Lets Pretend the Last Four Didn't Happen

Blues Traveler

Suzie Cracks the Whip

2012, 429 Records

produced by SAM and Sluggo

John Popper - vocals, harmonica
Chan Kinchla - guitars
Tad Kinchla - bass
Brendan Hill - drums
Ben Wilson - pianos, organ, keyboards

singles-

• You Don't Have to Love Me

To see all the other Blues Traveler albums go here, and here...

Finally, Blues Traveler comes back with a record that doesn't suck. It seems that John Popper is over his post-Bobby Sheehan grief, at least enough to stop writing depressing, introspective, crappy songs and comes back with an album full of singable tunes. Writing with the great Ron Sexsmith has seemed to unlock the John Popper we used to know, the hearty harpoon player of old. We saw a glimmer of this in Truth be Told, and North Hollywood Shootout, but this album goes the distance. You can hear pieces of Traveler's and Thieves and Save his Soul in this album and it brings hope that the band has finally come back to stay.

Also, it appears that Ben Wilson has finally found his place in the group and has stopped enabling the miserable, pussified, emo John Popper monster and has contributed some good stuff. I'm sure part of this resurgence has to do with the collaboration with SAM and Sluggo, producers famous for work with Metro Station, and Coheed and Cambria.

Blues Traveler: a suite, part two

You'll remember in the first part of this epic suite, I covered the first five studio albums from this band. The next studio album would be released in 2001 and would be a turning point for the band, musically, spiritually, and psychologically. Between 1997 and 2001 a few big things happened to dramatically change the band.

They began working on a concept album for their next release, but in 1999 the tragic death of Bobby Sheehan nearly ended the band's 12 year career. Around the same time, John Popper nearly died of a heart attack and underwent gastric bypass surgery to drop a lot of weight.

The surviving members took Sheehan's death hard, especially John Popper who hasn't appeared to be the same since. In the aftermath of this tragedy, the band added a new bass player (Chan Kinchla's brother Tad) and a full-time keyboard player (which makes sense, since every album previously had numerous guest piano players).The concept album was jettisoned, and new work was written for their next release.

Blues Traveler

Bridge

2001, A&M records

produced by Matt Wallace

John Popper - vocals, harmonica, guitars
Chan Kinchla - guitars
Tad Kinchla - bass
Brendan Hill - drums
Ben Wilson - piano, organ, keyboards

singles -

• Back in the Day

This album is pretty good considering it follows life altering events and missing a quarter of your original line-up. Remember, even though Bobby Sheehan didn't write much music, he still was a steady contributor. His bass style helped propel the jam rift and the bluesy funky feeling many of their songs relied on, the band misses him, and its pretty obvious at times. Also note, this is a new producer, they did not stay with the duo that helped produce their two most successful albums.

John Popper continues to write, although his writing seems to lack the happy-go-lucky and playful feel of earlier work. The album's original title was Bridge Over Brooklyn, the first letters spelling out BOB. The album is officially dedicated to Sheehan's life and memory, and no other track makes this more clear than Pretty Angry, which also showcases the best lyrics on the album, showing glimmers of John Popper's previous wit and color. Tracks worth a listen include Back in the Day, Girl Inside my Head, Just for Me, All Hands, and Pretty Angry.  Avoid Rage, it's bad. Overall, the album matches up well with the rest of the catalog and reassures fans that the band is still able to make good music despite missing an integral piece, and a great presence. Warren Haynes makes a guest appearance.

Blues Traveler

Truth Be Told

2003, Sanctuary

produced by Don Gehman

singles-

• Let Her and Let Go

A&M records parted ways with Blues Traveler following Bridge. They signed to Sanctuary which, if you've been paying attention, is the first time they've been not on A&M.  Truth be Told is a step in the right direction for Blues Traveler. The band becomes more comfortable with their new members. Chris Barron also makes his first appearance as a guest since Travelers and Thieves. Popper and Barron were great friends in the 80s and 90s, but grew apart, and then Barron had throat cancer, which he made a full recovery from. He has a writer by-line on Sweet and Broken. The band comes so close to recapturing the hit-making sound from their earlier career. This album doesn't receive the attention and critique it deserves, and quietly gets overlooked. Overall this album is good, it falls somewhere between Save his Soul and Four, definitely better than its predecessor, and very much better than the next endeavor.

