Customer Reviews

Free Somehow

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The album gains appeal when you listen in terms of each song's 'live' possibilities, but on it's own comes across as uneven. 'Boom Boom Boom' has an excellent groove drowned out by a banal, insipid chorus. 'Walk on the Flood' is powerful musically but fails to connect from a songwriting standpoint. The band hits disappointing lows with 'Tickle the Truth'--a lyrically and musically cumbersome wreck--and 'Already Fried', another of lead singer John Bell's 30's-era lounge numbers that feels like nothing more than filler. On the bright side, 'Flicker' is a polished rock tour de force, and the title track shines with elegance from JB and Jimmy Herring. The best of the bunch is "Angels on High", a neo-soul shimmy that has JB channeling his inner Al Green. Sounds great on the record and should be a real crowd pleaser in the live setting as well...

Free Somehow, like their last effort Earth to America, suffers from overwrought production, particularly the use of horns that sound canned and midi-produced at best and like misplaced Kenny G solos at worst. Memo to Panic and E2A/Free Somehow producer Terry Manning: If longtime collaborators the Dirty Dozen Brass Band are not available, do your listeners a favor and ditch the horns.

While still adjusting to Terry Manning's level of production (John Keane, the old producer was more stripped down), I really like the direction the band is heading. While I'm not a huge fan of the Boom Boom Boom chorus, I see the song being a hit live...a setting in which Panic is amazing. Walk on the Flood is a powerful, driven tune and is followed up by a jazz infused Steely Dan flavored track called Angels on High. Three Candles is a song that seems to carry on the tradition of late guitarist and founding member Michael Houser. Tickle the Truth and Free Somehow show JB at his finest, one of the best yet relatively unkown Rock n Roll frontmen in the business. Flicker is another rocker that showcases Jimmy Herring's guitar prowess. Dark Day Program might be my favorite tune on the album as it is haunting and emotional. Her Dance Needs No Body is another great track, heavily layered, full of energy, and likely to become a fan favorite. Already Fried makes me want to eat Fried Chicken and listen to Tom Waits. Don't ask me why. Up all Night finishes of the album, with Al Green's backup singers and a solid horn section providing the backdrop for an easy going, more radio friendly song. The final chapter in a tremendous overall effort. I wish half the acts that walked away with Grammys last week were as talented and down to earth as these guys.....

After the last couple of releases featuring George McConnell on lead guitar I felt that while still worth listening to, Widespread Panic's best days were way over with the passing of Houser. Free Somehow has me rethinking that notion. I didn't really expect much from Free Somehow, but I am pleasantly surprised. This album/cd is full of the original trademark WP sound. Jimmy Herring starts his tenure with WP where Micheal Houser left off and the band seems rejuvenated. It seemed at times on Earth To America that they were just going through the motions. There are many high points and surprises with few low points. I do ,however think that Boom, Boom, Boom is one of my least favorite WP songs ever, which is why the four-star rating. I have listened to this cd non-stop since Tuesday and keep thinking about how great it will be to hear these songs worked live this summer. A must for anyone even slightly interested in serious music.

Incredible album from Widespread Panic. I've been a fan for over 10 years, and this may be their best album ever. It is the first CD I've bought in a long time that has compelled me to sit down in front of the stereo and listen to it from start to finish. You haven't heard this band before - the music is fresh, interesting, and masterfully recorded.

This is a guitar record, a return to form after "Earth To America" left us scratching our heads. Jimmy Herring brings a new dynamic to the band, part Allman Brothers, part Robben Ford. His tasteful playing will blow your mind.

JB delivers some of his best, and most personal lyrics in years. The rest of the band is also at the top of their game, exploring unusual time signatures and interesting chord progressions. The music is full of energy and there is not a dull moment on the entire record.

While there is no doubt that WSP has made their career as 'road-warriors' with their trademarked 3 hour live shows, I feel like they've been severely underrated in some of their studio efforts.

'Ball', the bands first album sans Mike Houser, has been a record that has grown mightily on me over the years, despite then-new guitarist George McConnell's struggles to really get a solid grip on much of the Panic catalogue. While I'm super excited to have Jimmy Herring on board, George deserves a lot of credit for the work he did on 'Ball'.

