★★★★★
Since 2004, The Rifles have ploughed a very particular furrow, releasing album after small-to-midsize-venue-filling album of spiky, straightforward and defiantly unfashionable guitar-pop that's as aware of its limitations as it is careful to play to its strengths. They're not the most inspiring of bands, but there's no denying they do what they do well enough, and the likes of 'Heebie Jeebies' and 'Catch Her In The Rye' (good song, awful title) are testament to Joel Stoker's reputation as a...
- www.nme.com
2014-01-21
★★★★★
With the original line-up back in place after bassist Robert Pyne and drummer Grant Marsh returned to the fold alongside Joel Stoker and Lucas Crowther, Chingford's The Rifles will be hoping to break away from the band's almost cult status to that of a more recognised household name.
Since their formation in 2004, three albums have seen the light of day - debut No Love Lost in 2006 introduced the quartet as mod (particularly The Jam) influenced portrayers of exciting lad rock...
- www.musicomh.com
2014-01-14
★★★★★
The Rifles' first album, No Love Lost, sounded like a Mod revival, harking back to a tradition of British pop led by the Jam. On their third album, Freedom Run, this influence has taken a backseat, despite being recorded in the studio of the Jam's frontman, Paul Weller. Instead, the influence is another tradition of British guitar music: Britpop. The jagged guitar riffs reminiscent of the 1970s have turned into a less aggressive, bright jangle...
- www.popmatters.com
2011-11-21
★★★★★
The Rifles continue to happen without anybody"s permission. Yeah, to the folk more interested in S.C.U.M"s conceptual art at the Shacklewell Arms, they"re scoff-worthy. But to the 5,000 who snapped up tickets for their Brixton Academy show (and plenty of similar-sized venues), they"re heroes. To cut to the chase, this third album is as good a guitar-pop set as you"ll hear all year: bright harmonies, brighter guitars, string stabs, handclaps and every classic songwriter trick in the book...
- nme.com
2011-10-04
★★★★★
The Rifles are one of those bands that are adequate but anonymous, neither deserving of our praise nor scorn really. According to Amazon, customers who have purchased Rifles CD's have also bought stuff by Morning Runner and The Upper Room, so you get the picture...
- www.gigwise.com
2010-11-23
★★★★★
Having made it to the 2nd album where so many bands over the last few years have failed, The Rifles have opted not to divert course but to continue on down the same road that garnered them enough fans first time round to make this 2nd helping possible. Unfortunately I'm a bit of a believer in bands needing to show some kind of progression to keep my attention and stop me from flailing wildly into a fit...
- hangout.altsounds.com
2010-11-09
★★★★★
The long awaited first album by The Rifles hits the streets this week and it has been well worth the wait. Kicking off with the band's last single, 'She's Got Standards', the album gets off to a flyer and is followed by the fast moving, mod anthem 'Local Boy' which is one of the best singles to be released in the last 12 months...
- www.music-news.com
2010-11-02
★★★★★
It's the mutha fucken Rifles and instantly I'm won over. Fans of big bass/scream/angles (think Jesus Lizard, even some early June Of 44, Fugazi), will need to get this, as it'll make you relook at all your early 90's mathness. Not to take away from the amazing musicship, it's really the vocals that will lift this group up as it instantly sounds large and worldwide. Make this your next buy and see these guys live too ? you won't regret it.
- www.undertheradar.co.nz
2010-11-02
★★★★★
My favourite Rifles story - not the one about the dippers making hay every night on their last tour - dates back to July 2006. On the strength of 'Repeated Offender' - which was the feel-good indie hit of that month - me and a few mates went down to the Cockpit to check out whether the London quartet had much more about them than meets the eye...
- hangout.altsounds.com
2010-11-02
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