"Class 2 Rapids" Is a Genre-Hopping Rock Marathon by Robbie Rapids

If you’re tired of albums that sound like they were made by a computer program in a shiny office, you should probably hang out with Robbie Rapids for an hour. Robbie is a Gen X rocker from Atlanta who clearly doesn’t care about staying in one lane. His new album, “Class 2 Rapids”, is a massive 15-track collection that bounces between classic rock, glam, country, and even a bit of metal.

He recorded this over the last two years with a small army of ten musicians and four other songwriters. It feels like a real passion project from a guy who just loves to play guitar and tell stories. Here is a breakdown of what you’re getting into:

The album kicks off with “Hang Loose“, which is basically a manual on how to deal with a stressful corporate job. Robbie’s advice? Go scream at a mountain and then let it go. “Dance With Me” follows up with a funny, relatable story about trying to win back a girl’s attention at a club, while “Black Roses” takes a look at a breakup from a “backwards” perspective.

Things get a bit more thoughtful with “I Believe in You“, a track about childhood friends and the military. Then, Robbie shifts gears completely for “BIG BAM BOOM“, a loud tribute to 70s glam rock that name-drops David Bowie and T. Rex. If you want something trippier, the Reimagined version of “Dream Away” offers some psychedelic rock vibes that’ll make you feel like you’re drifting through the middle of the week.

“Mystery of Life” explores how two people on totally different paths end up together, while “Bad Habit” is a self-deprecating tune where Robbie compares himself to a dog with fleas getting kicked to the curb. “Out of the Garden” brings some heavy themes, using the story of Adam and Eve to talk about modern-day temptation.

One of the funniest tracks is definitely “Mule of Mine“. It’s about a farmer’s lost mule that ends up relaxing in a country club pool. By the end, the farmer isn’t even mad—he just joins the mule in skipping work on Fridays. “Street Shuffle” takes a more serious turn, looking at the “tent cities” that popped up after the pandemic.

For a bit of nostalgia, “Fishing the River” tells the story of Robbie being a teenager with zero fishing skills in Michigan, set to a “swamp rock orchestra” sound. Then there is “Billy the Kid“, which is essentially a story about a runaway goat. The album officially “ends” with the “sound effect of a man falling asleep“, followed by the original version of “Dream Away“.

It’s a wild ride, but that’s the point. Robbie Rapids isn’t trying to fit into a neat little box; he’s just making the music he wants to hear. It’s honest, a little bit weird, and a lot of fun.

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