Blues Traveler

Bastardos!

2005, Vanguard

produced by Jay Bennet

singles-

• Amber Awaits

Upon first glance, this album looks like it wants to be an epic masterpiece. The cover is a spaghetti western mock-up poster, complete with masked outlaw with guns drawn, bar fight, sexy senorita, and a man on a rearing horse. The colors are bold and cartoony. However, the music content leaves much to be desired and doesn't live up to its packaging. It has been, at the time of this release, 6 years since Bobby Sheehan's passing, and yet John Popper's lyrics still hold a tinge of mourning and sadness that seem to stem from this tragedy. Instead of being poignant and relevant as on Bridge, these themes have become sad, typical, and depressing. The song writing is not good, and mostly forgettable. Tad Kinchla and Ben Wilson do not help write listenable songs, and instead contribute to songs that sound jerky and uneven instead of inspired and flowing. In addition, Popper's lyrics do not pop and often the sad love songs become boring and unlistenable. There is a rocking edge that Blues Traveler had on previous albums that is non-existent. On top of this inability to write songs that people want to hear when not cutting themselves, is the producer's lack of ability when it comes to creating a good overall album. The decisions made on order of tracks couldn't be worse, and the album has no proper or listenable flow. There is no continuity. Don't waste your time with this album, buy a few single tracks on iTunes, Amber Awaits may be worth owning.

Blues Traveler.

North Hollywood Shootout

2008, Verve

produced by David Bianco

This album is aptly named. After the largest bloodiest confrontation in US police history, North Hollywood Shootout is frustratingly brutal. Some of the same issues that have plagued Blues Traveler on Bastardos!, and really since Sheehan's passing, still rear their heads on this album. Having worked with seven different producers on nine albums probably doesn't help, and then bouncing through three different record labels in five years wouldn't give a band confidence either. I can summarize my experience with this album as follows... it is the most excruciating album to listen to. There are so many windows into the past here, and I am only allowed to peek through the glass for only moments. I so much want to like this album, and it isn't bad, considering the hole that they had to crawl out of after the last album bombed. Also, Bruce Willis guest appears, and I can't decide if this is awesome, or just weird.

Blues Traveler: a suite, Part one

Blues Traveler has been, for me, one of the better bands to come out of the post 80s alternative pop scene that wasn't a proto-grunge, pop-punk, hip hip, or nu-metal band.  Let me explain further... certain types of music are in vogue, and there is no shortage of sound alike or copycat bands to ride the trend.  A good example is Pearl Jam.  Candlebox, Live, the Toadies, Silverchair, 7Mary3, and Creed could all be considered Pearl Jam copycat bands.

Blues Traveler didn't fit into the trendy sounds of the late 80s and early 90s.  They came out of a budding underground music scene in New York, and were incorporated into Bill Graham's music promotion enterprise.  The same scene that would produce the Spin Doctors, the Counting Crows, Joan Osborne, Blind Melon, and Jeff Buckley.  The blues-tinged sound mixed well with country roots and a jam band swagger.  The harmonica as lead instrument was a unique contrast to the usual lead guitar sounds of most other bands.

I followed them from their hit release (which was actually their 4th album) to just about recently.  This is part one of a career in review.

