If you have been somewhat disappointed with the Bottle Rockets’ last few albums, you probably aren’t alone. Leftovers (1998) and Brand New Year (1999) left much to be desired following the satisfying 24 Hours a Day (1997). And although last year’s Songs of Sahm was a definite step in the right direction, fans of the Bottle Rockets had to be wondering if they were ever going to write any more new material.
Enter co-producers Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule) and Michael Barbiero (James Brown, John Lennon, Metallica) and the result is Blue Sky, the band’s first album of new material in four years. And a nice return to form it is.
The opening track, “Lucky Break,” is a solid reminder that lead vocalist and songwriter Brian Henneman still has a knack for writing a catchy and clever song that can set the tone for a fine album. It immediately gives you the feeling that the Bottle Rockets once again care about the bare essentials to recording an album, a trait they haven’t shown in quite a while. Mainly recorded as a three-piece (Henneman, bassist Robert Kearns, drummer Mark Ortmann), songs like “Blue Sky” and “Men &Women” give the album a homespun feel that has allowed the Bottle Rockets to become a force in the Americana/Alt Country music scene.
What brings this album down are the parts that Henneman does not stamp his signature on. Kearns sings on the pop-flavored “I Don’t Wanna Go Back” and the album closer “Last Time,” two songs that seem out of place--not because the bassist cannot sing--but because they break the flow of the album. Also not stacking up is “Baggage Claim,” a promising song written by Ortmann about the hidden effects of 9/11, only its delivery doesn’t affect you the way it potentially could. By the end of the song, it seems Henneman is searching for his voice in Ortmann’s words.
What is effective is the return of Henneman’s humorous songwriting style. With lyrics like “I dig cartoons in the morning” and my “baby at night,” both “Man of Constant Anxiety” and “Cartoon Wisdom” are safe bets to produce laughter on every listen. It seems that at least Henneman once again has a complete grasp of what the Bottle Rockets are all about: getting up, going to work, and doing it all over again. Welcome back.
