Two Points For Experimentation

Guster is the kind of band that is hard not to like. Its songs are catchy, the band members are down to earth--always welcoming and supportive of fans, despite their rising fame--and most importantly, Guster makes simple yet great music. The Boston trio started as a college garage band, mainly playing the frat gig circuit at Tufts University, but since then have recorded several extremely \nsuccessful albums and garnered a nice little following ranging from wide eyed teenage girls to twenty something males who see the band as an alternative to more mainstream counterparts like Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Jason Mraz etc. Ganging up on the Sun marks the band's fifth album to date and while it holds its own as a solid Guster album, it lacks the energy and near flawlessness of the band's last two albums, Lost and Gone Forever and Keep it Together.\nSun is an interesting departure from the traditional Guster that fans are familiar with. Absent are the ultra poppy, catchy instant singles of Lost and Gone and instead the band seems to be toying with new sounds (partially thanks to a slew of guest musicians) and politically charged lyrics (take "Manifest Destiny's" ever so subtle "friends and lovers the world is coming / down / down down"). While at times this departure and new sound is welcome, there are a number of tracks on Sun that just don't quite work, leaving this album decent Guster, but not great Guster.\nThe disc opens quite nicely with the ever so mellow "Lightning Rod," a song that utilizes Guster's more Enoesque ambient sounds and tests lead singer/bass player Ryan Miller's pitch scale. This is followed by the slightly more poppy, but still mellow, "Satellite," which features some piano hooks and an interesting moody harmonica part.\n"The Captain," which is one of the high points on the album, features a great backbeat, catchy country fueled guitar and banjo riffs and an overall pleasant feel to it that is reminiscent of past Guster songs like "Jesus on the Radio" or "What You Wish For," a simple sound that Guster is a Viking at.\nLike previous albums Sun features one epic track, "Ruby Falls," which is one of their best songs ever written and does a nice job experimenting with the band's new range of musical instrumentation (the song features Radiohead style guitar work thanks to the fourth Guster, Joe Pisapia, a nice female backup vocal track by Nashville vocalist Melissa Mathes and a beautiful muted trumpet outro by Neil Rosengarden).\nIt's difficult to put a finger on what makes Guster so easy to listen to. With the exception of the multi-talented friend of the band, Pisapia, the players are only so talented when it comes to their instruments. Brian Rosenworcel, best known for playing the drums with his hands, doesn't get to shine much on this album. Guitarist/sometime lead vocalist Adam Gardner tends to stick to guitar and background vocals and even Sun's lyrics are often forced or meaningless. All things considered, Guster somehow continues to sound good despite flaws, which is a feat that should be applauded. \nFor Guster fans this album will be a must have and is still better than the band's early releases. For you Guster virgins out there try your hand at the brilliant Lost and Gone Forever before testing out Sun and remember to take Guster for what they are, a group of guys who just like making good sounding music.