Customer Rating:  
Summary: Highs and Lows for Gusteroids
Comment: As a point of reference, I have been a fan since the mid 90's, when Guster was playing New England colleges. I have appreciated their evolution from acoustic-bongo-rock (Parachute and earlier), to fairly mainstream acoustic rock (Keep it Together).
I think Ganging Up on the Sun is terrific addition to the Guster catalog, but does not achieve the same satisfaction for me that I've had in past albums. Albums like Lost and Gone Forever and Keep it Together are terrific from start to finish, where Ganging Up on the Sun, has highs and lows that are remarkable. Manifest Destiny, and One Man Wrecking Machine, are fantastic. The song most like past Guster albums is Hang On, which is almost a throwback to the harmonizing albums of the 90's. For the low, Lighting Rod, the opening song, is far too experimental for me and demonstrates the evolution that Guster has experienced...for better or worse.
Ganging Up on the Sun is a terrific album that diverges further from the style of their early albums. Despite some "throw-away" tracks for me, the album is terrific and will satisfy any Guster fan. But for a better version of Satellite, as well as new tracks that sound more like tradition Guster, look at the "Satellite EP".
Customer Rating:
Summary: laced with funk and not long enough
Comment: This album is delightful. guster turns out a broad span of different elements with good old guster style. in this album they picked up a hint of blue grass (the captain,c'mon), the mandolin part in the captain is breathtaking. Ganging up has a mix of a few thoughtful songs (lightning rod has a somber but beautiful organ back tone) and the lyrics. I didn't pick up any of the political whining that is so common in present day pop
which i find highly inartistic and distracting. Guster holds views about the environment which are reasonable and they know when and how to say them.
this album is funked to the brim and i only wish it was longer
Customer Rating:
Summary: a real surprise!
Comment: I didn't know this group, but since I herd on the radio "Satellite" I understood that it could be very interesting. When I bought the entire album I have really appreciated all songs and so I suggest it to people that love melodic rythmes.
Marzia
Customer Rating:
Summary: Brilliant - yet another step forward for this band.
Comment: "Ganging Up On The Sun" is the sound of a band well within its stride - a band who has progressed and delivered a better album each time around. This is not a knock on their previous body of work - anyone who has listened to their previous albums know that Guster is a band that delivers a wonderfully rich yet somehow organic sound. This is the latest and greatest from a band that is truly at the forefront of current American rock.
For the uninitiated, Guster was a three piece (Ryan Miller, Adam Gardner, and Brian Rosenworcel) who met at University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They've since added a fourth member, Joe Pisapia. Each member is a multi-instrumentalist - and the band mixes the traditional rock instruments at times with horns, tribal rhythm instruments, and banjo. Make no mistake - this is ACCESSIBLE music - music that incorporates a wealth of variety to enhance the greater whole, not overpower it and alienate. And, of course, Guster's vocal harmonies are among the best of bands today. Miller handles the majority of lead vocals, but Gardner is a quite capable vocalist as a lead, perhaps underused.
Ganging Up On The Sun includes songs that are introspective; songs to be listened to and enjoyed alone or with a loved one - other songs are party songs, yet somehow more cerebral than all of that. That's the strength of Guster - the music is not simple, but you enjoy it FOR that, instead of in spite of it. The vocals sound effortless on this record - as if they don't have to try to make a perfect recording.
"Lightning Rod" includes some of the harmony that Guster does so well - a soft guitar plucking, nice atmospheric background, and Miller's soft vocal. Guster showing off its softer and sensitive side. "Ruby Falls" does it even better.
"Satellite" starts off with an acoustic strumming reminiscent of "My Sweet Lord", but continues with a bouncy beat. This is a single with all the Guster elements at the fore - great songwriting! "One Man Wrecking Machine" continues this to great success, as does "C'Mon".
"Manifest Destiny" features the 'other side' of the Guster sound - a plucky, upbeat sound - which is brought to the max in "The Captain" (with banjo in the mix!)
"The New Underground" shows the flexibility of the band even more - the sound is fuller, lower, and a tad darker - with guitar stabs reminiscent of Rush's Grace Under Pressure record.
"Dear Valentine" is one of the few songs with Gardner as the lead - which makes the song worthwhile for that alone - he brings something different to the Guster sound - but it's still unmistakably Guster. And great horn work in the mix.
All in all, this is a WONDERFUL album that must be heard to appreciate. Listen to it several times and you will fall in love with it.
If you love this record - look at "Keep It Together" and "Lost and Gone Forever" - their most recent two albums prior - as they're bound to capture you as well.
Highly recommended. I'd say 4.5 stars out of 5 if I could. Loses a half star for slightly weaker songs in the final third of the record (except for Dear Valentine).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great album with some really memorable songs
Comment: I have been a huge fan of Guster for about six years now and Ganging Up On The Sun genuinely surprised me on first listen. The music has a more mature, rounded out, pop feel to it than previous records. Songs like "Ruby Falls" and "Dear Valentine" are a big step up from the college-rock feel that a lot of their previous music had. They feel heavier, deeper, more thoughtful. And I love it. It's so gratifying as a fan to see a group grow musically.
One downfall, imo: "One Man Wrecking Machine", while catchy and quick to grow on you, has too much of a generic pop feel. Either way, Guster's music is consistently good and I recommend not only this album but the others as well: Goldfly, Lost and Gone Forever, Keep It Together, and Parachute.
Even better, see them in concert: three live shows has convinced me that they are just as musically talented as their records lead one to believe. Their concerts are always fun, the guys are entertaining, and the show they put on is absolutely fantastic. Guster is just amazing live. If you can't hit up a concert, buy their album Guster On Ice. It's incredible.
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