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River City High

Extended Play (2004)
Doghouse Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: KirbyPuckett
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on October 22nd 2004

In December of 2002, River City High cheerfully announced that they would be signing to MCA records after brief stints with Doghouse and Big Wheel Recreation.

The legendary WussEmoRock predicted they would only last on the label for a year.

We all know how history panned out…MCA collapsed leaving a surplus of bands in limbo feeling the wrath of major labels. Interscope and Geffen picked up some of the scrap, but had no real interest in River City High’s recently recorded material produced by Arnold Lanni (Simple Plan).

Would you?

After the dismantling of their former label, half the band decided to quit. The schmuck with the cowboy hat and the drummer evacuated the dead end pop-group. This happened around the sometime Doghouse welcomed the band back with open arms. They hastily found some replacements (does he HAVE to wear the cowboy hat too?) and saddled back up with producer Brian Paulson (Superchunk, Archers of Loaf) who formed their, Forgets Their Manners EP.

By now you’re all dying for me to reveal the whereabouts of WussEmoRock, however I don’t have that information available to me, so you’ll just have to settle for a summary of River City High’s Extended Play EP.

The five song disc (which is printed only in the center while the outer edge remain clear, how cute) begins with a catchy guitar hook and continues to move along in appealing style as James Menefee croons with raspy vocals similar to the aggressive tendencies of Joey Cape. If only they could have crafted hooks and choruses like this throughout their career. Chances are they would be riding in a huge tour bus sharing the spotlight with Blink 182, Simple Plan, and Good Charlotte on $40 tours. Instead RCH continues to write material like "It’s Over" and "Kiss Me," boring insipid pop-punk (and I use punk rather loosely) songs about girls. "Heads & Tails" reminds the listener of the upbeat melodies apparent in the beginning, but nothing worthy of getting too thrilled about.

Interscope and Geffen made an accurate decisions by passing on River City High, I’m sure they are wishing they had done the same with a few others *coughmidtowncoughriseagainstcough*

Sorry, flu season is on the horizon.

We can only hope this band takes the advice held within the chorus of the first track, “I’m not going to waste any more of your time.”

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Anonymous (October 27, 2004)

Midtown is on Columbia, buddy.

Score for the rest of this review. This band blows.

Anonymous (October 26, 2004)

I've got all the Fun Size 7"s if anyone is interested.

Anonymous (October 26, 2004)

kirby, you suck. yes, this band sucks, but so do you. all your reviews are just bash fests of everything .. what the fuck do you like anyway? anyway, geffen couldn't be happier with rise against. they sold more copies of their newest album than something corporate did of their last one. that's pretty good. and uh, midtown is on COLUMBIA which is party of SONY, not part of Geffen/MCA.

Anonymous (October 25, 2004)

The guy with the hat didn't leave, the other guitarist did. And I agree, these songs are pretty cheesey. How did they do 2 great eps and now this? The begining of the end was Won't Turn Down. Go back to your roots, ladies.

Anonymous (October 25, 2004)

you called WussEmoRock "legendary." I think that means this review is null and void. this band does suck, but its also fairly obvious that you have no idea what you are talking about.

Anonymous (October 25, 2004)

Marrk stayed in the band, hes the cowboy. Bob, the other guitarist who left is now in something corporate.

Crookedsuperhero (October 24, 2004)

'anyone remember Funsize? i think half of RCH was in that band...Funsize kicked ass.'

I remember Funsize, had no idea these guys were in them. 'Pickle' that was the song. Asian man comp, ages ago. Memories...

Anonymous (October 23, 2004)

F-f-ff--f---f--f*** Y--y--y-y--y-Ou guys!

RCH iss p-p-p-pppp-unk rock!

kirbypuckett (October 23, 2004)

ya im sure they regret gettin a band with good record sales, rise against, you idiot.

Good sales for an indie, but I'm sure it's nothing what they would have liked.

- Kirby

Anonymous (October 23, 2004)

eh their first EP wasn't bad..star crossed and us vs. them are good songs. they had that emo/pop-punk thing that over it was doing back in the ready series days kinda...except alot more poppier.

anyone remember Funsize? i think half of RCH was in that band...Funsize kicked ass.

Anonymous (October 23, 2004)

ya im sure they regret gettin a band with good record sales, rise against, you idiot.

8dollarclarinetsolo (October 23, 2004)

shut up!

stevejonestherealbones (October 22, 2004)

nice one dork. but if you think i am here to replace someone i never fucking heard of, you need to get a new form of entertainment.
- jones the bones is to wussemorock as you are to who gives a fuck

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anonymous (October 22, 2004)

aww i kinda miss that guy.

wussemorock : jonesthebones :: phil hartman : jon lovitz (newsradio)

-duped

stevejonestherealbones (October 22, 2004)

i figured there would be alot of people on this site who liked this. dont alot of you guys like crap? cause thats the impression i got. crapperheads

- jones the bones is a legend baby

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

irish_joo (October 22, 2004)

Why is WussEmoRock such a cockass?

Anonymous (October 22, 2004)

Actually, the Cowboy cheesehead didn't leave. Can you believe he played guitar in one of the best bands out of Richmond, which would be Inquistion????? How could he go from that to this?

Anonymous (October 22, 2004)

yo' link don't work

poopypants (October 22, 2004)

these guys are a snoozefest