It’s easy to claim that life on the road, long tours and some struggling years together give a band some legitimacy, but when you’ve endured well over a decade that included a severe motorcycle accident, major surgery, creating your own touring festival, a Grammy, a founding members death and over 10 million in album sales, you’ve pretty much seen it all. Though with a skewed line-up that for now seems solidified, the Blues Traveler story is apparently far from over. Following the unfortunate death of bassist Bobby Sheehan in 1999, the band went through a tumultuous period that included the release of their rather forgettable, though perhaps aptly named sixth album, Bridge. And where that record was forced and uncomfortable, their newest release, Truth Be Told is Blues Traveler finally back to business, pushing forward rather than merely looking back.
When you’ve had a past as colorful as theirs, and created some classic records like the first three BT releases, it’s understandable that they would look back, but with Chan Kinchla’s brother Tad taking the bass role, and the crucial sound change addition of Ben Wilson on keyboards, they had to reinvent their signature sound in order to keep forging ahead. And rather than continuing on where the past few records have stumbled,
Truth Be Told is vintage Blues Traveler, complete with self-disclosing lyrics, fiery harmonica, powerful solos and those Popper ballads that never fail to evoke emotion. Still far from a throwback, and miles from the repetitive-beat-bandwagon most have succumbed to, it’s the album you hoped they’d make once everything they’ve been through eventually settled down.
Locking into familiar territory, the deep and grooving "Can’t See Why" leads off with Tad’s thumping bassline before Popper wails through his poignant lyrics. "Stumble and Fall" hits on more classic BT with soft and subtle acoustic lines that foreshadow the climactic raucous that storms full speed into the chorus. Chan’s choppy and pounding guitar work grinds out "The One," which very well may be the one that stays with you when the album concludes. As with the extraordinary commercial success of "Run Around" (the longest charting single ever) and Four, Blues Traveler has always been able to craft the Hollywood soundtrack staple, and this album has it’s share as well. "My Blessed Pain" features Popper’s vivid storytelling over pop-hooks and gritty guitar, while "Let Her &Let Go" is the quintessential romantic comedy closer.
It’s hard to imagine those epic BT songs with a keyboard competing against Popper’s harmonica, but Wilson has not only found his place in the mix, he's made his valuable presence known. Throughout the album, his delicate key work, and sultry organ create a unique framework for Popper’s distinct vocals and raging harmonica with no example greater than the outro of "Sweet and Broken." If you didn’t think Blues Traveler was capable of writing another "Crystal Flame" or "Alone," this song should put your doubts to rest. As Popper sings the last few lines, Wilson accompanies his voice beautifully on piano, closing out one of the band’s best songs of their long and storied twenty year career.
