Primal Scream - Riot City Blues (2CD Japanese Remastered Edition) (2009)

Riot City Blues' is Primal Scream's follow-up album to the electro-tinged Evil Heat, although it could easily be compared in style and content to their 1994 masterpiece Give Out But Don't Give In. Bluesy, punky swagger and New York Dolls-esque melodies abound, marking this album out as a more organic affair than Bobby Gillespie & Co's previous two albums. Includes the single 'Country Girl'.Recorded at London's Olympic Studios and produced by former Killing Joke bassist Youth. This offering from Bobby Gillespie and the boys features guest contributions from Will Sergeant (Echo & the Bunnymen), Warren Ellis (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds) and Alison Moss hart (The Kills). Sony/BMG. 2006.

First listen, Riot City Blues--the ninth album from genre-mashing Scottish rock hedonists Primal Scream--feels like a conscious shift away from the politicised punk futurism thats guided their output since "Swastika Eyes", harking back instead to the Southern-fried blues-rock that inspired their ill-received 1994 album Give Out But Dont Give Up. No question, "Boogie Disease" and "Nitty Gritty" have fairly myopic horizons, beyond a desire to make what frontman Bobby Gillespie hails "that sweet, sweet, sweet rocknroll". Riot City, however, seldom sinks to the narcotic lulls that characterised their last foray into the Memphis swamps. Accompanied by haywire mandolin, "Country Girl" bounces along at a tempo that somehow reminds both of four-to-the-floor techno, and The Proclaimers "Im Gonna Be (500 Miles)". Kevin Shields, the eccentric guitar genius that helped shape the last two Scream records, is gone, but new special guests include Will Sergeant of Echo And The Bunnymen and The Kills Alison Mosshart (who contributes a great guest verse to "Dolls (Come On Baby Lets Have A Good Time)". Meanwhile, "Sometimes I Feel So Lonely" is a blissful gospel hymn to anarchy ("Everythings permitted/Nothings really true") in the vein of past Scream landmark "Star". Pastiche, but fun with it.--Louis Pattison