As debuts go, the BoDeans’ Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams is one tough act to follow. With such enduringly catchy singles as “She’s A Runaway”, “Fadeaway” and “Say You Will”, the BoDeans’ 1986 disc put the Wisconsin roots-rock band on the map.
On Resolution, the band’s first album since 1996’s too-precious Blend, leaders Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas (the one with the pleasantly nasally vocals) build on their two decades of experience and issue a strong, mostly uptempo set of tunes. The arching harmonies, guitar-driven melodies and lush Hammond B3 underpinnings (courtesy of Michael Ramos) create a perfect AAA summertime put-the-top-down, play-it-loud soundtrack, particularly on “Said ‘Hello'”, “Marianne” and “Nobody Loves Me”. The tension-filled jam that propels “Sleep” to its conclusion and the bright pop bounce of “617” provide welcome textural variety.
The BoDeans are ever the romantics, and while that leads to some nice imagery (“Driving home now I’m stealing kisses/At every stoplight wet and delicious/Napoleon meets Uptown Fountain Bleu” from “Slipping Into You”), it’d be nice if they’d write a song about something other than lost love, lasting love or longing for love.
