One of the most volcanic punk acts currently tearing up dives, New Bomb Turks are clearly influenced by the Stooges, the Sex Pistols and arcane garage bands like Devil Dogs and Lazy Cowgirls. But it's the Turks' affinity for rootsy rockers like the Rolling Stones and Jerry Lee Lewis that sets them apart. On their fourth studio album, At Rope's End, the Turks are as raw and raucous as ever, but the songs are tempered by jaunty cadences, melodic refrains and striking instrumental embellishments. "Defiled" interrupts a Bad Religion-gone-bad chorus with a free-jazz saxophone solo. "Bolan's Crash" – the only track slower than a fleeing getaway car – augments drawling vocals and piano-bar keyboards with banjo and weeping pedal-steel guitar. Toss in smartass lyrics like "I can't believe how much I've puked'til I think of all the shit I ate" ("Ally Smile"), and you're left with a drunken wakeup call to anyone who thinks Blink 182 are punk. (RS 786)

JON WIEDERHORN