Riverboat Gamblers - The Wolf You Feed

As much as I dig the Gamblers, I've been slow to pick up all of the releases, and just found this 2012 album, their most recent. Overall, this is a bit of a departure from their previous records, but, while it might not be as consistent as some, it is still a good one!

Least anyone doubt that they stopped writing Gamblers anthems, they start things right in "Good Veins", with its hints of the Dictators, and move right into the riff-laden "Bite My Tongue" - both up there with anything off of the last two records. Less characteristic is "Comedians" - while still obviously the Gamblers, it is a bit slower with a bit odder construction, and "Soliloquy" is more "traditionally" punk than normal (though still melodic, especially in the chorus). A song that everyone mentions as a big deviation is "Gallows Bird", a dark, dirge-like pounder, kinda reminding me of Iggy's "Night Clubbing" mixed with Nick Cave, with keys and odd, ambient noise added.

More of a return to form is "Blue Ghosts", though even that has some unusual overtones, and "Heart Conditions" hearkens back to 80's new wave mixed with their catchy choruses. Not as pop and more mid-tempo, moody garage is "Loser Neck" while "Dead Eyes", with its keys and minor chord progressions reminds me of slower, departure pieces that 80's punk'n'roll bands (the Little Kings come to mind) would do. Don't know if anyone will understand that reference, but not sure how else to describe it - not exactly a ballad, but a darker, somewhat slower bit of drama. Even the finale, "Eviction Notice", is not as frenzied as normal for these cats and a little odder melodically.

Not a bad record at all, but not what fans would think of as a solid Gamblers album - a lot more experimental with more variation. I'm gonna recommend To the Confusion and Underneath the Owl as starters, but if you don't mind your groups trying something new, this has some cool stuff.