Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 22/04/1999
Label: Sony

Whether 'Rides' will match the commercial success of 1997's charttopping 'Glow' album remains to be seen, but the West Country boys have definitely moved forward in terms of variation and maturity with their latest offering. Sure, you've still got the cider-fuelled skate-rock ethic which informs a lot of their work - and this is a strong point. But 'Rides' sees Reef move into newer territory. There's the folk inspired 'LockedInside', the strung out ballad~ 'I Don't Want This To End' and the familiar hands in the air, baggy beats of 'I've Got Something To Say (their current single) where lead singer Gary Stringer gets to growl his distinctive vocals. Oh yeah! Incidentally the album was recorded in California - surf's up dude!