Riot City Blues
by Primal Scream
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 19
  3. Negative: 4 out of 19
  1. Pitchfork
    23
    It's as if Primal Scream have run completely out of ideas and so they've reverted to the detestable fallbacks of honking harmonicas and bar-band choogles, acting like college freshmen who just discovered blues.
  2. Stylus Magazine
    25
    They make two kinds of albums. File Riot City Blues under "Shite."
  3. cokemachineglow
    37
    It's nice that Primal Scream attacks these tunes with gusto, but the passionate performance doesn't hide the fact that this album is utterly inessential, little more than a sampler for what amounts to a really swell wedding band.
  5. Delusions of Adequacy
    30
    It's unconvincing and bland.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 31
  3. Negative: 6 out of 31
  1. nathanbo
    Apr 17, 2016
    0
    A sophomoric approach to blues and a lack of memorable content make this album feel rather empty when compared to contraries. I really don'tA sophomoric approach to blues and a lack of memorable content make this album feel rather empty when compared to contraries. I really don't want to this band or this album because you can really tell that they were having fun making this music, but with that being said there is a large degree of immaturity in their approach. For example, when you have pretentious song titles such as Suicide Sally & Johnny Guitar, Stone Ya to the Bone, and When the Bomb Drops you are asking to have people question your legitimacy. The sound feels so rehashed Primal Scream feels more like a blues cover band than anything else. Or maybe it is just the fact that this band does not have much experience with the blues, making it clear to their audiences that they did not no much about the attitude and personality that comes with it. Regardless I rather jump from the 99th floor of a building without a parachute than have to listen to this again. If something were to epitomize boring and forgetful it would be this.… Full Review »
  2. sbastow
    Jan 17, 2015
    9
    Just a great rock album really. With enough 'alternative' thrown in to make it interesting.

    The tempo's high, the riffs great and although    Just a great rock album really. With enough 'alternative' thrown in to make it interesting.

    The tempo's high, the riffs great and although the lyrics aren't all gems, the overall effect is memorable.

    It was a surprise to me after sampling some of their previous efforts. I hadn't expected the full-on rock, but it was a pleasant surprise, a very pleasent surprise! I spent the whole album waiting for a weak track to appear and, unusually, it never did.

    The gentle closing song "Sometimes I Feel So Lonely" hits just the right note as well.

    Well done 'Scream!    … Full Review »
  3. BarryM
    Feb 14, 2007
    8
    Are these people so up their own "I'm such a muso" arse that they can't see this for what it is? A bit of fun, a bit of letting Are these people so up their own "I'm such a muso" arse that they can't see this for what it is? A bit of fun, a bit of letting loose and jamming. Having fun in the studio after the mind melting previous albums. A lil bit of folkie whimsical nostalgia as we sip on whisky and let ourselves go with the flow. What rubbish some of these reviewers talk. Go find the next best Chilean mountain band playing "break through" never heard the like of it, next-best-thing- for-wankers-like-us-to-try-appear- all-cool-and-musically-superior-with our friends we've ever heard. Piss off. Go listen to a telephone ringing and tell us how it's "sonic pleasure". This album is fun. Very listenable. Not ground breaking, not re-writing musical history, just pure undiluted fun and games...and what is more...great to listen to while getting drunk on a nice single malt. I approve.… Full Review »
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