AMG Review of Live at Lupo's: Providence, RI 06.12.04

Jason MacNeil
All Music Guide

This two-disc live collection from an engaging Boston-area pop-jazz-jam trio is something anyone with a pulse could enjoy. Although a couple of tracks stray deep into an extended jam, the opening "Old George" has the trio led by Brad Barr going down a funky, acoustic roots road that engages the listener and the appreciative Rhode Island audience. Think of the Band mixed with the Kinks and that's what you get -- a joyful, folksy rock-pop meld. The strength of the Slip is the band's knack for finding a groove and riding it long enough to create a great offshoot from that. "More Intense Surveillance" takes a while to start up as the tuning is found and a distant, spacy guitar lick is played under a light, slow tempo. You know that it's going to break open; it's just a question of when. Drummer Andrew Barr adds his touch and this slow, classic Floyd-ian prog rock gem oozes out slowly. There are also trip-hop elements going on, giving it a contemporary vibe. The bass and guitar drive this song's second half, which leaves as easily as it entered. "Fear of Falling" is just as pristine as they build on a fine tempo before venturing off into an almost lo-fi indie college rock mold in a style equally XTC as it is a sullen Nirvana. The first epic-length tune is "Nellie Jean," which is 20 minutes of fine music, beginning as a cross between Mark Knopfler and David Gilmour's solo work and then building on top of that. Thoughtful and introspective, the almost improvisational jazz-roots music rarely loses its flow, although it's not quite a loud, rock-oriented track. And there is no guitar noodling just for its own sake. It changes roughly halfway through into an even mellower, percussion-oriented frame of mind, coming close to falling off the rails but never doing so. "The Air, the Body" is the highlight of the first disc, a lengthy calypso-tinged, hip-shaking tune with Peter Barr playing the steel pan. The second disc, or second set, delivers the same well-crafted songs, with "If One of Us Should Fall" bringing to mind Ry Cooder at his best as it creeps along in an alt-country manner. "Children of December" has a quasi-Sonic Youth college rock hue. The Slip slip into whatever style is necessary, including a bolero-cum-Americana domain during the pretty "Seranetta" and a sparser, warmer arrangement on "Proud," which has the crowd clapping along. Although the disc ends with a subdued cover of John Lennon's "Imagine," the group's synergy and musicianship make this album shine.