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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

River City Rebels

Playing To Live, Living To Pla
2001
Victory

River City Rebels - Playing To Live, Living To Pla (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Daniel
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Victory Records (Logo)

Published on September 7th 2001

After issuing great albums by the likes of Grade and Darkest Hour, I'm kind of dissapointed that Victory would follow it up with a disc as mediocre as the new River City Rebels album. Upon the first few seconds of listening, I could understand why someone could like this; the production is powerful, the instrumentation is precise, and the choruses seem to be pretty anthemic. However, upon close inspection, this disc doesn't really hold up.

Firstly, and most importantly, the songwriting tends to be awkward. Words are often forced into the verses, and there isn't more to a lot of the choruses than your standard punk rock "whoa." The band constantly strives for an anthemic feel, but pretty much always falls just short. For instance, when I listen to the gang chorus of "6AM," I wonder why on earth I'm not singing along; I quickly realize that it's because I have no idea what the people are saying, and it wouldn't really matter anyway, because there's no real melody.

Similarly, the title could be an Ann Beretta song, but the chorus is just way too weird. The only way that it could be construed as catchy is because it's so simple, and the sentiment isn't very original or clever. Ann Beretta has a bit of a problem with making choruses out of common cliches as well, but at least they always have memorable melodies.

Playing To Live, Living To Play doesn't make me want to puke when I listen to it, but it doesn't make me want to do much else, either. When so many bands are playing this style of music so much better, you're left with no real reason to buy this disc. Pick up records by Ann Beretta, Sixer, Rancid, or even Jersey before you get this one.

(More reviews like this at deepfrybonanza.com)






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    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 9, 2002 at 1:28 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    hey ass clown, off the top of my head : 6AM "overworked underpaid same old shit, do you run your life or does your job run you?"

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 13, 2001 at 2:10 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This CD is good, but I just don't enjoy it like thier last one.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 13, 2001 at 12:21 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    amazing. ann berreta rocks too. if you guys like these 2 bands i urge you to check out One Man Army, amazing melodic street punk.

    River City LETS GO!

    Posted by coldjuly on 2001-09-12 18:47:46
    My Score:

    This CD sucks...Don't ever put down southeast punk rock RVA, WNC, gainesville, atlanta, SC...how dare you.

    Posted by sickboi on 2001-09-12 17:15:07
    My Score:

    How can you talk shit about Ann Beretta? Those guys are simply amazing... RVA-Southeast punk...do not disrespect.

    Posted by pat41 on 2001-09-12 16:09:15
    My Score:

    oh yea i gave it a seven not a ten

    Posted by pat41 on 2001-09-12 16:08:39
    My Score:

    hey isnt this the third time this album has been reviewed?? maybe we can get over it and try something new.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 at 3:22 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    whoever said ann beretta is horrible can go some place really bad for a long time and be really, really sad.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 at 2:46 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this is the wrong person to be reviewing this if they liked the last grade and darkest hour releases...i mean, it's true -- pretentious emo/metal fans probably wouldn't like this record.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 at 2:43 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    wow, i couldn't disagree with this guy more. ann bereta and jersey are absolutely horrible. and as for this record, i happen to like the melodies and song structure. i don't think of it as "awkward," but rather "inventive." shit, what do you want them to do, make it sound like everything else "punk" that comes out these days? maybe these guys don't really fit into your punk rock mold...but i think they're fucking great.