Rocket From The Crypt’s second album initially appeared on the independent Headhunter label, but their rep and the bubble of San Diego being ‘the next Seattle’ after Nirvana’s breakthrough lead to a rerelease on Interscope some months later. Little surprise why: John Reis and company, now including a two person horn section, created a rough, ready and engaging blast of SoCal punk rock that never felt rote, from the alt radio hit “Hippy Dippy Do” to the woozy singalong “Ditch Digger” to the concluding sprawl (and unexpected pot ode) of “Glazed.”

– Ned Raggett