatens someone with a fucking bullwhip. Lipstick is a love song if there ever was one. You Gotta Move demands you shake it on the dance floor. Your Touch and Let’s Get Busy move us back into love territory with the boys at their most yearning and soulful. Then Dick on a Dog drags you back on the dance floor to sweat your dick off and “work it ruby red”. Back in the State is about kicking ass in your hometown (and it’s no wonder they were once named the best San Diego band of all time by local fanzine SLAMM). When in Rome…? You do the jerk!!! And closing things out Run Kid Run (my favorite song on the album) sums up the band, the album, Rock and Roll, and how you’re gonna feel when you listen to “RFTC” when Speedo let’s everyone know “Man! These shoes can’t contain me. Man! King Kong’s bustin’ loose.”
Crank it or spank it.
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