To The Confusion Of Our Enemies

Album Review

The second track on To the Confusion of Our Enemies is titled "Don't Bury Me...I'm Still Not Dead." But with all the reckless punk fury the Riverboat Gamblers have been dishing since their inception, well, they probably should be. Thankfully for listeners, the guys are not only alive and kicking, but they've also not yet lost their gritty edge or irrepressible exuberance. For their Volcom debut, they've simply developed their manic approach to one that is slightly more sober and aware. After all, having dealt with insincere A&R reps who appeared at their door in the wake of 2003's Something to Crow About — reflected upon in wry songs like the punchy "Biz Loves S**ts" — the guys are hardly naïve upstarts. But while the Gamblers may initially seem more sharply polished than on prior efforts, there is absolutely no dilution of the volatile energy they've been raucously discharging over the years (check them out live if you want further proof). Things are still very much fun and dirty, just not the all-encompassing filthy sweat of before. If anything, the better production that bolsters To the Confusion of Our Enemies just means that listeners are now able to actually understand the band's spirited lyrics (um, mostly) instead of just shouting along incoherently with a raised fist as on past efforts. Though admittedly less raw in nature, the Riverboat Gamblers still keep their balls-to-the-wall attack very much intact amid incendiary, attitude-fueled anthems for the weary, triumphant rocker in everyone. Learn to love these guys before everybody else is talking about them.