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 | River City RebelsRacism, Religion, and War2000 Victory 
 Review by: Billy Taint See others by this writer River City Rebels Official Site (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on January 10th 2003 Now let me tell you right now, I am a huge fan of the River City Rebels. Huge. However, I'm aware of the love/hate feelings toward the band. Either people hate them, or love them. There's generally no middle ground when it comes to the Rebels. BUT, I feel this release can turn just about every hater into a fan. This release can be defined in one easy word: Perfect. This record is nothing short of that. Each track is catchier than the last. The Rebels do the sing-along style chorus' like no other band is capable of. The horn lines are simply amazing. Yes, that's right horn lines.... That calls for some background info. RCR are a punk band from Vermont. They have a horn section, which on this release consisted of both a trumpet and a trombone. Despite this, the band is far from a ska band. Influences include U.S. Bombs, The Clash, Bruce Springsteen and Stiff Little Fingers. Nothing ska about them. Street punk with horns. Back to the album. "Racism, Religion, and War..." kicks off with the stand out track "Hate". This is probably The Rebels' most well known and successful song. Listening to this track can pretty much sum up the 13 to follow. Fun, fast, incredibly catchy music. Towards the middle of the CD, comes "Military Attitude" and "That's the Way it's Gotta Be", two staples in RCR's live catalog. Both are exactly what I've been saying about the rest of the album...You'll be singing along by the end of the track, trying to contain yourself from dancing along in your bedroom. My personal favorite, "Fuck You", comes towards the end of the CD. This song is where you begin to notice the simplicity of RCR's music and lyrics. This is a complain complaint from me towards many, many bands, but RCR manages to get away with it. The music and lyrics are both so simple yet the Rebels do it in such a way that you either don't notice or don't care.
I once met a kid at an Anti-Flag show. He told me he thought that the River City Rebels were the perfect band for any punk. He said they combined "the nihilism of The Sex Pistols, the political ideals of The Clash, and the catchiness of The Ramones." That kid couldn't have been more right. RCR is a band that too many people are sleeping on. Check out these CD and give these guys the credit and support they deserve.
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in response to the guys post at the bottom about this band being dicks? give me a fucking break. This band is children except the singer who looks about as old as Dee Dee Ramone himself. They are so unprofessional live and I can't handle the whole wannabe cool attidtude. They think they are so fucking huge and there is just no songs there. Sorry but save your money kids because they are about as cool as that old band D-genberation, anyone remember them? they had but loads of cash and still went nowhere. RCR's are on Victory and their music is just lackluster. My rate is this is a great band if you 45 years old plus. LAME DUCK! River City Rebels are fucking lame and that whole genra needs to die! How many times can a band fucking play the same goddamn new york dolls riff guys? YOU FUCKING SUCK! I love this cd a lot, definately 5 stars. This is a good CD. I saw RCR in December with Catch 22. They put on an awesome show. Dan's a nice guy too, talked to him after the show. RCR are from near where I used to live in NY, and any band that was influenced by SLF is a badass fucking band. My friend Dez said she saw them & the lead singer got naked on stage or some shit & got arrested & the cops questioned her about what she saw because everyone at the show said they didn't see anything. i didn't know people actually like this band. albums that have in the 90's deserve a score of 10/10 are This Cd is over three years old. Even members of the band agree that some of the content sounds young and naive (most of the members were just out of high school). Check out the newest album for 77 style punk or playing to live if your into more melodic stuff like social distortion. They're from Vermont? Didn't know that. You can marry animals there. In punk music, you've got the absolute classics, like London Calling, Raw Power, Nevermind the Bollucks, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, etc. Albums that are definate 10/10's, beyond all debate. Every once in a while, a new album comes along that's on par with those - but not often. i didnt change my rating below, i was too busy on my rant about ratings. Indeed i agree with most people on this website, about the 5 star rating being handed out to some kids favourite album willy nilly. True that lots of albums are good and too some are worthy of 5 stars but lets face it, how are we to know what albums are truley the pinacle of greatness, unless we own them ourselves, if so many are given the highest rating?? THIS CD ROCKS, ive been a fan of the Rebels for a while now and this one still stands out as their fastest and most agressive. ! can't say i like this band too much No! The Ramones first album can be described as perfect. Iggy & The Stooges, "Raw Power" can be described as perfect. Well, There real nice guys, and the music is quite catchy but This is FAR from perfect. At least to me. I would say the BIGGEST problem with them are the lyrics. The lyrics are horrendous. Some of them don't even really make sense, and most are way to simple and trite. But thats just me. I mean, there catchy and it's a fun listen, but the lyrics kill it for me. I have "playing to live living to play" by these guys. When I first got it I loved it, now its a boring street punk album. Sometimes I listen to it and like it, other times I think they out right suck. I don't know what to think of this band??? best of the best.. no Id like to agree with the guy below me. I think theyre pretty damn good, but i certainly dont love them Actually, there is a middle ground for RCR. I don't love em or hate em. this band is rad as hell, the bass player chris invited me on stage during their set, that was cool, even tho I didn't expect it, their easy to talk to too I think 5 stars gets handed out way to easily. That should probably be reserved for only the best of the best. This is not the best of the best. They were supposed to open for Catch 22 in toronto but never showed up. Border trouble? this cd is fucking great. |
