listening room | Three Degrees of Freedom - Vacilande (2003)
by: Matthew Hundley
I have been listening to the Three Degrees of Freedom (TGOF) "Vacilande" CD for a couple weeks now, trying to get a bearing as to what I would write about these guys in a review.
Initially their music reminded me of much of the sound that was emerging from Boulder, Colorado when I was there 10 years ago - they are after all a Colorado band.
The music mixed the sound of the Dead with Dave Matthews add a bit of "hippie shwank" (aka "jam") and even a bit of Meat Puppets blend it up with a touch of ska at times and you've got TGOF.
The CD is quite upbeat and, well, "jammy." The music offers some space to breath and features some really nice guitar interplay.
The onlye downfall is that throughout the CD the vocals get lost in the mix becoming more of a melodic instrument - which is good if you're working and want music in the background - bad if you are a band with a message to tell.
So what is "Vacilande"? I found some insight from John Steinbeck in his book "Travels With Charley":
"In Spanish there is a word for which I can't find a counterword in English. It is the verb vacilar, present participle vacilando. It does not mean vacillating at all. If one is vacilando, he is going somewhere, but does not greatly care whether or not he gets there, although he has direction. Everything in the world must have a design or the human mind rejects it. But in addition, it must have purpose or the human conscience shies away from it."
Kind of depressing tone to set for an album, but it fits. Early on the CD they proclaim, "sitting here talking to myself wondering if I'll have anything to say" and by the end of the CD they are looking for "Clarity."
Let's take a walk through the ten tracks on this release and find out if there is indeed a clear message.
Track 1 - Different Rhyme
This track opens and you immediately call to mind bands like Widespread Panic, Phish and String Cheese Incident. It's got a reggae-ska bridge thrown in for fun. I like the clean guitar playing the Ivory Coast inspired guitar line. These guys are bar bards and they sing about their experinces, "within the bars I'll sing my song and make up my own rhyme."
Track 2 - "Vacilande"
This songs is about going somewhere without caring whether or not you get their. The singer recounts "sitting here talking to myself, I'm wondering if I'll have anything to say." There is a fair to middlin' guitar solo and then a change. The song intensifies and there is some fantastic dual guitar work.
Note here that the guitar work in the songs overall is very well done. The ability to create nice intertwining guitar lines is strong with these guys. The caliber of soloing rarely matches that of the rhythm licks.
I needed to remind myself here that "jam" bands are meant to be seen live. And certainly the soloing shines more when they are on the road.
Track 3 - "Mexican Blanket"
This song opens with some nice guitar work and then moves into a wah-wah funk groove. Lyrically the song is a bit weak. Again the vocal serves fine as an undistinguishable melodic instrument. Great interplay with the guitars.
Track 4 - No Strings (Cliche)
One of those trippy lovemaking slow grooves with a music vamp that sticks solid throuout the piece. This is one of the weaker songs on the release. The good news is that after this song the CD takes a turn for the better.
Track 5 - Breakin' Down
This is what I'd call a lilting southern rock number. Opens with a Dead-like groove. Moves into a heavier vamp. The song gets better as it goes. There's some nice backing vocals from Hazel Miller.
Track 6 - The Carrier
This one opens with distorted guitar squelch. The 3/4 groove breaks from the "jammy" nature of other tracks. Tight bass/drum groove (which is true throughout this CD). This signals a change in the CD which I think saves the best songs for last.
There is a great bridge that goes into this Paul Simon African groove in double time.
Track 7 - Trailin' Off
This is a bar room blues featuring some tasty harmonica work by Anthony Aleman. This is one that I'd like with me if I was on a road trip.
Track 8 - You're Alone
This is the song where I really heard a sound and feel remniscent of the Meat Puppets with a Dave Matthews-y vocal. Definitely heavier then other tracks on this CD. The drumming comes out on this piece. Nice guitar work. You hit a bridge that drives the intensity up. Leading to the chorus, "You can make believe this is happening to someone else." Lyrically this is one of the better songs and again there is some nice guitar work.
Track 9 - Lil' Ditty
This is an instrumental piece thrown in for good measure. Very jammy. Very Meat Puppets-esque.
Track 10 - Clarity
This stands tall as one of the better songs on the album. They save it for last. Maybe to show thematically that by the end, "for once in my life I can think for myself."
You can find out more about TGOF and listen to the music above at:
The Three Degrees of Freedom Web Site
Posted: August 23, 2003  
|
