Phase 3

Riverdales | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 2, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 145 / Road2ruin
• ASIN: B0000YEDU4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,309 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Homesick

2. A.W.O.M.

3. Sniper

4. Lead the Way

5. Out of My Heart

6. Look Me Up

7. Wait It Out

8. Getaway

9. Tick Tick Tick

10. I Believe in You and Me

11. Party at the Beach

12. Last Stop Tokyo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm so sorry i can't...., February 5, 2005

By 

Frank Torment (home) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phase 3 (Audio CD)

The riverdales found their own sound. This record is as good as the first two ones, and it's got its own personality. It's not just a Ramones rip-off...(don't get me wrong, the Ramones are my favorite band...)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR..., July 7, 2004

By 

Ileana Gonzalez "Prog-Symphonic-Rock-Experime... (Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phase 3 (Audio CD)

I think this one of best Riverdales cd ther is. All of the songs are awesome. You should defenetly buy this if you like the Ramones.

4.0 out of 5 stars The best of the bunch!, June 19, 2005

By 

Destroy Boy (www.ohboydestroy.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phase 3 (Audio CD)

A lot have people have really slammed recent Screeching Weasel albums saying Ben Weasel can't write good tunes anymore and is only doing it for the money. While I can't say I totally disagree, when you hear a record like this, it's clear Ben has not lost his touch for crafting catchy as hell Ramones rip-off songs. Actually, maybe he has and all the credit should be given to Dan Schafer but let's not split hairs here because this record smokes!

For those of you not familiar with the Riverdales, this is basically Ben's tribute band to the Ramones but instead of covering their songs they write original ones that sound just like Ramones songs. Sometimes they sound so similar to the it's hard not to get them mixed up with real Ramones songs but where the Ramones drifted off course in later years with metal tinged albums like "Too Tough To Die", Riverdales stay on target to the vintage early period Ramones sound from start to finish, album after album.

As would be expected of a band so closely tied to the sound of another band (and even worse, a particular period of said band), you wouldn't be crazy to think this could get really derivative and really boring really fast. Certainly that charge has been leveled against the Riverdales from the beginning as they employ the same simple song structure and basic approach of the Ramones but the Riverdales do offer a unique, satisfying take on that classic sound. However, everything doesn't turn up roses every time. Truth be told a couple of the ballads on Phase Three drag a little but these type of songs have plagued preceding Riverdales records so that should be no surprise to long time fans. What is a surprise is the how much the ante has been upped from their last record in terms of stuck in your head choruses and big guitar hooks. Even the ballads are decent enough that I don't feel a burning need to hit the skip button.

As noted above the faster cuts hold bigger appeal for me so thankfully they deliver here with plenty of solid rockers like "Homesick", "Sniper" and "Wait It Out" but where they really shine is on songs with exceptionally catchy choruses like "Party At The Beach" and "Last Stop Tokyo". I challenge anyone to listen to those songs and not be singing along to the chorus thirty seconds later. In fact, "Last Stop Tokyo" has replaced "Riverdale Stomp" from their last album as my all time favorite Riverdales song. So, at least in my eyes, the plethora of catchy cuts on this disc tops their previous efforts and makes this a must own for any Ramones or Riverdales fan...hell, I'll even throw Screeching Weasel fans in there too...even the bitter sell out ones!

I find it extremely ironic that a band with such a narrow scope has managed to turn out their best album to date on their third attempt. I'm sure many people thought this was a one time thing (I know I did) but I'm really glad they've stuck with it. If Ben is indeed in need of some cold hard cash lets hope it stays that way so he continues to pump out Riverdales records!

Check out more reviews at ohboydestroy.