In Casino Out

At the Drive-In | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 18, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fearless Records
• ASIN: B00000BKBR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,285 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From 1994-2000, At The Drive-In held the attention of music fans and critics alike. During their career, they released three albums and numerous EPs. You can hear their influence today on so many releases across the rock genre. Members have gone on to form The Mars Volta, Sparta, and various other projects. "Displaying an earnest intensity befitting pre-irony U2, At The Drive-In are an exhilarating and exhausting experience--the sight of five young men ever pushing against and beyond the limits of physical and emotional endurance with crusader zeal"--Rolling Stone. In early 2005, look for the "Anthology" CD of greatest hits, exclusive unreleased tracks, rarities, covers, videos, interviews, and exclusive live footage.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic real rock 'n' roll record, January 7, 2005

By 

Chris Edwards (East Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Casino Out (Audio CD)

Okay, so Sparta is generally acknowledged as a great band and the Mars Volta are called geniuses. I dunno...I've got the records, and they're alright, but nothing can beat the albums that members of the two aforementioned groups put out under the name At the Drive-In. All of the records rocked, seriously, but "In Casino Out" is probably the band's most intense musical statement, and one of the most intense records I can remember hearing.
On "In Casino Out," the twin-guitar attack of Jim Ward and Omar Rodriguez sizzles--their jagged and angular post-punk riffage (rock critic analogies abound when describing these guys) propels so many of the songs into classic territory, like the dissonant "Pickpocket" and the lumbering syncopated riffs of "Lopsided." Even more conventional tunes like "For Now...We Toast" sound revolutionary, and that's also due to Cedric Bixler's vocalization and lyrics. The songwriting is superb, and even though many of the lyrics read like pissed-off tone poems, with very abstruse pronouncements, every tune has something in it, emotionally, that the listener can identify with. The mostly delicate, meticulous "Napoleon Solo" is one of the most beautiful songs the group ever recorded. Right when Cedric hisses "Cut and paste/Are you sitting down?," your attention is grabbed. I don't think rock 'n' roll was ready for a band as intense as At the Drive-In and I don't think we'll ever hear another band like this again.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A personal favorite and a defining sound, February 16, 2002

By 

Alec "Alec" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: In Casino Out (Audio CD)

More refined than Acrobatic Tenement and without Ross Robinson's influence on Relationship of Command, In Casino Out is the quintessential release of At the Drive-In. An extremely raw and jagged album, In Casino Out is a true feel for the now-legendary band At the Drive-In, showing their punk rock roots and increadible ability to write driving, akward melodies.

In comparison to their other releases, In Casino Out is one of their best and most honest releases. While Relationship of Command is an excellent release under any standards, Ross Robinson's influence on the band made it more aggressive and smooth than any other release, a sign of a good producer. In Casino out, however, is as powerful, or more powerful, than the latter. Songs like "Chanbara" rely greatly on the proficiency of the two guitarists and their unique styles of playing, while a song like Alpha Centauri deals greatly with their ability to change the tempo of the song in between segments of it. The band's full ability can be seen on this record, not yet polished yet unrestrained and at their cataclysmic best.

This cd is my personal favorite out of all the releases, smoking the competition and providing a great staple of the sound of rock to come. Pick up a copy if you are already familiar with the At the Drive-In sound

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music/Listen/Repeat, August 6, 2006

By 

LeftManOut (TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Casino Out (Audio CD)

At The Drive In have long been praised as one of the most innovative and extraordinary groups in music. However there was a time in their career when they were just finding their footing and growing into the monster they would become. The trial stage was "Acrobatic Tenement", but with this, their sophomore album "In/Casino/Out", At The Drive In displayed what they have been known for, for years now : Amazing song-writing. If you're not familiar with the early stages that the band went through to get to where they were, then this is of the utmost importance to listen to. Not just that, but it is even more evidence as to why At The Drive In was easily one of the best bands of the last 10 years, and one of the most inspirational and original groups to emerge in music.

"Alpha Centauri" opens the album in dizzying fashion, giving way to shattering guitar chords, frantic drumming, and a soulful performance by front man Cedric. Jim and Omar play off one another with interesting (and most impressive) guitar structures and progressions, that at most times will leave your jaw on the floor. However they are only complimented by Paul's rumbling bass lines and Tony's outlandish drumming. And this is just the first song. Don't get comfortable, because as quickly as "Alpha Centauri" ends, the jarring, schizophrenic "Chanbara" kicks in showcasing its wild yells, interesting drumming and excellent lyrics. You can hear a bit of Mars-Volta-ish style vocals during the verse, which was a sign of things that would come in the future after At The Drive In's break-up. But just as quickly as the band can floor you with the powerful tracks, driving numbers like "Napoleon Solo" and "Hourglass" show how diverse they can get at the drop of a hat. However I wouldn't say this is a difficult listen at all. "Hulahoop Wounds", "For Now.. We Toast" and "Transatlantic Foe" are all upbeat and accessible, but they are easily balanced out by more aggressive pieces like "Shaking Hand Incision" and "A Devil Among The Tailors." There's such a wide range of dynamics and writing on here, it's hard to get bored with anything the band presents.

Of all the 11 tracks to be found on the album though, "Lopsided" has got to be the absolute best. I will go as far as to say it's the best song the band has ever written. Now of course I hold a certain bias since it is both the first song I ever heard by the band and my personal favorite. Like all the songs found on the disc, the lyrics are absolutely stunning (Cedric is really one of the greatest writers in music) and the musicianship is unparalleled. Furthermore it's probably the most strikingly different tune that the band has ever recorded. While every song on the record is an instant classic in and of itself, "Lopsided" truly set the standard for what I held At The Drive In too.

After all is said and done, there is not a single moment on this cd that is anything less than enjoyable. While this album is not considered as great as their final album "Relationship Of Command", (I have no idea why though) "In/Casino/Out" is really a necessary purchase for all fans of the band, and indie-rock/post-hardcore in general. It was really the biggest stepping stone in the band's discography, and if it lead to great products like "Vaya" and "Relationship Of Command," it would seem like there is little to complain about. While "Acrobatic Tenement" was a bit pre-mature, "In/Casino/Out" was truly when this band become one of the innovators in modern music. Easily deserves the endless mass of praise.