|
I've always had a little trouble with the idea of 'Best Of' albums. Aside from the obvious objectivity involved, in that one person's favourite songs by an artist will invariably differ from the next's, many such collections could better be described as Greatest, or indeed Only, Hits. I suppose this is rather pedantic on my part; whatever you call them, their purpose is to neatly package well-known songs for the more casual listener, with perhaps a new track or two to attract fans. Most 'Best Of' records could thus also be called 'A Potted History Of'.
Which brings me, finally, to my point: Lambchop's latest release, the double album 'Aw C'mon / No You C'mon', feels like a best of. It isn't one; each of the 24 tracks is new and previously unreleased. Contained within them, though, are echoes of the band's previous six full-length releases.
This is something of a departure for Lambchop. Right through from their debut 'I Hope You're Sitting Down' up until 2002's 'Is A Woman', their albums have been notable for their coherence, their sense of identity. Each of the six has its own distinct sound, be it the relaxed strings and hushed, almost spoken vocals of 'How I Quit Smoking' or the piano-led groove of the aforementioned 'Is A Woman'.
'Aw C'mon / No You C'mon' is still unmistakably Lambchop, however, due largely to Kurt Wagner's gruff, familiar drawl. The instrumentation and arrangement will be recognisable to anyone who has heard the band before. It's hard to find fault with individual tracks - indeed, some rank with the finest to come from Wagner's pen - but there is a nagging feeling that this could have been pieced together from off-cuts of previous sessions.
Nowhere is this more apparent than at the end of the second CD. 'The Gusher' almost hints at the addition of a jazz tinge to the trademark alt-country sound. Penultimate track 'Listen' could have been spare from the 'Is A Woman' recordings, whereas closer 'The Producer' recalls the more traditional country of Lambchop's early days.
Let me get one thinbg straight: this is not a bad record. In terms of song quality and entertainment value, Lambchop have not dipped at all. This offering merely requires a little more getting used to.
Like a good best of, 'Aw C'mon / No You C'mon' provides a succinct summary of Lambchop's sound for newcomers. Better than a best of, here are 24 new tracks, including much for fans to celebrate. It might just be that, 10 years down the line, Lambchop have made their best record yet.
Grant Lakeland
|
