Pack Up the Cats
Local H · 1998
60 min · 17 tracks · alternative rock
A raw and energetic blend of alternative rock and punk, brimming with sardonic humor and catchy hooks.
Top tracks — play these first
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All-Right (Oh, Yeah) — The opening track sets an upbeat tone with its infectious chorus and self-assured lyrics, encapsulating the album's spirit of youthful rebellion.
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She Hates My Job — This track combines relatable themes of disillusionment with humorous storytelling, showcasing Local H's knack for blending angst with wit.
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All the Kids Are Right — With its catchy riffs and anthemic chorus, this song serves as a rallying cry for misfits, perfectly embodying the album's core message of youthful defiance.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases energetic songwriting and production but has some uneven pacing in its latter half.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a high energy level with fast tempos and aggressive guitar riffs, while the second half introduces more varied dynamics and slower tracks.
- Several tracks feature abrupt transitions, such as 'Hit the Skids or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Rock,' which shifts from a quiet intro to a loud chorus.
- The lyrics often employ sardonic humor, with songs like 'She Hates My Job' presenting relatable themes through a biting lens.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with varied pacing
- sharp introspective lyrics throughout
- wave-like energy shifts
- for late-night drives
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward, consistent tracks
- dislike lyrical introspection
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Solidified their presence in alternative rock with sharp songwriting and energetic production.
- Career context
- Upon releasing Pack Up the Cats in 1998, Local H was transitioning from their breakthrough album, As Good as Dead. This sophomore effort solidified their presence in the alternative rock scene, showcasing their ability to meld biting lyrics with infectious melodies while maintaining a distinctively irreverent tone.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Bush· Stone Temple Pilots· Foo Fighters
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 All-Right (Oh, Yeah) 3:09
- 2 “Cha!” Said the Kitty 2:57
- 3 Lucky 0:48
- 4 Hit the Skids or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Rock 4:38
- 5 500,000 Scovilles 1:36
- 6 What Can I Tell You? 4:52
- 7 Fine and Good 4:08
- 8 Lead Pipe Cinch 1:04
- 9 Cool Magnet 4:07
- 10 She Hates My Job 4:08
- 11 Stoney 1:41
- 12 Laminate Man 3:17
- 13 All the Kids Are Right 3:48
- 14 Deep Cut 2:26
- 15 Lucky Time 4:59
Disc 2
- 1 It’s a Long Way to the Top 4:52
- 2 Answering Machine 7:41
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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