BODEANS
''STILL''
MARCH 4 2008
46:35
1 - Pretty Ghost/3:48
2 - Round Here Somewhere/4:20
3 - Willing/3:08
4 - Lucille/4:13
5 - The First Time/3:26
6 - Everyday/3:51
7 - Waste A Lifetime/4:06
8 - Breathe/4:21
9 - Wonder Wonder/3:03
10 - Hearing/4:30
11 - Found Me A Reason/3:01
12 - Arms/4:00
All Tracks By Sam Llanas, Kurt Neumann
Bukka Allen /Accordion, Hammond B3, Harmonium, Organ (Hammond)
Kenny Aronoff /Bongos, Drums
Jay Bellerose /Drums, Percussion
T-Bone Burnett /Guitar, Producer
Eric Holden /Bass Guitar
Noah Levy /Drums
Sam Llanas /Guitar (Acoustic)
Kurt Neumann /Bass, Bongos, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Percussion, Vocals
REVIEW
By Mark Deming
The BoDeans' most memorable work -- their excellent debut album, 1986's Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, and 1993's Go Slow Down, which spawned the hit single "Closer to Free" -- has been recorded with T Bone Burnett in the producer's chair, and after opting to record their eighth studio album for their own He and He label to maintain greater control of their work, they paired up with Burnett again for the sessions that spawned Still. The scrappy enthusiasm that fueled The BoDeans' best music has given way to a more measured and mature sound in the 21st century, but Sam Llanas and Kurt Neuman are still capable of rocking a bit when they feel like it (cue up "Lucille" for a taste), and the emotional ardor that's always made itself known in their songwriting is as clear and present as ever. "Breathe"'s story of a father trying to save his daughter's life is powerfully affecting stuff, the spectral "Pretty Ghost" speaks volumes about erotic obsession in a few words, and "Arms" conjures an indelible snapshot of the joy and hurt of first love. And with Burnett at the controls, Still sounds full but uncluttered; Llanas and Neuman's harmonies and guitar work are crisp and dynamic, and the music has a welcome sense of detail throughout. But even though Still has a lot of good things in it, the excellence of some of the bits doesn't quite cohere into a fully satisfying whole; none of these tracks stands out as a misstep, but a number fail to stand out on their own, sounding like variations on themes The BoDeans have covered thoroughly in the past, and ultimately this is an album where the whole isn't as much as the sum of the parts. Still is well worth a listen for BoDeans fans, but it falls a few notches short of what these guys can do when they're hitting their stride.
BIOGRAPHY
By William Ruhlmann
Formed in 1984 by high school friends Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neumann, The BoDeans mixed Midwestern roots rock with elements of adult contemporary pop, fashioning a sound that earned critical acclaim during the '80s and commercial recognition during the following decade. Llanas and Neumann fronted the group by sharing vocal and guitar duties, while bassist Bob Griffin and drummer Guy Hoffman populated the rhythm section. Although based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, The BoDeans began building an audience 20 miles east in Milwaukee, and their success in that town helped gain them a contract with Slash Records, with manufacturing and distribution handled by Warner Bros. 
The BoDeans worked with T-Bone Burnett on their debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, which appeared in 1986 to warm reviews. They recruited another big-name producer, Talking Head Jerry Harrison, to helm 1987's Outside Looking In, which found the band reduced to a trio after the departure of Hoffman. Outside Looking In broke into the Billboard Top 100, and The BoDeans grew their audience by touring alongside U2, appearing on Robbie Robertson's self-titled solo album, and receiving the honor of Best New Band by Rolling Stone magazine. By the time they released their third album, Home, in 1989, keyboardist Michael Ramos and drummer Danny Gayol had joined. This lineup stayed intact for the release of 1991's Black and White, but The BoDeans went without a drummer once again on their next recording, Go Slow Down. 
Following the release of a double-disc live album, Joe Dirt Car, the band returned in 1996 with Blend. Around the time of Blend's release, "Closer to Free" -- a song that had originally appeared on 1993's Go Slow Down -- became a hit, due in large part to its exposure as the theme song for the TV show Party of Five. "Closer to Free" eventually cracked the Top 20, becoming the most successful single of the band's career. The BoDeans were arguably more popular than ever, but the band took a break during the late '90s, with both frontmen devoting time to their solo careers. 
By 2004, the band had reconvened and signed with a new label, Zoe. Resolution was released that year, followed in 2005 by Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst. Griffin left the group in 2006 and was replaced by Eric Holden, who appeared on 2008's Still. By this point, the bandmates had found a new home on 429 Records, and they remained with that label for the release of Mr. Sad Clown in 2010 and Indigo Dreams in 2011, the latter of which saw the departure of Llanas, citing "differences of opinion." The band's eleventh studio album, American Made, arrived the following year.
