Some albums require a repeated listen to really soak up their sound. On the other hand, there are certain albums like All That To The Wall that can be listened to repeatedly but still remain difficult to grasp. Given its skittish demeanor, The Narrator mostly eschews melody in favor of agitated riffing and frayed, ragtag rhythms. However, the most unlikely aspect of the trio’s sophomore set has to do with its star associations. Who else would think to cover Bob Dylan’s incidental intro to the much-maligned Self Portrait album, the gospel-infused “All The Tired Horses”… a song that proves even more monotonous the second time around? Steve Winwood proves an unsuspecting collaborator, but his guest keyboards on “Panic At Puppy Beach” must have been edited out of the final mix. Still, “Panic” stands out as the most accessible entry in an otherwise fidgety set. A decidedly off-kilter concoction, it ought to carry a warning label that reads… “A must to avoid when spiked on caffeine.”
--Lee Zimmerman
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