Keep It Together (album)

Last updated
Keep It Together
Keepittogether.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 24, 2003
Recorded2001–2003
Genre Alternative rock
Length48:44
Label Palm, Reprise
Producer Roger Moutenot and Ron Aniello
Guster chronology
WBR Sessions
(2003)
Keep It Together
(2003)
Ganging Up On The Sun
(2006)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link
Pitchfork Media Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg link
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg link

Keep It Together is the fourth studio album by the band Guster, released in June 2003. The album was recorded from 2001 to 2003 in Bearsville, New York, New York City, Burbank, California, and Shokan, New York. This is the first album by Guster with Brian Rosenworcel on kit drums instead of hand percussion. Keep It Together went through several working titles, including Bitch Magic, Olympia Dukakis and Come Downstairs & Say Hello. [1]

Contents

According to the album's liner notes, Joe Pisapia contributed guest vocals on "Jesus on the Radio" and Ben Kweller did the same on "I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today". Pisapia officially joined the band in 2003. [2]

The track "Red Oyster Cult" refers to the name of the American rock band Blue Öyster Cult.

A UK re-release included two bonus tracks, "Say That To My Face" and "Starless Heaven".

The record sold 267,000 copies by late 2005, according to Nielsen Soundscan. [3]

Track listing

All music composed by Guster, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)LyricsLength
1."Diane"  Ryan Miller 3:46
2."Careful" Miller3:42
3."Amsterdam"Guster, Tony Goddess, Ron Aniello Brian Rosenworcel3:37
4."Backyard" Miller2:55
5."Homecoming King" Rosenworcel3:37
6."Ramona" Miller3:06
7."Jesus on the Radio" Ryan Miller, Joe Pisapia Miller, Joe Pisapia 2:17
8."Keep It Together"Guster, AnielloRosenworcel3:43
9."Come Downstairs and Say Hello" Miller5:16
10."Red Oyster Cult" Rosenworcel3:27
11."Long Way Down" Miller4:34
12."I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today"Guster, Ben Kweller Miller, Ben Kweller 3:22
13."Silence"  0:30
14."Two at a Time" (hidden track) Miller4:57
Guster performing an "unplugged" version of "Jesus on the Radio" at a concert at Ohio State University in 2006 N12453669 33872108 5270.jpg
Guster performing an "unplugged" version of "Jesus on the Radio" at a concert at Ohio State University in 2006

When the band plays "Jesus on the Radio" live, they often play it "unplugged", without any instruments or microphones plugged in. [4]

"Keep It Together" can be heard at the end of the season 1 The O.C. episode, "The Rescue".

"I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today" can be heard in the film Wedding Crashers and in the Malcolm in the Middle episode "Lois' Sister".

Personnel

Guster

Guest musicians

"Backyard" guest musicians

Every guest musician on Keep It Together was forced to record a take on the song "Backyard". The rule was they could only record one take, and they must have no knowledge of the song before they began recording. [5]

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

YearChartPosition
2003The Billboard Top 20035

Singles - Billboard (United States)

YearSingleChartPosition
2003"Careful" Adult Top 40 30
"Amsterdam" Adult Top 40 20

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guster</span> American alternative rock band

Guster is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Founding members Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller, and Brian Rosenworcel began practice sessions while attending Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, and formed the band in 1991. The members met during the freshman Wilderness Orientation program in August of that year, playing publicly together as a trio two months later at the Midnight Cafe coffee house set in the common area of the Lewis Hall dormitory. While attending Tufts, the band lived at 139 College Avenue in Somerville, Massachusetts.

<i>Lost and Gone Forever</i> 1999 studio album by Guster

Lost and Gone Forever is the third studio album by the band Guster, released in September 1999. It was recorded earlier that year in Sausalito, California, and Bearsville, New York. In 1999, Ryan Miller claimed that Guster took the album's title "from the popular folk song 'Oh My Darling, Clementine'" and "chose it because we felt it reflected the lyrical content of the record." According to Guster's own website, other titles considered for the album included (jokingly) 'The Ides of Guster', 'When Guster Attacks', 'Senior Week' and 'Book on Tape'. All of the drums on this album were played by hand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Kweller</span> American singer-songwriter

Benjamin Lev Kweller is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multi-instrumentalist</span> Musician who plays multiple musical instruments

A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays two or more musical instruments, often but not exclusively at a professional level of proficiency.

