Playing Catch-Up: Part XIX

Artist: Soundtrack
Album: ‘The Bob’s Burger’s Music Album‘
Year: 2017

Like I mentioned on several of my other soundtrack reviews, sometimes the album is only worthwhile if you’ve seen the accompanying movie or show. While the music in Bob’s Burgers is as exceptional as it is pivotal to its exposition, to go on and on about it to someone who may not have seen it would be wasted time. But, for those like me who love and adore the show and all of its musical interludes (even the weird ones) have their own kitsch and charm that make the show what it is.

Track of Distinction: “Bad Stuff Happens in the Bathroom” edges out “Electric Love,” “Kill the Turkey,” and the extremely ambitious and wonderfully executed Die Hard/Working Girl school musical medley beautifully named, “Work Hard or Die Trying, Girl” (scenes for context and because it’s really funny).

Artist: Josh Ritter
Album: ‘Gathering‘
Year: 2017

Sometimes, when an artist lets their personal life compromise the art, a break needs to be had. Ritter experienced that several years ago when his marriage dissolved and he released ‘The Beast In Its Tracks’ and I braced for the end. Thankfully, after two solid follow-ups, this one included, I’m guessing he’s back on track with life and love. Sure, there’s mentions of pain in this album but he is using it to his advantage this time instead of letting it overwhelm him. This is the Josh I know and adore and I hope he sticks around for a while longer.

Track of Distinction: “When Will I Be Changed” with Bob Weir is hauntingly soothing and downright brilliant.

Artist: Bill Withers
Album: ‘Live at Carnegie Hall‘
Year: 1973

This is the album that brought “I Can’t Write Left-Handed” into my life and, for that alone, this goes down as a classic. But, listening to it fully in one go, I found that Bill is a musician of joy. While others might brood and sulk even while performing, there’s nothing but joy coming from Bill. From his stories to his crowd interactions, to his impromptu returns, he proves why he is the man and why he is a legend.

Track of Distinction: “Let Me In Your Life” gets the nod, though his rendition of “Grandma’s Hands” shouldn’t be missed.

Artist: The Lumineers
Album: ‘Cleopatra‘
Year: 2016

There is a time and a place for some good, minimalist music in any repertoire, but too much can get a bit boring. The Lumineers stay in their wheelhouse on their second album giving us some of that jingle-jangle “Hey” folk music that is as obtrusive as it is imaginative. I found myself forgetting I was listening to an album and even went to select an album once only to realize it was playing this album. That’s not usually a good sign.

Track of Distinction: “Long Way From Home” is the most interesting track on the platter and even it doesn’t offer much in terms of variation.

The Lumineers

Album: ‘The Lumineers‘
Year: 2012

It’s very easy to lump The Lumineers and bands of their kind into this genre of hipster-folk that started with Mumford & Sons, with the folk sensibilities that get radio-play because of pop-style hooks. If that was the case, this all began with Bob Dylan, but the contemporary comparisons remain. The Lumineers do give a sense of familiarity with their sound as it ring familiar these days with the like of Mumford, Of Monsters and Men, and a slew of other bands that wear their ironic plaid and long beards as symbols of pride.

But The Lumineers are not as polished as their counterparts and that gives them a more rustic and realistic feel to them. honestly, their lack of quality gives me the sense that this might be the demo of a couple of people who spend their nights–not headlining folk festivals–but singing on urban street corners for change or crooning at open mics for scattered applause from their pretentious target audience. There’s not a lot to grasp onto on this album as it feels more like an ambient folk-album than something that could propel them to stardom. The single, “Ho Hey” is catchy but it seems more like a novelty than anything. But what do I know? They’ve already been on Colbert.

Track of Distinction: “Dead Sea” is rife with cliches but the tone sells it as authentic. It’s kind of like hearing a child talk about their first love and the lessons they’ve learned after their first heartbreak–things you have known all along.