Remember when artistic integrity and innovation was to be admired more than an expensive haircut and a tight pair of jeans Remember when songwriters strove for more than the next unit-shifting cookie cutter chorus Remember when music was a bit more, well, honest? The River Phoenix do. Heck, they've never had a choice in the matter. In direct reaction to the rash of artificial-sounding records that are popping up with alarming regularity, with The River Phoenix what you hear through your headphones is what you'll get live – only more so.

The debut album "Ritual" was recorded in Stockholm with Pelle Gunnerfeldt (The Hives, Logh) over the space of two weeks. The likes of "I'm USA You're Canada", "5 Wheel Drive" and "28-83-7" rise and fall with passionate, bombastic choruses and subtle, measured introspection, sketching out vast sonic patterns intricately weaved with swathes of lush guitar melodies.

Having already achieved a childhood dream supporting The Smashing Pumpkins, the stage is set for The River Phoenix to begin making a name for themselves on the world stage.