Primal Scream - Riot City Blues (Columbia)
2/5
By: Matt Tomiak
Opinion is divided on Primal Scream's 1994 Stones-aping opus 'Give Out But Don't Give In'. Is it Bobby Gillespie and co.'s prιcis of the joyfully unhinged, ebullient abandon of rock n' roll's purest, most ageless essence, or a shamelessly clichιd, miserably derivative baloney? Hmmm. What was that bit in 'This Is Spinal Tap' about the 'thin line between clever and stupid'?
They've taken on many guises in the interim period, but on 'Riot City Blues', the now distinctly middle-aged Scream are attempting to re-invoke the spirit of 'GOBDGI'- with decidedly mixed results. Opener 'Country Girl' ranks amongst their most uncomplicatedly enjoyable work - a preposterously infectious barnstormer that aspires to be 'Jumpin' Jack Flash', but in truth is redolent of nothing so much as - oh yes - mid 90's euro-poppers Rednex's yet-more-ludicrous hit 'Cotton Eye Joe.' Regardless of original intent, it's not the sound of a band taking themselves too seriously.
But alas, much of what follows on 'Riot City Blues' lacks any sense of fun. Indeed, the often thunderous lack of self-awareness borders on the Tap-esque; 'I feel like Christ on the cross with a loaded gun' declares Gillespie on gormless blues workout 'Nitty Gritty'. By the time we find old Bob delivering lyrics like 'I'm the garbage man/I'm the garbage man/I'll stick my fingers in your trash can' on 'We're Gonna Boogie'...well, its just a step away from 'Lick My Love Pump', isn't it?
The mid album pairing of the sinister 'When The Bomb Drops' and 'Little Death' briefly recall the ominous wallop of 2000's remarkable 'Xtrmntr', but whilst 'Riot City Blues' aims at updating 'Exile on Main Street', it simply ends up as a sequel to 'Smell The Glove.'
Artists in this article: Primal Scream
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment