BritPop has been entrenched in rock for decades although having gone through various stylistic changes to adapt to the times. From the Beatles to the Shoes to Coldplay, the soft, easy to listen to, stream of melodic pop has become a staple of our culture although relegated to the sidegates, more or less.

Guster offers its own brand of this melody laden Beatlesque music albeit an Americanized version that brings to mind The Feelies and The Shoes; simple guitar, simpler rhythm. The extra kick here is introductions of cello, violin, and banjo to provide a more unique, highly recognizeable ‘down home’ approach. With lyrics that tell stories of hope and loss and music dreamy and sugary enough to warrant your attention, this album will soften the harder edged chord attacks that blast from our televisions and radios.

This album offers 12 listed tracks of sleepy but intriguing tunes designed to fill your pensive moments and a hidden bonus track that is found on track 14 with the 13th track silent. Fans of Travis and Oasis will find Guster more to their liking while fans of The Feelies and The Shoes will experience a gust of déjà vu.

The album’s best tracks are “Diane”, “Homecoming King”, and “Come Downstairs and Say Hello”, a Feelies/Beatles/Cheap Trick (the elements are there, believe me) sounding hybrid.

The influences are thick on this disc but Keep It Together becomes an engaging and contagious collection that can grow on you.

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Guster
Keep It Together

Released: June 24, 2003
Origination Year: 2003
Time: 48:57
Tracks: 14
Produced by: Various
Style: Studio
Format: CD
Enhancement: None
Label: Reprise Records
Website:
www.guster.com

Diane
Careful
Amsterdam
Backyard
Homecoming King
Ramona
Jesus On The Radio
Keep It Together
Come Downstairs and Say Hello
Red Oyster Cult
Long Way Down
I Hope Tomorrow is Like Today
Silence
Two At A Time