Andrew Gabbard
Ramble & Rave On!
Colemine/Karma Chief Records [2024]
“Andrew Gabbard’s Ramble & Rave On! seamlessly blends 60s-inspired pop, alt-country twang, and psychedelic rock into a heartfelt homage to vintage sounds.”
Album Overview: It’s been a busy and productive few years for Andrew Gabbard: the Dayton-based musician has toured the world with fellow Ohioans The Black Keys, put out a pair of solo records (2021’s Homemade and a reworking of his album Cedar City Sweetheart in 2023), and recorded an album with his brother and Buffalo Killers bandmate Zachary Gabbard (2022’s self-titled Gabbard Brothers LP). Now he’s back with another collection of songs for his latest Karma Chief release, Ramble & Rave On!.
Musical Style: Gabbard’s songwriting and arrangements are heavily-influenced by 60s and 70s pop and rock, and he prefers to record one-man-band style, singing and playing all of the instruments himself with few exceptions. There’s an earthy element to his sound, but it’s polished too, and his vocal delivery sits somewhere between Neil Young and Brian Wilson (two of Gabbard’s biggest musical heroes).
Evolution of Sound: Ramble & Rave On!’s sound isn’t so much an evolution as it is a consolidation of Gabbard’s various musical inspirations. There’s some alt-country twang, catchy psychedelic pop, and beefy guitar rock, but here they’ve all been blended into a cohesive whole rather than being confined to individual tracks. The result is an homage to vintage sounds that feels sincere rather than contrived.
Artists with Similar Fire: Ramble & Rave On!’s full commitment to Gabbard’s vision should appeal to anyone who appreciates truly solo pop-rock efforts like Paul McCartney’s “McCartney” albums or the 70s output of Todd Rundgren and Emitt Rhodes. There are some country undertones too, which call to mind acts like Little Feat, late-period Byrds, and Buffalo Springfield. The album is also right at home alongside label-mate M. Ross Perkins’ work, as well as Gabbard’s own in his previous band Buffalo Killers.
Pivotal Tracks: The album’s twelve tracks are all very strong, but the best tend to be the more ambitious ones, where Gabbard adds extra layers of harmonies, guitar overdubs, or additional textures to push the songs to their breaking point. Tracks like “Magic Taxi” and “Everywhere I Go I Don’t Belong,” for instance, showcase Gabbard’s ability to be his own one-man Wrecking Crew (the famous group of L.A. session musicians who played on hundreds of hit singles in the 60s and 70s). There’s an upbeat vibe overall, but a few more mellow, introspective tunes provide some variety (“If I Could Show You,” “Good Boy”). Some of the album’s best moments blend the two, offering deceptively simple arrangements that juxtapose the sunny and the somber in ways that reward repeated listening (opener “Just Like Magic,” “Again Again”).
Lyrical Strength: One of Gabbard’s biggest assets as a songwriter is his lyrics. They’re very relatable, even when they’re ostensibly about magic taxis, exploring domestic life and honestly expressing doubts and anxieties (something most can relate to in a post-covid social world, at least on some level). The songs are personal yet approachable, striking a nice balance between cleverness and authenticity.
ANDREW GABBARD REVIEW HISTORY
Cedar City Sweetheart (2023) / Homemade (2021) / Fluff (2015)
ANDREW GABBARD PROJECTS REVIEW HISTORY
The Gabbard Brothers (2022) / Alive And Well In Ohio (Buffalo Killers) (2017) / Fireball Of Sulk (Buffalo Killers) (2014) / Heavy Reverie (Buffalo Killers) (2014) / Ohio Grass (Buffalo Killers) (2013) / Dig. Sow. Love. Grow. (Buffalo Killers) (2012) / 3 (Buffalo Killers) (2011)
ANDREW GABBARD LINKS
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Colemine/Karma Chief Records
- Andrew Gabbard: Ramble & Rave On! [Album Review] - November 19, 2024
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