Years ago, punk group Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies released their two-and-a-half-minute joyride version of "Science Fiction, Double Feature" on their Broadway covers collection, Are a Drag, alongside staples "What I Did for Love," "The Rainbow Connection," and "Over the Rainbow." In 2003, they are one of the few mainstream punk acts on The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show, an odyssey of curious interpretations of one of the most solid musical catalogs.

Besides Me First's energetic "Science Fiction," the album contains a variety of hits and terrifying misses. Still, it's not much of a crime, considering the last Rocky Horror collection was the atrocious Absolute Pleasure, which while it featured a more ecclectic number of styles, for the most part was better left unsung.

Much of the actual music for the punk covers is quite good. Alkaline Trio's "Over at the Frankenstein Place" has some excellent orchestration; but the vocals don't match very well. The swoony, breezy "Once in a While" - a song editted out of the film version - resembles the 2002 Broadway Revival cast recording more than anything else, right down to the incidental music that's now used as an intro. The track itself is over seven minutes long. If that seems a bit excessive, well, it is.

"Dammit Janet" by Love Equals Death and Katie Floyd provides a hit-and-run assault of the Brad and Janet love song; it all happens so fast (and loudly), it's a bit of a blur. The Groovie Ghoulies probably at least had fun doing "The Time Warp," but there's not much else going on there either; disappointing, definately, considering it is one of Rocky's signature songs.

Usually the openly - and graphic - gay punk band Pansy Division are a little raunchier in their delivery. Since they're covering "I Can Make You a Man," one should assume that the song's blatant sexuality could be matched with some heavy breathing, or a feigned orgasm - neither tactic new to their repitoire. However, the Division leaves us high and dry with this flaccid remake that sounds as if they are begrudingly performing it simply because it's the closest thing to a gay sex song on the soundtrack. They sound friggin' bored. Me, too.

He'll eat nutritious high protein and swallow raw eggs;
try to build up his shoulders, his chest, arms, and legs.
Such an effort if he only knew of my plan;
in just seven days, I can make you a man.

He'll do press-ups, and chin-ups, do the snatch, clean, and jerk.
He thinks dynamic tension must be hard work.
Such strenuous living I just don't understand
when in just seven days, oh baby, I can make you a man.

- Pansy Division, "I Can Make You a Man."

A track that is fairly impressive is the oft-forgotten "Planet Schmanet, Janet," which is in the film, but not featured on the original soundtrack. Performed by Tsunami Bomb, the vocals are female and confidantly sung. A trend of covers is an artist afraid of the material, and unwilling to make it their own. Tsunami avoids this trap and delivers a fresh reworking. They get bonus points for including Dr. Scott's spacey monologue, but understandable demerits for cutting the "Planet Hot Dog" second half. Forgiveable; it's not on the remastered soundtrack, either.

"Sword of Damocles" is presented as if a bonus track for the Pharoah from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. It sounds like someone imitating someone imitating Elvis. It amuses, and considering the fact that it's one of the less memorable originals, they approach it was appealing enthusiasm. "Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul" was originally sung by Meat Loaf, so they have gigantic shoes to fill; the Phenomenauts don't bother. The sound effects compliment the song nicely, as if the character Eddie was singing from a space age meat locker. Also, in place of the sax, there's a rather great guitar solo.

For the Floorshow trilogy, the "Rose Tint My World" (Luckie Strike) hits quickly, is over almost as quickly, and features an arrangement pleasant enough, even though the singers are tripping over the meter by the end of the song. Stunt Monkey's "Don't Dream It" is a good cover with the performers treating it as if it were "The Time Warp" or some such signature song; the Dr. Scott monologue seems out of place, however, and most curiously, the line in "Don't Dream It," "God bless Lily St. Cyr" has become "God save Lily St. Cyr." In the final segment, "Wild and Untamed Thing" gets Gametime's 1981 synth, harmonious makeover. It's actually quite great. Gametime should be contacted for any Shock Treatment collection.

Ditto that for "I'm Going Home," by the Migraines, who take on the normally sullen ballad to head-bopping heights. Worth mentioning is the fact that guitarist and vocalist Shawn Browning is actually the person who conceived The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show to begin with.