Customer Reviews

Still

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

 

 

So, for 20+ years of recording, critics and fans have been asking to hear the BoDeans trademark sound (1) either recorded on their own, (2) produced by T-Bone Burnett(like their '86 debut Love and Hope and Sex and Dreams) and (3) without the influence of a record company. With Still, you get all three. The title "Still" is short for "Still Surviving on the Streets." Get it? The honey-and-tea trademark vocals get better with age and are worth the wait. Subtle but driving guitars along with the clean ones keep Still from being L&H&S&D II. It's Sam Llanas' tunes(Willin', First Time, Wonder Wonder, Reason) on this one hammering the requisite BoDean innocence, sincerety and charm that a Rolling Stone critic complained was lost by the BoDeans' second output OLI.

Best yet, you get another dose of Neumann and Llanas' Waukesha Invasion, who, like Lennon and McCartney, Jagger and Richards, Daltry and Townshend, and the Davies brothers during the years of the 60's British Invasion, know how to follow the tether back to what was important about the mix of guitar pop, country, R&B, and melodic rebellion that formed rock and roll in the first place. On Still, thrown in is some reflectively wise hard-driving roots comparable to Social Distortion(Waste a Lifetime) or mature pop melodies like Crowded House(Everyday, Hearing, Arms) with only touches of experimentation and atmosphere that don't distract. Pretty Ghost is rhythm-heavy guitar pop rock noir like Fadeaway except the lyrics strike during an age of lunatic narcissism that permeates the contemporary culture. Finally, BoDeans just doing what they do best.

There's nothing even close to modern "ear-fatigue" production here with, at times, sparse levels of key and less-than-key instrumentation that instead let the melody, rhythm, or vocals pump and breathe like rock music should. It's T-Bone Burnett's magic and worth the purchase just for the assurance that rock records can still exist like this.

The trick to maintaining interests in the BoDeans' lyrics is knowing and accepting Llanas and Neumann, at times, intentionally try to write simple songs(it is rock and roll....and you can, for example, by books if you're looking for more depth of coverage on life events). Still is no different. Without the pretension or obnoxiousness of trying to be big, universal or anthemic, there's enough space to get sucked in thinking or feeling, "Damn, that's me or been me" when triggered by a vivid, wise, or unique single lyric line that proves impact with it's inextricable link melody and performance.

For anyone who passed by the BoDeans in the "college rock" years or after using them in the 80's as a foot-in-the-door entry into alt.country and Americana singer songwriting, you'll have to decide if it's worth it to be pummeled by farmer T-Bone cultivating a fresh batch of unrelenting catchy melodies and unrivaled, believable, singing and harmony vocals, pending upon whether your curmudgeony, lyric-probing, influence-detecting, nerd factor allows such indulgences into the spirit of rock music anymore. Buy it and you'll play along trying to pick what's a radio single or just part of the soundtrack of your life. There's no filler here. Still is an example of ONE reason why you turn to college rock or an "alt" movement and buy whole, non-commercial, albums in the first place: you can mainline some good tunes without the sway of unwelcome manipulators.

You can even buy the BoDeans Still along with the new Bauhaus and have a "proto-goth" vs. "roots rock" death match in the college rock dojo of your psyche. That should take you back to the alternative 80's and leave you twitching and talking aloud to yourself on the bus for a while ;-)

I have been a BoDeans fan for 20 years so I admit to my obvious bias for their music. This album reminds me of what initally drew me to the BoDeans' sound. This is an excellent album with many catchy and rather insightful songs. I look forward to hearing these songs being played live at their next concert (which will hopefully be soon).

Why is that all the older solid artists can't seem to create on the same level they once did? Is it age that causes this? A settling into a "main-sequence phase?" It is probably a number of reasons. Listen to the lastest releases from Bob Seger, Bruce Cockburn, Bruce Springsteen, the Freddy Jones Band, and now the Bodeans--they have all lost something. This Bodeans release stirs up no fire in my heart like Home or Outside Looking In. Although some songs are okay, most simply are filler music. I will continue to prefer the older material from the Bodeans; and, unfortunately, look upon their new material as mediocre (which is also true of the previously mentioned artists.

