Customer Reviews

Another Joyous Occasion

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Picked up the new Panic CD yesterday, and was pretty impressed. As a whole, this recording is a departure from their previous live effort, Light Fuse Get Away. DDBB adds a lot to tunes like Weight of the World (which I can't imagine without the horns) and Superstition, but I think it gets to be a bit much, as evidenced by a muddled Beehive Jam.

The band sounds terrific, as we've come to expect. Jojo's keyboard work impresses, especially on Superstition, while the flow between that and Fishwater could not be smoother. JB sounds great, and as usual, one might think about taking bets as to when we may start seeing sparks shoot out his throat when he screams.

It's nice to see a live album that doesn't mirror a "greatest hits" release, as so many other live albums do. Having seen this tour last year, the finished product stands as a good indication of Panic shows in general.

One thought: if you are not already a Panic fan, try buying "Everyday" or "Space Wrangler" first. Then, go see a few shows. I would imagine that Another Joyous Occasion falls easier on the ears of the Panic veteran, as opposed to someone jumping right in.

When I unexpectedly stumbled upon this CD the other day, it looked like a no brainer. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band! They could make a Rickey Martin medley sound good! I even thought there might be shades of (gasp) The Band when they recorded live albums with mighty horn sections. Then I listened to it, and couldn't help feeling disappointed. The Dozen, of course, kick ass--though they could have been mixed a little more to the front. And the ... rhythm section is outstanding. Come to think of it, everybody is pulling their weight more or less except the lead guitarist. This is where the jam falls flat. If you're going to have a jam/improvisational band, and especially if you're going to extend the songs even further for a live album then, darn it, you need a lead guitarist! One that can play blue notes...you know, bend the strings a little! Have that feel! Throughout this album, the lead guitar playing is very pedestrian--it sounds like the way someone plays lead when their hands are cold. Sluggish, just trying to hit the notes at all (with intonation, style, and flair straight out the window). I'm not a Panic fanatic, so I can't really say if this guy sounds like this all the time (my memory tells me that earlier albums had better lead playing than this), but I have to say that on this disc he just doesn't cut it. Frankly, it's not even close (example--half way through the opening medley). It's a real shame, too, because an agile, firey blues picker could have lit the flame under this burner. As it stands, though, some serious Anglo-itis dampens what could have been a classic combination. Too bad. I'll just go listen to "The Last Waltz."

ps. this is where the "second generation Dead bands" fall flat--the Dead had a strong underpinning of blues, jazz, bluegrass, etc. to run their rock jams through. Widespread (and, to a much greater degree Phish) does not, and the results can sound sterile (especially Phish--mucho technique, and all the soul of an ECM release....).

Don't feed the troll folks... anyway, this is a pretty solid CD. I get the feeling that WSP wanted to release something different from their previous amazing live release, Light Fuse Get Away. So, they're releasing a recording of them playing with the DDBB. Certainly a big departure from LFGA, which I would call mostly high-energy pyrotechnics that are a good sampler of WSP's songs. As a result, the album is pretty solid, but not as smoothed out as the other live album. I liked most of it pretty well, although for some reason Beehive Jam I just find irritating. It gets too atonal, then jumps off-pace and drags drags drags. Maybe on repeated listens... still a good album for fans of the group, not what I would start with though...I'd recommend Til The Medicine Takes if you like studio stuff more, Light Fuse Get Away if you're a live person.

If you were lucky enough to catch the boys with the DDBB on tour than you'll know the color that they can give Panic complementing certain songs. Highlights here include "Superstition," "Weight of the World,"Fishwater," and a nice "Guilded Splinters." I would have personally liked the "Arleen" to not be a "dance mix", but whatever. Rick, you'll dig this the most.

Once again, Widespread has released a great CD. DDBB adds so much to something already amazing. I have seen DDBB and WSP live both separately and together, and it just keeps getting better. Listening to the Dirty Dozen play "Christmas Katie" and "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" blows the mind as much as when Widespread plays them. Together they are an excellent combination, maybe brought together by fate, and no matter what something that will live on for years to come. Thank ya Kindly JB...[widespread's lead guitarist, great as a solo artist as well (for whoever wrote that horrible review, we all know who i'm talking about)]

wsp and ddbb have put together a masterpiece here for fellow spreadheads and non sreadheads alike songs like guilded splinters,coconuts and christmas katie make this album one of the best i have heard in years. the remake of supersition i was lucky to see live and it has lost nothing in the transition from live to cd thanks boys this is top notch.

I approached this CD with some trepidation, wary of obligatory horn charts and desultory soloing. Instead, "Joyous" delivers a well-integrated sound with adventurous solos and dynamite ensemble work. While perhaps not as representative as WP's "Light Fuse Get Away," "Joyous" is in many ways a more ambitious effort, and unquestionably reflects Widespread Panic's commitment to exploring and expanding their sound.

Michael Houser's chromatic runs mesh nicely with the DDBB, and John Bell's gravelly vocals prove once again that he's one of the best in the jam-band genre (although it's admittedly a genre distinguished by its undistinguished vocals). The DDBB in turn benefits from Widespread's propulsive rhythm section, and actually sounds very comfortable with them. Highlights include the opening "Fishwater->Supersition->Fishwater" medley, "Beehive Jam," and Dr. John's "I Walk On Guilded Splinters." "Beehive" is especially challenging, but repeated listenings pay off.

I hold back from a 5-star rating just because I usually need time for an opinion like that to sink in, but "Joyous" is definitely first-rate stuff.

It is my opinion that any album by Widespread is worth having. If you're familiar with the band and even have some solid bootlegs, this album probably won't blow you away. An important note is that this is the first album released under Widespread Panic Records - thus it is likely that they were psyched to go ahead and release something. Don't get me wrong...the boys won't let you down! There are plenty of solid jams. But the techno-Arleen seems a little tacked on, and the album as a whole is perhaps merely "representable". Methinks they were just eager to get WPR rolling. Good luck to this outstanding band as they take control of their own production. I think a lot of us are looking forward to more well thought out releases.

Another Joyous Occasion seems to be the perfect title for Widespread's debut release under their own label. This CD, like many albums by "jam" bands, gets better with each listen. Along with traditional crowd favorites such as the Fishwater>Superstition>Fishwater segue, Widespread gives us a nice dose of experimentation with a little "techno" in Arleen.

Widespread Panic proves with this album that they will not be forced into the constraints of a particular genre of music. The fact of the matter is, the music on the album is spectacular, thanks largely to the magic of John Keene's mixing. Thanks, Widespread, and everyone be sure to pick up this album. Heck, it's only half the price of a concert ticket and who could ask for a better setlist. BTW - Check out Beehive Jam, it really starts smokin'. This live album by one of today's most underated bands will surely stand the test of time!

This is really a collaboration between the two bands, despite the DDBB "guest star" billing.

The treatment of "Superstition" is worth the price of admission all by itself. Despite the number of tracks listed, this disc is really just several extended jams. For someone who wants to hear a band play A Song there will be some disappointment. But the sheer power and invention and fun of so many players jumping into the the next cool idea is irresistable.

This is a great live disc, a great, fresh listening experience. If you are a DDBB fan, you'll love what happens when they get a full kick-butt rock band to sit on, and WP fans will love the depth and breadth that the horn band gives them. Highly recommended.