Guster
Ganging Up on the Sun
Reprise Records
For the pureblooded Guster fan, the variations in each of their releases have been ground-shaking and earth-shattering-for example, whether or not their drummer's using sticks (he usually uses only his hands), or 2003's annexation of a fourth
member. With continual growth
and an increasingly polished sound,
some think Guster's abandoning their
indie-bongo roots,
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whereas others lap it up with eager anticipation. Whether you're a garage-band-Guster fan or a stadium-grandstand-Guster fan, one thing's for sure: with
Ganging Up on the Sun
, the boys from Boston have done it again (in a good way).
More subdued than 2003's
Keep It Together
, Guster's latest release opens with the dark and pensive "Lightning Rod" and keeps up the tradition throughout. Mellow, understated accompaniment flows flawlessly under vocals that seem to be sung from a brooding mind and a clenched jaw. Bright verses are suddenly punctuated with drop-off minor keys, bringing to the forefront that there is more here than meets the ear.
Not to be confused with having gone emo, with this release, Guster's gone serious. Even the more upbeat "C'mon" or the rapid-fire "The New Underground," reminiscent of classic rock and great additions to any driving mix CD, have poignant refrains and chord progressions that could make even a Massachusetts frat boy's heart ache. Pulsing moments leaving the listener with nothing but the tail-end of a guitar chord coupled with bold, ballsy drum mini-solos are interspersed throughout the album, enough to get anyone within earshot to stop and listen.
"Been reading the forecast-something's coming this way," read the lyrics of "Empire State." With tracks that bulge and murmur like a rainstorm coming from the mountains, indeed, little can be done to keep
Ganging Up on the Sun
out of CD players this summer. And Guster, whether they know it or not, have given Santa Feans a perfect soundtrack to driving down Route 14 in the throes of monsoon season.
