Search - Rye Coalition :: On Top

Possibly the best hard rock album of 2002.

Barry Offwhite | Antarctica | 09/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How does an album that combines the best elements of AC/DC and The Jesus Lizard sound to you? If you're like me, you say "excuse me, where do I sign up?""On Top," it must be said, is a huge departure for Rye Coalition. While "Hee Saw Dhuh Kaet" and "The Lipstick Game" were both clearly born of the 90's noise-punk aesthetic, "On Top" is 45 minutes full of slightly off-kilter FM Radio riffing and ironic sex lyrics. It's kind of unsettling, as you can tell that Rye are taking themselves much, much, much less seriously this time around and just having fun rawkin' out in an appropriately cheesy manner. The songs are better-written and anthemic this time around, miles from the atonal, yet fun, screeching of "Hee Saw Dhuh Kaet," and topping the previous high-water mark of "The Lipstick Game."But before you think that Rye Coaliton are just treading the water left in the Tight Bros From Way Back When's wake,Rye Coalition attack this music with such glee that it just seems natural. All ten tracks are bloody great rock and roll songs, but side one is definately stronger, with each barn-burning track rocking harder than the last, climaxing with the "Give the kids a shot! What is it they want?" chant of "Stop Eating While I'm Smoking.""

Jesus Lizard + Led Zeppelin = AWESOME.

cplewis | Merrifield, Virginia United States | 10/11/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Rye Coalition have been destined for a major label for a long time -- they are way more deserving of radio play than other "mainstream indie" bands like the Hives and the Strokes, and yet until the Summer of 2003 when they signed to DreamWorks, they were largely unappreciated. Only time will tell where their new major-label home will take them.But all that history has nothing to do with the quality of "On Top". In short, this album rocks. The homage to classic rock song titles are a little much ("stairway to the free bird on the way to the smokey water"?!), but don't let that get in the way of your enjoyment of the actual songs, which really will shake you all night long. The only disappointment in this album is that the energy that these songs have live -- especially the album-closer "Honky, Please!" -- gets a little lost in the studio recordings. The lyrics are meaningless, but you won't care -- you'll be too busy shaking your booty."