I'm a longtime fan of the BoDeans, and own all of their albums. Their new album has a good mix of songs, some of which are instant classics. The first song, "Pretty Ghost", is my least favorite song on the album. It's too dark, different, and not a good first song. However, the second song "Round Here Somewhere" is one of the instant classics. It starts out with Kurt's signature guitar style and sound, and has a super catchy chorus. The next song, "Willing", is sort of a neutral song. It's not one of my favorites, but it's okay. The following song, "Lucille", is another upbeat, fun song that sounds like it could've been on Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams. "The First Time" is sort of a country-rock, heartland type song that is one of my favorites on the album. It has a slight resemblance to 617. The next song, "Everyday" definetly appeals to today's music and is radio-friendly. Kurt and Sam's harmonies really shine on this one. "Waste A Lifetime" is another sort of neutral song. The next song, "Breathe" is a really sad, emotional song with a haunting melody. Some will like it, some won't. "Hearing" is one of the best songs on the album. It kind of sounds a little like Good Things. "Found Me A Reason" is similar to "The First Time", with a somewhat country-influenced sound. The album ends with "Arms", a slow, relaxed song. Overall, this album is very good, though there is definetly room to improve. If you're looking to buy your first BoDeans album, buy their first, second, or third album.

For over 20 years BoDeans fans have been complaining that the bands latest output never fulfills the promise of their classic debut. They will have to find something else to complain about now as 'Still' not only has the same sound and style but is close to matching the quality as well. It is hard to believe but I suggest you buy the disk, place it in a player and skip to track 5 and press play. You have been waiting patiently so let's not delay the 15 minutes and 46 seconds it takes to listen to the first 4 tracks. "The First Time" is BoDeans heaven. Simple, innocent, layered organ with dark guitar and passionate vocals by both Kurt and Sam. "Everyday" and "Waste A Lifetime" follow with more of the same and create the core of this new classic BoDeans album.

You will not be dissappointed with the other 9 songs. All but a couple of them could be from the debut album and are a typical mixture of simple emotional Sammy tunes with the more upbeat Kurt type tracks. The collaboration between them has not been this strong in decades. The content of the songs is a bit more mature in a subtle way. If you just replace 'Hope' from the debut with 'Reminisce' you will understand.

Love&Reminisce&Sex&Dreams.

The Bodeans latest album is consistently good like their previous releases. Fresh & original, I find myself humming the tunes. If you like their CD's, you will love them live!

The Bodeans are one of the best bands I've seen live. This CD is weak; it's a distant cousin to Black/white.

I'm one of those old die hard Bodeans fans. I even named my cats Sammy and Beau - but that was so long ago, their both dead. But...my love for the band goes on! I wasn't expecting too much when I got this and now a year later...I'm still listening to it. This is def. one of my favorites - all the stuff I love about these guys is here. It's one of those cds that you kinda of forget about and when your looking for something to listen to you see it in your collection and are like "yeah..I love that cd" and then it just feels so perfect when your listening. Hits the spot you might say. I even find myself rewinding certain parts to see you singing which harmony - they are done so beautifully. I love it.

My first exposure to the BoDeans was the song "Only Love" back in the 1980's, but I soon discovered their debut LP, LOVE AND HOPE AND SEX AND DREAMS, produced by T Bone Burnett. What a fabulous first album! Over the years the songwriting remained strong, while the production values got smoother, with each subsequent release.

I once read a review of their debut album that suggested their sound was "one step out of the cornfield" or something like that. I liked that description of the quirky, hook-filled tunes that comprised that album. I think that STILL is a step back toward that cornfield, back toward those roots. It's a ton of fun to listen to, with one strong song after another. Solid backing musicians like Bukka Allen and Kenny Aronoff lend their talents to several of the songs, and T Bone himself adds guitar to one tune. But I suspect it's T Bone Burnett's influence that makes this such a fun collection of catchy tunes from the duo from Waukesha. I love it. It's a worthwhile addition to any BoDeans or any roots rock fan's CD collection.

Not only was this produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnette this CD rock's and Is a tight wonderfully clean and yet not overproduced. The songs are back to the equal of the Glory days of "Outside Looking In" era.
The track "Everyday" Is one of the band's best ever. Only reason not a 5 star the CD does not flow well and the songs maybe just could have been arranged a more flowing order?