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.

Group Sounds
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 6, 2001
Recorded2000/2001
GenrePunk rock, rock and roll
Length35:29 (US)
43:19 (EUR)
LabelVagrant, B-Unique (Europe)
ProducerRocket 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
Metacritic77/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Alternative Press4/5[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[5]
Mojo[6]
Mondosonoro8/10[7]
NME[8]
Pitchfork Media8.2/10[9]
Q[10]

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

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  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

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

Personnel

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Album information

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  • Record label: Vagrant Records
  • Produced by Rocket From the Crypt
  • Tracks 1, 3, 5, 8 & 10 recorded and mixed by Donnell Cameron at Westbeach Recorders in Hollywood
  • Tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, 13 & 15 recorded and mixed by Stuart Sikes and Easley-McCain Recorders in Memphis
  • Tracks 6, 11, 12, 14 & 16 recorded by Chad Blinman at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles and mixed by Mark Trombino at Ecstasy Studios in Los Angeles
  • Mastered by Eddy Schreyer
  • Design and layout by Dave Lively and Rocket From the Crypt
  • Band photos by Shigeo Kikuchi

References

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  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