This Danish quartet is back in a big way with their follow-up to The Art of Rolling. One thing I can say for sure after just the intro of the first tune is that The Blue Van hasn't changed their formula. "The Odyssey" is full of the same organ, fuzzy guitar, hard-hit drums and fat bass lines that the band produced on their previous album. If that's not quite enough for you to get the sense of the band, try this on for size: this band combines the best of Booker T and the MGs and trash music of the 60s.There are some groovin' tunes ("Independence," "Goldmind," "Rico") that you'll just want to blare on your stereo. You may even want to break out your air guitar (or whatever is your air instrument of choice). "Rico" especially should get your body moving.
This album also contains some mellower tunes like "The Poet Tree" and "White Dominos." The cool thing about The Blue Van is that even their mellower tunes get a pretty good groove going.
Dear Independence is a great follow-up to The Art of Rolling. It is an album filled with big sounds and great grooves. And like the previous album, it's relatively short, coming in at just under forty minutes. Which means that it leaves you wanting more. And you will want more. If you are a fan of the revival of this sort of trash and soul music, you'll definitely dig this album.
