Customer Reviews

Reckless Habits

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

 

 

The second album from this funky jam-band exhibits the same sort of artistic serendipity with which the group was born. In the wake of Leftover Salmon's demise, front-man Vince Herman hooked up with Chad Staehly and a hand-picked group of local musicians for a charity performance that spawned Great American Taxi. The polished looseness of Leftover Salmon's jam-band legacy informs the new group's music, as do the New Orleans influences found on songs like "Baby Hold On" and "Mountain Top," but there's a heavier dose of blues and southern rock boogie here. Think of the Grateful Dead at their most driving, Little Feat traipsing through their trademark rhythm `n' roll or The Band playing reflective and bittersweet.

The group's country tunes, such as the pedal steel-lined "New Madrid," have more in common with cosmic American music than Leftover Salmon's string-band influences, and the album's title track pays twangy tribute to Gram Parsons. "Unpromised Land" suggests what Lynyrd Skynyrd might've sounded like as a progressive-bluegrass band, and at six minutes you get a taste of the band's instrumental jamming. The original "American Beauty" (with its tip of the hat to the Dead) rolls along on an Allman-styled groove. There's funk, boogie and humor that variously brings to mind the Neville Brothers, Commander Cody and the Morrells, but more than anything there's an enormous feeling of satisfaction that comes from making music.

The album opens on an optimistic note with the fanciful dreaming of "One of These Days," and the road warrior of "Unpromised Land" is pained by his longing for someone back home. But really, how bad can you feel when you're packing a banjo player and a fiddler to cut a jig for you? Even the list of modern-ills that fuel the fast-paced "New Millennium Blues" are rolled out with the matter-of-factness of fatalistic observation rather than the ire of complaint, and the daily grind of a working musician has more fringe benefits than the title "Tough Job" might at first suggest. The group's guitar, bass and drums are augmented by a four-piece horn section that adds New Orleans-styled brass (leading the march on the bonus instrumental "Parade"), and a trio of backing singers that adds gospel flavor.

This is a seamless hour of confident and self-assured roots music that effortlessly combines country, rock, blues, bluegrass and second-line funk. The instrumental jamming is fluid but focused, limiting the album's three longest tracks to six minutes and the two instrumentals to fewer than three apiece. The top-line string band sound of Leftover Salmon has given way to sublime country-rock and the flavors of New Orleans. Herman seems tremendously energized by this music, his band is sharp and the guest playing of Barry Sless (pedal steel), Matt Flinner (banjo), the Peak to Freak Horns, and Black Swan Singers provide icing on a sweet cake. Fans of the Dead, Band, Burritos, Byrds and Little Feat, as well as recent acts like the Band of Heathens will love this one. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2010 hyperbolium dot com]

This is a great CD. It will be loved by fans of The Band, The Dead, Leftover Salmon, Wilco, etc. Contains a nicely balanced blend of Americana, Classic Rock, Bluegrass and Jam-Band elements. Highly recommended!

Toe tapping, grooving album!!! They all seem to be excellent musicians and make listening fun!

I first heard these guys while listening to an online radio station and had to find out more about them. The album is great.
Many of the songs have a sense of humor and the overall performance mixes several genres while bringing to mind a number of other groups such as New Riders, Little Feat, and early Eagles, amongst others, all while having it's own identity.
I have played the album over anmd over. It should be geting radio play, that is if radio programmers had any sense of taste these days.

This album is deceptively simple on the first listen. It feels comfortable and familiar before you even know the songs. A closer look, however, reveals a complex compilation put together by a group of very talented musicians. Vince Herman is at ease as the frontman of a band that effortlessly pulls off songs ranging from the upbeat rock n' roll cover of John Hartford's "Get No Better" to the wistful country ballad "New Madrid."

"Cold Lonely Town" is a powerful song that would fit right in at a smoky music joint in Chicago and its message will be familiar to anyone who has spent a winter in Nederland, Colorado (the band's hometown). Other highlights include "Unpromised Land," a strong bluegrass/rock jam that will leave you thinking about whiskey for days after your first listen (it's available for a free download if you do a search), and "One of These Days," a great album opener that'll have you booking a flight (or a riverboat) to New Orleans. I keep thinking I'm done mentioning songs, but there are so many highlights that I'll just name drop a few of the others I really enjoy: "American Beauty" (a shout-out to the Dead), "Tough Job" (a self-mocking look at the life of a professional musician), the rock n' roll/country title track "Reckless Habits," and "New Millennium Blues," the album's sole social commentary.

This grab-bag of musical styles and themes sounds disjointed at first glance. Nevertheless, the album flows smoothly from one song into the next, much like their live performances which are loose and fun and always keep the crowd dancing. A strong listen from start to finish, and one you're sure to keep coming back to.