RVIVR

RVIVR: LP [12-inch]LP [12-inch] (2010)
Rumbletowne Records

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: racecargrinracecargrin
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on June 11th 2010Like Latterman? I thought so. Well, you're certainly going to like this album. Fronted by the duo of Matt Canino (ex-Latterman/Shorebirds) and Erica Freas, RVIVR's songs on this LP sound like a pretty logical progression from Latterman--they have ever-so-slightly more pop-rock sensibility, and RV.

Like Latterman? I thought so. Well, you're certainly going to like this album.

Fronted by the duo of Matt Canino (ex-Latterman/Shorebirds) and Erica Freas, RVIVR's songs on this LP sound like a pretty logical progression from Latterman--they have ever-so-slightly more pop-rock sensibility, and RVIVR finds Canino finally singing alongside a female vocalist. Their voices play nicely off each other with Canino's abrasive shouts tempered by Freas' more upbeat vocals (see standout track "Edge of Living"). Freas' vocals stand on their own as well when she lends her snarl to such tracks as "Real Mean" and "Life and Death." And of course, if you're heard any of his previous vocal work, you'll recognize Canino immediately. His first lines during opener "Rain Down" are as intense and heartfelt as Latterman at their best.

Now, getting away from Latterman comparisons, this album stands out for a few other reasons. One is its cohesiveness; it's no concept album, but the songs progress effectively without all sounding the same, while the lyrics are varied enough to remain unpredictable without losing meaning. The topics tackled here are also noteworthy--Canino is one of punk's best when it comes to linking personal interactions with community concerns, and the addition of new band members to the mix only helps. The album's guitar work is also noteworthy, as some brief but memorable solos add an extra dimension to tracks such as "Grandma" and "Cold in Your Bones."

Overall, this is a great album that will get you hooked immediately if you like shouty, catchy punk rock.

^{The album is available on vinyl or as a free download. Download and stream the album from Canino and Freas' label here.}

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Thumbs (May 21, 2012)

Thumbs down.

Milkcrates (June 2, 2011)

I can't stop listening to this LP. Everything else they have released is really great, too. Stoked on this band.

devianter (March 16, 2011)

super-cool. the last EP is amazing as well.

whatchokesbegin (November 4, 2010)

Matt Canino sounds worse than Jeff Rosenstock, especially on this record. I don't get why everyone thinks this is album-of-the-year material.

arejayPUNX (October 14, 2010)

my album of the year most definitely.

levendus (October 6, 2010)

Just saw them live in the UK. Too amazing to describe. They played every song you could have wanted to hear, including Seethin' the new track from their EP.

assman (October 1, 2010)

Amazing album, beautiful progression throughout. These guys put out new music at perfect intervals

koala (September 2, 2010)

I seriously can NOT get enough of this album! It is SO Fucking good.

NoahH (August 3, 2010)

"Who's the chick Canino's got singing in this band". seriously?

encorp (July 25, 2010)

Doh, it's in the article :P

encorp (July 25, 2010)

Fucking so good. SO good. Who's the chick Canino's got singing in this band.. I saw the name eons ago but I forget now, she can fucking growl.

drugmoney (July 20, 2010)

a really really good album

RyanBangsund (July 8, 2010)

Wow!

hobbzoid (July 2, 2010)

is awesome.

assman (June 15, 2010)

Amazing, very underrated or otherwise unnoticed band.

nick_k (June 14, 2010)

This record has "Punknews' Album of the year" written all over it. Yep, I said it.

Indecay (June 13, 2010)

Great LP. Cut The Cord and Real Mean are my favorites at the moment.

mike_killroad (June 13, 2010)

Pretty solid album, not entirely in love with it, but I enjoy it. Grandma is my favorite track.

10feettall (June 13, 2010)

I really dig this band. My favorite tracks on this release are pause, cute the chord, & cold in your bones.

inagreendase (June 13, 2010)

@outbreak

...when it says "12-inch", or, say, "7-inch" in the review title...that is the format at hand that is generally being reviewed...

outbreak (June 12, 2010)

When is paper walls coming out?

jeffdrums (June 12, 2010)

I just listened to this - it is actually really, really good. But please support the hardcore band Reviver (the reason why this project is RVIVR), on tour now with Caravels.

www.myspace.com/reviverhc
www.myspace.com/caravels

TheUltraHumanite (June 12, 2010)

Saw them live, it was great. They smell like Latterman as much as they sound like them, too.

