Keep It Together

25 Jun 2003 By

I hate to admit it, because Guster is my favoritest band ever. But I’m not in love with their new album, Keep It Together.

It’s definitely their sound, but it feels a smidge different. Maybe a little more polished, more sophisticated. The decision to record Lost and Gone Forever without the use of one drumstick (so all hand percussion) made a bigger difference than I realized. Their older CDs sound more like they sound when they play live, which I think I like better. This one doesn’t sound like that.

I didn’t love Lost and Gone Forever when it first came out, but it grew on me and I like it just fine now. But I liked LaGF more initially, too.

My faves from KIT, in no particular order: Backyard, Homecoming King, Amsterdam, Come Downstairs and Say Hello, Two at a Time

I’ll have to listen some more. I will listen until I like it. I will like it.

  • http://deridere.blogspot.com Kimberley

    Erm….does this mean you don’t want the signed copy that I sweated with 34,999 other people to get for you last night?

  • http://www.swirlspice.com Erica

    ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!?! *pants*

  • http://www.swirlspice.com Erica

    I was gonna ask you if you did indeed go and how it was and all that.

  • http://thewatergirl.blogspot.com the watergirl

    do you agree that there was not quite enough adam on this CD? just curious.

  • http://www.swirlspice.com Erica

    Yes! Adam’s my favorite. I got all defensive once when someone said that they couldn’t like Guster because they just hated Ryan’s voice. But really, they sound best when the two of them sing together. But Adam’s too cute and reminds me of my friend Greg (if Greg could sing and play guitar). I noticed that Adam is not listed as contributing one speck of lyrics to this CD. I don’t know if this is normal or not, though.

  • http://thewatergirl.blogspot.com the watergirl

    i’m pretty sure that adam *usually* does some lyrics. and i like adam’s voice a lot with ryan’s — they “gel” well (are you gellin’? i’m totally gellin’) and are really tight on the harmonies. but, i like him getting little solo parts, too, which i find SEVERLEY lacking on this CD.

    oh, and he is just too cute, with his little raglan shirts. heehee:)

  • http://thewatergirl.blogspot.com the watergirl

    guster july 5th @ tastefest!

    just an fyi, although i’m sure you already knew:)

  • http://www.swirlspice.com Erica

    I am all over that! EEK!

  • http://thewatergirl.blogspot.com the watergirl

    me too! yay! i’m driving down from my tubing adventure on the chippewa just for that! woohoo!

  • Greg

    The one thing missing from the new guster cd is BONGOS………….There isn’t any bongos. The stickless percussion is one of their trademarks.

  • http://www.swirlspice.com Erica

    Greg, that is totally it. Are there any bongos anywhere on this CD? I’ll have to pay closer attention. It was really odd watching them on tv and seeing Brian sitting at a regular drumset. Bleh.

  • Greg

    Hey erica, give me an IM sometime and we’ll talk guster. Mobbdeep422 is my aim name. My roomies give me shit becuase i constantly make references to guster. But talking to someone cool who likes guster would be awesome.

  • Matt

    oh, man…I just stumbled onto this, but you are sooo wrong. a) plenty of bongos. not all the time, true…but plenty for my taste. b) how many times have you listend to it? I gaurantee you it’s not enough. I had listened to the six they’ve had on their site since they’ve been on the site. I knew them by heart before I got the album. and I liked it. and c) you are seeing them live? because you should. it sounds great, I saw them the 1st of july in indianapolis (my third show, yay!), and they’ve already got it down with this new guy they’re touring with to pick up the extra parts. trust me, you’ll learn to love it like all the rest.

  • Greg

    I saw them once in Binghamton NY in march. They were awesome. That was the first show of their tour and it was the first time that the new guy played with them. THey were awesome in concert……..And as far as bongos, there is definitely some in the cd but no distinctive songs like “I spy” or “x-ray eyes” where the whole song has bongos and that sound is so priceless.