...the next installment of "sound in color"
5
By dominous
When one looks back over the last three studio outputs for AOD, there are some sizeable steps forward. I thought Some Assembly Required was terrific, but there is certainly a new high watermark with this record. If the last one was about the "guests," then this one is about the "band." And what a 5-piece it is! That's probably in part due to the bonus "pieces" we get with multiple-instrumentalist Jason Crosby in the mix. Lest we forget the new drummer: Dave Diamond, who is equal parts workman-like and innovative. So now that we have the "Voltron" of AOD, the record was kind of a lay up? Nope. produced by Ryan Freeland (Ray Lamontagne), this recording is tight and spacious. Not so many extra flourishes, but more of a triple-underlining of the song. There are so many instrumental reinforcements from the 5 players. And these little parts make these songs really into something quite special. Listen to the outro in Arkansas Down - it's not just a jam but integral to the song itself. In some ways it reminds me of those "album versions" of songs from the 70's, like that outro from "Slowride" as is typical of the AOD song writing, there are many oft-played favorites of the live arsenal that are finally put to tape. This is both welcome and appropriate. Avenue of the Giants. Weehawken. Lost and Amazed. Among others. Weehawken and L&A get some distinctive keys from Jason. Jazzy and rocky. Totally unique additions that push the songs forward each in their own song-appropriate way. New tracks like Grey Believer, Vaulted, Silver & Worn, Myth, among others should be great once they have been polished up live. It's interesting, especially on Grey Believer. The power rock ballad potentially risks sending folks to the bathroom, but AOD pulls it off. Adam's solo is muscular, unhurried and fresh. Yellow eyes... There is so much here for both the new listener and the veteran. If the career of AOD was a game if telephone, the message has certainly and dramatically changed since the first record, but at the same time it makes more sense because it feels "closer." Song craft to be sure, but with strata of detail that would make a jawbreaker jealous. Enjoy! And thank you.
