Thanks to T. Bone, the BoDeans still got it.
Teaming with Grammy-winning producer T-Bone Burnett proves, once again, to be a good thing for the BoDeans. The band's eighth release, "Still," sparkles with solid harmonies, laid-back grooves and enough poppy hooks to keep the rockers, whose affiliation has spanned three decades, relevant. Burnett also produced the band's 1986 debut "Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams."
Decidedly upbeat, "Still" (released via the band's record label He & He LP) re-cements the partnership of Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neumann, who have watched success and failure take their natural ebb and flows through the Milwaukee-area band's long career.
"Round Here Somewhere," while most likely a story about a faded relationship, practically tells the story of the band itself. Neumann and Llanas sing, "Looking for potential that got left behind" and "the funny thing I have to say is, it wasn't like I thought it would be. It's just the day I stopped believing everything people tried to sell me."
Through endless touring, solo records, lawsuits and more, the band still sparkles and "Round Here Somewhere" showcases the vocal contrasts and collaboration that distinguish the band. It conjures "Dreams" and even "Idaho," two BoDeans' tracks with shared lead vocals.
"The First Time," a tune that the band's been playing live for a while, is fresh, fun and singable. "Wonder, Wonder" is classic BoDeans' love song material. A relationship story, the tune harkens pop songs of yesterday -- rhyming, jangling and repeating. "Lucille" shines in the same vane with fun, nearly flirty lyrics.
Kurt and Sammy each conquer one tune solo, or with limited background vocals. Llanas croons "Willing" and Neumann handles "Breathe" alone. Each their own man, this album showcases the strengths each brings to the team.
Despite lacking a true pop anthem like "Good Things" or "Closer to Free" (the band's biggest hit), "Still" is the band's best and most well-rounded release. And with the resurgence of aging rockers, now just might be the perfect time for the BoDeans to, once again, hit the big time.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
