You want rock? You got it. Songs like "All-Right (Oh Yeah)," "Hit the Skids...," and "Deep Cut" (and others, of course) are just as loud [rear-end]-kickin' as anything else the band has released. And of course, the lyrics are full of Scott Lucas' simple-but-smart sarcasm - "All the Kids Are Right" is a prime example.

But when "Pack Up the Cats" truly becomes a great album - not just by H standards, but by ANY standards - is when it diversifies. "Fine and Good" and "Lucky Time" are far more quiet/melodic than is typical of Local H, and they pull it off brilliantly. What's more, the album feels totally unified, both musically and thematically. Songs flow into one another in such a way that it's incredibly easy to lose track of time and listen to the entire album - even when you intended to sit down for just one song. And the lyrics throughout the album work so well together that many consider "Pack Up the Cats" a concept album, telling a single cohesive story.

To sum it up, "Pack Up the Cats" is one of those genre-busting albums that I think ALL rock music listeners - not just grunge fans - should check out.

One amazing album
Long, long ago, for no real reason, I decided to purchase this CD by Local H. At my first listening, I was dumbfounded. I thought,"Hmm, this is odd. No real singles except for 'All the kids are Right'. I think I'll ignore it." But, after many listenings, and a few years of evolution in my musical taste, I realized that I love this CD. Its one of the only CDs I've ever sat down and listened to, straight through, without doing anything else; I have a very short attention span, though I love music, and its rare that I can do such a thing. But that's what this CD is all about. Each track flows into the next, and some re-appear later in the disc for a brief moment before or after another track; you can hear several similar tones and riffs flowing into other songs. I think its just one long story about a man's journey into and out of Super Rock-Stardom. It don't matter, anyway. Each track is so unique and yet tied to previous ones. Tracks like, "Lucky" and "Lucky Time" relate very strongly, and yet they say something different about how the guy feels and all. There's a lot of strange variation in the background music; you can listen to the background of, "How I learned..." and hear all kinds of great stuff: Crazy beepings, muted covnersation, etc. Simply put, this CD is really awesome. In a time when artists are known for their singles, this album makes you really listen to what an experimental rock album can sound like with a little creativity. Word of Warning: "As Good As Dead" is not nearly as artistic.

Cool cats.
Great party record. LOCAL H rocks with a spirited enthusiasm that hits the mark by not taking themselves as seriously as they take their music. This album is chock full of hard kicking beats, crunchy guitars, and good, clean hook. Cool band and a great recording that plays well (and LOUD) on fridays at quitting time.

Absolutely great
I can't get bored of this CD. I really hope more people get into this band. Local H is like listening to five albums in one, the slow stuff sounds like Elliott Smith while the rest of it makes me think of Screaming Trees, Cheap Trick, Nirvana, Lemonheads, Urge Overkill, Replacements etc... Check it out.

Everything is Fine
After picking up and thoroughly listening to Local H's 1996 album, 'As Good As Dead,' I had to pick up 'Pack Up The Cats' as well. Frankly, my expectations weren't that high. As good of a grunge record AGAD may be, it is rather inconsistent in terms of sound. I expected the same here.

Boy, was I wrong.

'Pack Up The Cats' far exceeds it. It's 48 minutes and 15 songs full of listening entertainment. The music is fun yet pure grunge in the vein of Cobain. Local H also displays their ability to create somewhat slower, more melancholy music, as can be heard in "Fine & Good." The most positive, and perhaps its worst factor, is the album is much more unified than AGAD. 'Cats' really isn't a singles album and it wound up hurting Local H in the end, as they were dropped from their record label. It is only too bad that this record did not get the attention it deserved.

Why am I giving this record such praise and yet not giving it five stars? Well, I see potential in this band that has not been tapped to this point. I still need to pick up their new record (which is on an indie label, btw) and hear it out to be certain. But, clearly, this band deserves whatever attention it isn't getting, for whatever reason.
The title of the fourth song on Local H's third album sums up the spirit of the release: "Hit the Skids, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Rock." Ever since its emergence on the hard rock scene four years ago, the band has been lambasted for blatantly mimicking Nirvana. At first Local H resented such criticism, but now they've stopped worrying and learned to simply rock. Pack Up the Cats is the band's finest offering by far, matching the energy and volume of past releases but incorporating stronger melodies and hooks than in the past. The first single, "All the Kids Are Right," starts like a drawling Everclear ballad, then launches into a soaring chorus straight from the Oasis songbook. Other tracks, such as "Cha! Said the Kitty" and "What Can I Tell You," are less original but equally appealing. These cats have finally come of age. --Jon Wiederhorn