Most often people see “the acoustic album” as a last change or a final quite chapter to a musician’s career. Cape, who has been a part of this punk scene 1989, has no such plans, but I’m sure glad he was willing to show us his softer more melodic side in Bridge.
I must first express how fascinated I am with the overall vocal quality of this record. I knew the Lagwagon founder could belt out some notes, but to carry a tune like this? Color me surprised. I do believe I would pay top dollar to see this performance.
If you’re a wary die hard Lagwagon fan, rest assured, several of these tunes are Lagwagon jams put to acoustic greatness. The roster includes old favorites like “Canoe” and “B Side”. If you’re going to have someone put these songs to an acoustic setting, it might as well be the guy that wrote them. We are even led down much earlier path with the nostalgic “The Ramones Are Dead”, a song that may very well have given birth to the “skater punk” era. It’s pretty nice to buy a new album and be able to sing right along the first time through. This also reminds you of how old you’re getting.
Aside from former bands Lagwagon and Bad Astronaut (independent music project), Cape has much more to offer here. I mean this release really does stand on its own two feet. This is not just guy from Lagwagon, this is Joey motha-fuck’n Cape! This album alone has set a precedence for what may be several solo-acoustic albums to come. I almost feel like I’m putting in a Neil Young album for a relaxing evening. I would even be interested to see what future collaborations in the way of side projects are to come. Austin Lucas, or possibly Chuck Ragan? The sky is the limit. You guys keep making good albums and we’ll keep buying/reviewing them.
This is a diamond in the Suburban Home rough, and I f you can’t see that then I say to you good day sir. I said good day!
