Guster’s latest disc is a stark transition for the band’s sound that proves the band just keeps growing and changing, and this time in a refreshing and much welcomed way. More guitar heavy and electronic than any of their discs, “Ganging Up On The Sun” is a little less produced than the radio-friendly “Keep It Together” and a little less drum-heavy folk than “Lost and Gone Forever.” This disc marks a new sound for Guster that’s pulled off smoothly and, in some cases, with perfection.
The disc starts off with a mellow electric guitar track “Lightning Rod,” which has easily recognizable Guster vocals with a musical track that’s contrastingly different for the band. This fusion is only the beginning, and the tempo lifts up with “Satellite,” a return to the folkier, energetic style Guster is so well known for.
“Manifest Destiny,” the most upbeat track on the disc, brings the group’s ideological lyrics to the forefront as the environmentally conscious and politically aware band stands firm with their beliefs on much of the disc. “One Man Wrecking Machine,” is another guitar heavy, upbeat track that continues the series of standout, remarkable tracks. “The Captain,” perhaps the least enjoyable track on the disc (which is not a bad thing comparatively speaking), begins to bring a folk edge back to the disc, while “The New Underground” is a starkly different, rock-ier Guster song. The lengthy “Ruby Falls” ushers in the few closing tracks, the highlight of which is “Empire State,” an eerie, soft-spoken electronic track that is more reminiscent of Sigur Ros than Guster.
Guster’s first three albums were truly phenomenal and ground-breaking folk music that had an unrivaled energy, particularly with the presence of their trademark upbeat drums. The fourth album began to change directions with a “cleaner” sound, and was a tough adjustment for most fans of the band. Their latest album solidifies their place in with the greatest artists of our time, as their unique sound is brought to an incomparable level. With insightful lyrics, a range of energetic and mellow tracks, and a musical sound that combines their folk roots with a new electronic edge, the disc is one of Guster’s, and recent memory’s, best records. |