Album Review: The Guru
Artist: The Guru
Album: Go Easy
For people who like: The Hiya Dunes, High Pop, Black Churches
Go Easy is the second full length album from the notorious Connecticut band, The Guru. Since I initially discovered their first album, Native Sun, I have been highly anticipating future efforts from these young beach-enthralled dudes. However, I must say for all the excitement I had for Go Easy, I am a bit underwhelmed to say the least.
The second I first heard Go Easy, and it’s beginning title track, I was so confused. Especially evident with the title track “Go Easy,” it seemed as though The Guru had really gone too far with this whole “disco” gimmick they had going on Native Sun. I think on Native Sun the disco influence they had going on was a lot more vague, and it seemed to be more of an homage rather than something that was capable of actually labeling the band as “disco.” However, as I proceeded to listen to Go Easy the more I started to feel that The Guru had seemed to take this idea highly serious on this album, making them sound almost like a generic wedding band. Although to be honest, the disco theme is not the only aspect of this album that seems more gimmicky than the last. The Guru has also cranked up the beach vibes up to nauseating levels. One can only tolerate overly jolly guitar licks and lyrics of “oceanside” love for so long. Similar to the disco themes on Native Sun, the beach aspect of the band was not something that fundamentally seemed to define the band back then. I think The Guru has really diluted themselves a bit, making them less distinguishable from other bands. It has gone to the point where tracks like “Guacamole” had me almost confused as to if I was listening to The Guru, or lead singer Eddie Golden III’s other band The Hiya Dunes.
Go Easy just does not seem to have the same energy as it’s previous album Native Sun had. Every track on Native Sun was an explosion of power, and it was really believable. There is a number of problems with Go Easy that may be the reason it seems to really bore me. It may be the lifeless tracks thrown in such as “Foreign Moon,” and “Pyramids,” or the seemingly hallow production of the album. Either way, Go Easy generally stays on a highly predictable path. It is an album that seems too content laying on the beach doing nothing, making any attempted excitement on Go Easy seem a bit forced.
All in all, Go Easy does not seem to have the satisfying spark of genius that The Guru’s first album Native Sun had. I just know these guys are capable of so much more. Despite Go Easy’s negative qualities, The Guru’s appeal is still present, just in painfully small qualities. Don’t be fooled, as I do not in any way think Go Easy is an awful album. There are some undeniably catchy melodies on this album, as well as technical skill, but these things are not enough to make an album extraordinary. There may be a song or two like “Cow” that I generally enjoy, and can even listen to more than I have to, but to be honest, the appeal is only fueled from nostalgia of other band’s The Guru are influenced by. I think that The Guru are absolutely going to make something great in the future, and they are without a doubt amazing musicians, but I ultimately think Go Easy is an album that lacks anything special. To me, Go Easy nothing more than a list of uncorrelated catchy songs.
6/10 ((5/10 on a bad day))
Favorite Track: Cow
