Record Review 16: The Good Life, "Help Wanted Nights"

The Good Life
“Help Wanted Nights”




There is always a question which can only be important to a music head, but a question never the less about whether you are better when a band has a new CD out to be familiar with the CD before you see them in concert, or see them and then get into the CD. Sometimes you have no choice is the case recently where The Good Life put out “Help Wanted Nights” on September 11 and then basically opened their tour in St. Louis on the 26th of September. So I did not have a chance to buy or get into the CD prior to the show and in fact bought it at the show. There is a pleasure to buying a CD at the show because you know the band swallows the profit directly and it only costs 10 bucks.

I like this CD. If you read my Rilo Kiley review this CD is everything that one is not. Although cutting their teeth in that same Omaha scene Tim Kasher and his band are stripped down. His voice is very limited but is plaintive in tone and the backing of the band with some tasty chops and a slight Alt-country feel make it a pleasure. His Cd from a few years ago, "Album of the Year" was one of the gems from 05. Well produced and not a weak song in the bunch.

The CD opens up with “On The Picket Fence”...almost solo acoustic, song to a girl as in, “Don’t you leave me on a picket fence.” Nice. Next is “A Little Bit More” which is a classic troubled relationship song...coarsely worded:

“I wanted just a little more, you loved me and you locked the door.
Lured me into thinking I was special...but your a liar and a whore.
It made me want you just a little bit more.”

Touching.”Sure Your Heart IS Breaking Too” is full of irony and it is a nice song and kind of a throwback kind of like Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” or the Pixies “Here Comes Your Man.” It resonates and he pulls it off. Next he goes to “Your Share of Men” with he and his guitar... “I am sure you have had your share of men...I am honored to be one of them.” Nice play on words...nice irony. Good stuff. the CD keeps going on with quality songs, “You Don’t Feel Like Coming Home To Me.” which has elegant, simple production and a great chorus. It is a good CD. The band plays tight. the songs are well written and hold up well to repeated listening and Tim Kasher’s voice holds up really well in a studio even though it is a limited one. I like this band. The Good life is Kasher's project along with his band Cursive both of which errupted from the Omaha mope rock scene spawned by Bright Eyes and their "genius" Connor Oberst. Although Oberst went back to a mellower sound again on Cassadega The Good Life never leaves solid country roots. Steel guitars and bad relationships. It does not get much better.
7 Slingers on a 10 scale.