Customer Reviews

Underneath The Owl

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I respectfully disagree with the poster below. I have been a fan of the Gamblers for a long time and am very pleased with the new album. Don't worry, the earlier stuff is still available. As a whole, I think bands either continually release the same record under a different title, or try to make each record have a sound of its own. In the former case, fans will almost always prefer whatever release they heard first as it has become their standard. All later albums will be a failed attempt to recreate the greatness that was. In the latter case, I think people gear up for more of the same and are immediately dissapointed with what they hear. That's too bad because they may be robbing themselves of a new favorite. If you genuinely dislike it, then so be it. My favorite songs, however, are always ones that took a few listens. Underneath the Owl took a few listens. It is definately a departure, although not so much so as implied below. I now believe it is superor to To the Confusion... and on par with Something to Crow About - not in sound, but in overall execution. These songs are different. They are not as uniformly high tempo and cover a much wider range. There are still burners on here, but there are also songs that are simply not raucous punk anthems. I agree with the poster below that the order of songs is not ideal. The second half is not as energetic as the first. I do not like the second to last song either. Don't be alarmed, it is, without a doubt, still the Riverboat Gamblers. If you are a fan, then you have enjoyed what this band has done in the past. Learn from the past and give yourself a chance to enjoy a great record.

This CD hasn't left my Top 25 Most Played bin on my Ipod in over a year. Victory Lap & Choppy Yet Sincere... are my favs but all the tracks are excellent and varied. So glad I found out about these guy - can't wait to see them in concert!

Riverboat Gamblers's Underneath The Owl is the kind of album that's ready to explode onto universities and take the world by storm. This is punk/rock at it's finest.

From the opening track "DissDissDissKissKissKiss" I was instantly reminded of the first time that I listened to Green Day's Dookie. Somehow the Riverboat Gamblers have captured that same raw energy that first sparked my passion for music.

The sounds of The Subways, Unwritten Law, and even a touch of the grittier side of Jet can be found interlaced throughout the album. Though with that said, the Riverboat Gamblers still manage to maintain a style that is very uniquely their own. Such tracks as "A Choppy Yet Sincere Apology" and "Pilgrims In An Unholy" are ripe for radio airplay, yet it's the deep cuts like "The Tearjerker" and "Castastrophe" that will keep the staying power of this album alive and well for many years to come.

The Riverboat Gamblers were a band that were able to infuse the high level energy from their live performances into an album. Unfortunately, Underneath the Owl is a far departure from their previous albums. Underneath the Owl is a watered-down punk record that seems to trade in every aspects of their music that was entertaining for hum drum pop rock styling. The record actually runs out of steam as you listen to it. "DissDissDissKissKissKiss" opens the album with high energy, but by the time you get to "Robots May Break Your Heart," you're falling asleep and wondering if that is in fact a xylophone. Then you hear the hawaiian infused "The Tearjeaker" and it's truly confirmed that the Riverboat Gamblers have given up on their beloved original style.

If you are purchasing your first Riverboat Gamblers, I'd recommend you purchase To the Confusion of Our Enemies and Something to Crow About. If you already are a Riverboat Gamblers fan, plan to be disappointed.

My only hope is that their live performances will keep the same level of energy that made me fall in love with this band in the first place.