Customer Reviews

Nowhere To Here

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

 

 

Possibly my favourite Blue Rodeo album, this introspective, moody, down-beat album was apparently the result of a lengthy tour behind the sunny "Five Days in July" -- when you are gone that long, things fall apart a little bit. This album reflects a turbulent period for the members of the band, in which everyone either had a problem or was upset by someone else's problems. It doesn't make for easy listening, but it's well worth the effort.

The overwhelming feeling on this record is one of darkness, although it's not hopeless. Beginning with the dreamy "Save Myself" and closing with the ruminative "Flaming Bed," and including such gems as "Brown-Eyed Dog" which sounds like an acid trip set to music, most of Greg Keelor's songs on this one are slower than in the past, yet still as thoughtful. "Girl In Green" is roughly the same tempo as the classic "Diamond Mine" and has a great organ sound -- it's one of the biggest-sounding songs on the album. "Side of the Road" has great harmonies and a more positive feel than some of the other tunes hereon.

Among the more interestingly downbeat is Jim Cuddy's "What You Want," which sounds equal parts heartbroken and furious, and gave me the willies (in a good way) the first few times I heard it. "Better Off As We Are" is a rocker about getting out and moving on. He's written two of his better ballads for this album: "Sky," which is a purely mournful lament; and "Blew It Again," a song whose shuffling beat matches the head-shaking lyrics ("Oh my, I can't help wondering why / I blew it again/ Let you down...") and is largely built around an unforced vocal that's absolutely central to the success of the song. It's the sound of someone trying to get around the inevitable but knowing he's doomed to failure. Cuddy's last song on the record, "Armour," is a positive relief: the character in this song knows he's in a relationship that may well be headed for trouble ("I know a fall is coming but it hasn't happened yet") but he's still trying to head it off. Well, in context it's a relief.

The thing about this record, though, is that as dark as it feels, it's good dark. You don't have to save it for when you feel like you've blown it, too: the musicianship is so good, the songwriting is so strong, that it's possible to enjoy listening to it almost any time. One of those classic albums that feels like a direct reaction to a particular circumstance, it's not the kind of thing a band can readily duplicate. "Nowhere To Here" is something that should be treasured for its content, as well as for its uniqueness.

Long revered in Canada as a great live band and a dependable studio group, Blue Rodeo provides yet another example why Canada remains their best major market, while other territories have yet to catch on to this great band. Though probably not going to get a great deal of recognition in the United States because they straddle the line of rock/country/roots so finely, the group serves up an offering that is right up there with their best ("Five Days In July" and "Casino"). With more of a rock edge than their last recording ("Five Days..."), Blue Rodeo gives the listener more of the same type of material - rockers, ballads, atmospheric experimentals (coutesy of Greg Keelor) and acoustic songs. This is all good. "Girl In Green" is a great rocker. Ditto for the trio of "Side Of The Road", "Get Through To You" and "Better Off As We Are", which is as good as anything they have recorded in the past. Jim Cuddy's "Sky" is a perfect compliment. There is something very satisfying about "Blew It Again" - it's down-to-earth tone, steady rhythms and countryish/roots feel. First rate. In fact, that's what this entire CD is - first rate. This is one of those albums when you don't wait for the greatest hits compliation - there's just too much good stuff happening here. Even Greg Keelor's psychedelic sounds are right at home here - the sound is just perfect from beginning to end. This remains the best recording they have put together in the last 5 years, one more reason to get this one. Satsify your Blue Rodeo curiousity with this great CD.

Blue Rodeo returned after their very much successful (and rightfully so) album FIVE DAYS IN JULY. NOWHERE TO HERE is another quality album, a step in the right direction. This time around its a more edgier rock album, much more than FIVE DAYS, but just as good. My favorite has to be the single "Better Off As We Are", its just a feel good kind of song that you want to listen to again and again. But there is so much great potential in this album, such as the opening "Save Myself". What a great song, just one example of the potential that lies in the talent of this band. "Side of the Road" is a classic as well, so is "Sky". I think this is one of their more consistent albums, after this one I lost interest in the band, but this to me was their last great album. It's right up there with FIVE DAYS IN JULY and LOST TOGETHER. Other highlights include "Train", and "What You Want", although this is a CD that satisfies start to finish. Overall a triumph!

Unlike those "professional" reviewers said above, Nowhere to Here IS a great Blue Rodeo album. It's not the follow up that would be expected to a multi-platinum country album like Five Days in July, but that's what's so good about these guys. They're completely unpredictable. The album starts slowly with Save Myself, but once we hit tunes like "Better Off As We Are", it's Blue Rodeo in full throttle! Then toward the end we hit the 1-2-3 punch, "Blew it Again", "Get Through To You" and "Armour", three incredible songs that rank among BR's best. But suddenly, it's over before it even began with the beautiful, ethereal, "Flaming Bed" dissolving into a psychadelic world of piano bliss. A must have for any fan of music, let alone a fan of Blue Rodeo.

Blue Rodeo are probably one of the best Canadian bands to date. 15 years and still going strong; that just attests to their popularity. They have the ability to always challenge themselves musically and artistically. They have a unique blend of rock/country and alternative...hard rockers and soft ballads. The two lead singers, Jim and Greg, have completely different voices, so you get a good variety of songs. A lot of the songs on this album are long enough to allow for some wonderful instrumental breaks. And Sarah McLachlan helps out with backup vocals on 3 of the songs. 16 page booklet contains all the lyrics and a few photos.

This album is a bit of a hidden gem in the Blue Rodeo discography. I think it's very influenced by Greg Keelor, one of the front men as it is very original and quite different than other albums by them. "Side of the Road" is certainly in my top 5 Blue Rodeo songs. This was a very edgy departure for them and not one of their more successful albums. It probably suffered somewhat from expectations that followed their classic "Five Days in July" album. "Nowhere to Here" may not appeal to casual listeners but it will be treasured by fanatical fans as one of their 2 or 3 best CDs.

I think that this is my least favorite album by my favorite band. If this was your first time hearing the band, you wouldn't get the best idea about their music. The songs have either long instrumental riffs and abstract lyrics (Girl In Green, Brown-Eyed Dog, and Flaming Bed) or are more upbeat and down to earth, topic-wise (What You Want, Better Off As We Are, and Blew It Again). There isn't a whole lot of in-between, which is normally common on their albums. It's still a great album, especially if you want to sit back, relax, and ponder all things sublime.

I think that this is my least favorite album by my favorite band. If this was your first time hearing the band, you wouldn't get the best idea about their music. The songs have either long instrumental riffs and abstract lyrics (Girl In Green, Brown-Eyed Dog, and Flaming Bed) or are more upbeat and down to earth, topic-wise (What You Want, Better Off As We Are, and Blew It Again). There isn't a whole lot of in-between, which is normally common on their albums. It's still a great album, especially if you want to sit back, relax, and ponder all things sublime.