Gov’t Mule – By A Thread (2009)
Gov’t Mule – By A Thread (2009)
1. Broke Down On The Brazos
2. Steppin' Lightly
3. Railroad Boy
4. Monday Mourning Meltdown
5. Gordon James
6. Any Open Window
7. Frozen Fear
8. Forevermore
9. Inside Outside Woman Blues #3
10. Scenes From A Troubled Mind
11. World Wake Up
Personnel: Warren Haynes – vocals, guitar Matt Abts – drums Danny Louis – keyboards Jorgen Carlsson – bass + Billy F. Gibbons - guitar Andy Hess - bass guitar
Gov’t Mule has always been a shoo-in for critical acclaim and had an easy genre transition that made for a built-in fan base, what with it being Warren Haynes’ official side project and all. That’s certainly not to say that the band hasn’t worked hard and isn’t musically awesome in their own right, but I think even Warren would agree with me that the whole Allman Brothers association hasn’t exactly been underplayed in the band bio. Current Gov’t Mule, on the other hand, is straying farther and farther away from the twangy good ol’ southern rock so characteristic of the Allman Bros Band.
By A Thread begins with the heavy, churning “Broke Down On The Brazos,” with the fierce introduction of recent addition, bassist Jorgen Carlsson, on the record. “Steppin’ Lightly,” the second track, is a grungy, distorted track with a chorus that resolves the song with the lyrical line, “Can’t you feel me rising today?” “Monday Mourning Meltdown,” on the other hand, is all jam. The bluesy feel of the song conjures up a contagiously mellow atmosphere that gets moving with a few well-placed harmonies in the chorus. The song then breaks down into a couple of raucous and funky keys and guitar riffs. “Gordon James” acts as a ballad that is borderline country music, but Haynes instead steers the melancholy instrumentation toward wailing, woeful guitars and his own clear voice and southern sorrow. As it is, “Gordon James” is probably the most memorable track on By A Thread for its purity and rhapsodic passion.
Three years since their last studio album and Gov’t Mule is smoldering hotter and more aggressively than ever. Each of the respective musicians’ explosive capabilities is singularly unmistakable, and together they are invincible. Warren Haynes and Mule have big plans for this album’s tour, including the usual and widely popular festival circuit. See you there. --- Emily J Ramey, americanmusicchannel.com
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Last Updated (Saturday, 24 March 2018 10:23)