Sushi Database
by Jamie Burnet
(From a page in March 2006 issue of ROCK FAN)
RF: Since the release of their debut self-titled album in 1995, Raptus Regaliter has managed to keep a loyal punk rock fanbase, even with a style that has undergone radical changes from each album to the next. Now, with the release of their fourth album, they're going to pull it off once again. Here with me is lead singer and songwriter of Raptus Regaliter, Johnny Wisconsin. How are you, Johnny?
JW: I'm feeling great!
RF: How do you feel about this new album?
JW: I think it's definitely the best work we've put out so far. It's hard for me to say that, because each album is so different, but this is definitely my favorite. It sort of, it sort of brings together everything we've done so far, I think.
RF: You new album is called Inverness, correct?
JW: Yes, that's correct.
RF: The song Inverness, that the CD is named after, that's already gotten a lot of play on the radio, and has been received fairly well so far. Do you have any, any comments on it?
JW: Well, I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be very well received, and I think we all were.... because it is a very different song from what we've done on the last two albums. Inverness is, in many ways, an homage to our roots.... but I think it also shows the things we've improved in since we started out.
RF: But as you've said, the album also brings together the aspects of the other two albums, is that right?
JW: Well, I think each of our records has been sort of a progression on the, uh, on the one before it! [laughs] I mean, really, when we released Raptus Regaliter we didn't really know what we were doing, really, we were just... having fun! It wasn't until we got down to recording **** Motel that we really got our arses together and really figured out what sort of sound we wanted!
RF: But then you changed that sound again when you released Pasadena.
JW: We sort of did, yeah. Just One Of Those Days in Pasadena, CA was more of a tribute to Offspring and They Might Be Giants, because that's when Oscar joined up. Pasadena was Oscar's baby. He's brilliant. I cant stress that enough. You dont see him up there on stage, but Oscar is one of us and he's brilliant. Without him Pasadena would be something completely different.
RF: That's Oscar Holmes, one of the songwriters.
JW: Oscar, Rod, and I put the lyrics and music together for Pasadena and Inverness both. Rod and I were here from the start, but Oscar is why Pasadena was so much better than **** Motel. They're totally different albums, so you really can't compare them, but I think Pasadena blows it out of the water.
RF: Now, in Pasadena the style took a turn for the upbeat, and you did get some criticism over that. Is Inverness the same way?
JW: A little of both, sort of. We've got songs like Inverness that are completely different from anything we've done since Raptus Regaliter... and then we've got songs like Dingbat, which is a bit upbeat, like the stuff on Pasadena... and then there's Entropy U.S.A., which is sort of like the style of **** Motel. I think we've perfected the styles from our three albums and found a unique sound that fits us.
RF: I'm interested... what do you guys plan to do now that this is done?
JW: Go on vacation? [laughs] We're not going to stop rocking till they put us in the grave, so yeah, there'll be another album. Just not after a long rest.
Inverness goes on sale Monday, March 13th.
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