Primal Scream - Riot City Blues

Genre rock Publisher Columbia Records External Links Official Primal Scream Website Official Columbia Records Website

The world, so full of endodontists and LOOGYs, sees that specialization is the practice of the day, refining culture into a smaller, but more skillful, set of mad game practicioners. Music has been beset by this as well, with emo, emo-core, post emo-core, and pre post emo-core vomit formats.

Enter long running band Primal Scream. Since 1987 the band has been releasing albums of varying indie and techno varieties, some hailed as breakthroughs (1991's Screamadelica, 2000's XTRMNTR), others chided for not being worthy of said breakthrough (1994's Give Out But Don't Give Up). Riot City Blues is the new album, and straight ahead rock it is, owing more to Give Out than anything else in the band's catalog.

If you are hoping for something different from the band after their 20+ year career, this may not be the album for you. But, it is worth checking out because it's just a great, straight ahead rock album with enough indie touches to stand out from the pack.

Riot City Blues gives the impression that is was recorded by a post-Uncle Tupelo rock outfit in southern Illinois. You would never have guessed this group of songs was created by a bunch of Scotsmen. The sextet channels a sound that the Rolling Stones in their earthy heyday would be familiar with, adding a little extra country grit for good measure.

"Country Girl" exemplifies the theory perfectly: a driving beat reminiscent of a train ride through the Midwest, the tinge of squeezebox sounding like a harmonica, and the Tupelo lament. "Better go back to momma, she'll take care of you," most sage advice I've ever heard.

"Nitty Gritty" is the most Stones-esque on the album, almost mimicking "Let It Bleed." Acoustic guitars are featured prominently until the keyboard and Middle Eastern-tinged opening of "Little Death," where Primal Scream relents on their new found American roots rock for just a moment to channel their bygone sounds. After that reprise, it's over to an amped up Jayhawks vibe with "Dolls" and the mandolin heavy "Hell's Comin' Down."

Aping the roots rock sound almost perfectly on this go round, Primal Scream refuse to be pigeonholed into any specific format many, many years since their formation. If only someone could call in a LOOGY for the power hitting lefty.