FILE UNDER: It’s all downhill from here.
CORPORATE LINE: Riot City Blues’ is Primal Scream’s follow-up album to the electro-tinged ‘Evil Heat’, although it could easily be compared in style and content to their 1994 masterpiece ‘Give Out But Don’t Give In’. Bluesy, punky swagger and New York Dolls-esque melodies abound, marking this album out as a more organic affair than Bobby Gillespie & Co’s previous two albums. Includes the single ‘Country Girl’.Recorded at London’s Olympic Studios and produced by former Killing Joke bassist Youth. This offering from Bobby Gillespie and the boys, which includes the single ‘Country Girl’, features guest contributions from Will Sergeant (Echo & The Bunnymen), Warren Ellis (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) and Alison Mosshart (The Kills).
THE GOOD:
Nothing.
THE AVERAGE:
“Little Death” – Its painful to hear a song like this psychedelic track that has so much promise and never delivers.
“Country Girl” – This is as close to a good song that Riot City brings. The funky country style isn’t bad entirely—it’s just misguided. Anyone remember Cracker? Well it’s not that good.
“Nitty Gritty” – A funky rock song that cancels decent verses with an appallingly bad chorus that is desperately trying to mimic the Rolling Stones.
THE BAD:
“Suicide Sally & Johnny Guitar” – Senseless. Even a decent guitar solo can’t save this sinking ship.
“We’re Gonna Boogie” – A bad idea from the lame beat to the horrifying lyrics. Is this amateur hour?
“Hell’s Comin’ Down” – Pure agony as they attempt another country-rock track that styles itself from Johnny Cash’s “Jackson.”
FRANKLY: If only Primal Scream would have attempted ten songs similar to “Little Death” than Riot City Blues might have produced a few songs worth taking notice. And yet, Riot City Blues goes down the drain with songs that are all over the place from garage-band to classic-rock to punk rock amongst the hodge-podge.
+ Rae Gun
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