Customer Reviews

Riverdogs

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I bought this title originally in cassette form after reading a review in Guitar Magazine back in the late 80's. I was a big Vivian Campbell fan, and decided to take a shot. Wow! Great guitar and amazing lyrics had me hooked. I waited to hear some songs get air play, but I never did. Without a doubt the song WATER FROM THE MOON is one of my top 10 songs ever! I wish there were more ways to describe how awesome this cd is. I recomend it to everyone I know, and have surprised many music fans with an "obscure" cd from a band nobody has ever heard of!

This CD is a classic example of what can happen when a label (major or indie) doesn't get behind a release. The music is outstanding but the sales went nowhere upon its release. Rob Lamothe has a deep thick voice and Vivian Campbell lays down some great guitar work, his best since Dio's "Holy Diver" and "Last In Line" outings. Yet this CD is not even remotely close to a Dio record and far better than anything Viv did with Def Leppard (uugh).

If this recording were to come out today, the only thing sounding slightly dated would be the guitar style. That being said, its quality is far superior to what the record company pushes down the throats of today's buying public. Real musicians writing and playing quality songs, what a novel idea!

I bought this CD back when it was originally released in 1990 after reading an interview with Vivian Campbell (Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard). Vivian had started producing the bands first CD and was so impressed, he joined the band. From the first song "Whisper" to the last "America", the cd rocks with solid songwriting, intelligent lyrics, and the soulful vocals of Rob Lamothe. There's not a weak song on the disc and Vivian's guitar work is some of the best I've ever heard, bar none. The songs "Baby Blue" and "I Believe" received airplay on the rock stations, but it was the beginning of the Grunge era and the Hard Rock/Metal era was coming to a close. 13 years later, this is still one of the best rock CD's I've ever heard and I'm hoping Sony will reissue the other 2 Riverdogs CD's. If you've ever been a fan of Vivian Campbell or Rob Lamothe, this CD is a must-have. If you just like hard driving guitar rock that has something to say about real life, check out this cd.

Released in 1990, and spearheaded by ex-Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell, this record received no accolades upon release. With sales virtually non-existent, it now sits in cut-out bins all over the world for $.99......and there's still nobody buying it. Well, I'm here to tell you that this is one of the best records that I own.

As you might expect from a band that has a key player in the guitar world as its leader, you get a nice heavy dose of Vivian Campbell on this record. The one thing you may not expect, is to hear a vocalist that goes above and beyond the challenge of playing alongside someone of Campbell's talent. Vivian Campbell released three records behind the powerhouse pipes of Ronnie James Dio, so this scenario was nothing new to Campbell. As a matter of fact, with Riverdogs vocalist Rob Lamothe at the helm, it had to feel very much the same.
Rob Lamothe is an impassioned and vibrant force here. Coming from a totally different angle than the Dio material, Lamothe gives this record a "rootsy" personality. Like Dio, Lamothe is strong in his delivery. Unlike Dio, he sings of his country and human issues that lie inside of it, instead of slaying dragons and storming castles. And did I mention, Lamothe is strong in his delivery? This guy makes you feel every precious lyric; lyrics that all happen to be products of his pen. When he sings =Born in chains (I can't break free), Fire coming down like rain= in Holy War, ...the room you're in gets hot. When he sings =Freedom rings, like a hurricane. America, you were the promised land= in America, ...you want to stand and salute the flag. This is strength and passion at its' very best.
All of the songs on this record are extremely well written; each with dignity, eloquence, and strength. As human beings, we can all relate to the songs lyrically, as they speak of issues relating to our world. It is very rare, though, to find a band that has deep, emotional lyrics sung by an even deeper, more emotional voice. Meanwhile, these great lyrics and this sensational voice, are enhanced even further by an incredible supporting cast led by Vivian Campbell on guitar. As Lamothe pours every ounce of his being into these songs, Campbell never seems to overplay his piece. The tone he achieves, and the rhythm he sets are always perfect. He sounds very comfortable with what he's playing, so therefore it never sounds "forced" or overplayed. Vivian Campbell is a guitar player that could very easily steal a spotlight. He's a player that has the ability to overshadow his other band members, if he so pleases. But, as we hear throughout this record, he exhibits tremendous patience, and delivers exquisite guitar parts that enhance instead of overshadow.

Sounding like an amalgamation of John Mellencamp, Eddie Vedder and David Coverdale, singer Rob Lamothe is the driving force here. As they kick off the album with a song entitled Whisper, you're immediately treated to all of the elements being offered. Lamothe of course, a rock solid rhythm section, and a super solo from Vivian Campbell. All of this topped off with lyrics of great expression and feeling. Mmm...mmm...mmm, this is sweet stuff. Moving into Toy Soldier, all of the same qualities remain intact and stay very effective. With Big House we get it all once again. With Lamothe singing =I am bound to you, Like steel is bound to rust=, all the chills start coming. As Holy War strikes down, my spine is shredded by so much tingling. This is a track that sticks with you forever. I still hear Lamothe belting out =Fire coming down like rain= in my sleep. A tortured soul was singing this song when they recorded it; just a great, great performance. I could bore you and tell you, over and over again, how every song keeps up this enormous pace, but I won't do that. Let me just leave you with a few lyrical passages that are driven to success by all of the aforementioned qualities of this band:

There's a light in my eyes,
And it's blinding me as much as showing me the way,
Well who will believe me?
from Toy Soldier

There's a bullet in my Daddy's gun,
I will make it sing,
I swear it's the closest thing to Heaven,
I will ever see,
When my own land covers me.
from Rain, Rain


Tommy got a medal in the war,
He never wears it,
Man's got a hole in his head,
Nobody cares.
Tommy hears voices at night,
Nobody's there,
He never got used to being half a man.
There's a fire burnin' the sky tonight,
Come to take me home,
Pull me from a cold black river if the angels come.
from Spooky

This record is one of those rare treats. Severely talented musicians that put their heart and soul into each and every note, and play for the betterment of the songs instead of themselves. This is a real gem that I would wish on any passionate music fan.
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just look at the other reveiws. thats all you need to know. except they released one after this, called bone. it is as good as the first one. go and find it! it was never released in the u.s.

I bought this cd in 1990 when it first came out. I was instantly amazed at the direction the music took. Anyone thinking they would hear a DIO clone was in for a pleasant surprise. Not only was the guitar playing phenomenal, it was full of emotion and feel. Vivian Campbell is a guitar player's hero. He is truly one of the most incredible guitarists I have ever heard. He and John Sykes are my two favorites, and if they joined forces on a cd I would really dig it!
Each song on this cd was not a rushed or hurried project. You can tell that a lot of effort went into the lyrics, the basic melody, the whole song. Rob Lamothe is without a doubt one of the greatest vocalists ever. Put him up there with Lou Gramm and Steve Perry! He puts as much grit, soul and power into his songs as you would ever want. The lyrics come from the heart, you can't make that up. Nick Brophy stepped aside as the lead guitarist to make room for Vivian Campbell. Nick is a great guitarist as well. You can hear him play lead on the Absolutley Live CD, but his bass playing shocked me with the complex style he used. The bass playing sounds rock steady, with excellent runs showcasing each song. Finally the drumming. Marc Danzeisen was the only member not shown on the cover of the cd. Other than that, he is definitely an integral part of the band. The fills are fluid, accents are frequent, and nothing he plays is a cliche' in rock drumming.
All in all, this is a great cd, great talents and musicianship abound. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy, tell a friend about it, hell buy them a copy too!
IMHO, Spooky is the best song