Melbourne rockers Riff Raiders are back with their second full-length release and it’s an absolute cracker of an album. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Daydream” which was released on 30 March 2020 through Rue Morgue Records, oozes quality throughout all of its eleven tracks, twisting and turning through a variety of styles but which still keeps this very much an out & out rocker of an album.
Led by the wonderfully versatile Jenni Powell with her powerhouse vocals, Riff Raiders spread some much needed joy with this album during these testing times and it will surely be one of the front runners of Australian rock releases for 2020. Opening track “Loaded Gun”, which was released as a Double A-side back in February, sets the pace & tone of this collection of quality tracks with its almost bluesy-rock slide guitar work from the talented Marty Powell & six-string sidekick Josh King. “Stop Looking at Me” is a thumping, pounding straight-out rocker which will have you singing along after just one listen.
Latest single “Samantha Jones” is a fun-filled quirky true-to-life tale about a fan who left a copy of Riff Raiders’ 2017 debut album “Live Like You Mean It” on a train and the efforts she went to reunite said album & owner. “No Words” is a short one minute interlude of an instrumental before we launch head first into the ever so catchy “Best Day Ever” which sits forward as one of the album’s many highlights and a sure fire track that is destined to receive airplay on less rock-orientated radio stations.
Things chill right off with the ultra-smooth “Light” and we get to hear another side of Jenni’s vocals before drummer Ross Hetherington kicks things off on “When I’m Dreaming”, which is another infectious foot tapper of a track, full of warm fuzzy guitar riffs and backing vocals. “Stepping on a Cloud” is different once again, this time with Marty taking over on vocals with an almost Oasis/Brit-pop/70’s Beatles hint to it and it works so well. “Standing On My Own” is another highlight on “Rock ‘n’ Roll Daydream” as it doesn’t even give us a second to draw breath before Jenni drags us kicking & screaming into another solid rocker of a track.
Don’t be fooled into thinking penultimate song “Sunset to Sunrise” is going to gently lead us to the end of the album with its subtle but crisp acoustic guitars and gentle vocals as Hetherington’s kick drum warms things back up nicely – clever. If I was forced to pick a stand out song on an album filled with so many stand out tracks then for me it would have to be the age old saying of saving the best till last. The epic “Shade” is a power-driven ballad of the highest quality with fantastic guitar work throughout from Marty Powell & King, the tight rythmn section of Hetherington & bassist Ron E Smith and exceptional & emotive vocals from Jenni Powell – a sure fire winner to close with.
If you’re stuck home during these times of isolation & lockdown then you only need to play this album twice a day to get the required exercise needed, as you’ll find yourself rocking out to “Rock ‘n’ Roll Daydream” from the moment you press play and having heard at least five of these tracks played live when I caught the band at The Espy back in February, I can report these are fantastic additions to an already strong live set. Adding “Rock ‘n’ Roll Daydream” to your rock collection is essential if you love everything about feel good rock ‘n’ roll… Just do it – you won’t be disappointed!
9/10
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https://www.riffraiders.com
