Riverboat Gamblers – Smash/Grab

  • Keith Rosson posted
  • Reviews

Riverboat Gamblers

Smash/Grab - Paper + Plastick Records

This band has done little to dissuade me over the years from the idea that they are, simply put, a relentlessly awesome group of musicians. I mean, they’re more than just good, you know? And after finally seeing them live, I understand what that fuss was about: in a live setting, they’re a juggernaut. I thought To The Confusion Of Our Enemies was a flat-out amazing album, though markedly different from its predecessor, Something To Crow About. All that said, it’s nice to see that there hasn’t been anything remotely resembling a misstep with these guys – the Smash/Grab EP is absolutely great: frenetic, rivet-tight, and almost stupidly catchy. In fact, it’s quite possibly some of the best shit they’ve ever done.

These four songs sound like a spot-on amalgam of AC/DC riffs (tweaked and detailed by a madman), coupled with the rancor, bile and swagger of The Humpers or The Lazy Cowgirls. It’s pitch-perfect rocknroll that also manages to be smart and literate and the tension doesn’t let up for a second. Which is good, since the whole thing is just a smidge of eight minutes long.

My only real complaint is that while Paper & Plastick seems to be renowned for their awesome and extensive vinyl packaging, that same care rarely seems to translate to those peons who order compact discs – not one CD I own from that label has ever even had a lyric sheet included. All P&P CD releases seem culled from all the same digipack tempalte, and they’re all void of any lyrics, liner notes, or inserts. I’m assuming it’s a financial issue – CDs hardly seem to generate much revenue these days, but it’s really too bad, as the Riverboat Gamblers have never been slouches in the lyrics department.

Complaints aside, this is a quick but top-notch outing from one of the most vibrant bands out there right now. Their live show is relentless, the songs themselves are latticed in frickin steel they’re so badass, and they haven’t lost an ounce of their charisma or chops over the years. If anything, Smash/Grab shows that they’re stepped it up a notch. Great release.