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Blues Traveler
Straight on Till Morning
First Appeared in The Music Box,
June 1998, Volume 5, #6
Written by John Metzger
This is a pretty decent album from Blues Traveler, but unfortunately it verges on
being a formulaic
remake of Four. The band is extremely tight throughout Straight on Till
Morning, and there's no doubt these are great songs. They just pack much more power and
conviction in concert than they do on this disc.
This may very well turn out to be a transitional album for Blues Traveler, and
it seems to be looking
for some new ideas. Some of the latest reports indicate that singer John Popper will
play a lot more guitar and a lot less harmonica on the next album. As good as Popper is on
harmonica, his signature playing has become less and less of a focus on the band's songs. At the
same time, his vocals seem to improve with each album and subsequent tour, and it's his amazing
voice that stands out on every song on this disc.
The best example is the hauntingly beautiful ballad Yours. Popper sounds amazingly vulnerable as
the song begins. His voice meekly floats above the strumming of his 12-string acoustic guitar.
Gradually, Blues Traveler jumps in as does a string section, giving the tune a sweetly majestic, but
yearning aura of unrequited love.
Chan Kinchla seems to be experimenting with some different guitar techniques,
tool. Blues Traveler has added an acoustic set to many of its concerts, and since the release of Four, Kinchla has
learned to play guitar in the style of the Allman Brothers Band for concert versions of The
Mountains Win Again. (Warren Haynes performs on the album). He brings this style to The
Gunfighter with excellent results. Likewise, Bob Sheehan has an added buoyancy in his bass playing these days, and this is evident throughout
Straight on Till Morning, and Brendan Hill's solid drumming anchors each song with brilliant precision.
As usual, Popper's lyrics drive home the spirit of each song. He always has
had a special knack for working in portions, themes, and characters of
children's stories and nursery rhymes, and these are
scattered everywhere on Straight on Till Morning. Even the title is drawn from
Peter Pan. His references add a playful aspect to some of more the
serious notions that lie beneath the surface of the material.
In short, Straight on Till Morning isn't Blues Traveler's best album, and it may be a bit formulaic.
Even so, it's an enjoyable disc with some outstanding songs that are sure to
stay in the band's repertoire for years to
come. 
½
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 1998
The Music Box
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