This album was released in August of last year, but it could never be too late to review an album like this.
Step aside Reverend Horton Heat and Social Distortion, War Rocket Ajax has come to steal your fans. With gruff vocals, driving guitar riffs and a fast-paced beat, entertainment, pure and simple, ensues.
The music is influenced by pure Southwestern rock with a dash of punk thrown in for good flavor. Lance Jones' guitar is driving, fast, and melodic . . . he knows what kind of sounds he wants to come from it. Ben Perez's bass seems to keep the music moving, it almost dictates where the guitar is going to go. Finally, Ruben Martinez's drums stay tight with Perez and do a nice of job of keeping it all together.
A couple of times, the Jones' vocals tend to get a little too rough and he loses the reality of his voice . . . it sounds forced. An example of that happens in "Countdown." His voice tends to crack. Could be just the passion of the song...
Lyrically, this band has fun mixing their Texan heritage and the joy they have found in Christ. Such as the story told in "Bullet Train to Heck." (My personal favorite) The story tells of two trains, one luxury train going to "Heck" and another one that is not so nice, going to Heaven. It may seem a nicer ride and more convenient, but which would you rather have, "The seats are all recliners and the waitress, she's real nice, just singin' a song as you roll along..." knowing you are going to a horrible place; or would you rather deal with "...the view's not quite so pretty / and the seats ain't quite so nice..." knowing you will spend eternity in Heaven? The tune of the song is reminiscent of "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" (I know it's not Texas) mixed with the narrative touch of Junior Brown.
Get ready to tap your toes and get into a cow-poke pit . . . it's time for War Rocket Ajax.
Similar sounding releases
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199930 Foot FallEver Revolving, Never Evolving
2000The Lawrence Arms / Shady View TerraceShady View Terrace / The Lawrence Arms
1999Falling Sickness / DysenteryFalling Sickness / Dysentery
2002The Thriftshop JunkiesDead Men Tell No Tales
2000Face ValueThere's Always the Radio
