God Street Wine - Red (1996)

God Street Wine's fourth album, Red, seems to represent a band that has lost its focus and a sense of identity. While eclectic and experimental, the stylistic differences between the songs create friction and a lack of continuity rather than a sense of direction. The gospel-like revelations on "Untitled Take Two,," the trippy vocal effects on "Which Way Will She Go," and the twangy slide guitars on "Chop!" crash into each other, leaving the listener bewildered and wondering if this is even the same band. The one pearl is "RU4 Real?," a seven-minute pure jam band romp that best encapsulates the energy of a live show. Unfortunately, this gem is buried in a quagmire of musical meandering that fails to capture and hold the listener's attention musically or lyrically.