Destroy Destroy Destroy
Battle Sluts
Metalblade Records
8/10
Fucking epic. When the first drum beats/horns of The Second Coming hit my ears, I honestly did not set my expectations too high – if I wanted to hear a fantasy soundtrack I’d go listen to Howard Shore, and on top of that, when the guitar riff started I was immediately reminded of Randy Rhodes…or..something similarly ‘already done’ and thus disappointing in the prospect of being ‘same old’ (ramble ramble) – at any rate it didn’t thrill me until around track four (The Realm of Ancient …

Phil Doucet is no slouch. The Katy Mae lead singer, guitarist and native New Yorker has spent the last several years plowing the musical fields, harvesting a distinctive sound that has earned the band critical acclaim- not to mention attention from the Money Men of the record industry. Now, as the band comes into its own, Doucet catches up with me for a unusually short interview on life, music, and the future of rock n’ roll.
Racket Jack: Nice to talk to you.
Phil Doucet: Thanks, Jack. got a small …

Save Me From Myself/ Washed By Blood
Brian “Head” Welch
HarperOne Publishing
3/10

Wow. What a complete middle finger to fans of Brian “Head” Welch. If you have been in college, then you know this racket:
Your English class requires the 10th edition of a book. The tenth edition is $100 while the 9th edition you can get used for $15. What’s the difference? The chapters are in a different order and the study questions are different, but honestly, how much has the English language changed in the past year? Head, formerly of …

Loved Ones
Distractions
Fat Wreck Chords
6/10
The Loved Ones fans haven’t heard anything new in precisely a year, so here are three new ones to tide them over before a proper LP. These guys have tweaked their punk style over the past two releases for a more sugary sound, likely reaching a little beyond the .org-core punkers and in the direction of “alternative hits” radio. They’ve continued to play smooth and catchy melodic punk enriched with prominent keyboard/piano for a slightly unique sound. This EP’s sound sits somewhere between …

Marked Men
Ghosts
Dirtnap Records
7/10

These guys aren’t reinventing anything here, but they’re good at what they do. With three previous albums under their belt – , they’re making a significant mark in a popular new branch of punk – that pop punk-ish wave that mixes well with garage-rock.
Their sound is reminiscent of Buzzcocks, Jay Reatard, and The Exploding Hearts. It’s all got an upbeat feel, fast paced and poppy just enough to keep your foot tappin’. Catchy riffs and solid smooth vocals – Ghosts gets a plus one for …

Potluck
Pipe Dreams
Suburban Noize
7/10
I am horrified to find this as catchy as it is. Raps flow like bong-water over old-school beats in their latest album, Pipe Dreams. With tracks “Stoner Bitch,” which, I suppose, is their version of a love song and “Hot Box Anthem,” Potluck cement that they are yet another rap duo that loves their reefer. While the multiethnic duo of UnderEstimated and 1 Ton focus on the kind of shit that I don’t really care for or about, no one can dismiss their devotion. Just as I …

John Frusciante
The Empyrean
Record Collection
7/10
Wow, I am really glad I don’t do drugs. This is mostly because they’re expensive and would bar me from most forms of employment. However, if I ever feel like tripping balls, I could always listen to John Frusciante’s new album, The Empyrean. Frusciante did the drugs so you don’t have to! Glimmering guitars and aqueous vocals easily lull you into a sense of safety. If you are looking for the funky riffs associated with Red Hot Chilli Peppers, look elsewhere, but give it a listen if …

Cramps Frontman Lux Interior Dead at 62
The Daily Swarm reports that Lux Interior, frontman of The Cramps (the godfathers of what is now lovingly referred to as psychobilly), has passed away from a pre-existing heart condition at the age of 52. The website cites an official release from Girlie Action, a media representative company who does not list The Cramps as a client on their website. To make matters more suspect the site contains lists of both active and inactive clients. No other reputable source is …