''STILL''
MARCH 4 2008
46:35
1 - Pretty Ghost/3:48
2 - Round Here Somewhere/4:20
3 - Willing/3:08
4 - Lucille/4:13
5 - The First Time/3:26
6 - Everyday/3:51
7 - Waste A Lifetime/4:06
8 - Breathe/4:21
9 - Wonder Wonder/3:03
10 - Hearing/4:30
11 - Found Me A Reason/3:01
12 - Arms/4:00
All Tracks By Sam Llanas, Kurt Neumann
Bukka Allen /Accordion, Hammond B3, Harmonium, Organ (Hammond)
Kenny Aronoff /Bongos, Drums
Jay Bellerose /Drums, Percussion
T-Bone Burnett /Guitar, Producer
Eric Holden /Bass Guitar
Noah Levy /Drums
Sam Llanas /Guitar (Acoustic)
Kurt Neumann /Bass, Bongos, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Percussion, Vocals
REVIEW
By Mark Deming
The BoDeans' most memorable work -- their excellent debut album, 1986's Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, and 1993's Go Slow Down, which spawned the hit single "Closer to Free" -- has been recorded with T Bone Burnett in the producer's chair, and after opting to record their eighth studio album for their own He and He label to maintain greater control of their work, they paired up with Burnett again for the sessions that spawned Still. The scrappy enthusiasm that fueled The BoDeans' best music has given way to a more measured and mature sound in the 21st century, but Sam Llanas and Kurt Neuman are still capable of rocking a bit when they feel like it (cue up "Lucille" for a taste), and the emotional ardor that's always made itself known in their songwriting is as clear and present as ever. "Breathe"'s story of a father trying to save his daughter's life is powerfully affecting stuff, the spectral "Pretty Ghost" speaks volumes about erotic obsession in a few words, and "Arms" conjures an indelible snapshot of the joy and hurt of first love. And with Burnett at the controls, Still sounds full but uncluttered; Llanas and Neuman's harmonies and guitar work are crisp and dynamic, and the music has a welcome sense of detail throughout. But even though Still has a lot of good things in it, the excellence of some of the bits doesn't quite cohere into a fully satisfying whole; none of these tracks stands out as a misstep, but a number fail to stand out on their own, sounding like variations on themes The BoDeans have covered thoroughly in the past, and ultimately this is an album where the whole isn't as much as the sum of the parts. Still is well worth a listen for BoDeans fans, but it falls a few notches short of what these guys can do when they're hitting their stride.
BIOGRAPHY
By William Ruhlmann
Formed in 1984 by high school friends Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neumann, The BoDeans mixed Midwestern roots rock with elements of adult contemporary pop, fashioning a sound that earned critical acclaim during the '80s and commercial recognition during the following decade. Llanas and Neumann fronted the group by sharing vocal and guitar duties, while bassist Bob Griffin and drummer Guy Hoffman populated the rhythm section. Although based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, The BoDeans began building an audience 20 miles east in Milwaukee, and their success in that town helped gain them a contract with Slash Records, with manufacturing and distribution handled by Warner Bros.
The BoDeans worked with T-Bone Burnett on their debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, which appeared in 1986 to warm reviews. They recruited another big-name producer, Talking Head Jerry Harrison, to helm 1987's Outside Looking In, which found the band reduced to a trio after the departure of Hoffman. Outside Looking In broke into the Billboard Top 100, and The BoDeans grew their audience by touring alongside U2, appearing on Robbie Robertson's self-titled solo album, and receiving the honor of Best New Band by Rolling Stone magazine. By the time they released their third album, Home, in 1989, keyboardist Michael Ramos and drummer Danny Gayol had joined. This lineup stayed intact for the release of 1991's Black and White, but The BoDeans went without a drummer once again on their next recording, Go Slow Down.
Following the release of a double-disc live album, Joe Dirt Car, the band returned in 1996 with Blend. Around the time of Blend's release, "Closer to Free" -- a song that had originally appeared on 1993's Go Slow Down -- became a hit, due in large part to its exposure as the theme song for the TV show Party of Five. "Closer to Free" eventually cracked the Top 20, becoming the most successful single of the band's career. The BoDeans were arguably more popular than ever, but the band took a break during the late '90s, with both frontmen devoting time to their solo careers.
By 2004, the band had reconvened and signed with a new label, Zoe. Resolution was released that year, followed in 2005 by Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst. Griffin left the group in 2006 and was replaced by Eric Holden, who appeared on 2008's Still. By this point, the bandmates had found a new home on 429 Records, and they remained with that label for the release of Mr. Sad Clown in 2010 and Indigo Dreams in 2011, the latter of which saw the departure of Llanas, citing "differences of opinion." The band's eleventh studio album, American Made, arrived the following year.
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