Is New Jersey in the house? I can’t hear you! Is New Jersey in the house? Fuck, yeah! Rye Coalition, a band that has been pounding out straight-up rock ‘n roll for over a decade and has toured whenever there’s money enough in the swear jar to buy a tank or two of gas, has put out a stellar, frenzied release worthy of the highest praise. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that rock royalty Dave Grohl decided to produce the thing and even backs the band with some vocals, percussion, and guitar work on a few very tasty tunes. Make no mistake, however, Rye is in the driver’s seat from the opening balls-out “Pussyfootin’” to the closing “Achilles’ Wheelchair,” dripping with a reckless abandon reserved for those few musical mavens that have earned their place atop the heap of cheap imitators and less-than-dedicated weekend warriors. Step aside, you feeble-kneed mama’s boys, leadman Ralph Cuseglio howls through “Burn The Masters” and “Cigarette Catastrophe,” stunning any listener that he’s got enough left in the pipes for the following aptly titled “Young Yellers.” “Clutch The Pearls” never lets up long enough during a sweet mid-song tempo break to doubt that these guys brought their A game for each and every tune. Don’t expect an easy ballad, as Justin Morey’s bass-driven “Secret Heat” is the closest thing to romantic that you’re going to get. “True Love By The Hour” begins soft (the way you want it) and ends up nice and rough (the way you need it), further showcasing Rye’s masterful use of an oft-repeated catchy chorus underpinned by the clockwork drumming of Dave Leto. What are we left with? “Tequila Mockingbird (P.T.E.)” lands these guys closer to the catalog of AC/DC than a humorous take on the literary leanings of Harper Lee. “Between An I-Roc And A Hard Place” and “Vietnam Veterinarian” allow Herb Wiley and Jon Gonnelli to flex their chops with more concise, flashy licks, establishing the true guitar centered sound that is the basis of the band’s magic milieu. We’ve got the sex, we’ve got the rock and the roll, so “Cocaine Werewolf” clearly covers the final ingredient of a highly anticipated musical masterpiece put out by a bunch of rag-tag Garden State boys that refuse to ever call it quits. Also included along with the album is a revealing documentary by the daring and dedicated underground filmmaker Jenni Matz that captures Rye Coalition at their best and worst both on and off the stage, curses be damned.

(Gern Blandsten Records, PO Box 356, River Edge, NJ 07661)