I found Guster via the short-lived radio station The River. They exposed me to all sorts of bands and musicians that normally wouldn’t be on my radar. Plus they also played local mainstays like Scott Miller & The Commonwealth. As for Guster, this would have been for the album Keep It Together. I’ve tried to keep up with the fellas ever since. Even got to see them live at the Bijou Theatre, where I danced with lead singer Ryan Miller, and he even wrote a song about me when he returned to the stage. No lie.
Much like the other Guster albums, it’s solid from beginning to end. They toggle between the contemplative and the dancey, adding more electronic elements throughout. The first song that I caught was delivered as a single on Spotify, Hard Times. How ironic that the album was released in 2019 and that song encapsulated the COVID era that was to come. In fact, Hard Times has been one of my most played songs on Spotify every year since release.
The best thing about a Guster album is listening for the songs you know are going to be great performed live. “Terrified” is at the top of that list for me, and I cannot wait to see the fellas out on the road making that song even better than it already is.
Makes the playlist: Look Alive, Hard Times, Hello Mister Son
