I've said it before and I'll say it again, the name of a band doesn't necessarily effect their chances of success or failure (with a few notable exceptions). I liked the name 'Riot Police' when it slid across my screen and I though 'ooh some strident punk or perhaps a bit of industrial metal' but no, unfortunately for me, Riot Police from Kildare bare little resemblance to their rather hard-edged moniker.
This three piece offer some of the politest, saccharine, jingly pop songs heard outside of a church knees up. Not that this makes them a lesser band in anyway or the songs aren't pleasant enough, but for my tastes it sits on the rather wrong side of 'nice'. From the uber-clean twinkly guitar sound, to the recorded-in-one-take freshness and sing-a-long, REM-lite vocals. The songs are the brain-child of singer/guitarist Ross MacMahon and, hand-on-heart are all pretty well written. Ross and co. who obviously have the right stuff about them (although, unaccustomed as I am to commenting on other peoples reviews, I think that the quote on Riot Police's Myspace bio from Emma at The Voice magazine, was having a pretty surreal day when she gushingly compared Ross's vocals to Editors frontman Tom Smith) but it lacks in any sort of real energy or drive . Highlight of the songs on offer on Myspace is the more melancholic 'Lake' where things veer slightly more towards the darker side and shows Ross in his best light.
Maybe, with a bit of dirt rubbed in and some rock n roll magic dust sprinkled over them, Riot Police could grow into their name, otherwise the name and style are unlikely to really reflect each other in any way. Currently though, some nice ideas, perhaps which, with a bit of repackaging and working out, could grow into something stronger.
Review by Drumhead
RANK: *** 3 out of 6
www.myspace.com/riotpolicemusic
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