Rocket From the Crypt

First things first, this is not a live album at all. It is, in fact, the ninth studio offering from these ever dapper horned-up rabble-rousers (not counting the two All Systems Go! compilations). You should also know that these ten songs are among the best the band has ever committed to disc. Staying close to their garage rock roots and putting all those new school retro rock outfits to shame (the Vines, the Hives, we're talking to you), the disc clocks in at just 26 minutes, ensuring that no time is wasted on excessive guitar wanking or the like. But that's not to say that it's entirely business as usual in Rocket land. In addition to the requisite blistering guitars, relentlessly driving backbeats and complementary horn fills, "Can You Hear It?” and "I Wanna Know What I Wanna Know” introduce strings into the mix, giving the otherwise straight-ahead rock numbers an almost symphonic feel. Fear not, though, this isn’t your daddy’s Electric Light Orchestra record.