Published on Oct 25, 2004
Life throws you all kinds of curveballs. Case in point:
Go Slow Down was a really strange album for the BoDeans to
break through to the mainstream with.
It would be a bit of a stretch to call this an album of love
songs… more like an album of songs about love… or, in
some cases, the act of love. Okay, let’s face it — in at least two
instances, this disc sounds like an attempt to write a soundtrack
album for
The Joy Of Sex… not that there’s anything wrong with
that.
Ironically, this earthy, somewhat anti-commercial fifth disc
from the Wisconsan, roots-rocking band built around
singer-songwriter duo Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas also contains
their one smash hit single, the buoyant rocker “Closer To Free.” In
a twist of fate worthy of the Rembrandts, the producers of one-time
uber-youth-soap
Party Of Five decided “CTF” sounded like great
opening-credits music. Well,
yeah. It cooks along like a born classic, fueled by Michael
Ramos’s soaring organ and accordion work and the heavy backbeat
laid down by bassist Bob Griffin and guest drummer Kenny
Aaronoff.
Truth be told, there are some very sweet and thoughtful tunes
here, full of a kind of weary optimism, and decorated brightly with
Llanas and Neumann’s fine acoustic/electric guitar and mandolin
work. “Idaho” is a (by turns) lyrical and philosophical little
rocker about perspective. The upbeat “Save A Little” is equally
appealing, and “Cold Winter’s Day” is masterful in capturing a more
somber mood, a vibrant mixture of nostalgia and camaraderie.
Another number of note, “Stay On,” is a kind of self-directed
inspirational speech for struggling musicians.
But the title track… man, oh man. It’s really funny to me
what’s considered obscene these days, because “Go Slow Down” and
“Feed The Fire” are a thousand times sexier than anything you may
or may not have seen on last year’s Super Bowl halftime show, and
there’s not a parental advisory in sight. No expletives, nothing
graphic — just the essence of lusty sensuality, captured in words
and music. Listen to these songs with someone you love.
Go Slow Down marked the commercial high-water mark of the
BoDeans’ career to date. Since the follow-up to
Go Slow Down, 1996’s fine
Blend, they’ve recorded and toured intermittently. They’re
one of those low-profile bands who deserve more attention, but have
never craved it enough to compromise their musical integrity. And
Go Slow Down is an excellent album precisely because it’s
uncompromising — honest, raw and beautiful, it’s my pick for their
best.