| Rocket | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Primitive Radio Gods |
| Cover: | Primitive Radio Gods Rocket.jpg |
| Released: | June 18, 1996 |
| Recorded: | 1991[1] |
| Genre: | Alternative rock |
| Length: | 46:18 |
| Language: | English |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Producer: | Chris O'Connor |
| Next Title: | White Hot Peach |
| Next Year: | 2000 |
Rocket is the Primitive Radio Gods' debut album, released on June 18, 1996, by Columbia Records.[2] "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" was a hit single.
Despite the critical acclaim surrounding the lead single, the album as a whole received negative reviews from critics. AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "Most of Rocket sounds exactly like somebody messing around with a four-track, more intent on capturing sounds, not songs. Usually, this would at least result in some interesting sounds, but O'Connor hasn't even managed that. At its core, Rocket sounds like a demo tape with one promising song."
Pitchfork writer Ryan Schreiber said, "At any rate, you don't want Rocket in your record collection now or ever since the music sounds like a third-rate, decaffeinated version of Ned's Atomic Dustbin and because, by reading Pitchfork, you've already proven you have better taste than that (I hope)." Schreiber gave it an extremely negative rating of 1.2/10, falling under "Awful, not a single pleasant track". However, Schreiber wrote that "Phone Booth" "as a single, is going to sell like the Rubik's Cube.", but that "as an album? Let's face it: Three minutes is enough for even the most mind-numbed, tasteless societal outcast."
All songs written by Chris O'Connor, except where noted.
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" | Adult Top 40 | 19 |
| 1996 | "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 32 |
| 1996 | "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" | Modern Rock Tracks | 1[3] |
| 1996 | "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" | Top 40 Mainstream | 7 |
| 1996 | "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand" | Hot 100 Airplay | 10[4] |