Guster's Days as an Unknown Band are Soon to Be Lost and Gone Forever
By Janna Rogat
Move over Neil Diamond. A Boston-based trio called Guster has declared themselves the new royalty of "wussy rock." And these guys are Jewish, too.
The band has been a college favorite since their days at Tufts University, but Lost and Gone Forever, the band's latest album, proves that the trio of Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller and Brian Rosenworcel is ready to break into the big time.
Lost and Gone Forever, Guster's 3rd release, finally brings their live sound and energy to a studio (and now major label) release. This album is a milestone‹a bar mitzvah of sorts‹as they mature from guys with great songs into out-and-out rock stars.
The guitar-and-bongo sounds on Lost and Gone Forever are fuller and more intriguing than on their independent CDs, Parachute (1994) and Goldfly (1996). Producer Steve Lillywhite (known for work with the Dave Matthews Band) certainly takes much of the credit for this.
But the band deserves applause for their efforts, as well. The harmonies and songwriting are still strong on this latest release; their performance is tighter and cleaner. But the collective talents of Gardner, Miller and Rosenworcel explode with new abandon on this batch of songs.
"Barrel of a Gun," captures their intense energy. Rosenworcel's monster congo beat (his percussion is the most impressive element of the album) furiously drives the tune. The chorus, too, is catchy-without-being-kitchy. In fact, all the songs tend to get stuck in your headŠin a good way.
Other highlights include rock ballads like "Either Way," "I Spy," and "Two Points for Honesty." On these especially, Miller's lyrics are dark and humorous, light yet vulnerable. If there's something sinister going on inside his head, you can't get past the songs' sweetness to figure it out.
Not only do they rock, they have fun doing it. Songs like "All the Way Up to Heaven," based around a $5 Casio keyboard's samba beat, and "Center of Attention," a selfishly playful gloat by an only child, are traditional Guster.
But, die-hard fans (often members of Guster's "rep program") expect hilarity. Guster is almost as well-known for schtick as they are for rock songs. At a recent concert in Boston, Miller dragged his wired microphone into the audience, crooning "Sweet Caroline" while surfing over the hoards of fans.
As if a devotion to Neil Diamond and a propensity for schtick weren't enough, the band gives clues that they are, in fact, Jews. Check out their "about Guster" section of their official website (Guster.com):
"Q: Are you guys a Christian band?
A: Rather than answer this one with a simple yes/no, we suggest you check the following sources for clues:
1) Brian's last name--'Rosenworcel.'
2) Any photo of Ryan where you can see his profile.
3) The Guster Backstage Contract Rider, where we stipify that 'the dressing room must be furnished with plenty of borscht, noodle kugels, potato latkes, gefilte fish and homemade rugulah for dessert.'"
"Wussy rock" has come a long way.
Guster: Lost and Gone Forever (1999)
Produced by Steve Lilywhite
Sire/Hybrid Records
Janna Rogat is assistant online editor at Jewish Family & Life! She's working to finance her CD collection, her most prized possession. She was introduced to Guster almost 5 years ago, and has been listening closely ever since.
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