Blues Traveler 

Blues Traveler

1990, A&M records

produced by Justin Neibank

John Popper - vocals, harmonica, guitars
Chan Kinchla - guitars
Brooklyn Bobby Sheehan - bass
Brendan Hill - drums

singles-

• But Anyway

This album features many of their later live show staples, and shows their musical jam style better than later studio albums.  Many of the sounds, and riffs would later appear in other songs on other albums, and would help to set up their unique style.  Most of the album is written by John Popper and Chan Kinchla.  This will be important later on.  Overall, this is a pretty well done album.  Guest musicians include Chris Barron, Joan Osborne, Kevin Traynor, Howie Wyneth, and Joe Flood, who is uncredited.  

Blues Traveler

Travelers and Thieves

1991, A&M records

produced by Jim Gaines

singles-

• Sweet Pain
• All in the Groove
• Mountain Cry

This album continues the happy funky bluesy sound from the first album.  Bobby Sheehan contributes to more music on this album, and an angry rock sound begins to emerge on songs like Onslaught and Ivory Tusk.  Most of the tracks are either social conscience tracks, or happy carefree little love songs.  John Popper comes into his own on this album as a lyrical song writer, and seems to enjoy writing catchy lyrics.  Good tracks to check out are Optimistic Thought, the Best Part, All in the Groove, and Support your Local Emperor.  Guest Musicians include Chris Barron, and Greg Allman.

Blues Traveler

Save His Soul

1993, A&M records

produced by Dave Swanson

singles -

• Conquer Me
• Defense and Desire

This is my favorite Blues Traveler release.  The sound begins to rock out more, especially on tracks like Love and Greed, Defense and Desire, NY Prophesie, and Whoops.  The band shows it has an edge, and Popper begins to write with a passion and anger only seen in briefs glimpses on earlier releases.  And yet, Popper is still able to write sweet little love songs like Love of my Life and Conquer Me that have some substance.  Sheehan and Hill contribute, but most of the music is written by Popper and Kinchla.  They also are able to still show that jam band structure on tracks like Go Outside and Drive, and Whoops.  Guest musicians include Paul Shaffer and the City Singers.

Blue Traveler

Four

1994, A&M records.  

produced by Steve Thompson, Michael Barbiero

singles -

• Run Around/Trust in Trust/ Regarding Steven/ Featherhead and Lucky Lack/ Escaping
• Hook/ Run Around/ The Mountains Win Again
• The Mountains Win Again

This marks Blues Traveler's peak.  They have two hit songs from this album, and it goes platinum 6 times.  As for the music, the band seems to finally figure out the right mixture of all the sounds they had been playing around with for years.  John Popper's lyrics have never been better, or more clever especially on Run Around and Hook, both written to be hit pop songs.  The music has the right mix of edgy rock, and soft bluesy country.  They still hold onto their jam band structure with tracks like the Good the Bad and the Ugly, and The Mountains Win Again (Sheehan's only solo writing credit).  Overall, this album is fantastic, and deserves to be a platinum record.  Guest Musicians include Warren Haynes, Paul Shaffer, and Chuck Leavell.

Blues Traveler

Straight on til Morning

1997, A&M records

produced by Steve Thompson, Michael Barbiero

singles -

• Carolina Blues
• Most Precarious
• Canadian Rose

This is a good example of Bill Simmon's idea of the 'quest for more'.  The premise, according to Simmons, is sports teams have a hard time repeating championships due to trying so hard to copy the success of the past season, that they fail to grow and get better.  Coming off of Four, Blues Traveler attempted to copy the success of their last critically acclaimed album.  This is the first time they worked with the same producers on two consecutive albums.  Most Precarious was supposed to be the next Run Around; it falls short.  Even though this is not as good as Four, it is still as good if not better at points than the first three albums.  This is a great follow up, and I don't think it gets enough credit.  It takes the best parts of Save His Soul, and Four and tries to jam them together.  There is something dark about this album that was hinted at on Save His Soul, but is abandoned in the future.  The band takes you into creepy shadowy places and then walks you back out again.  Perhaps this album was a quest for more, but I dont think it failed as much as the band, critics and some fans think.  Guest musicians include John Medeski, Larry Hoppen, Paul Griffin, and Mark Eddinger

Stay tuned for Part Two.....