AMBASSADORS
OF ROCK-N-ROLL – The Riviera Playboys (Screaming
Apple)
Maybe you’ve never heard anything from the myriad of “Nuggets”-styled
compilations that sprang up like magic mushrooms in a stoner’s psychedelic
vegetable garden in the ‘70s. Perhaps you lived under a rock during
the 
second
wave of ‘60s punkerama in the ‘80s, or (even more
scarily) absorbed yourself in AOR radio back then. If so, and you want
to do some catching up, “Ambassadors of Rock-n-Roll” is the
perfect place to jump in. From jangly singalongs to screaming freakbeat friction,
this NY State quartet covers all the bases – in consummate style. Which
should be no surprise, given their pedigree.
Rochester producer Dave Anderson (bass and vocals) formed the Riviera Playboys
in 1996 and this is just their second album. He and his bandmates’ curricula
vitae include recording and/or playing as diverse a bunch as with Mick Taylor,
Johnny Thunders, Savoy Brown and the Chesterfield Kings. Noteworthy fact:
guitarist Paul Rocco played six strings with the Kings and The Playboys hail
from the same general locale.
So how do they sound? When it comes to reviews like these, I refuse to play the smartarse game of matching tunes to obscure ‘60s punk singles (aka "My '60s Punk Collection Is Bigger Than Yours"). Besides the fact that I’m memory-challenged when it comes to putting a name to some of the sounds (and am too lazy to walk over to the pile of ‘60s-related CDs and vinyl that dominates one corner of the Bar like a fucked-up Leaning Tower of Pisa). Unless you’ve listened to the same rekkids it would be pointless anyway. So generalisations only will apply…
There’s
the usual Standells/Count Five fuzz and organ undercurrent, but you probably
guessed that. Pushed to give a more contemporary point of reference, I’d
liken the Playboys’ sound to righteously retro Euros The Maharajahs
or The Blue Van, or (closer to Australia) roughed-up, early period Stems.
They boast generous lashings of harmonica, bustling rhythms and punchy vocal
harmonies. Just about the perfect mix of melody and toughness.
There's something for everyone on "Ambassadors". "If You Asked" is
jangle-pop with a memorable refrain and a reason to live. "I Just Wanna
Be (Your Lovin' Man)" is a leather-clad appeal for re-acceptance with
stinging harp and lead guitar to match. "She Used to Be My Girl" is
crawling fuzz-psych with an undercurrent of menace.
"No I'm Not" rings like latter-day (pop) Groovies turned tough. More rough-edged guitar leavened by "ohhhhhh" backing vox. "Wig City" does the roll call of US cities to an infectious beat-rock backdrop. "Telling You Not to Go" marries a hooky melody line to a searing lead break that doesn't waste a note. Economy and a flair for hooks abound throughout these 14 tunes. No clunkers here.
Production is ace too and if it's not analogue it sure sounds like it. (Listen to "We're Goin' Down" and grin knowingly at the primitive but effective trick of fuzz guitar being panned from one speaker to the other.)
Background on these Playboys is hard to track down but the word is that
they're predominantly Europe-focussed which explains their being part of
a German label's roster. Don't let that stop you asking your nearest import
to nail you a copy, or going direct to to the source. –
The Barman
1/2