THIS CD CAPTURES WHAT WIDESPREAD PANIC DOES BEST (IN THE STUDIO)

Released in 2003, this is the eighth Widespread Panic studio album. It is 73 minutes long and the sound quality is very good.

This is the first CD after the death of Michael Houser. He is replaced by George McConnell, who used to play with the band from to time, stepping in while Houser was incapcitated with pancreatic cancer. The two guitarists have distincty different styles. Houser was very unique while McConnel plays more in a traditional Southern Rock style.

What is interesting, is that with Houser gone, the band reverts back to its original style of music that was featured on the first two albums. It is a more driving, tight and concise type of music with some great guitar turns. The music is also clear, bright and energetic. It is much different that was the group did on the third through seventh albums, where the music is muddied and sometimes muffled.

Most of the tracks on this CD are excellent, with only three clunkers. Counting Train Cars is a failed attempt to do country rock, instead of staying with more of a southern rock sound, and Pappa Johnny Road is one of those songs there were typical of the nineties songs. Unfortunately, worst song is the Mihcael Houser composed tune, Traveling Man. But, it is followed by a 10 minute instrumental that is very good.

I was really surprised with this CD. I didn't expect to like it. This is the first time, in a long time that Widespread Panic went into the studio and recorded a bunch of songs without first trying them out in concert. Most of the best, classic rock music of all time was first tried out on the road to get it right, before it got recorded in the studio. Nearly everything Pink Floyd ever recorded was road tested first.

I recently crushed my foot(broken in several places) and have been recooperating with the help of W.P. Although I have been heavily medicated most of the time this is still some of the greatest music I have ever heard. I've been a Widespread fan for a while, but until recently I have only owned 3 of their CD's. In the last month I've purchased every CD they have. They just get better and better. I can't wait til I break something else!

I have to admit being a bit biased towards this WP release. I first heard 'Fishing' on sat radio and was instantly hooked. I drove straight to my nearest music store and bought Ball. I loved it from beginning to end abd being my first entry in WP, very intrigued by the "new" band. I really like the way the band mixes musical styles. I have since added many WP cds to my collection, I think Ball holds up quite well. I see only better things to come! My biggest shock was that I had never heard of WP before 2003!!

This is my first review ever....(why now?) This cd is excellent and
I feel it is getting shortchanged. This cd is as laid-back cool as
the Eagles in the 70's. And JB adds a real soul-search to "Ball"...
It is a bit mysterious,a bit groovy,a little mature, a little
irrelevant, some spacey undertones, and a country hippy song.
This IS one of my favorite CD's by anyone. It is a creeper cd 'cuz
it really grows on you. To me it suggests that the best is yet to come. good work fellers. This is best enjoyed with a tasty micro, and a campfire and friends.

Saw the boys at Red Rocks this past weekend, first leg of the fall tour, several years since they've been through morrison, 3 nights, combined classic panic w/ great versions of new songs, fishin was great, smells like miss. was crazy, McConnell looked extremely comfortable this time, smilin' his whole way through - granted he wasn't the composer that Houser was, but MC can take the energy to an extremely high level, maybe even "higher than houser" possibly. Many make the comparison that MC is much more animated than Mikey was, he makes a much more profound connection w/ the audience. This is irrelivant people, there will never be a guitarist quite like Michael Houser. Yet WP as a whole can continue w/o him, just like HE would have wanted. McConnell is a breath of fresh air for the band and the whole community. But I don't like comparing apples and oranges. Point is, panic has evolved and is still evolving, , the boys sound just fine for login' 20 years in the game. It gives me hope, JB sounds great these days, jojo's still goin. Give this album a chance, panic is one of those/only great live bands that can still deliver in the studio.