Underneath The Owl

Underneath The Owl

Underneath the Owl features lots of the dense, punchy pop-punk that has earned the Riverboat Gamblers a following, but here they prove that they know others speeds besides full. Don’t worry; they rock hard as ever on “Dissdissdisskisskisskiss,” “Catastrophe,” “Keep Me from Drinking,” and the standout closer “Victory Lap,” but they mix things up in a good way, too. There’s some slinky, and unexpected, vibraphone on “Robots May Break Your Heart” that sounds great (courtesy of DJ Bonebrake of X) and pedal steel guitar on the near-ballad “Tearjerker,” for instance. And on “A Choppy, Yet Sincere Apology” they lay down an infectious ska-like rhythm that bounces along nicely, while “Pilgrims In an Unholy Land” revolves around a steady mid-tempo groove that erupts into a shredding guitar solo. Regardless of tempo, though, what hasn’t changed is the band’s ability to craft a catchy melody. They write consistently energetic, fun music, and on this, their fourth release, their more fully developed songwriting chops bodes well for their future.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada