From the picturesque plains of Maui, Hawaii emerges Abe Vandenberg, the force behind Abe’s Logic. The music featured on their latest album, Wars Ragin, explores rock influenced by blues and country, not sitting still for fear of being boxed in. “Chippin Away” sends the album storming out of the gate as the band plays around with an up-tempo ska rhythm. The horn section adds the right amount of punch to get the listener immediately engaged. Admittedly, those horns are sorely missed when they’re gone. “Rusty’s Game,” the lone instrumental on the album, is a jazz gem that showcases some great saxophone improvisation. In fact, the musicianship as a whole is at its best during this song, surprisingly funky and confident in the groove. In a sense, the song is an odd man out compared to the rest of the album. This is not to say that the bulk of Wars Ragin is not harmonically sound, but in the midst of material that leans towards classic rock or jam band selections, “Rusty’s Game” may throw some listeners for a loop. You’ll be thankful for the experience, but you might be left wondering where it came from.
Comparisons to Dave Matthews have been made by a few and the title track does give some credence to that belief. While listening to Vandenberg sing about his everyday routine, you might miss the political nature of the lyrics (“I can’t forget over there a war is ragin’”). It’s a stark contrast between innocuous instrumentation and trying to rationalize “funding fights while we claim that we’re saving.” Others have likened his vocal style to Lou Reed, perhaps due to the barely affected tone he possesses while singing lines on “Easy Life” like “They bank on my apathy, they bank on my willing ignorance.” Perhaps a page has been taken from vintage Tom Petty as well. There’s something about the opening guitars and overall rhythm structure of “What We Crave” that brings Petty to mind. By the end of the album, Abe’s Logic earns respect via its own merit. Check the guitar solo towards the conclusion of “I Want It To Stay” for proof. With that said, the logical thing for Abe to do is seriously consider a six-song EP of jazzy numbers in the vein of “Rusty’s Game.” It’s not as if the band doesn’t have the chops for it and such a move could capitalize on Vanderberg’s tendency to bounce around within genres. While rock and blues may be at the center of the Logic, let’s hope that the jazz won’t get left behind.
Reviewed By Jason Randall Smith
