I took the DoobieFan challenge and listened to "Sibling Rivalry" on my headphones the other night. It turned out to be a very singular experience, in part because I pulled an all-nighter the night before (working on a geology field trip guide). Little did I know, when I put those 'phones on my head, that I'd become Rip Van DoobieWinkle. When was the last time you fell asleep with the headphones on? For me, it was probably during the late 70s during college, and probably involved being tremendously stoned at that. It may have even involved a Doobie Brothers album (TITTS?), but that's mere speculation. Cut to the year 2000. Our commentator, sober, 40-something, and very very tired, puts on the headphones, starts the new "SR" CD, cranks the volume, and lays back on the couch. OH YEAH, it was a treat to hear the album over the 'phones all right. What I didn't count on was falling asleep at some point during every song. Then, when each new song would cue up, the opening audio blast shook me straight awake! The entire album proceeded that way, with me falling asleep and jolting awake again, while at the same time taking all of that new music into my conscious and unconscious brain. It was like some weird version of a strawberry alarm clock! My impressions after waking up from my long sleep? Well, gawd-a-mighty, aside from the excellent the playing and singing, the mixing on the album are totally superb. On "PGLA," the transition from Tommy's solo voice to the chorus vocals seemed to fan outward like a pack of cards being spread (kind of like the inside of the No Nukes album jacket). I love the skipped beat on "On Every Corner," as well as the imagery. Likewise, I love the dreamy vocal and instrumental imagery on "Angels of Madness." DJ-Ron has a good question - what the heck is that one about? All I know is it made me want to go dig up old girlfriend photos from the distant past. I like that all of the band contributed to the songwriting, and that John and Keith provided commendable singing on "...Every Corner," "Angels...," and "...Eden." Their vocal qualities are close to Pat's in some ways. It would've been easy to have Pat sing the songs, but having John and Keith sing them adds something special, and it tells me something about their recognition as big-time members of the band. "Don't be Afraid" is a FABULOUS song. The pieces/parts are all there. I especially like the killer horn lines. It sounds like something right out of Steely Dan with the unison-to-harmony runs. "Rocking Horse" scared the hell out of Rip Van DoobieWinkle. The first few bars are so dreamy, like waking up to a sunrise. Then comes the sudden growl and bombast of those Doobie guitars. It nearly sent me to the ceiling! I like that Miles suggested to listen for the change in bass and drums midway through each chorus...it's really subtle and it really gets the song cranking again each time. I was VERY surprised that TJ didn't pen this song (see the CD for the surprise, mystery writers!) So now I'm awake again and the album is indelibly stamped into my head. I walk around all day now doing a version of "Sibling Rivalry" Brain Jukebox. The songs change according to the various situations I encounter and the moods I feel. This album is different, but it really grows on you. It's like "The Captain and Me" in that there are many kinds of excellent songs having different styles that fit the listener's moods. And it has a much more unified feeling than the last everyone-contributes album, "One Step Closer." I think the success of the new album is that the mutual respect and interplay between the band members is so strong now. Where "OSC" sounded like a band splitting apart, "SR" sounds like a band becoming stronger every day. Congratulations, Doobie Brothers, and thanks for a really different sort of evening! Dave from Denver aka Rip Van DoobieWinkle _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. _________________________ To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe doobiefans-list" in the body.
