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Riverboat Gamblers

To the Confusion of Our Enemies
2006
Volcom

Riverboat Gamblers - To the Confusion of Our Enemies (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Scruffy
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Published on May 16th 2006

So, the Riverboat Gamblers, eh? This band seems to be one of the “it” bands of the underground this year after their performance at SXSW. And, with one listen of To the Confusion of Our Enemies, it’s easy to see why, even if you disagree.

The Gamblers are most obviously the kind of band that you’ve got to see live to really enjoy. The CD is good, but all I can think of while listening to it is how much fun it would be live. And that’s the word I’d use to sum up this whole album: fun. Sonically, it seems to meld the kind of punk that’s championed here at the 'Org (the Lawrence Arms, the Loved Ones, Strike Anywhere, Bouncing Souls) and the kind of rock that garage-rock revivalist bands like the Strokes were trying to play. Also, I must say, they take a lot of influence from David Bowie. If you like Bowie, that’s a good thing, and, if you don’t like him, it’s still a good thing. Seriously. I don’t like Bowie that much, but I find myself really enjoying the places on here where they rip him off.

There are some really interesting moments here musically, like the brief pause towards the end of “True Crime.” And, lyrically, the band is not pulling any punches (see: “The Biz Loves Sluts”). Their sense of humor permeates the disc as well, with song titles like “The Song We Used to Call ‘Wasting Time’” and “The Gamblers Try Their Hand at International Diplomacy.” Also, if you like sing-alongs, you will be rewarded by Confusion.

But there are some things I don’t like here. The songs tend to blend together into one album-length song. Again, this seems to be a hallmark of bands that are described as “live bands,” like Latterman, but if you like the song, it’ll be right up your alley. Myself, I like it okay. There’s nothing spectacular here, save for the promise of how crazy these songs would be live.

“Unicorn Shave Your Horn” is way too weird as well. I’ll admit that it made me laugh, but it’s so ridiculous that much of the intended humor is lost. My dog was sleeping, and she picked her head up and stared at the speakers in confusion. I am not kidding. Take that as you will.

I don’t know what else I can say about this CD. I tried to listen to it all the way through multiple times and ended up starting the review without ever having listened to the whole thing. Now that I’m at the end of the album, I can’t say I feel any different about the album. The songs, individually, are great. As an album, it gets pretty repetitive, and I find myself wanting to listen to something else. But, I do want to make sure to see them live next time they make their way to my town.

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Posted by ozmanx on 2007-02-28 20:56:11
My Score:

This is an amazing album. Can listen to it all day without getting bored.

Posted by kwill063 on 2007-02-02 01:03:02

i really need to buy this album.
i've listened to true crime
and on again off again.
pretty gnarly stuff.

Posted by The_Wayfarer on 2007-01-19 14:49:27
My Score:

Really fun balls-to-the-walls punk, and a great live show.

Posted by halfcutskeleton on 2006-07-31 21:16:19
My Score:

Best Album of 2006.

Posted by mreiter72 on 2006-06-05 12:36:27
My Score:

Love this record.

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-05-19 09:03:08

Wow. They only pressed 300 of their 7 inches? Clearly, they are awesome, and I feel ashamed to have never heard about this band that only pressed 300 copies of their music. How dare I not know? Oh, wait, because I'm on THIS site.

And, the_other_scott, yeah I know arguing with Will is like arguing with a retarded brick wall, but it's fun, and sometimes, I get so sick of it I gotta say something.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 19, 2006 at 1:28 AM (EDT)

Dude, no one knows who Koro is - especially no one on this site. Koro only pressed like 300 of their 7" for fucks sake...these kids wouldn't know gauze from the gadjits..

Posted by the_other_scott on 2006-05-18 22:05:51

scruffy,

communicating with will is like communicating with a fucking robot. he has all sorts of big words and information programmed into himself, but he's never really experienced anything outside of living in his parents house and going to high school, so the informationn comes from a really skewed, naive perspective.

(will is overrated)

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-05-18 18:32:33

Will, take some classes in reading comprehension before you graduate high school, or shut up.

Posted by WilliamMarinovic on 2006-05-18 15:03:40

"If you really can't see that the Gamblers are easily one of the most talked about "it" bands in the underground scene right now, I can't help you."

Yeah, I don't notice it because I don't give a flying fuck what band is "it" in any scene, whatsoever. Go listen to Koro or something.

