Product Description

With the release of their 10th studio album, Widespread Panic continues their 22 year tradition of creating music that stays true to its foundation while relentlessly evolving with each album, song and note played on the stage. While this is 17th release in the Widespread Panic catalogue, it still manages to offer fans a number of firsts. Unlike previous albums where tracks were 'road-tested' on stage before being laid down in the studio, Free Somehow offers a majority of songs that have yet to make their live debut. This is also the band's first recording with legendary guitarist Jimmy Herring. Widespread Panic recorded Free Some How with producer Terry Manning (Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz, ZZ Top, Al Green) at his renowned Compass Point Studios. Dave Schools hears a bit of Zep in what the band has laid down, commenting, 'Some of the songs really strike me as something you might have heard on Physical Graffiti. They're complex, beautiful, deep, and it rocks. And its got some melancholy and a lot of color.'

Track Listing

1. Boom Boom Boom 4.26)
2. Walk On The Flood (6.56)
3. Angles On High (7.17)
4. Three Candles (5.01)
5. Tickle The Truth (5.16)
6. Free Somehow (4.44)
7. Flicker (4.57)
8. Dark Day Program (6.02)
9. Her Dance Needs No Body (8.19)
10. Already Fried (3.44)
11. Up All Night (3.46)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30090 in Music
• Brand: Dig
• Released on: 2008-02-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds

Customer Reviews

Uneven
The album gains appeal when you listen in terms of each song's 'live' possibilities, but on it's own comes across as uneven. 'Boom Boom Boom' has an excellent groove drowned out by a banal, insipid chorus. 'Walk on the Flood' is powerful musically but fails to connect from a songwriting standpoint. The band hits disappointing lows with 'Tickle the Truth'--a lyrically and musically cumbersome wreck--and 'Already Fried', another of lead singer John Bell's 30's-era lounge numbers that feels like nothing more than filler. On the bright side, 'Flicker' is a polished rock tour de force, and the title track shines with elegance from JB and Jimmy Herring. The best of the bunch is "Angels on High", a neo-soul shimmy that has JB channeling his inner Al Green. Sounds great on the record and should be a real crowd pleaser in the live setting as well...

Free Somehow, like their last effort Earth to America, suffers from overwrought production, particularly the use of horns that sound canned and midi-produced at best and like misplaced Kenny G solos at worst. Memo to Panic and E2A/Free Somehow producer Terry Manning: If longtime collaborators the Dirty Dozen Brass Band are not available, do your listeners a favor and ditch the horns.

This album gets better after each listen
While still adjusting to Terry Manning's level of production (John Keane, the old producer was more stripped down), I really like the direction the band is heading. While I'm not a huge fan of the Boom Boom Boom chorus, I see the song being a hit live...a setting in which Panic is amazing. Walk on the Flood is a powerful, driven tune and is followed up by a jazz infused Steely Dan flavored track called Angels on High. Three Candles is a song that seems to carry on the tradition of late guitarist and founding member Michael Houser. Tickle the Truth and Free Somehow show JB at his finest, one of the best yet relatively unkown Rock n Roll frontmen in the business. Flicker is another rocker that showcases Jimmy Herring's guitar prowess. Dark Day Program might be my favorite tune on the album as it is haunting and emotional. Her Dance Needs No Body is another great track, heavily layered, full of energy, and likely to become a fan favorite. Already Fried makes me want to eat Fried Chicken and listen to Tom Waits. Don't ask me why. Up all Night finishes of the album, with Al Green's backup singers and a solid horn section providing the backdrop for an easy going, more radio friendly song. The final chapter in a tremendous overall effort. I wish half the acts that walked away with Grammys last week were as talented and down to earth as these guys.....

Stay out of the studio
It's hard to believe that I first saw these guys more than 12 years ago on a curious and spontaneous whim. I have been a fan ever since. With the announcement that the great Jimmy Herring was joining them as their new guitar player, this was one highly anticipated release. He is the only guitarist to have played with the big three jam bands - Allman Brothers, The Dead (2003-2004 tour) and now WSP.

After having had this CD for a week and let it settle in, I can finally give a review. I must now quote myself from previous reviews: A jam band in a studio is like a caged animal, it needs to be set free. And another quote that I told a fellow concert attendee at a WSP show - This is country boy humor from a stoned sensibility (and the listener told me that was the best description of WSP that he had ever heard).

Well, this new album is the caged animal in a Bahama's studio. Why record there? It's easier to round everyone up for recording sessions. Does it work? Only for Up All Night, which sounds like Motown. I can also do without Angels On High. If I wanted to listen to Curtis Mayfield, I would listen to the original. The other over-produced cut is the great title Her Dance Needs No Body. This is a perfect example of how to ruin a good lyrical idea. It just drags on. There are two killer rockers, Walk On The Flood and Flicker, and shades of the old classic WSP in Already Fried. As for the rest of the CD, there is nothing annoying, but also nothing really memorable. I give them credit for not road testing these songs, but the caged animal syndrome really shows here. I can't wait to see them at Jazz Fest this April. It will be obvious which of these new songs work in a live setting. Just remember that you heard it here first.