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Group Sounds
EMAILPRINTby Rocket From The Crypt
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 12 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Vagrant
Release Date: 06 March 2001
Discs: 1 cd
Genre(s): Rock, Indie, Alternative
Summary
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Magnet
Let's face it: Group Sounds is shit. But it's pure shit, which makes all the difference.... Everything is overdiven and mixed to within a decibel of ear-shattering heaviosity. It isn't just monstrous, it's gleefully, unapologetically monstrous. [#49, p.88]
Wall of Sound
Yet for all its adrenaline-rush thrills, the RFTC sound is also surprisingly complex. Like Phil Spector's '60s pop masterpieces for The Ronettes and Righteous Brothers, the sonic density of Group Sounds is actually composed of virtuoso performances and subtle nuances...
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
Group Sounds is nonstop, straight-ahead rock for the most part, more reminiscent of Scream, Dracula, Scream!, but with enough flourishes to keep things from sounding too monochromatic.... Right through to the end, every song on Group Sounds is solid, pure, high-octane Rocket fuel.
Read Full Review >Mojo
If rock'n'roll is supposed to be dying, then these are exactly the guys we want manning the emergency room. [Aug 2001, p.98]
All Music Guide
Ten years since Rocket's first full-length, the sextet still sounds like they're on a live wire with an endless power source, as inspiring here as ever before.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
The variety of classic Rocket elements are evident, even more finely honed: bits of soul revue energy (Spector-esque backing vocals, tambourines and tight horn arrangements), songwriterly anthemic release, nods to classic punk auteurs, sexy South-of-the-Border flirtations with danger wrapped in a dynamic, snaky musical package and other frenetic new gems.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
An admixture of Stax soul, raw-boned punk rock, and California beach-pop that sounds more focused than their previous outing, 1998's R.F.T.C. [#154, p.84]
Neumu.net
Group Sounds may not be astonishingly great, but it mostly rocks with the raw, excellent sound RFTC has come to own.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Group Sounds is as good as anything they've put their name to previously. [#180, p.110]
Entertainment Weekly
After 10 years, RFTC have perfected their mix of muscular guitar riffs and bristling horns; it's the songwriting that's hit a dead end. [3/9/2001, p.82]
Splendid
Yes, it has a certain something that makes you bob your head and/or shake your ass to songs that you'd probably be ticked off by if someone drove past your pad blasting them out his windows. But no, it's not the stuff that great CDs are made of.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Ben J gave it a 10:
I fail to find a RFTC album which isnt amazing, this one is no exception. Its quality stuff, with 3/4 of the album pure rftc style punk and 2 songs "SOS" and "Ghost shark" which are peaceful, sad and really shows the other side of RFTC.
Dave O. gave it a 9:
straight from the heart rock and roll. great!!!
The Holy Sinner gave it a 8:
I, upon first listen, thought less of the new Rocket From the Crypt album, "Group Sounds", but REPEATED listens to RFTC albums is ALWAYS what separates them from any other mere mortal band. The Crypt isn't just flying high on "Group Sounds", man, they're fucking flying solo. Noone sounds like the Crypt. Period. Their inimitable blend of punk, r&b, soul, and git'cher ass moving anthems like "Return of the Liar", are as strong and prominent as ever. The production reminds me of their 1992 classic, "Circa, Now!",which is appropriate, considering that engineer Donnell Cameron worked on both albums. Speedo sings as passionately as ever, and for those that think that the band's musicianship has evolved at the expense of the songwriting, look no further than the instantly memorable melodies in "Heart of a Rat", "Dead Seeds", and the beautiful chorus of "This Bad Check is Going to Stick". Why The 'Crypt isn't massively more successful than they are, is beyond me.
Jack G gave it a 10:
One of the best Punk/R&R albums of all time!
