Group Sounds (album)

Last updated
Group Sounds
Rocket from the Crypt - Group Sounds cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 6, 2001
Recorded2000/2001
Genre Punk rock, rock and roll
Length35:29 (US)
43:19 (EUR)
Label Vagrant, B-Unique (Europe)
Producer Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt chronology
All Systems Go 2
(1999)
Group Sounds
(2001)
Live from Camp X-Ray
(2002)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 77/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Alternative Press 4/5 [3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Entertainment Weekly C+ [5]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Mondosonoro 8/10 [7]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Pitchfork Media 8.2/10 [9]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Group Sounds is an album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 2001 by Vagrant Records. It was the band's first album for the label and their first with new drummer Ruby Mars.

Contents

After the end of their major-label contract with Interscope Records in 1999 and the departure of longtime drummer Atom the following year, the band spent much of 2000 in search of a new label and drummer. Singer/guitarist John Reis experimented with several other drummers, resulting in the formations of Hot Snakes and Sultans, but did not find a suitable replacement for Willard. When Rocket from the Crypt signed to Vagrant Records later that year they recruited Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster to act as their studio drummer, and he played on a majority of the album's tracks. Partway through the recording process, however, the band discovered local San Diego drummer and professional skateboarder Mario Rubalcaba, who joined as their new full-time drummer under the stage name "Ruby Mars" and played on the remainder of the album.

The addition of Rubalcaba gave the band renewed energy, and Group Sounds was released in 2001 to positive reviews. Some touring followed in support of the album, but band members were drifting into other projects (most notably Reis in Hot Snakes and Sultans) and Rocket became less the focus. Their next album, 2002's Live from Camp X-Ray , would prove to be their last.

Track listing

  1. "Straight American Slave"
  2. "Carne Voodoo"
  3. "White Belt"
  4. "Out of Control"
  5. "Return of the Liar"
  6. "Heart of a Rat"
  7. "Venom Venom"
  8. "Savoir Faire"
  9. "S.O.S."
  10. "Dead Seeds"
  11. "This Bad Check is Gonna Stick"
  12. "Spitting"
  13. "Ghost Shark"

European release bonus tracks

14. "Chariots on Fire"
15. "I Won't Stare"
16. "Alone"

Personnel

Additional musicians

Album information

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocket from the Crypt</span> American punk rock band

Rocket from the Crypt is an American punk rock band from San Diego, California, originally active from 1990 to 2005, then active during 2011 and again from 2013 to the present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Snakes</span> American rock band

Hot Snakes were an American rock band led by Rick Froberg and John Reis, formed in 1999 in San Diego, California. Reis and Froberg had previously performed together in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu, after which Reis found international success with Rocket from the Crypt. Hot Snakes disbanded in 2005 but reunited in 2011, remaining active until Froberg's death in 2023.

<i>All Systems Go</i> (Rocket from the Crypt album) 1993 compilation album by Rocket from the Crypt

All Systems Go is a compilation album by American punk rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1993 by Cargo Records and Headhunter Records. The album collects songs which were previously only available on 7-inch vinyl singles, as well as some new and unreleased material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Reis</span> American musician

John Reis, also known by the pseudonyms Speedo, Slasher, and the Swami is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005.

<i>RFTC</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Rocket from the Crypt

RFTC is an album by American punk rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1998 by Interscope Records. It was the band's second major-label release. A music video was filmed for the single "Break it Up" and the band embarked on tours in support of the album, on which they were joined by Chris Prescott from San Diego bands Tanner and No Knife who performed as touring percussionist and keyboardist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sultans (band)</span> American rock and roll band

The Sultans were an American rock and roll band led by John Reis, formed in 2000 in San Diego, California. Over the course of the band's lifespan they released two full-length albums on Reis' Swami Records label. The band took pride in their "stripped down" rock and roll approach, using a simple guitar/bass/drum structure and recording quickly using pre-used equipment and borrowed instruments in order to maintain a loose, spontaneous feel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Rubalcaba</span> American musician

Mario Rubalcaba is an American drummer from San Diego, notable as a member of numerous rock bands including Clikatat Ikatowi, Thingy, Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Earthless, the Sultans, and Off! He has also played on albums by The Black Heart Procession and Pinback and was formerly a professional skateboarder.

<i>Circa: Now!</i> 1992 studio album by Rocket from the Crypt

Circa: Now! is the second album by American punk rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1992 by Cargo Music and Headhunter Records. It was the band's first album to include drummer Atom and saxophone player Apollo 9. Intense touring following the album's release gained the band acclaim in underground music circles, scoring them the first of many "minor hits" with the song "Hippy Dippy Do." The band also filmed music videos for the songs "Ditchdigger" and "Sturdy Wrist."

<i>Suicide Invoice</i> 2002 studio album by Hot Snakes

Suicide Invoice is the second studio album by the San Diego, California rock band Hot Snakes, released in 2002 by Swami Records. It was recorded in a similar manner to the band's previous album Automatic Midnight, with guitarist John Reis taking time off from his main band Rocket from the Crypt. As a visual artist and illustrator singer/guitarist Rick Froberg provided the album's artwork, while Reis released the album through his Swami Records label.

