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The Wallflowers
Red Letter Days
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Ya know, I find that the older I get, the fewer things I understand. Puzzling, and, in some ways, disconcerting. One would like to think that the older one gets, the more it all makes sense...but, nope. Perhaps one simply learns to accept things more gracefully with the years, thus engendering some sort of comfort. That's encouraging, I guess...perhaps more droll than I would like to admit. But one sure badge of making it through the years is realizing that the older you get, the less you know. (You knew it all when you were 18, didn'cha?! I did!)
Now, this is not gonna move any mountains, as that intro might suggest, but one of those things I simply don't understand is why The Wallflowers are not a much more popular, successful and appreciated band than they are. They have made some damn fine music over the years, beginning with 1996's CD 'Bringing Down the Horse' and its huge hit "One Headlight" and lesser hit "
6th Avenue
Heartache". For a while, they were the darlings of the MTV generation (frontman Jacob Dylan's [son of Bob] smoldering good looks not hurting any). 'Bringing Down the Horse' was followed in 2000 by 'Breach', an excellent album that was, arguably, better than BDTH, and was just as arguably ignored by critics and music lovers alike. Your humble writer thought it to be one of 2000's best, but not too many others agreed (or even heard it[?]). 2002 brought 'Red Letter Days', another very good album that was all but ignored by, well, just about everyone.
Interscope has now seen fit to release 'Red Letter Days' in the SACD format, for which we applaud them. More labels need to get behind the release of lesser known albums in hi-resolution, not just the sure-fire hits (Porcupine Tree's 'in absentia' on DVD-A [see our review in Archives section] is another outstanding example). In so doing, the label has not only given us a fine SACD, but has also given the disc a chance at a second life. The release is SACD Hybrid, which means it'll play multi-channel and stereo DSD on an SACD player, and PCM stereo on any CD or DVD player. Once again, the stereo layer sounds damn good, but it's the multi-channel layer that is the hands-down winner here.
Jacob Dylan is the singer/songwriter in the band, and excellent songwriting must be in the Bob Dylan genes, cause the man can write! The Wallflowers are in the same musical vein as Counting Crows, Gigolo Aunts, The Gin Blossoms, and (maybe) Wilco (of old), ie, roots-rock. But more than any of these, they are informed by the sound of Tom Petty. At times, it is very easy to hear TP doing any given Wallflowers' song (listen to just about any cut on 'Red Letter Days'). Now, coupling the Dylan singing/songwriting ability and the Tom Petty ethos is sure to give birth to a mighty fine music, and, sure 'nuff, that describes The Wallflowers. Also of note is that keyboardist Rami Jaffee is to Jacob Dylan as guitarist Mike Campbell is to Tom Petty - probably indespinsable. (At times, Jaffee's fine organ work recalls the beauty of Matthew Fisher's sinuous B3 work with the inimitable Procol Harum - no small compliment!)
Throughout the SACD, the lowest of low-end bass will pressurize your eardrums! And the kick drum is low down and rock-solid. No boom here - just right. The multi-channel mix opens up the sound nicely, with a fine, ever-present 180 degree soundstage. In different songs, various backing vocals and instruments are placed in the rear surrounds sparingly, only at certain times. Opening track "When You're on Top" showcases all of the above nicely, with a nice little organ key figure "flittering" in the rear surrounds. "How Good It Can Get" is one of the best songs Tom Petty never wrote, with a power-chord chorus and harmonies that'll put a smile on your face, and those Jaffee B3 fills are outstanding! "Everybody Out of the Water" pounds with an insistent, marching beat and a nasty, dirty little guitar. Mid-song, the tom-toms jump out of the L front and R rear speakers and drive that plundering beat home! Way cool! "If You Never Got Sick" intones "Baby, if you never got sick, I wouldn't get to hold you"...not your, uh, everyday sentiment, eh. "Health and Happiness" jibes with "I wish you health, I wish you happiness...and absolutely nothing else!" Heheh. Old vynil LP clicks and pops underlie the entire tune. The rear surrounds really come to life with guitar attacks, backing vocals, and various bells/percussion on "See You When I Get There", which extoles "Sometimes you're and angel, but usually you're a pain in the ass!" Now, how many of us have been there before!! Hahahahahh! Nice to know the rich and famous suffer the same slings and arrows!
The Wallflowers 'Red Letter Days' sounds pretty damn good in SACD multi-channel. Kudos to Ed Cherney for the 5.1 mix. This one took me about two listens before I caught on and got my bearings, and from there on out, I was quite impressed with the choices of when to hold back and just open up the sound and when to make the rear surrounds more obvious. If you liked the CD, you'll love the SACD. If you aren't familiar with this disc, but like The Wallflowers' earlier stuff, or The Gin Blossoms or Counting Crows or Tom Petty, get this disc. Perhaps in its SACD incarnation it'll get the credit and respect it fully deserves. Great album. Highly recommended.
Release Date: April 27, 2004
Tracks: 13 - Time: 77:38
Produced by: The Wallflowers
Format: SA-CD
Website: www.thewallflowers.com
Track Listing:
When You're on Top / How Good It Can Get / Closer to You / Everybody Out of the Water / Three Ways / Too Late to Quit / If You Never Got Sick / Health and Happiness / See You When I Get There / Feels Like Summer Again / Everything I Need/ Here in Pleasantville / Empire in my Mind.
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