<i>Redemptions Son</i> 2002 studio album by Joseph Arthur

Redemption's Son is the third studio album by Joseph Arthur. The double album was first released in the UK only on May 20, 2002, due to Joseph being dropped by Virgin Records/EMI in the US. Eventually, Enjoy Records picked up the record and released it stateside on November 26, 2002 with a slightly different track listing and alternate artwork.

Real World/Virgin released the album Come to Where I'm From in the States, but when Arthur wanted to start his next project, Virgin backed off. But his overactive muse couldn't wait for corporate support, so he jumped into recording regardless. Arthur ended up with Redemption's Son, plus another two albums' worth of songs, which were released over the course of four EPs called Junkyard Hearts 1-4. "I make three or four records a year, but I've only been able to get 'em out every two or three years," says Arthur.

<i>The Fury of The Aquabats!</i> 1997 studio album by The Aquabats

The Fury of the Aquabats! is the second studio album by American rock band the Aquabats, released on October 28, 1997, by Goldenvoice Records and Time Bomb Recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Pisapia</span> Musical artist

Joe Pisapia is an American record producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who was formerly a part of the band Guster and k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang. In the past he has also released albums with his band Joe, Marc's Brother, his side project Watercolor, and the solo albums Daydreams (2002) and Nightvision (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Miller (musician)</span> American musician (born 1972)

Ryan Matthew Miller is an American musician. He is the lead singer for the alternative rock band Guster playing guitar, piano and bass.

<i>Kites are Fun</i> 1967 studio album by The Free Design

Kites Are Fun is the first album by The Free Design, released in 1967. The group was signed to the Project 3 label after a demo recording that was completed with the assistance of the band's father.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyle Lawson</span> American bluegrass and gospel musician

Doyle Wayne Lawson is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

<i>Bitter</i> (Meshell Ndegeocello album) 1999 studio album by Meshell Ndegéocello

Bitter is the third album by Meshell Ndegeocello. It was released on August 24, 1999, on Maverick Records. The album peaked at #105 on the Billboard Top 200 in 1999. The album also peaked at number 13 on Billboard's Top Internet Albums chart and number 40 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

<i>Satellite EP</i> 2007 EP by Guster

Satellite EP is the fifth EP by the rock band Guster. It was released on 10 April 2007. It is Guster's third EP with the musician Joe Pisapia.

<i>Jekyll + Hyde</i> 2015 studio album by Zac Brown Band

Jekyll + Hyde is the fourth studio album by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released on April 28, 2015. The album's lead single, "Homegrown", was released on January 12, 2015. "Heavy Is the Head", featuring Chris Cornell, was released two months later to the rock format. "Loving You Easy" is the album's second release to country, and third single overall.

<i>Play It as It Lays</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Patti Scialfa

Play It as It Lays is the third full-length album by singer-songwriter Patti Scialfa.

<i>The Sound of a Million Dreams</i> 2011 studio album by David Nail

The Sound of a Million Dreams is the second studio album by American country music artist David Nail. It was released on November 15, 2011 via MCA Nashville.

<i>Mindy Smith</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Mindy Smith

Mindy Smith is the fifth album by country and folk artist Mindy Smith. This is Smith's first independently released album.

<i>Miss Fortune</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Allison Moorer

Miss Fortune is the third album by singer/songwriter Allison Moorer. It was her first for new label Universal South, which was co-founded by Tony Brown, who signed her to her first label MCA Nashville. Her first album there saw her working for the first time with Nashville producer R.S. Field and moving towards a more pop sound.

<i>Hoochie Cooche Man</i> 1966 studio album by Jimmy Smith

Hoochie Cooche Man is a 1966 album by Jimmy Smith arranged by Oliver Nelson. The album title has also been spelled as Hoochie Coochie Man.

<i>The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show</i> (album) 2019 soundtrack album by Kacey Musgraves

The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show is a soundtrack album by American country singer Kacey Musgraves, released on November 28, 2019 by MCA Nashville. The album accompanies the Prime Video special of the same name, and is Musgraves' second Christmas album, following 2016's A Very Kacey Christmas.

<i>The Comeback</i> (Zac Brown Band album) 2021 studio album by Zac Brown Band

The Comeback is the seventh studio album by American country music group Zac Brown Band. The album was released on October 15, 2021, by Home Grown Music and Warner Music Nashville.

References

  1. "Guster Keep It Together". Pollstar. February 10, 2003.
  2. "Joe Pisapia Leaves Guster To Tour with k.d. lang". Relix. September 3, 2010.
  3. "Guster Satisfies Ambitions On New Album". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  4. Review by fan on guster.net
  5. "Backyard" details at vividgreen.net