1995

Deafening riffs! Blasting horns! Silver bowling shirts! Four chord symphonies! Only the genius of John Reis and ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT could create all of these items simultaneously. "Scream Dracula Scream" is a searing collection of distinctive punk rock 'n roll masterpieces like "On a Rope" and "Suit City" that crash through the speakers like a steel cage match between THE DICTATORS, THE SAINTS, JAMES BROWN and IKE TURNER. The production is raw 'n raunchy even by punk standards, but perhaps a little slick compared to previous RFTC works like "Paint as a Fragrance". Although RFTC boasts one of the most clunker-free discographies of any 90s-era band, "Scream Dracula Scream" comes closest to bringing Reis' twisted, creative vision to fruition. It's one of those perfect discs for highway speeding that belongs in your car at all times. Crank it.

Picks of the litter, 1995: