Get Up Kids/Rocket From the Crypt 7"
Vagrant

You have to hand it to Vagrant Records; they've managed to sign some of the hottest quasi - mainstream indie acts around and with recent roster additions including Hey Mercedes and Rocket From the Crypt, their influence only seem to be getting stronger. Their latest split release stands like a testament to this market dominance and also happens to rock like it was nobody's business. Indie pop darlings The Get Up Kids come out bopping on the record's first side, and though their track follows the same "what if we take a chance on something?" storyline as almost all of their previous efforts, the prominent keyboards and bouncy yet laid-back pace make "Up On The Roof," into a nearly perfect pop song. San Diego rock and roll heroes Rocket From the Crypt explode on the record's flipside with a pounding horn and drum fueled rock and punk assault that should be able to win back some of the fans turned away by their more recent lackluster studio efforts. With "Free Language Demons" chorus of "I'll win you over," John Reis and his RFTC compatriots do just that and certainly put in enough energy to create quite a buzz over their long awaited Vagrant debut. Whether it's used to satiate your appetite during the wait for both artists' future releases or as a much needed introduction to two rather respectable groups, it's hard to argue that this record isn't worth the few dollars it costs and shouldn't receive the many spins it deserves.

(pd)