Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Although enjoyable in parts for its single-minded - some would say simple-minded - devotion to rock'n'roll classicism, Riot City Blues does mark a backward step for Primal Scream after the "electronic garage-band future rock'n'roll" of Evil Heat. Having copped out by cravenly re-naming that album's track "Bomb the Pentagon", the loss of nerve appears to have spread to the music too, which reverts to their tried and tested retro-raunch take on the classic Stones formula. It's as if everything they've done since "Rocks" in 1994 has been deemed a mistake, a wrong turning on the road to rock clarity. And it must be acknowledged how well that comfy old style fits them on tracks like the single "Country Girl", and the harp-croaking R&B groove "We're Gonna Boogie", a reductive rock mantra in the Exile manner of "The Hip Shake". Guesting Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant provides most of the psychedelic heat on "When the Bomb Drops", and while the folksy mandolin, fiddle and hony-tonk piano of "Hell's Comin' Down" offers a welcome change of pace and style, the giveaway Flamin' Groovies reference in "Nitty Gritty" offers the clearest indication of the band's current direction.
DOWNLOAD THIS: 'We're Gonna Boogie', 'Country Girl', 'Hell's Comin' Down', 'When the Bomb Drops'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments