For the first time in 5 years, Widespread Panic is releasing a new album. The Southern Rockin’ Blues Jam Band from Athens, Georgia will release “Street Dogs” on September 25th. As it happens, I’ve come to find myself in possession of an advance copy of the new offering from the Panic guys.
Now, I’m going to admit, I don’t have a lot of Widespread Panic studio albums. In fact, I’ve been going to see them live since…well, a long time…and I’m not sure I still have any in my possession. Moving cross country decimated a great deal of my album collection pre-digital age. So, I can’t compare this to that as in this album is like that album. I have seen WSP live many times (at least 3 times before Mikey died). There’s something about John Bell’s voice that makes me smile…or it could be that he’s always smiling.
To date, the band has released 12 studio albums (including Street Dogs) and 43 live albums with over 3 million copies sold. They’ve broken records for attendance including 48 sold out shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater.
The live Panic show is hard to translate into words, let alone a studio track. The multi-dimensional journey that Bell and company take you on musically and visually (via Paul Hoffmans light work) is a world apart from what should be able to be done in a studio. Street Dogs certainly comes really f-ing close to doing it though.
Personally, no favorites on this album. I like them all for different reasons. Sell, Sell comes out of the gates with that familiar John Bell voice and psychedelic blues you’d expect from WSP. Cease Fire’s extended jam is very tasty. Much like the live show, I love hearing Honky Red. Poorhouse of Positive Thinking puts a smile on my face. Tail Dragger is that dirty, sweaty rockin’ blues that Panic is so good at delivering. Wrap it all up with “Street Dogs for Breakfast, Whiskey Sours for Lunch” and you’ve got the complete package.
In the modern age of $.99 single track downloads and streaming services, it’s nice to see a band still in touch with delivering a full package album. You can press play at Sell, Sell (Track 1) and never hit skip all the way until Street Dogs for Breakfast (Track 10). From the rockers to the blues ballads, you’ll be happy to took the journey with Street Dogs.
Track Listing
Sell, Sell
Stephen’s Cat
Cease Fire
Jamais Vu (The World Has Changed)
Angels Don’t Sing the Blues
Honky Red
Poorhouse of Positive Thinking
Welcome to My World
Tail Dragger
Steet Dogs for Breakfast
