All the Ghosts of Rock 'n' Roll

Fans of Darryl Read’s work with proto-punk pioneers Crushed Butler may find 2010’s All the Ghosts of Rock ‘n’ Roll to be the closest-sounding outing since the 1969 recordings that comprised Uncrushed. The title-track opens like Funhouse-era Stooges playing through early Black Sabbath’s Orange gear as Read continues to further blur the lines between punk’s high-energy tantrums and hard rock’s hammer-dropping riffs. “Freedom Roads” takes a Doorsy detour which actually makes sense after Read’s work in 2000 with Ray Manzarek on Freshly Dug. “I’ll Miss You Tonight” illustrates how punk can morph into garage-rock with the simple additions of a jangly guitar and tambourine, while “Keep Movin’ the Beat” plays like pub-rock with rootsy chords and tones seeping in and bolstering swaggered gang-vocals to the melody. The punch-throwing “Brand New Day” sounds inspired by the Creation’s “Biff Bang Pow” in melody and by Australia’s Lobby Loyde in unhinged musical attack. “I’m In Love With A Girl Like You” swings and hits like pockets of the California underground where ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll gets blasted through huge ‘70s amps.