Rhino Bucket : Who’s Got Mine?
by Ron & Don Higgins
Staff Writer
After numerous listens, the latest release by Rhinobucket can be summarized thusly: It sounds like classic Rhino Bucket and old-school AC/DC. Okay, that summary is obviously a bit facetious, but also happens to be pretty accurate. Another way to say it is Rhino Bucket doesn’t really break any new ground here. Is that a problem? Absolutely not! Fans of Rhino Bucket don’t listen to them because they want to expand their musical horizons and expect them to feature diverse musical styles on their records. Nobody expects (or wants) a Rhino Bucket album to explore progressive metal elements or, thankfully, experiment with the latest rock/rap amalgamation (although a Rhino Bucket dabbling in ‘70s soft rock and performing the greatest hits of Ambrosia could be amusing). Nope, they want simple, straight-forward, in-your-face, ballsy, bluesy rock and roll. And that’s exactly what they get on Rhino Bucket’s latest release, Who’s Got Mine?
This is their second album after taking a decade off from recording and it’s as if they never left. This release features original members, singer/guitarist Georg Dolivo and bassist Reeve Downes. Also featured is guitarist Brian “Damage” Forsythe of Kix and Anthony “Tiny” Biuso from TSOL and The Dickies on the drums.
The record starts off with the blistering “Message In My Bottle”. No, it has no resemblance whatsoever to the similarly titled Police track. It’s a classic break-up tale that features an infectious riff with an excellent lead guitar break in the middle. It’s a good representation of what’s on offer here and a great way to kick-off the album.
Other standout tracks include “Lifeline”, “Who’s Got Mine”, “Her Way” and “Joke’s On You”. “Lifeline” is an up-tempo rocker that finds the narrator in precarious situations like getting in fights (thanks to a woman, of course) and has a nice country sounding lead guitar solo reminiscent of Social Distortion riffing on Johnny Cash. The title track, “Who’s Got Mine” is another perky rocker with an infectious beat and sing-along chorus. “He’s got his; you’ve got yours; who’s got mine?” Who, indeed? “Her Way” is an extremely fast little number with a punk-like swagger. The Ramones would be proud of this one. “Joke’s On You” is another memorable track with one of the coolest riffs on the entire record.
Keeping up with the raw, beer-swilling, backwoods barroom feel of the album, the boys include a number of songs celebrating the nectar of the rock and roll fraternity, namely alcohol, including some awesomely titled tracks as “Drive Thru Liquor”, “Chase the Case”, and “Hollywood and Wine”. George Thorogood could do no better. “Drive Thru Liquor” isn’t one of the best songs on offer here but it has a nice bluesy riff and a fast tempo. “Hollywood and “Wine” is a good song with a very memorable chorus. The best of these alcohol-tinged tunes however is “Chase the Case”. No, it’s not an instrumental like the similarly titled “Chase the Ace” by the oft compared AC/DC; it’s just what the title implies, a song about the boys hitting the bottom of their fermented supply of beverages and needing a beer run. It’s a classic ode to drinking beer, complete with some nice popping-open-a-beer sound effects ala WASP’s classic “Blind in Texas”. Not only does Georg utter the commonly repeated, persuasive party phrase, “I buy, you fly” but he states one of the funniest lines of any rock and roll song ever, namely, “I hate drinkin’ with p*ssies!” Classic country crooners like Merle Haggard and George Jones would surely be proud. Oh yeah, the music is pretty good too!
Unfortunately, the record wraps up with one of the weakest tunes “Rare Beauty” which is slower paced and not very memorable. It’s kind of a downer after so many upbeat rockers and leaves the listener wanting for one more kick in the pants, fist-pumping, rocker but, alas, it is not to be. Overall, it’s a very good record though with everything Rhino Bucket fans have come to expect and love.
Although Rhino Bucket always gets compared to AC/DC (fairly or unfairly, depending on your opinion), they definitely have their own sound and when you hear a Rhino Bucket song you immediately recognize it as the boys from California and not the boys from Down Under. And just as impressive as their Australian brethren, they have survived the ups and down of the always tenable music business and still manage to tour and put out kick-ass rock and roll music after all these years. That certainly can’t be said about a lot of their contemporary musicians from “back in the day”. Although other bands like Jason McMasters’ Broken Teeth and fellow-Aussies Airbourne have also had success with the Bon Scott era AC/DC sound, nobody does it quite like, or quite as well, as legends in their own right, the mighty Rhino Bucket. If you are or ever have been a fan of this fine band, then you will not be disappointed in this latest release by the boys. Here’s hoping they keep trudging onward and upward with more of their fine music for many years to come.
Band:
Georg Dolivo
Reeve Downes
Brian “Damage” Forsythe
Anthony “Tiny” Biuso
Track Listing:
1. “Message In My Bottle”
2. “Lifeline”
3. “Back To Nowhere”
4. “Drive Thru Liquor”
5. “Who’s Got Mine”
6. “Her Way”
7. “Joke’s On You”
8. “Chase The Case”
9. “Hollywood And Wine”
10. “Something For Nothing”
11. “Rare Beauty”
Website: www.rhinobucket.com – www.myspace.com/rhinobucketmusic – www.acetate.com
Label: Acetate Records
Hardrock Haven Rating: 8.5/10