Guster / Ooh La La
| Album: | Ooh La La | Collection: | A-File | |
| Artist: | Guster | Added: | May 2024 | |
| Label: | Self-Release | |||
A-File Activity
| Add Date: | 2024-05-27 | Pull Date: | 2024-07-29 |
|---|
| Week Ending: | Jun 2 |
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| Airplays: | 3 |
Recent Airplay
| 1. | May 31, 2024: | KZSU Time Traveler
The Elevator, All Day, Keep Going, This Heart Is Occupied |
3. | May 29, 2024: | sunday drive
Gauguin, Cézanne (Everlasting Love) |
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| 2. | May 29, 2024: | Comes to Mind
When We Were Stars, The Elevator |
4. | May 24, 2024: | KZSU Time Traveler
Keep Going |
Album Review
Francis D
Reviewed 2024-05-19
Reviewed 2024-05-19
“Ooh La La” Guster
9th album for the Boston-based alt rock and jangle pop band. Founded in the early 1990s when Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller and Brian Rosenworcel were freshmen at Tufts University. This album — produced by Josh Kaufman (The National, The Hold Steady) — moves away from the cool sonic textures of Guster’s 2019 release to create a richer, more expansive palette, blending acoustic guitar, piano, organ, synths, and intriguing rhythms. Lyrics explore the isolation, resilience and ultimately hopefulness of our post-pandemic experience. RIYL: Ben Folds Five, The Shins, the Wallflowers or the Dave Matthews Band.
— Francis
Highly recommended: 5, 3, 9, 10, 1, 6. No FCCs detected.
1. (4:42) This Heart Is Occupied — Breezy and contemplative. Tinkling piano and organ, with strummed and picked guitar. Easygoing beat. ***
2. (4:38) When We Were Stars — Jaunty bongo- and bass-driven groove. Glittery effects and swelling synth strings.
3. (3:24) All Day — Swaying and melodic. Mesmerizing bassline overlayed with synth elements and light, uplifting vocals. Fuller arrangement toward the end. ****
4. (3:18) My Kind — Deliberate pace. Theatrical, jazzy rock. Piano and other keys, with guitar added later.
5. (4:08) Keep Going — Pulsing and swelling synth soundscape, backed by effortless percussion. Easy, calming feeling. Harmonized vocals. Guitar in lead break. ****
6. (4:03) Gauguin, Cézanne (Everlasting Love) — Cosmic and mystical, woven into a synth soundscape. Ethereal vocals. Throaty guitar. ***
7. (3:02) Witness Tree — Starts as a DIY singer-songwriter toe-tapper. Organ, horns, drums and more added about 35 seconds in — resulting in something like a bouncy carnival vibe.
8. (2:58) Black Balloon — Largely acoustic. Heavily reverbed vocals over simple fingerpicked and strummed guitar and light piano. Synth strings near the end. Some distortion.
9. (3:02) The Elevator — Lovely, reassuring folk ballad. Great storytelling vocals. Slapping rhythm. Flowing and shimmery. Catchy! ****
10. (3:44) Maybe We’re Alright — Sensitive and thoughtful closer. Laid-back, strummed acoustic guitar. Recognizing the passing of time and life’s challenges, but also providing reassurance that “Maybe we’re all right.” ***
9th album for the Boston-based alt rock and jangle pop band. Founded in the early 1990s when Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller and Brian Rosenworcel were freshmen at Tufts University. This album — produced by Josh Kaufman (The National, The Hold Steady) — moves away from the cool sonic textures of Guster’s 2019 release to create a richer, more expansive palette, blending acoustic guitar, piano, organ, synths, and intriguing rhythms. Lyrics explore the isolation, resilience and ultimately hopefulness of our post-pandemic experience. RIYL: Ben Folds Five, The Shins, the Wallflowers or the Dave Matthews Band.
— Francis
Highly recommended: 5, 3, 9, 10, 1, 6. No FCCs detected.
1. (4:42) This Heart Is Occupied — Breezy and contemplative. Tinkling piano and organ, with strummed and picked guitar. Easygoing beat. ***
2. (4:38) When We Were Stars — Jaunty bongo- and bass-driven groove. Glittery effects and swelling synth strings.
3. (3:24) All Day — Swaying and melodic. Mesmerizing bassline overlayed with synth elements and light, uplifting vocals. Fuller arrangement toward the end. ****
4. (3:18) My Kind — Deliberate pace. Theatrical, jazzy rock. Piano and other keys, with guitar added later.
5. (4:08) Keep Going — Pulsing and swelling synth soundscape, backed by effortless percussion. Easy, calming feeling. Harmonized vocals. Guitar in lead break. ****
6. (4:03) Gauguin, Cézanne (Everlasting Love) — Cosmic and mystical, woven into a synth soundscape. Ethereal vocals. Throaty guitar. ***
7. (3:02) Witness Tree — Starts as a DIY singer-songwriter toe-tapper. Organ, horns, drums and more added about 35 seconds in — resulting in something like a bouncy carnival vibe.
8. (2:58) Black Balloon — Largely acoustic. Heavily reverbed vocals over simple fingerpicked and strummed guitar and light piano. Synth strings near the end. Some distortion.
9. (3:02) The Elevator — Lovely, reassuring folk ballad. Great storytelling vocals. Slapping rhythm. Flowing and shimmery. Catchy! ****
10. (3:44) Maybe We’re Alright — Sensitive and thoughtful closer. Laid-back, strummed acoustic guitar. Recognizing the passing of time and life’s challenges, but also providing reassurance that “Maybe we’re all right.” ***
Track Listing
| 1. | This Heart Is Occupied | 6. | Gauguin, Cézanne (Everlasting Love) | |||
| 2. | When We Were Stars | 7. | Witness Tree | |||
| 3. | All Day | 8. | Black Balloon | |||
| 4. | My Kind | 9. | The Elevator | |||
| 5. | Keep Going | 10. | Maybe We’re Alright |