It's been a while boys, but git yer boots out and start a' stompin', cuz them's Allman Brothers is back.
Well, to tell you the truth, they never really went away. They have been touring every year since their reunion
back in 1989, when a struggling post-solo career Greg Allman realized that he would make a hell of a lot more
bank bringing back the band that made him famous. So they gave us a few marginal studio releases and hit
the road to bring their brand of southern rock flavored jazz jamming to the masses and make some bucks as
well. Well over the years, things have changed quite a bit for these guys. Founding member Dickey Betts is
out of the band (FINALLY!!!!), and they have brought back ex-Allman guitarist, and GOV'T MULE leader Warren
Haynes and hired Derek Trucks, son of Allman percussionist Butch Trucks, to breathe some life into a band
who had started running out of steam. This new lineup makes for some serious musical interplay, along with
the addition of monster bassist Otiell Burbidge, and this disc demonstrates just how good these guys can
twist musical ideas into new shapes and sizes. But this disc simply can't live up to these expectations.
I have nothing against these guys, and Haynes in my opinion is one of the best damn guitarists out there.
He is soulful, intense and can pen a tune better than most, and this disc has 9 contributions from the man.
But what this disc doesn't have is much originality or deviation from their previous efforts. This disc could be
easily confused with any one of their post reunion releases and no one would know the wiser.
Opening track "Firing Line" is typical Allman Brothers blues vamping and greasy guitar licks. Greg Allman's
voice is in fine shape and he does belt it out often enough, but this band simply sounds dated and old. I can't
say that I hear much fire in these tunes. Not that they are bad, it's just that they are missing that original intensity
that was once evident in previous releases. Anyone who has seen these guys live can attest to their immense
abilities as musicians and improvisers, and they are rarely matched in this arena. But new tunes are not their
strong suit. It's just a bit too common and redundant for me to take these songs seriously, and the lyrical content
is downright trite and boring. Same old song and dance about love gone wrong, getting old and being tired and Allman
woeing his bad fortune. Haynes adds some fire with his playing and being one of the premier slide guitarist in the world,
having Derek Trucks, another master slide player, in this band simply becomes redundant and overplayed. Personally,
I would have liked to have seen someone who would counter Haynes firebrand style of Duane Allman infused slide
licks with some more jazzier tones (i.e. John Scofield). Trucks is a fabulous player in his own right, but being in the
Allman Brothers Band is simply unnecessary.
The disc continues with some very loose jams and many of the songs sound the same and only plod along in a
manner that rarely lifts you up nor takes you anywhere. All in all, a decent release, but very uninspiring and definitely
misses more than it hits. But then again, who cares about their new tunes to begin with, because all their fans care is
if they play 'Ramblin' Man' every night.....ugggh kill me now.
