The HorrorPops’ 2004 debut, Hell Yeah!, promulgated a schmaltzy shockabilly act — a colored Mohawk, skull tattoos, and leather pants mode that afflicts lingering Rancid-ites who still think such Hot Topic gear is “street.” With its sophomore slab, though, gone is most of the band’s ska and lyrical faux-fury, replaced with big, groping guitar licks (“Crawl Straight Home”) and re-revved-up sock-hop spooking (“Walk Like a Zombie”). A willingness to downshift a gear into a love song (“Hit ‘n’ Run”), singer Patricia Day’s decision to cool off on the girlie cooing, and the whiplash surprise endings on each tune prove the HorrorPops are well into a reinvention. Think a boppin’, dopey Siouxsie and the Banshees, with Rick Rubin panting in the wings to produce the next one.
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