Riot City Blues
by Primal Scream
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

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  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'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 asA 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.… Expand
  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 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    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!    … Collapse
  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 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 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.… Expand
  4. Dagger.
    Nov 21, 2006
    0
    This harkons back to the the southern bar rock shit storm that was Give Out But Don't Give Up. As much as I hate to side with Pitchfork, this record is indeed horrible. Primal Scream is such a weird band in that they can be so groundbeaking and refreshing on some albums, but totally devoid of any substance like we see with this release. "Little Death" and "When The Bomb Drops" are This harkons back to the the southern bar rock shit storm that was Give Out But Don't Give Up. As much as I hate to side with Pitchfork, this record is indeed horrible. Primal Scream is such a weird band in that they can be so groundbeaking and refreshing on some albums, but totally devoid of any substance like we see with this release. "Little Death" and "When The Bomb Drops" are probably the only decent tracks because they sound like nothinbg else on the album.… Expand
  5. gastonm
    Nov 12, 2006
    10
    It's a great album.and with this album they show they're just not electronic music. pd1:i love the mandolin solos pd2:the song when the bomb drops is fuckin' great pd:fuck pitchfork and stylus magazine
  6. AndrewA
    Oct 30, 2006
    7
    There are some good old rock songs in this cd. Primal Scream is a band to have fun at, not to really think it.
  7. BenG
    Oct 23, 2006
    7
    Pitchfork are not the gatekeepers of quality. Sometimes music should be fun, not innovative. I like Primal Scream's forays into electronic music, but it's nice to hear some Give Out-type tunes again.
  8. AlexA
    Sep 18, 2006
    8
    It's good.
  9. moschops
    Sep 16, 2006
    7
    So they've retreated from doing the more experimental stuff of their best work to do an album of big, dumb, retro party songs. But they are very good at doing big, dumb, retro party songs. You can kind of bet that the next album will be wigged-out electronica...
  10. PaulK
    Aug 30, 2006
    10
    fuck Pitchfork
  11. MichaelM
    Jul 30, 2006
    0
    All I can say is, "What the Hell?!?" At the first song, I thought they were kidding. By the last, I was still hoping that they were, because offering this turd of a Stones rip-off with a straight face would mean that this once mind-melting band has truly given out and given up.
  12. BeanoF
    Jul 18, 2006
    9
    Class album, all ya'll need to chill the fark out and listen to a bit of guitar music, ok it's different than their last album, but if you want to hear that then listen to that and leave this album to people with a more varied taste
  13. MarcoR
    Jun 27, 2006
    8
    This album completes the rock triad together with Primal Scream (1989) and Give Out.. (1994).
  14. Johno
    Jun 24, 2006
    8
    Great refreshing good-time rock n roll. For a band that continually pushes their limits (as they did marvellously on Xtrmntr) , its great to hear them just enjoying themselves. The lyrics are ocassionally lame, but the spirit and the energy gloriously carry the album to the last minute. Takes me back to the exciting early days of Supergrass. This is the album 'Give Out..' should Great refreshing good-time rock n roll. For a band that continually pushes their limits (as they did marvellously on Xtrmntr) , its great to hear them just enjoying themselves. The lyrics are ocassionally lame, but the spirit and the energy gloriously carry the album to the last minute. Takes me back to the exciting early days of Supergrass. This is the album 'Give Out..' should have been… Expand
  15. jons
    Jun 22, 2006
    2
    what a load of bollocks!!
  16. LeonardoF
    Jun 22, 2006
    3
    Very very poor and uninspired album. C'mon guys, hope you return next time with a new 'Vanishing Point', like you did after the catastrophic 'Give Out But Don't Give Up'.
  17. Steve
    Jun 19, 2006
    4
    Extremely disapointing. I love Primal Scream and was expecting something innovative and catchy, which they always manage to do, until now. There's absolutely nothing interesting here. Just a very bland, shallow album.
  18. mikes.
    Jun 18, 2006
    4
    Disappointed, been a fan of them because of their unique sound. They just haven't come up with anything as innovative Xtrmntr, Evil Heat was like Xtrmntr but not as good. Riot City Blues is a complete change in genre and a big disappointment, songwriting is crap, nothing interesting production wise either.
  19. [Anonymous]
    Jun 15, 2006
    8
    Rawk and Roll
  20. Giulio
    Jun 14, 2006
    9
    classic 70's stones sound but extremely amusing! It's only rock'n'roll... and I like it!
  21. malfaitk
    Jun 14, 2006
    9
    This is certainly something completely different than Evil Heat and Exterminator, which both were great records. Anyway, it still is fun, different but OK.

Critic Reviews

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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. Dot Music
    40
    "Riot City Blues" starts fairly poorly and gets progressively worse.
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  2. musicOMH.com
    80
    Stupid, clichéd, utterly ridiculous for sure, but done with so much pizazz that you can't help but fall for its charms.
    Read full review
  3. 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.
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