'Earth to America', Panic's followup to 'Ball', was indeed one of the most head-scratch inducing albums I've ever listened to, and really made me yearn for John Keane's smooth-but-simple production style. There were some really neat moments on that record (Second Skin, Time Zones, Crazy, May Your Glass Be Filled), but as a whole, I could take it or leave it. Terry Manning's production was certainly jarring, but for me, it was a deficit of interesting material that sank it.

Needless to say, I was a tad bit pessimistic about Free Somehow, but the album, for the most part, delivers some excellent material. I will say that the album really kicks into gear w/ Angels on High. BBB and Walk on the Flood to me sound a bit generic - dialed-in Panic - which initially worried me a bit. Angels on High changes things up quite a bit and gives Jimmy Herring a little space to dig in and make his presence felt. Three Candles, however, is Panic's crown jewel here. As another reviewer noted, this is vintage Houser/Bell guitar interplay. What a fantastic song, and again, Herring shines with a brilliant, yet decidedly restrained solo in the middle.

Tickle the Truth sends Herring into Garcia mode, highlighting another twist in sonic style shift. The title track is possibly the most beautiful track I've heard from this band since Gradle (off their supremely under-rated 1997 album 'Bombs & Butterflies'). Dark Day Program acts almost like a reprise of Three Candles, while Her Dance Needs No Body cycles through a number of complex time changes, culminating in more Herring guitar-heroics. Already Fried, a cousin of 'Ball' track Time Waits, perfectly fits into the 9 slot here - a classic Panic boozed-out tune. Up All Night closes the album in surprisingly concise form, neatly fitting in under the 4 minute mark. I love the placement here.

The important thing for me is that the material here is much improved from E2A. Those who hated Manning's production style aren't going to be swayed this time around. Herring's guitar playing certainly livens up these songs quite a bit. There's no doubt these will be live staples.

Give it a shot. This band has earned their stripes, and I will never have any qualms with supporting their studio efforts.

being a huge fan of this band, I feel on the last release, and on this album WSP delivers a little less enthusiasm. And what's up with John Bell and the hardly audible vocals? This album has to be played extremely loud to make up for the poor mix.The new sound comes from the very talented guitarist, Jimmy Herring, making the band sound a little heavier than any of it's previous recordings. Not the same WSP we have grown to love!

It's hard to believe that I first saw these guys more than 12 years ago on a curious and spontaneous whim. I have been a fan ever since. With the announcement that the great Jimmy Herring was joining them as their new guitar player, this was one highly anticipated release. He is the only guitarist to have played with the big three jam bands - Allman Brothers, The Dead (2003-2004 tour) and now WSP.

After having had this CD for a week and let it settle in, I can finally give a review. I must now quote myself from previous reviews: A jam band in a studio is like a caged animal, it needs to be set free. And another quote that I told a fellow concert attendee at a WSP show - This is country boy humor from a stoned sensibility (and the listener told me that was the best description of WSP that he had ever heard).

Well, this new album is the caged animal in a Bahama's studio. Why record there? It's easier to round everyone up for recording sessions. Does it work? Only for Up All Night, which sounds like Motown. I can also do without Angels On High. If I wanted to listen to Curtis Mayfield, I would listen to the original. The other over-produced cut is the great title Her Dance Needs No Body. This is a perfect example of how to ruin a good lyrical idea. It just drags on. There are two killer rockers, Walk On The Flood and Flicker, and shades of the old classic WSP in Already Fried. As for the rest of the CD, there is nothing annoying, but also nothing really memorable. I give them credit for not road testing these songs, but the caged animal syndrome really shows here. I can't wait to see them at Jazz Fest this April. It will be obvious which of these new songs work in a live setting. Just remember that you heard it here first.

I am a long-time fan of Widespread Panic. However, "Somehow Free" just didn't do it for me. It's not just that the songs don't involve a lot of jamming. They simply were very boring. I have no idea what kind of sound the band was going for with "Somehow Free," but it definitely did not connect with me. Several reviewers suggest that this is one of those CDs that grows on you after a few listens. That may be true, but it's not likely to happen in my case.

I can not get enough of this album. I love it. It's beautiful, and captures the essence of a live concert. Amazing! Wow! I listen to it over and over and over! Thank you for making this album Panic! You rock! This CD makes me really happy!

When I first got this CD back in February, I did not like it at all. Here, 6 months later, and after seeing a few of the songs performed live in Flagstaff this summer, Free Somehow has really grown on me! Just wait it out before you judge this one. Keep listening!