Guster - Ganging Up On the Sun

I’ve never been able to figure out why Counting Crows and The Dave Matthews Band receive such notoriety and monetary success, while Guster remains one step away from the untold riches of being an Adult Alternative radio staple. While DMB may be accomplished musicians, Matthew’s voice and lack of melody drive me absolutely bonkers. Meanwhile, Counting Crows have coasted on the success of August and Everything After, with only one complete album that comes close, 1999’s This Desert Life.

On the surface, Guster have all the tools: catchy melodies that blow Dave Matthews out of the water, the folk rock feel that has kept Adam Duritz swimming in cash, and a fanatical fan base and enjoyable live show with which to build on.

Five full lengths in, Guster may finally be poised to crash the party. It’s a bittersweet step, though, because while their latest, Ganging Up On the Sun, may finally give them financial security, it is also the most tepid in a long run of fantastic albums.

Guster’s first three albums relied heavily on their original gimmick: a lack of drums. Their songs were marvelously crafted pop built on what sounded like a brilliantly-produced Grape-Nuts box with rubber-band strings, relying heavily on their organic charm and the precision harmonies of Ryan Miller and Adam Gardner. 2003’s Keep It Together changed the vibe for good, introducing a drum kit to the fray, but the songwriting, singing and percussion were still impeccable.

Despite the fact that Ganging Up On the Sun features many of the same ingredients as Keep It Together, there’s something missing. Song for song, Ganging is solid, but it lacks the highs and lows that made Keep It Together so good.

Let’s begin with the beginning. Album opener “Lighting Rod” starts and finished with a whisper, a stark contrast to each of their previous opening tracks. It’s a nice preface for what’s to come, but doesn’t immediately grab the listener. “Satellite” continues the pleasant vibe, and may be the album’s strongest song. “Manifest Destiny” harnesses Guster’s patented melodic mastery and “One Man Wrecking Machine” (the first single) keeps it up.

Ho-hum. Nothing here seems to go for the jugular the way that Keep It Together did with “Diane”, “Careful” and “Amsterdam”.

Ganging Up On the Sun is not a sellout, but it seems too sanded, too soft, and too average in light of Guster’s splendid past.

I hope it sells millions of copies, though. The Guster public persona is fan-friendly, hard-working, fun and funny. They deserve a wider audience, and while it may not be my favorite Guster album, I hope Ganging Up On the Sun finally pushes these guys over the edge.

Ganging Up On the Sun, Guster: C+