Audio Cassette review:
Widespread Panic - 'Til the Medicine Takes

Widespread Panic - 'Til the Medicine Takes

Band: Widespread Panic Title: 'Til the Medicine Takes Rating: Release Date: 27 July, 1999 Media: Audio Cassette Tracks: 1: Surprise Valley 2: Bear's Gone Fishin' 3: Climb to Safety 4: Blue Indian 5: Waker 6: Party at Your Mama's House 7: Dyin' Man 8: You'll Be Fine 9: One Arm Steve 10: Christmas Katie 11: All Time Low 12: Nobody's Loss

Editoral Review While losing some rough edges and quirky spontaneity, Widespread Panic manage to provide an intriguing bridge between the old and new sounds of the South. Athens, Georgia's second most popular band does a little redecorating here, tightening up its patented sprawling jams into more manageable soundscapes and adding strings and horns to its already expansive musical palette. While the band is quick to shrug off comparisons to the Allman Brothers, there's still a loose rhythmic groove that recalls their Macon forebears, especially on "Climb to Safety," which follows a beautiful loser through his loss of faith and attendant redemption. The dark subject matter is what you'd find in any Southern Gothic, but there's a modern twist, a dash of sinister organ, and some undeniable emotional fire. Unlike some of the other entrants in the jam-band school, Widespread Panic are as likely to incorporate a Black Sabbath lick or a Talking Heads rant into a song as they are to purloin a Grateful Dead riff, proving they're more children of the '70s than just another Southern boogie band. --Jaan Uhelszki .. You can see a complete list of all Widespread Panic discography, or go back to the Widespread Panic tabs