28 Years In, Guster Continues On Path of Progression With ‘Look Alive’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

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Guster has always done especially well by defying description. Known mostly for their populist appeal, their fan-friendly attitude is defined by their tolerance for free taping of their concerts, a genuine sense of spontaneity and a feeling of carefree exuberance that pervades everything they offer.

It’s hardly surprising then that the band’s new album extends that exhilaration through a sonic palette that adds unexpected new elements to the band’s sound and forging a path that leads into more experimental environs. While the accessibility factor remains intact throughout, due credit ought to be accorded drummer and percussionist Brian Rosenworcel for providing the percolating rhythms and underscoring the album with a playful pulse that’s sustained throughout.

The combined lead vocals of singer/multi-instrumentalists Adam Gardner and Ryan Miller enhance that uplifting approach while helping skew the tone and temperment. That creates a variance which leads from the high pitched harmonies of “Look Alive” as well as the absolute euphoria of “Summertime” and “Terrified,” to the quiet haze of “Not For Nothing” and the ominous intrigue and cosmic cacophony imbued into “Mind Kontrol,” the latter embossed with eerie accompaniment from Luke Reynolds’ crisp keyboards.

True to the band’s template, the sunnier side to Guster’s music comes to the fore on most occasions, often with unexpected results. The aptly named “Overexcited” skips along with giddy delight, sounding like a Kinks outtake from Village Green Preservation Society, complete with an affected cockney accent and other facetious entreaties. On “Hello Mister Sun,” they emulate the brooding melancholy of classic Pink Floyd circa Dark Side of the Moon, before breaking out with more upbeat intentions.

In total, Look Alive finds Guster again opting for the unexpected, a playful approach that allows them to expand their sonic terrain and meld experimentation into their rockier refrains. It isn’t an easy album to absorb in a single listen, but it does ensure that each encounter will be all the more engaging along the way.