Gomez - Out West

The boys from Gomez offer up a two-disc live album recorded live at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Okay, I’ll say it now: despite loving live music in the flesh, I’m not the biggest fan of live albums. Many a time I have come away disappointed that the quality and content didn’t live up to my high expectations for a band. Not so with Gomez’s Out West. One of the band’s distinctive qualities is dynamic, layered vocals that punch, tear and float through every song. This quality is not compromised here. The band’s sound is well-represented on all fronts, clear and powerful, unhampered by technical flubs. And Gomez delivers. When considering a live album, I ask myself “How is the sound? (In this case, very good) and “Do the live versions of the songs bring something new to the table without affecting their original enjoyableness?” I am glad to report that the deviations are pulled off well and with the energy only a live performance can generate. “Get Miles” serves as a great opener to the entire effort, and really sets the pace and expectation for the rest of the album. With twenty songs (none particularly short), there is a lot to listen to, but Out West should be able to keep your attention. Disc two is as good as the first, starting off fun and funky before moving into a emotive cover of Nick Drake’s “Black Eyed Dog” and beyond. I’ve never caught Gomez in concert, but this two-disc live set whet my appetite for a show. Next time they come around, I’ll likely have a ticket in hand. [www.gomez.co.uk]