Widespread Panic is one of the most prominent bands of the ever-growing pool of young southerners whose sound recalls the Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker bands. With its six-minute songs, Widespread Panic are in no hur... more »ry to get their point across. This sophomore release focuses more on interplay between the players and less on traditional song structure than its predecessor, Space Wrangler. Their sound takes on a deeper percussive groove with the addition of Domingo S. Ortiz, who shapes the songs with cowbell and conga flourishes. This title will serve as a rewarding introduction to the band and a new breed of players. --Richard Gowen« less
Widespread Panic is one of the most prominent bands of the ever-growing pool of young southerners whose sound recalls the Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker bands. With its six-minute songs, Widespread Panic are in no hurry to get their point across. This sophomore release focuses more on interplay between the players and less on traditional song structure than its predecessor, Space Wrangler. Their sound takes on a deeper percussive groove with the addition of Domingo S. Ortiz, who shapes the songs with cowbell and conga flourishes. This title will serve as a rewarding introduction to the band and a new breed of players. --Richard Gowen
The Orange Duke | Cupertino, Ca United States | 07/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this album out of the bargain bins back in 91, basically because I thought there name was cool, and it was quite a nice surprise. Panic are a jam band similar to Blues Traveler, The Spin Doctors or Phish, the foursome have taken up the torch from the Almonds and The Dead. Although Panic are not the most famous or successful of the new jam bands they are actually quite good. This eponymous album is their best, including their single best track, the sharp, forceful `Makes Sense To Me', also worthy of note are `Walkin (For Your Love)', `Send your Mind' and `Pigeons'. The band, in spite of its obsessions, makes good hooky rock, and write some fine insightful lyrics. The excessive jamming is kept to a minimum here, making the album accessible to newbies, as well as a treat for fans. Highly recommended."
Bring It On Home
georgia_expat | Los Angeles | 10/23/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"...LOVE this album. This is one of those in your collection you just keep coming back to over - and over - and over. Eight years after first listening to this it still reeks of Athens, GA sentimentality."
Fantastic second album
kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 11/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD was released in 1991. It was Widespread Panic's first official release, but it is actually their second album. It is 72 minutes long and the sound quality is very good.
This an album of fantastic, hard driving, Southern rock songs. It is not like any other band and it is hard to describe. But, every song is great and every song is very distinctive.
At this time, the band was still a quartet. They had guest appearances by Domingo Ortiz on percussion and T. Lavitz (Dixie Dregs)on keyboards. But, the band had a cleaner, more stripped down sound.
After this album, Ortiz would join the band permanently and they would add hack keyboardist John Herrman. The bands sound would get muddled and they would lose their direction to some extent. Most of their later studio albums were not that good. But they always put on a good live show.
The first Widespread Panic album is Space Wrangler. It was originally sold as a cassette tape at concerts. A couple of tracks were added, and it was released as a CD. It is also fantastic."