Lambchop - OH (ohio)
Sat, Mar 7 2009 06:14
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What to do with Lambchop. If I had to pick a favorite band right now, Lambchop would most definitely be in the discussion. For the life of me, I have no idea how to classify them. Growling vocals, lightly thumped guitar, tinges of alt country and lounge music. Frequently quiet, never boring. Lambchop’s latest, OH (ohio), continues in the same vein as earlier albums that seem to make it onto my playlists constantly. As with many it takes a listen or two to loosen up, but it certainly sings if you make a commitment.
First track, Ohio, is a solid intro if not overly descript. It opens the album nicely in classic Lambchop for, but does not really define what follows.
Second track, Slipped, Dissolved and Loosed, take
Sharing a Gibson with Martin Luther King is a wonderful, uptempo song that’s great regardless of the offbeat title. You’ll definitely hear the alt country sensibilities here.
Please Rise is an interesting change of pace from the classic Lambchop sound. Still the same brooding vocals over barely played guitar. However, there’s some odd kind of Burt Bacharach horns working towards the middle of the song. I don’t recall horns in other Lambchop pieces, but it works very well and I definitely approve.
The next track, Popeye, is my favorite on the album. It represents the biggest departure from classic Lambchop sound, but you’d never guess that by listening to the first minutes. Three minutes in and it’s still classic ballad work. With two minutes left, this rock riff that sounds like it could have come off a Santana album takes off. Really different, but it works well.
Close Up and Personal and the final track, I Believe in You take us back where Lambchop lives and close out the album nicely. I Believe in You is the cover that you think it is and it’s wonderful. Definitely recognizable, but done the classic Lambchop style. I think Willie would definitely approve.
I never got the alt country thing with Lambchop. I get alt country and like it, but never put Lambchop in that bin in the record store. However, listening carefully reveals some country style work, particularly in the lead and rhythm guitar and the way they interplay with the bass. I’ll definitely hear those sounds again on further listen. One thing that think I’d love to hear someday is Bill Frissell on a guest spot with Lambchop. The guitar sounds would seem to be perfectly complimentary.
Bottom line is that if you like Lambchop, you will definitely like OH (ohio). If I had to rank it against my other Lambchop albums, it would come in around second or third behind No You C’mon and It will definitely remain in my standard rotation for quite awhile.
First track, Ohio, is a solid intro if not overly descript. It opens the album nicely in classic Lambchop for, but does not really define what follows.
Second track, Slipped, Dissolved and Loosed, take
Sharing a Gibson with Martin Luther King is a wonderful, uptempo song that’s great regardless of the offbeat title. You’ll definitely hear the alt country sensibilities here.
Please Rise is an interesting change of pace from the classic Lambchop sound. Still the same brooding vocals over barely played guitar. However, there’s some odd kind of Burt Bacharach horns working towards the middle of the song. I don’t recall horns in other Lambchop pieces, but it works very well and I definitely approve.
The next track, Popeye, is my favorite on the album. It represents the biggest departure from classic Lambchop sound, but you’d never guess that by listening to the first minutes. Three minutes in and it’s still classic ballad work. With two minutes left, this rock riff that sounds like it could have come off a Santana album takes off. Really different, but it works well.
Close Up and Personal and the final track, I Believe in You take us back where Lambchop lives and close out the album nicely. I Believe in You is the cover that you think it is and it’s wonderful. Definitely recognizable, but done the classic Lambchop style. I think Willie would definitely approve.
I never got the alt country thing with Lambchop. I get alt country and like it, but never put Lambchop in that bin in the record store. However, listening carefully reveals some country style work, particularly in the lead and rhythm guitar and the way they interplay with the bass. I’ll definitely hear those sounds again on further listen. One thing that think I’d love to hear someday is Bill Frissell on a guest spot with Lambchop. The guitar sounds would seem to be perfectly complimentary.
Bottom line is that if you like Lambchop, you will definitely like OH (ohio). If I had to rank it against my other Lambchop albums, it would come in around second or third behind No You C’mon and It will definitely remain in my standard rotation for quite awhile.