The best example of the duo’s guitar mastery comes during “The Farmer.“ The song clocks in at just under nine minutes, and nary a second of it is wasted. For one thing, the tune is one of the most melodic on the record. But they up the ante by utilizing a deliciously dissonant vocal as a counterpoint. This choice makes for a nice balance, but what is unforgettable is the guitar-driven coda. The triumph is two-fold. Not only are they able to integrate some very strong elements into one song, they make it sound effortless. These are very impressive traits.
My only quibble is pretty minor and has to do with the programming of the CD. “The Farmer” is the ninth song on the disc, followed by “Don’t Doubt Yourself Babe,” which is listed as the final “bonus track.” “Don’t Doubt Yourself Babe” is a very nice little tune. But “The Farmer” is probably the best song they have ever written. Is “Don’t Doubt Yourself Babe” supposed to be the encore? It is just a bit of a letdown is all.
Thirty-three years is an oddly appealing number of years between albums. Hell, it might even be 33 and a third (of a month) since the release of Underneath the Door. Not that it matters, because this is an excellent record no matter how long it took. Here’s hoping that we do not have to wait another 33 years for their next effort though.
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