code-bleu's Full Review: The Turnpike Diaries by The Getaway People
The Getaway People return with even more happy-go-lucky tunes chock full o’ infectious beats and catchy choruses. Riding the same care-free wave as bands like Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth, this five-man outfit from Norway play an intoxicating blend of funk and hip-hop designed to make you forget your troubles and boogie till the break of dawn. On their sophomore effort Turnpike Diaries the band has added a dash of dub, jazz, and reggae, with the final product being ten times better than their debut album. If this CD ain’t playing at the next party you drop in on, you need to find yourself some groovier friends.
The opener “Six-Pacs” is a jaunty travelogue about the band’s affection for the open road and all the great folk they meet along the way: “People all around us, they shower us with love/You better keep it comin’ ‘cause we just can’t get enough.” The sincerity and enthusiasm on display will simply bowl you over; don’t be surprised if you soon find yourself on your own cross-country trip with the ragtop down and the wind blowing in your face. “There She Goes” employs some sassy Latin-flavored brass and an equally feisty young lady barking out a few choice lines in Spanish as it describes a shallow social-climber: “Now when she stands before you and you’re trying to conversate/What you don’t know is she’s scanning the room for a bigger fish to swallow the bait.” Rahzel of The Roots lends a hand on the bass-heavy “Come Love Me” while lead singer Boots does his best Shaggy impression. The urge to bob your head will be so strong you may end up with a stiff neck for three days afterwards.
The most notable song is “Deceived By An Angel,” the band’s first attempt at a ballad and a radical departure from the merry vibe which dominates the disc. Though Boots does not have the vocal range to tackle such challenging songs as “Crying” or “Tracks Of My Tears,” his gravelly pipes work here, convincingly depicting a guy who’s been through the emotional wringer. “Oh, baby, can’t you understand,” he moans, “that you’re looking at a broken man.” Nice stuff - they should do more like it.
Having a rollicking time remains the band’s first priority, however, and they don’t slow down for long. The supremely bouncy “Sleepwalkin’” celebrates the rejuvenating effect of the nightlife with some help from Daryl Jenifer of Bad Brains and includes a nonsensical little rap about Deng Xiaoping cooking chicken. (Seriously!) “All About It” advocates being true to one’s self rather than conforming to the in-crowd’s expectations, with Boots smartly asking, “Who needs popular?” “Soi Cowboy” gets its curious title from a section in Bangkok notorious for underage prostitutes, and while the dead-end relationship detailed within - between a young go-go girl “with a head full of dreams” and her smitten john - isn’t the cheeriest of topics, The Getaway People manage to make it at least sound like fun.
“Change” is another rousing number, though its self-improvement message is hardly a novel one. The exuberant “Good Life” advises everyone to slow down, enjoy what you have, and take the time “to act like a little child” every now and then. Sitting on the grass in the middle of a park on a lazy summer day is the best way to appreciate this song. A thoughtful tone infuses the mellow closer “Open Your Mind,” its push for the acceptance of society’s less-fortunates helped along by the soothing whisper of the chorus and some lovely violin work by Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band.
As if that wasn’t enough, two unlisted tracks are also included. First up is a version of “Six-Pacs” with slightly altered lyrics that serves as the theme song for the TV show “Young Americans.” The inverted letters “SGML” on the back of the CD will clue in clever fans to the second bonus, a new recording of “She Gave Me Love,” which was the first single from their debut album. Some turntable scratches replace Boots’s lusty grunts and groans and the tempo and energy level have been upped a few notches to make it more danceable but I still prefer the original. Also, the Japanese edition features “Love Blurs Into Madness,” a slow, moody piece in the style of U2’s “Wake Up Dead Man” or Pearl Jam’s “Indifference.”
As with the first album, the same funky, hip-hop beat forms the backbone for most of Turnpike Diaries and resultingly, the songs may all sound too much alike for some people. Enough variations exist between each one, I think, so I doubt it will be a big sticking point for most. Besides, when a band is trying their hardest to put you in a good mood and keep you there for the better part of an hour, complaining about such things seems downright churlish. Take a page from The Getaway People and “reach out for a comfortable chair, rejoice and throw your arms in the air.” We’re all going to cash in our chips someday, so why not go out with a smile?
NOTE: Those wanting even more of The Getaway People should surf on over to MP3.com and purchase their latest release, the “Every Summer” EP which has five new tunes. Though the packaging is about as stingy as you can get - no photos of the band, no lyrics, tiny font for the tracklist, lots of promotional ad copy for MP3.com - the nostalgia-soaked title track “Every Summer Has A Song” easily ranks as one of their best, and since it’s currently unavailable elsewhere, fans should make sure they don’t miss it.
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