In Our Gun

by

Gomez

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Before Gomez came along in 1998, there were really only three types of Britpop music: 1) the Beatles "homage", used by bands like Oasis and Pulp, 2) the trippy space-rock, like Radiohead or the Verve, and 3) the overused techno method, that the Charlatans have recently implemented. But five guys from Liverpool changed all that, proving that you could be an indie rock band, and use styles like blues, soul and reggae in your music. Their third real album after the entertaining, but slightly flat B-sides collection Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline, In Our Gun sees Gomez using their three years off well, implementing numerous innovative tunes that will surely make countless bands jealous. Instead of putting out the first tunes that came to their fingers, like they did in the mediocre Liquid Skin, they've experimented with 30s-esque country, modern-day dub, 80s electronica and various other now-underused techniques. The album starts off well with "Shot Shot", a tune obviously aimed at fans of their previous releases, but with a superb jazz saxophone that somehow works well with the vocal stylings of Ben Ottewell Tom Gray and Ian Ball. It straight away changes direction in "Rex Kramer", a superb O Brother, Where Art Thou?-esque tune that surely, along with the aforementioned album, signals a comeback for bluegrass music. As the album goes on, noticeable influences turn up, with Beck and Pavement feeling prominent on "Even Song", "Ruff Stuff", "Drench" and titular track "In Our Gun", while both "Ping One Down" and "Army Dub" seem straight out of a Lee "Scratch" Perry record. Despite the fact that there is definitely a noticeable change in Gomez' latest tunes, die-hard fans will enjoy it if they're open-minded enough, while casual listeners will surely be in awe at what a modern day band can achieve.

I know this may look like a bad review, but it isn't. Everyone on Amazon just goes to their favorite albums and gives them five stars and ruins the whole system for objective shoppers.

Gomez is no doubt a great band, and they show it in several places on this very mature and experimental album. The lyrics have always been compelling and the melodies seem to mature with every release, but unfortunately these aspects get buried under a deluge of electronic beeps and whistles. The songs themselves could really shine in an acoustic setting, where the electronica elements might be abandoned (or at least toned down) in favor of their unique blues ballads. I like Gomez, and I am glad this CD has become part of their collection (and mine) because it shows their growth and maturity in the song-writing trade. As soon as they get into a studio and realize they don't need to mature anymore is when Gomez will start pumping out five star discs every go round. A good album by this band is better than the best album by most.

A great album, but not their best (which has yet to be released).