Completely ignored when it was released, one of the finest albums of 2001 was undoubtedly Ghost Ship, the debut from San Diego's band of pirates, Sultans. A virtual textbook of raw rock and roll for bands trying to pawn off watered-down garage rock onto the unassuming masses, Ghost Ship was a collection of 13 songs in under 25 minutes that was so blistering it left listeners blown away by the quality.
Sultans are in fact led by Rocket from the Crypt's Speedo, the unofficial King of San Diego rock and roll. Taking on the nom de guerre "Slasher" and pictured with the requisite eye patch, Sultans one-off nature was thwarted recently with the release of Shipwrecked, the band's follow-up release for Speedo's Swami record label.
Where Ghost Ship pounded, Shipwrecked is a much more subdued affair with mixed results. Focusing less on garage rock and taking cues from more relaxed '60s rock bands, the album is characterized by Speedo's excellent vocal delivery and melodic guitars, not his ability to create foot-stomping rock songs. Opening with "It Meant Nothing" and "Try To Forget You," the album has a more polished sound that doesn't sit well with the gruff tendencies the band is known for. It takes "Shut Up and Sit Down" to really sit up and pay attention to the album. A fist pumping anthem with backing vocals over a perfect backbeat, the track should have been the blueprint for Shipwrecked, not the exception.
With Rocket from the Crypt fans wondering whether the band will continue in the future, it is slightly troubling to hear the cool Speedo sing something so out of character as on "I Wanna Be With You Tonight" where he sings: "Why did I choose this kind of life? Every move a sacrifice." While there are plenty of quality moments on Shipwrecked, the album overall is not typical of what fans have come to expect from Speedo. With the future uncertain, Shipwrecked doesn't help to quell fears that the Rocket from the Crypt era is over.
1. It Meant Nothing
2. Try To Forget You
3. Shut Up and Sit Down
4. Please Don't Leave Me On the Highway
5. I Can't Change
6. Jet Lag
7. I Just Can't Take It
8. Too Tough
9. Walk of Shame
10. Regret
11. I Wanna Be With You Tonight
12. Peril-ized
13. One Way St.