And the Lord said…how can one man still come up with so many rippin’ tunes???!
Still going strong, still singing loud and proud, the one said man continues elevating his music up high with
The Disasters. After countless Agnostic Front albums and having already completed 2 full-lengths with his modern band, New York City punk icon Roger Miret presents the Disaster’s third studio album,
My Riot. The album is defined by Miret himself to be his most sincere album to date, and the most direct towards his inner-most thoughts. Hard to believe when looking at some titles on the track-list, but this isn’t the first time Roger’s pulled off something so unpredictable, persevering his way through every chant, yell, and forever undying oi-styled unity.
I will start out saying that this is the biggest ‘grower’ in quite some time. The first few listens through didn’t hook me in one bit, maybe because of the vocals overpowering much of the music. It eventually becomes one of the best listens of the year after a few listens through. Despite some annoying repetitive references, and the very weak single,
My Riot becomes a powerhouse of fury and spunk you’ve come to easily expect from Roger Miret and his Disasters. One thing this album has a lot of is variety. It mixes plenty of styles into the growling ethics of Miret’s famous vocals, making the music seem a bit like uncharted territory at first. The first solo of the album being The Slackers’ Vic Ruggiero’s piano magic at work, you are promised something different this time around, grappling a hold of the essentials every fan looks to buy the album to begin with.
The album starts up with many tracks rambling on about New York City’s marvels and whatnot, focusing on Miret’s life and experiences in the big city. The lyrics can become very deep, and the change of tones in Miret’s vocals are a big plus for the more inspirational tracks on the album.
Everything I Do turns out to be the unprecedented event of Miret’s own acoustic solo about a strong love walking out of his life, as the powered punk-ballad,
Janie And Johnny manages to bundle a strong chorus with a tragedy story. Organs and pianos contribute to the many rhythms of the more case-sensitive songs. Vic Ruggiero’s key-plays on the album are also a big plus, as it adds more and more to the variety the listener receives.
The tones of the bass and treble mixes are excellent, and the production of the album is one of the crispest to be heard from the band. As the self titled single off the record fails to at least impress this listener, it’s clear it lacks the rush much of the rest of the music achieves, and it just doesn’t compare.
Roots Rockn’ Roll features some of the best guitars on the album and guest-stars Lars Frederiksen, as they continue to use the annoying phrase used at least 75 times in the band’s previous music. The phrases “Rock N’ Roll” and the many references of New York get painstakingly old very quick. The guest-starring on the album is also incredible, mainly because each certain guest does what they do best and make the climax of the music much more enjoyable, in the sense there’s a stronger presence in the mix. Dropkick Murphy’s own Al Barr stars in possibly the best track on the album,
Once Were Warriors: a powerful tune about punk’s followers and the trail of unity it leaves behind. Once again, the styles are presented differently, and it becomes hard to miss as you get used to the music.
Adrenaline-pumping, fast, hard punk rhythms appear as a few songs that really stand out as well. The styles of the properly-named
*** You,
TV News and
Straight Jacket lace the modern style of The Disasters with the fury of Agnostic Front’s arid song-writing. Heart-pounding beats and crazy, yet coherent solos dominate. Another of the more special styles on here is the tribute song
Ramones. The
Hey-Ho mentality kicks in as many Ramones references and chants make the music very unique and makes even more unique song-writing arise.
My Riot is very well what the famous front-man said it would be and perhaps more. The variety on it makes for an uncanny look as raging, heart-pulsating punk turns to different styles and differing voices alike, making a kind of album that isn’t very often seen. If he can do all this and still have the space for fierce guitar-work and the idea that
unity will forever be, why not the praise?
Stand Out Tracks:
Noho Soho
Janie And Johnny
Once Were Warriors
*** You
Another Generation
The Disasters- My Riot:
Roger Miret- Vocals, Guitar
Rhys Kill- Guitars, Vocals
Brian Darwas- Bass, Vocals
Luke Rota- Drums
Guest-Starring:
Lars Frederiksen- Vocals
Al Barr- Vocals
Vic Ruggiero- Piano, Organ
Patricia Day- Vocals
Kim Nekroman- Guitar, Backup Vocals
4/5
