Gov’t Mule is by far the greatest band playing today. That’s just a fact of life. One that the general public just doesn’t get. In a recent poll, Jambase.com included Gov’t Mule as an answer to the question:
Which of these bands do you really enjoy even though your friends don’t quite get it (and frankly give you a bit of grief for your musical taste)?
During the set break at the Beacon Theatre last December, the guy standing to my right turned to me and said “Man, there are so many people outside walking by who have no idea what’s going on in here, I don’t understand it”. I’ll give you the same answer I gave him - it’s still the best one I can think of - “Fuck.. I have no idea”.
So it should come as no surprise that I think the latest Gov’t Mule album, High and Mighty, is a work of genius.
I pre-ordered the album a couple of days after the Bowery Ballroom, when it was announced that you would be able to purchase that show if you pre-ordered (and they included a bunch of other incentives - a live ‘digial EP’ titled MuleOrleans (which rocks, shock!) and a video). It should also go without saying that I opted for the digital version of the album, which would be available for download on the 21st at midnight. I wasn’t taking any chances that it wouldn’t arrive in the mail on the exact soonest possible day. This is also the first album that I’ve pre-ordered since Pearl Jam’s Vitology (and that was vinyl, and not-so-great). So to say I’ve been looking forward to this album is a bit of an understatement.
As a slightly-related-but-just-as-stupid-side-note:
Like many albums over the last 10′ish years (thanks Internet) I was able to download this entire album before the actual release date (I downloaded it on Sunday, July 30th). While I have no qualms downloading something that I know damn well I’m going to pay for (I’m not starting this rant now, I’ll do it another day) - this one I actually didn’t listen to right away. Well not exactly. I made a deal with myself - I could listen to the tracks on the album that I’d already heard live - which was 6 of the 12. The restraint that I displayed by not listening to all 12 rivals that of me not walking around and giving everyone the finger when I quit my last job.
So for the past two hours I’ve been listening to High and Mighty at full volume (it helps to drown out the sirens). I’m now once through the entire thing, and once again through the 6 songs I hadn’t heard until tonight. In case you were wondering, this is the best album of the year. It rivals Dose.
I know what you’re thinking. “Ross, you also spent a year trying to convince yourself that Metallica’s Black album wasn’t a complete piece of shit”. Well you’re right, many a time have I gotten my hopes up only to have them destroyed upon first listen. NOT. THIS. TIME. Songlines, Safety In Numbers and Ten Silver Drops will have to fight it out for the 2-4 spots, because High and Mighty wins for 2006.
Mule fanboy,
Ross
