At least twice as slick and glossy as it should have been and at most half as creative and interesting as hoped for. The BoDeans have sadly gone from an interesting rock band to just another over-produced wimp-rock outfit. It actually hurts to say this but it's 100% true: if while listening to this album for the first time someone told you it was Bon Jovi, you'd believe them. You'd believe them. There's nothing more to say.

Funny how time changes things. When the BoDeans released their last studio album, 'Blend', in 1996, it seemed like their weakest release to date. Now, in 2006, it stands up as one of their most refreshing, unpretentious, rock-solid albums, and it contains what may be their very best individual song ("Hurt By Love" - why the hell don't they play this classic more live ??).

After eight years since then, the guys remain one of the best live acts in rock 'n roll and I never miss 'em, but this album sounds tired and uninspired especially after the long wait. Sure, "If It Makes You" and "617" are great songs, but it seems like the legal hassles they were involved in of recent with their former manager (and which were a BIG reason why there was an eight year wait since 'Blend') have taken a toll on their creativity - at least temporarily. The slickness of the production seems to want to make up for the lack of inspiration of the material.

I still give it three stars because it's better than most releases out there, and Kurt and Sammy's voices are still magnificent, but I think it probably will remain only a mediocre album even over time. But here's hoping the guys regain their powers for the next release, and I think they probably will now that their private battles as a band are out of the way. Now go catch 'em live !

First I want to say that I have been a fan of the BoDeans since the first. This new CD is great. I love the harmonies, the guitars, the dualities of voice between Sammy and Kurt.
Having grown up in Milwaukee and listening to the band at Summerfest I never thought that the BoDeans would have gotten to be so large until I was working at a ChiChis in Iowa with a BoDeans t-shirt and had a native Iowan ask me where I got the shirt (love & sex & hope & dreams) and what kind of fan was I? She was a big fan and I was shocked...SHOCKED that there was a fan base outside of Milwaukee.
If you are a fan of the BoDeans, thanks a lot, they deserve all the love that they can get.

I have been listening to the bodeans since i got my first bodeans' cd, home back in the late 80's. I have been hooked ever since. Their down to roots, americana rock blew me away and has continued to do so ever since that day. Nothing they have released has ever disappointed me, which includes, Resolution.

But 8 years? come on guys... you can't do that to your dedicated fans! I have become so used to home, blend, LHSD, go slow down, and all the rest, this new cd seems like an intrusion into my once familiar catalog. I am sure though the warm spot i hold in my heart for these guys will soon accept the new disc on the block.

I highly suggest this purchase, be prepared to be blown away, as always.

I've been a fan of the BoDeans since their first album and I remember upon my first listen of 'Black And White' I paused and repeated the 7th track, "Naked", about 30 times before proceeding to the next song. I just sat there for a couple hours listening to that one song over and over. The BoDeans have always had that affect on me. Sammy's vocals are mesmerizing and evoke emotion that almost no other artist can.

So naturally I've been looking forward to this new release. It begins with its' best track, "If It Makes You", a straight forward love song featuring Kurt's vocals and brilliant guitar playing. It also features that wonderful BoDeans production of layered guitar in the mode of the great Phil Spector. "If It Makes You" falls well short of the BoDeans best but it is a terrific song.

The other two high points are "Sleep" and "Nobody Loves Me" which both feature Kurt's screaming guitar over an otherwise typical Sammy accoustic ballad. These songs and a few others on the album offer quite a departure from the usual BoDeans sound. I also like "Slipping Into You", "Once In A While", "617" and "Crazy".

Unfortunately that is about all there is to like on 'Resolution'. The songwriting is pretty weak and Sammy's vocals have lost the power and passion they had on earlier records. This continues the trend that hurt the quality on their two mid 90s albums. All seven of the BoDeans studio albums are worth owning and each one includes at least two great songs but, like I suspect most their fans feel, their first three albums are the way to go for new listeners.