Blackjaw_ (June 12, 2010)

er... extract them

name (June 12, 2010)

any way to get these files out of the .zip format? my computer doesn't like it. the album's awesome tho

XchinatownX (June 12, 2010)

Latterman was a terrible band incapable of writing a catchy melody or fresh lyrics. This is no different - perhaps a bit worse, even.

ZachLeg (June 12, 2010)

i seriously love this record. so catchy. so heartfelt. the way that the two voices play off of each other is pure excellence.

victim (June 12, 2010)

Glad I'm not the only one who really likes this but wishes it was more like an extension of Life Moves. Honestly, I think my favorite "post Latterman" band is/was Hooky

outbreak (June 12, 2010)

You want faster? Listen to the real Reviver.
Do you mean the band reviver cos they arent fast at all

Done a little research and it sounds like some distros in the UK might be getting the vinyl in. Fantastic!

TeaEssAre (June 12, 2010)

Also, nothing is better than Latterman. That is all.

TeaEssAre (June 12, 2010)

Good* record. I think pretty much everything else done by the main post-Latterman bands is better (including the previous RVIVR 7"s). Thats not a knock to this band though; just a testament of how good everything Iron Chic, Bridge and Tunnel, and Shorebirds have put out.

frank460 (June 12, 2010)

great record!

MN_DrNick (June 12, 2010)

In my Top Five of the year thus far.

Blackjaw_ (June 11, 2010)

Fucking excellent album, and they were awesome live as well. I love how the recording sounds 'simple' or 'minimal' but at the same time nothing's too basic. Both vocalists are fantastic.. My 3 fave songs are Animal Hands, Cold In Your Bones and Cut The Cord. I think. The 3 weaker ones are Rain Down, Edge of Living and Grandma, in my opinion. Though actually that last one gave me chills/goosebumps live just because I'd just found out my grandma had gotten some pretty bad results from a mammogram. Anywho, yeah, this is kickass. Best ex-Latterman band unless Bridge And Tunnel counts.

xshoutoutx (June 11, 2010)

@ outbreak:

It's on wax!

xshoutoutx (June 11, 2010)

Bout time somebody reviewed the album of the year! I was prompting myself to start writing it this week, but shit got a little hectic.

Palindromes FTW!

jeffdrums (June 11, 2010)

You want faster? Listen to the real Reviver.

feeeding5000 (June 11, 2010)

Very enjoyable! Much better than Latterman! That's all I have to say!

Rastid (June 11, 2010)

"cut the cord" is one of the best songs of the year. the rest of the album is pretty good.

eran_zombis (June 11, 2010)

surprised/impressed by all the slower/darker tracks. great album. it's definitely not just another latterman throwback, although the first two and last tracks make it seem like it i.

bryne (June 11, 2010)

This band is better than Latterman.

/ducks

outbreak (June 11, 2010)

So good. Just wish it was a little faster at times, more like the 7".

Does anyone know if this is being put/available on vinyl at all or is it just download only?

hayman (June 11, 2010)

This is excellent.

makeshifty (June 11, 2010)

Album of the year. Plus the chicks are hot.

faithisforfools (June 11, 2010)

Every band ever associated with Latterman should fucking die.
G-A-R-B-A-G-E!

jeffdrums (June 11, 2010)

Haha, what happened to the E's in their name?

SloaneDaley (June 11, 2010)

Unless you are just a Canino fanboy I don't think liking Latterman means you will for sure like this, different mood and different songwriting style. Not saying someone who liked Latterman wouldn't like this but yeah.

ianissuperrad (June 11, 2010)

Possibly my album of the year. It's just a fucking great album.

tobias19 (June 11, 2010)

goddamn this is a good album. I saw them a few months ago and they killed. Definitely check out their 7"s on the label site too.

mattramone (June 11, 2010)

Let's talk about girls being in this band.

jaydischord (June 11, 2010)

Got this the other day and can't stop playing it, the first two tracks alone are masterpieces.PISSED OFF bigtime though as they came through Denver last month and i knew nothing about it.

Everyone needs to get this album.

timorous_me (June 11, 2010)

This album is so good, probably my favorite of the year.

thepopeofchili-town (June 11, 2010)

Love this record. Top 10 shit right here. I should've paid more attention to these guys (and gals) in the past. I've missed a few opportunities to see them.