Search - Breakfast :: Real Radio

Real Radio shows The Breakfast is ready for prime time

John Cruz | Clinton TWP, Michigan United States | 04/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Umphrey's McGee? Moe.? Phish? Give this album a listen and those bands won't even matter. Their 3rd studio album (First as The Breakfast, other 2 are under "Psychedelic Breakfast"), the New Haven based jamband quartet grows up and shows us the 3 things that mainstream radio has taken from us: Good lyrics, Great Melodies, and Fantastic musicianship. Evolving from "another jam band with a killer guitarist", The Breakfast takes us on a musical journey and reminds us of how music is supposed to be.



Immer Glimpse is the first cut, and while it starts of a little bland at first it errupts into a high energy piece that kick starts the rest of the album.



Vera Street is unlike anything else the guys have done. It's a slower beautiful piece that combines a melodic calming feeling with an old school Steely Dan or the Doobies vibe. One of my favs on the album.



Sleeping Beauty thrives as a high powered, futuristic sounding piece. While it doesn't make you want to chill out in the way Vera Street does, it has it's moments where you feel like you're floating on a cloud. One of the qwerkiest pieces on the album.



Doughboy is the first song that really makes you want to give up and move. The lyrics and vocal tone are taken down a bit to sound like something Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule, the Dead) would be singing. The result is just awsome.



Gravity is a live staple of The Breakfast. They really let go in this one and get alot of Jam going on. Considering they've left most of the jamming to their live shows in comparison to what's on the CD, this is a very welcome change and let's you get a real taste of who these guys are.



No Regret I was a little disappointed with, but only because it can't compare to how the song is performed live. It's also the shortest song on Real Radio clocking it at a little over 3 and 1/2 minutes. Still a great song though, another favourite.



Fairy....what can I say about fairy. It takes a slower Vera Street like tempo but with some magical guitar workings. You can really feel Tim pouring himself out in this one. The solos are inventive and match the mood perfectly. I love it.



Jumping right back into having fun, Score packs on the energy with a montage of added musicans for some horn power to back things up, including trupeter Jennifer Hartswick. Great piece.



Dimension 5 is a symphony in itself, you get the feeling of different movements and emotions all throughout the near 5 minutes of it's duration.



Fresh Cut is another one that I just love. Much like Dimension 5 you feel the differents moods of the music change. Something that really works well for The Breakfast. The lyrics aren't too strong on this one but the music it's all about.



No good jam band album is complete without some good jamming. The Grannd Scheme delivers that, finishing off the album in appropriate fashion with a 12 1/2 min orgy of great vibes and killer guitar playing. Perfect way to wrap things up.



Pick up this one, and remember the way music is supposed to sound."