With the swing fad thankfully over and their horn section gone for good, Green Room Blues finds The Deluxtone Rockets pursuing a more rockabilly-oriented direction. Several tracks bring to mind Wreck Your Life-era Old 97s, while others recall nothing so much as Johnny Cash-lite. Only the closer, "Judgment Day," recalls the swing Rockets of old, and even it, with the absence of horns, doesn't sound trendy.
Frontman Johnny Rocketti isn't a bad songwriter, but his main problem is that he tries to cover too much musical territory. Case in point: the very rockabilly opener "Broken Heart" melts into a well-executed, if poorly positioned cover of The Cure's classic "Love Song." The rest of the album follows suit, going from swing to country ballad to rockabilly and back again--this is disorienting, and cuts up the album too much. Too bad, because with the amount of fun this band injects into both their music and their live shows, this album could have been great.
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Eric DaamsThe Deluxtone Rockets have returned two years after their energetic, self titled party album which, to me, was one of the major highlights of the swing/ska revival. They've returned, but not the same. They've gone from six-piece to four piece, having abandoned their three piece horn section completely. Two new members, Rodney (from the Calicoes) on drums and Lonnie with the fretboard, join lead…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Chelsea LewisThe Deluxtone Rockets have adopted a new sound on Green Room Blues, with more rockabilly and less swing. With no horn section, the band sounds different and their lyrics have taken a great leap from their debut. In addition to a new sound, the band has two new members and although they are still called the Deluxtone Rockets, they seem to be a new group. Overall, the songs are enjoyable, but…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinSans horns, the Rockets boldly revamp their previous sound, pushing further into rowdy rockabilly territory and away from swing. The new songs retain the signature bass, guitar, and drum core, yet expand their sound with unexpected but pleasant piano flourishes, among other surprise passementerie. Under the tutelage of the late, great Gene Eugene (Producer Extraordinaire), the Rockets have…Similar sounding releases
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