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Bombs & Butterflies

Widespread Panic - Bombs & Butterflies Audio CD

A fair review of the Widespread Panic "Bombs & Butterflies" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Widespread Panic reviews here, or go back to the Widespread Panic tabs.

Band: Widespread Panic
Title: Bombs & Butterflies
Rating:

Release Date: 1997-02-04
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Radio Child 2: Aunt Avis 3: Tall Boy 4: Gradle 5: Glory 6: Rebirtha 7: You Got Yours 8: Hope in a Hopeless World 9: Happy 10: Greta

A Darkhorse Favorite WSP Record!
I consider myself well versed in the recordings of Panic, and something about this album has latched it's claws onto me. For some reason, B&B is criminally overlooked among folks I've talked to about the band. I can not get enough of it. Another reviewer noted correctly that this is a very focused, classic-rock sounding effort. As my tastes have changed and matured over the years (trending away from drawn-out jam-rock), the songs here have stood out as perfectly crafted nuggets of brilliance.

The album's 2 epics, "Rebirtha" and "Greta", are live Panic staples that exude that jammy spirit most fans adore. The former features the late Mike Houser's finest playing caught on tape (in my humble opinion).

The production on B&B sparkles w/o feeling overdone or calculated. This is a pristine recording with just the right amount of ambience. Classic Rock opener "Radio Child" sets the tone wonderfully for the rest of the 10-song set. "Gradle" may be one of the best unheralded Panic tunes ever written, featuring JB's spot-on-perfect soaring vocals and Houser's triumphant solos. "Glory"'s abrupt time changes and anthemic chorus is the perfect midpoint and setup for the aforementioned monstrosity, "Rebirtha".

Do NOT hesitate if you're looking to dive into a random Panic record! this is your album. Non-Panic, classic Rock fans should really get a kick out of this. . .

thanks for reading!
-Jon.

Something isn't quite right

Released in 1997, this is Widespread Panic's fifth CD. THE BEST SONGS ARE ALSO ON LIGHT FUSE, GET AWAY. The sound quality is very good. It is 49 minutes long, but the last 4 minutes of Greta is just a very annoying scraping, buzzing sound. The CD originally came in a cardboard foldout case.

There is something that is not quite right with this CD. The production values and engineering are very good. I think it is that the compositions are just not very good.

This is one of those singer/song writer albums that every jam band puts out. Everyone wants to do an American Beauty (Grateful Dead's landmark album). Moe had Dither, String Cheese Incident has One Step Closer and Phish had Picture of Nectar. They were all failures.

To make a singer/song writer album, the group usually brings in an outside producer. This producer than molds the album around his vision, instead of the band's. It usually doesn't work.

John Keane produced this album. He also produced the previous Ain't Life Grand, where he was very succesful. I think that with Ain't Life Grand, he made the album better by cleaing up the sound, but not interfering with the group's artistic vision. On this CD, Bombs & Butterflies, he might have too much influence.

It also sounds like the group is trying to copy others. Aunt Avis sounds like LA country rock by someone like the Buffalo Springfield or Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Happy, is an Allman Brothers type instrumental, but is not very interesting. Many of the songs are along the standard Southern Rock music style. You Got Yours sounds like it has a little Deep Purple mixed in. Greta has a Pink Floyd like opening.

The album does have a very good sound. The playing and mix are excellent. He also contained John Herrman's keyboard playing so that really enhances the songs, instead of detracting from them.

But, the songs just are not very good. And the best songs, Rebirtha and Greta are on the live CD Light Fuse, Get Away and Tall Boy is on Classic City. You could get those and skip this CD.

The worst songs, Aunt Avis and Hope in a Hopeless World were written by someone else. The group should stick to performing their own songs, or JJ Cale songs.

If you are new to Widespread Panic, get the live CD Classic City and then get the first two CD's, Widespread Panic and Space Wrangler, which are fantastic, five star albums.

Once upon a time..
. Widespread Panic was a group still in the process of finding their own sound and trying to keep the spirit of southern rock & roll alive. Though they hadn't developed into the distinct entity they are today, though their singer had a tendency to sound like Gregg Allman at times, they built a good following on the strength of albums like this. And though they've done better albums since. . Bombs & Butterflies is still a heck of a fun listen.

One spin of the opener "Radio Child" should rub out any notion that these guys are an ordinary southern-rock band. And if public opinion hadn't tossed so many jam bands into the "Phish wannabe" pile, WP might be just as well-known right now. There's flat-out rock ("Tall Boy," "Radio Child"), some quiet-but-not-sappy moments ("Glory," "Aunt Avis") even a. . well, happy instrumental ("Happy"). This is an album for sunny spring & summer afternoons, a spirited bunch of tunes that'll make those miles on the highway go by before you notice. Pick this one up if you've already heard Don't Tell the Band and Til the Medicine Takes. . or if you just want something a little more focused than the marathon Light Fuse & Get Away. If you like that southern sound the Allmans do so well, though, any one of them will be just fine.

Grat rock, not enough soul
Looking back with 20/20 hindsight it is easy to tell that at this point the band hadn't quite come into their pinnacle of songwriting that they have now. Being one on Widesread Panic's earlier releases this album features more of a classic rock theme with more basic chord progressions and arrangements than their more recent releases. Of course, with this album Widespread Panic continues the true rock and roll tradition that seems to be underground at this point. A great album for those who love rock.

panic fan
I didnt wont somebody to get discouraged by them. i read a couple of the reviews and was disapointed. this cd like all other widespread panic cd's really does have geat music. This music is truely for music listners. I myself am into a lot of crazy jazz and african music. of course to like this id have to like rock. But i think that theses gays are really good. i have a pretty good music ear to. these gays know how to jam. every player forces great power into this music. their live music is even better. Its ten times better than most of the modern rock you hear on the radio. Yea i agry this isnt their best cd gut i think any panic cd is great. If you like this i garanty you'll like the others.

You can see a complete list of all Widespread Panic discography, or go back to the Widespread Panic tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.