The Guru - Go Easy

The Guru return triumphantly with their new album "Go Easy" and it expands on the promise of last years "Native Sun" in a whole bunch of ways!

The title track opens the album and what a track! It stands out as a sleek radio single ripe with top notch pop sensibility but nothing is quite like the surprisingly tasteful saxophone on this track. It hints at a campy attitude but is still played expertly and extravagantly over this song. This is a party song all over the place and is sure to cause tons of involuntary head bopping no matter where it ends up.

"Indian Day" steps up the tempo and keeps it high. Elements of The Shins and even early Beach Boys in the vocals here shine through and really bring out the charm of this song. This song has one hell of a breakdown / guitar solo!

"Guacamole" keeps the energy level and exploits the obvious skills of the lead singer. This one has some classic rock in its blood, alongside some more recent flavors. The guitar work is also especially technical and impressive in this song.

"Foreign Moon" is a little more introverted and delicate. It is a beautiful track. I begin to notice around now that this album is a much more confident effort than "Native Sun". It is the sound of The Guru after accepting the acclaim they so richly deserved last year. This album is more "realized" than the last one. They take chances on it for sure, but it still stands out as a band not afraid to be themselves.

"Tony Waves" is a real barn burner. It surely does well in the live setting. This is another song that showcases the especially technical playing of the guitarist(s). This song, like the past few, is also a pretty varied and original composition for a pop song. They play with convention but don't submit to it.

"Cow" brings the pace back up a bit and noodling guitars fill out the dance drum beat. Another obvious live gem, this song is a raucous sing-a-long and heartfelt power-pop tune at the same time.
"Pyramids" opens with some heavy synth action and swirls in a cacophony of reverb and voices. This song would totally seem out of place on any other record, but The Guru parade the song like a trophy here and that makes it pay off big time. It is elegant and surreal.

"Slime Eater" is at the end of the album, a final dance from a band that loves to dance (or at least make people dance). This song is a little darker than the rest of the songs, but just as dance-able. This song seems to be a musical opposite to the first track. Where "Go Easy" is clean, easy going and refined, almost campy, "Slime Eater" is a dark and brooding. Another in a long list of amazing guitar solos in this song as well.

The Guru are getting better and better by the minute. Can you keep up?




One way to try is to see them at the CD RELEASE SHOW for "Go Easy" at The Space on November 21. Check out the Facebook Event Page.



You should also see them on November 27 at WSIN RADIO PRESENTS THE ANNUAL SINFEST at SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY with:
JITTA ON THE TRACK
PORTS OF SPAIN
POOLS ARE NICE
SAMMY J

doors are at 7pm, get for info at the Facebook Event Page