The latest album by UK treasure, The Rifles, is a stream of excellence from first track through last.  It's noted that The Jam's Paul Weller is a fan of this band and I can see why after enjoying this album as much as I have.  The Rifles bear a resemblence to another UK treasure, The Jam.

Released in the UK a year ago (Jan '09), and making it across the waters to the US for a September '09 release, this album of 12 tracks is a strong 2nd effort from a band that I anticipate to stay around for awhile.  Unlike other notable bands of their retroworks, The Rifles manages to stay in gear, opting for a stronger set of songs like the ones that established them on their first album.  With bands like Bloc Party, The Enemy UK, the lamented The Music, Interpol, NYC's The Strokes, and numerous others trying to slip into a more current style away from the sound that gained them interest in the first place, it's refreshing to hear an improving version of a band we like instead of unexpected and disappointing deviations.

Every track on Great Escape is worth your time and attention.  From the Jam-like opening track, "Science in Violence," to the blood pumping title track, to the Beatle-esque "For The Meantime," Great Escape is excellent Rock and Roll meant for those that can appreciate not only it's retro feel but also it's strong dynamics that make it a very good album.

It's bands like The Rifles, who employ all the sounds of the heroes they so warmly emulate that gives me hope for music in the future.  Primarily, I greatly appreciate the historical investigation that is required to so successfully replicate the feeling of an era gone by.  When you add to that intensity the talent necessary to pull it off, and you realize that the band is good enough to have been successful had they emerged during those golden periods, you have genuine gold.

(Hang in there for the hidden bonus 12th track, "Lazy Bones (Konk Version)" that plays not long after the listed conclusion.)