Posted by rinjonjori on 2006-05-17 20:16:53
My Score:

I love To the Confusion of Our Enemies. It has power, It has pop, It has punk. Getting past the "biz luvs sluts", there is some real insightful lyrics, "Rent is Due" and writing your own personal anthem is pretty hard-- but they accomplish it on "The Art of Getting F...". They are the best band to come out of Texas since ATDI. completely different but great none the less...
HTTP://rnanothersunnydayinpop.blogspot.com

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 1:58 PM (EDT)

Probably the most disappointing release of the last 10 years. The first 2 original albums with these guys are amazing and Something to Crow About is probably the best punk record of the last few years. This is overproduced pop punk garbage that is an absolute worst case scenario of a band moving to a bigger label. The songs themselves aren't any good either so its not just an overproduction issue. I will probably still go see them live and hope they dont play anything off this abortion of a record.

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-05-17 10:28:38

Hey, man! I'm 24. I'm just retarded.

Also, I did forget to mention (read: fail to notice until you pointed it out) that this record takes a healthy RFTC influence. Good call.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 1:29 AM (EDT)

"Though, the Gamblers are not what your mother was talking about last night. Just kidding, I just couldn't pass that one up."

Its cute when you try to talk to grownups.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 7:21 PM (EDT)
My Score:

The best album released in a damn long time.

The reviewer also neglected to note that the parts are more fully realized than on "Something" and that the Gamblers have got a RFTC vibe on a couple of tracks.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 4:45 PM (EDT)

the"unicorn shave your horn" is the guy from Throw Rag not any of the guys in GA-m-B-L-E-Rs

Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2006-05-16 16:06:10
My Score:

Picked this up today on a whim, great rock n' roll record!!

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-05-16 14:52:10

Oh noes! They were on MRR radio? Well, that means they were huge!
If you really can't see that the Gamblers are easily one of the most talked about "it" bands in the underground scene right now, I can't help you. Did I give any indication in the review that they were a new band, that they haven't been turning down major label contracts for years? Or did I state the fact that this seems to be the year they're going to break, as everyone and their mother is talking about them?
Though, the Gamblers are not what your mother was talking about last night.
Just kidding, I just couldn't pass that one up.

Posted by jared on 2006-05-16 14:42:17

I agree with some of the comments here...a pretty solid album, but there are a couple tracks that I routinely skip.

I shot and edited a video for "On Again Off Again" which can be found at my myspace page.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 2:25 PM (EDT)

Band of 'this year'? God. These guys were all over MRR radio 3 or 4 years ago. Where the fuck have you been? I'll tell you where the gamblers have been - alll over the country building up a huge fanbase by playing their asses off.

Posted by civperc on 2006-05-16 13:45:34

This album deserves a higher rating, the Gamblers are fantastic

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 1:27 PM (EDT)

so good :)

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 1:26 PM (EDT)
My Score:

very good album

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 1:07 PM (EDT)
My Score:

This is a great album.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 11:27 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Strike Anywhere?

Definitely not hearing those Kid D vibes on this one. The dude definitely had it pegged on "fun" though. It reminds me a bit of New Bomb Turks melded with the likes of quirky Lookout! pop of yore.

- ObeyYourParents

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 10:56 AM (EDT)
My Score:

It's nothing to crow about.

Snap!

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-05-16 10:47:03

I just mentioned the so-called Orgcore bands as a way of saying that this band sounds like a lot of people here, who like those bands, would like it, but it doesn't sound 100% like those bands.

Posted by almostpunkenough on 2006-05-16 04:44:23
My Score:

this album is fucking awesome. who cares if it's all the rage here. ( i perpetuate the hype anyway).

that last part isn't serious obviously.

Posted by the_other_scott on 2006-05-16 02:46:22
My Score:

hey scruffy, these guys are overrated

that being said i can't wait to see em at CBGBs in a couple of weeks

and all you dudes and girls on the west coast get to see them with the bronx and wires on fire!

Posted by ozmanx on 2006-05-16 02:28:59
My Score:

Up da Org!

Posted by aubin on 2006-05-16 00:41:51
My Score:

I think I liked it a little more than the reviewer, but there are admittedly some small problems; there are two songs I always skip, so that's something but the rest is gold; just punk rock, not anything-mixed-with-anything or whatever hybrid genre is in, just hooks and attitude.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 12:32 AM (EDT)

orgxc

Posted by colin on 2006-05-16 00:24:34

"orgcore" hahaha

i would like to see that become a universal subgenre of punk that just basically means "this band rules."

Posted by InaGreendase on 2006-05-16 00:23:21
My Score:

I'm not really sure why the 'orgcore bands were mentioned, but otherwise I preeetty much agree with everything in this review -- though there are some disctinct standouts and chourses that are outright great.