Piloting a souped-up time capsule outfitted with everything from Elvis sideburns and matching suits to punchy Stax horns and doo-wopping choruses, San Diego's Rocket From the Crypt play punk rock with roots. On RFTC, Crypt keeper John "Speedo" Reis and his five-man crew tear down the Spector-ish wall of sound that dominated their last CD (1995's Scream, Dracula, Scream!) and refashion the Rocket in the image of their sweatsoaked live shows: Think Gary Glittersize guitar riffs ("Break It Up"), handclapping party anthems ("Dick on a Dog") and New York Dolled-up Motown ("Lipstick"). It's nothing that hasn't been done before, but right now nobody's doing it better than Rocket From the Crypt. (RS 789)

MATT ASHARE