Features

For over 25 years, Ottawa-based punk rockers The Riptides have been delivering high-energy, melody-driven blasts of pop-punk that have earned them a loyal following both at home and abroad. Now, with their latest LP, Burn After Listening, the band is taking things to the next level—signing with Pirates Press Records and reaching an all-new worldwide audience.

Originally formed in 1998, The Riptides quickly made a name for themselves by building their own studio and label, releasing music not just for themselves but for other Ottawa punk bands. Their reputation soon spread beyond Canada, leading them to record in some of the most respected studios in the U.S.—including the legendary Blasting Room in Fort Collins, CO, where Burn After Listening came to life. With Andrew Berlin overseeing tracking and Jason Livermore handling mastering, the album also features an impressive lineup of guest musicians, including members of Teenage Bottlerocket, All American Rejects, Screeching Weasel, and The Queers. Additionally, several tracks boast co-writing credits from Matt DeeCRACK of DeeCRACKS fame.

With Burn After Listening, The Riptides are ready to take on the world once again. And according to bassist and primary songwriter Bob Goblin, this new album is the perfect introduction for newcomers while still staying true to longtime fans. Let’s dive in and hear what else he had to say about the band's journey, the new record, and what’s next for the band!

PRT: We are doing this interview at what must be an incredibly exciting time for Canadians… how giddy with anticipation are you at the prospect of becoming the United States’ 51st state?

Bob: Ha ha hard pass. We're good. Of course, we feel incredibly bad about what's happening because we have so many friends down there who are affected by this bullshit. But in the meantime, and because we all know Trump reads everything that Punk Rock Theory publishes, our message is: "Fuck Off." Politely of course.

PRT: When you started out with The Riptides back in the late 90's, you were releasing an album a year, whereas now it has been 8 years since ‘Canadian Graffiti’ came out. How has the role that the band plays in your life changed over the years?

Bob: I think like many other bands of our vintage, life has evolved greatly since then- families, careers, general life stuff etc. all tend to ground you a bit more. But at the same time these things refocus the music and the songwriting in a more meaningful way. As life gets more complex, I find far more interesting things to write about now versus then. Sure, we've released fewer records in recent years, but we'd much rather take our time and make the best record we can rather than putting out a record that's boring.

PRT: Scrolling through your Facebook feed, I saw that you did pre-production for songs in late 2022, recorded at the Blasting Room in late 2023… how come it took until now for the new album to come out?

Bob: When the songs were ready to go our original plan was to record it with Mike Kennerty at his studio. But as things started opening up post-covid, Mike and his band (All-American Rejects) were getting booked more so scheduling became a challenge. It didn't look like the stars would align to work with Mike on this record, so we reached out to Andrew and the rest is history. The Blasting Room, obviously a legendary studio, are always busy so we couldn't get in there until late-2023. After recording, it was just the usual game of musical Tetris—mixing, mastering, coordinating with the label, pressing vinyl, and working around release schedules until it all fit together. And honestly, everyone just wanted to get it right and put out something that felt like, “Yeah, this was worth the wait.” It took time, but we’re good with that.

PRT: ‘Burn After Listening’ will be your first album on Pirates Press. How did you end up signing with them?

Bob: Pirates Press Records had been on our radar for a minute. We used to press our records with them many years ago and when we asked around, everyone spoke highly of PPR. I think they’re one of the rare labels that still feels like they’re run by music fans rather than marketing algorithms. We sent them the record and lucky for us, they were really into it. We’re stoked to be working with them.

PRT: What was the main reason you decided to record the new album? Is it simply a matter of having enough time to write and get organized or was there a - to use a cliche - creative spark?

Bob: For us, the decision to put out a record is always "do we have enough good songs that people might actually want to hear?" Then, throw in a global pandemic that shut down life for the better part of 2-3 years, and we were afforded a bit more time and space to write. The songs started coming together, and as things began to open up we couldn't really blame covid restrictions as an excuse to not record it.

PRT: ‘Burn After Listening’ features guest contributions by members of Teenage Bottlerocket, All American Rejects, Screeching Weasel and The Queers. Was that something you had planned or did the opportunities just come up?

Bob: No, we didn't plan it that way. Mike was onboard years ago; we had reached out to him before covid to see if he'd be interested in producing our next record and then we just started sharing ideas back and forth throughout the pandemic. It was super fun to work with him at such a weird time. Then, opportunities just came up. Our guitarist and drummer couldn't get away to record so Kody and Chewka jumped in to help out in the studio. Our guitarist Mike wrote two killer songs on this record then Mike Kennerty, Joe, Merel and Heavy Kevy offered to add parts from their studios. They’re all friends and people we've been lucky enough to stay connected with over the years. It all felt very organic because everyone just helped make the record better.

PRT: You also co-wrote a couple of the songs with Matt DeeCRACK. How did that come about? And what was it like to write with someone new?

Bob: I'm lucky in that I'm been able to write with some of my favourite songwriters. I love collaborating because it's challenging, and usually ends up with something rad. I'm a DeeCRACKS fan so I just thought I'd reach out and see if Matt was into working on a few ideas. It was alot of fun.

PRT: You recorded the album with Andrew Berlin. What was it that made you want to work with him and what did he bring to the table?

Bob: "Andrew Berlin's the man" was repeated to us more than a couple of times before we headed out there and once you work with him, you get it. He's awesome. The Blasting Room was on our bucket list because of its legendary sound and Andrew made recording there rad. It kinda felt like reaching Boss Level when we went out there and he just pushed us to get the best takes possible. And yeah, the dude’s got an incredible ear, but he’s also got great food recommendations, which were on-point and equally as important.

PRT: With the prices of vinyl being what they are, why should I pay heed to the album title?

Bob: Don't! With the price of vinyl these days, instead, burn something you enjoy after listening to the record or even better- before listening

PRT: You have your own hot sauce, beer and whiskey. Which is cool, but it’s not like you already have your own bibles, sneakers, watches and beautifully designed guitars. If you could release the Riptides-endorsed product of your dreams, what would it be?

Bob: No whiskey yet, but I think a nice Canadian rye would be killer.

PRT: What’s up next for The Riptides now that the new album is out?

Bob: We’re going to play some shows, maybe a few surprises, and very likely, start thinking about the next record. But for now, we’re just excited to get this record out into the world and see how people react. If they hate it, blame Canada.