Gomez have been rocking fans since 1996 and have been touring steady since, so its no wonder they have this much stuff to cull for a double live album. Unlike most bands from the U.K, Gomez includes such elements as blues and indie rock to form the meat of their style, a wide turn from the norm of such bands as Radiohead, The Verve, The Cure and Oasis. Out West is a collection of songs performed live at a sold-out Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco in January 2005 that really captures the essence of who Gomez are, serves as a kind of primer for non-Gomez fans and a greatest hits, career-spanning album for everyone else, and also documents the explosive live shows which Gomez are known for.
Out West contains all of the raspy-voiced, psychedelic riff jams and accented rhythms Gomez fans have been listening to and enjoying for years. Obvious inclusions on this live collection are the classics "Bring It On", "Here Comes the Breeze", and "Get Myself Arrested", but also includes covers of Tom Waits' "Going Out West" and Nick Drake's "Black Eyed Dog", just to shake things up a bit.
The album is an eclectic blend of clear-cut, frenzied rock and psychedelic epic jam sessions, one track clocking in at just over eleven minutes, and another at almost nine. These tracks really showcase the bands versatility and adaptability, along with the pure energy that Gomez has perfected with their relentless touring schedule over the years.
Gomez find themselves on ATO Records this time around, the Dave Mathews founded label, after Virgin refused to release Out West. If you've not been lucky enough to catch Gomez live, now is a perfect time to do so.