<i>Audit in Progress</i> 2004 studio album by Hot Snakes

Audit in Progress is the third studio album by the San Diego, California, rock band Hot Snakes, released in 2004 by Swami Records. It was recorded in a similar manner to the band's previous two albums, with guitarist John Reis taking time off from his main band Rocket From the Crypt. In comparison to the band's previous albums, Audit in Progress is more aggressive and primal. Audit in Progress would be Hot Snakes' final studio album until 2018's Jericho Sirens, as the members decided to disband following a tour of Australia in Spring 2005.

<i>Paint as a Fragrance</i> 1991 studio album by Rocket from the Crypt

Paint as a Fragrance is the first studio album by the American band Rocket from the Crypt. It was released in 1991 by Cargo Records and Headhunter Records. It is the band's only recording featuring their original lineup, which included drummer Sean Flynn and backing vocalist Elaina Torres.

<i>Live from Camp X-Ray</i> 2002 studio album by Rocket from the Crypt

Live from Camp X-Ray is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 2002 by Vagrant Records. It was the band's final studio album, as they broke up on Halloween 2005. Contrary to the album's title, it is not a "live" album but rather a studio recording.

<i>Before You Were Punk 2</i> 1999 compilation album by Vagrant Records

Before You Were Punk 2 is a compilation album released in 1999 by Vagrant Records. It is a sequel to 1997's Before You Were Punk and consists of a number of late-1990s punk rock and independent bands covering songs that were popularised during the 1980s "new wave" musical movement.

<i>Dan Sartain vs. the Serpientes</i> 2005 studio album by Dan Sartain

Dan Sartain vs. the Serpientes is the third album by the Birmingham, Alabama rock musician Dan Sartain, released in 2003 by Swami Records. It was Sartain's first commercially available album, his previous efforts Crimson Guard and Romance in Stereo having been self-produced and self-released. Several tracks from these albums were re-used on Vs. the Serpientes, while others were re-recorded. Several additional musicians from the Swami label recorded on the album, including members of Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Sultans, Beehive and the Barracudas, and The Heartaches.

<i>R.I.P.</i> (Rocket from the Crypt album) 2008 live album

R.I.P. is a live album by the American punk rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released on February 26, 2008, by Vagrant Records. It is a recording of the band's final performance on October 31, 2005, at the Westin Hotel Ballroom in San Diego. It also includes a DVD of the entire performance, including several songs not included on the CD.

<i>See You in Magic</i> 2008 studio album by The Night Marchers

See You in Magic is the debut album by the San Diego, California rock band The Night Marchers, released in 2008 by Vagrant Records and Swami Records. The Night Marchers are the latest musical project of singer/guitarist John Reis, previously of Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, the Hot Snakes, and the Sultans. Reis announced the group's formation in August 2007, after all of his previous acts had broken up by January of that year. The band also includes Beehive and the Barracudas guitarist Gar Wood, CPC Gangbangs bassist Tommy Kitsos, and former Delta 72 drummer Jason Kourkounis. Wood and Kourkounis had previously recorded and performed with Reis in the Hot Snakes. The band members are credited on the album using pseudonyms that they had used in their previous acts: Reis is credited as "Speedo", Wood as "Dner", Kitsos as "Skitsos", and Kourkounis as "Jsinclair".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Night Marchers</span> American rock band

The Night Marchers are an American alternative rock band formed in 2007 in San Diego, California, United States. The band is composed of singer/guitarist John Reis, guitarist Gar Wood, bassist Tommy Kitsos, and drummer Jason Kourkounis. Reis, Wood, and Kourkounis had previously performed together in the Hot Snakes, while Kitsos previously performed with CPC Gangbangs. The Night Marchers' debut album See You in Magic was released in 2008 through Vagrant Records. The Allez Allez track “Fisting The Fan Base” was featured on the NHL 15 soundtrack.

<i>All Systems Go 3</i> 2008 compilation album by Rocket from the Crypt

All Systems Go 3 is a compilation album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released by Vagrant Records and Swami Records August 28, 2008, nearly three years following the band's breakup. It collects songs recorded from 1997 to 2000 on 8-track in the band's practice space. Many of the tracks were previously unreleased and became available for the first time on this album. All Systems Go 3 includes contributions from original drummer Atom Willard as well as Chris Prescott and Tony DiPrima, both of whom filled in after Willard left the group in 1999.

Andy Stamets is an American guitarist who was a member of Rocket from the Crypt, Beehive & the Barracudas, and the Sultans.

The discography of Rocket from the Crypt, a San Diego–based alternative rock band active from 1990 to 2005, consists of seven studio albums, two EPs, one live album, two DVDs, twenty-eight singles, and eight music videos.

References

  1. "Group Sounds by Rocket From The Crypt". Metacritic . Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r521476
  3. Alternative Press issue #154, page 84
  4. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  5. "Music Review: 'Group Sounds'". Entertainment Weekly .
  6. Mojo August 2001 issue, page 98
  7. "Noticias música indie". 18 September 2001.
  8. "Rocket from the Crypt : Group Sounds". NME . 12 September 2005.
  9. "Rocket from the Crypt: Group Sounds: Pitchfork Review". 16 June 2001. Archived from the original on 16 June 2001. Retrieved 3 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. Q issue #180, page 110