Ever since Gomez's debut album Bring It On, they have been unsuccessful at being identified as original and inventive. Don't get me wrong, Gomez is extremely talented and make some of the catchiest and enjoyable music out there, but the fact remains that after each consecutive album release since the debut, Gomez are not Gomez. After reading countless reviews of their four previous albums, I can't help but agree that Gomez is possibly the only band that is described as elements or fragments of many other bands in yesterday's and today's indie and mainstream music. Comparisons to Dr. John, Little Feat, Pearl Jam, Doobie Brothers, Captain Beefheart, Pink Floyd, Beck, and countless other artists have taken every possible limelight that Gomez could enjoy as a band. And after repeated listens to Gomez's new album, Split The Difference, Gomez continue to be hailed as a creation of remains and residue of innumerable other bands.
As mentioned before, Gomez is quite entertaining and enlightening. Split The Difference doesn't show that the band has decelerated their roots-rock attack and bluesy assault. After their electro-pop outing, 2002's In Our Gun, Gomez has chosen to return to the minimalist fundamentals that made Bring It On an award winner. "Sweet Virginia" and "These 3 Sins" are textbook alt-country ballads that were identified as tex-mex rockers on previous records. Ben Ottewell's deep and groggy vocal delivery is as bluesy as ever, yet with the simple and undemanding accompanied music, Ottewell's vocals can only be compared to Eddie Vedder.
While many songs are low-key affairs, others are great rock tracks. "Don't Know Where Were Going," "Chicken Out," and "Do One" are heavy rock and hook friendly jams that make you bounce your head like the idiot buffoon that you are. Unfortunately, many of these can be found on In Our Gun and are fascinatingly similar and analogous. The only spontaneous track on the record is the hazy "Meet Me In The City," a composition that steps beyond the borders that have tragically identified Gomez's sound. "Meet Me In The City" focuses on drum progression and jagged acoustic accompaniments and is a pleasant temporary transformation on the record.
If you've enjoyed Gomez's musical direction in the last six years, you're sure to take pleasure in listening to Split The Difference. Personally, I'd rather put on Liquid Skin and listen to Gomez when their sound was fresh and new, even though they were compared and evaluated as an amalgamation band. It just seemed okay back then because our expectation was that Gomez would find their niche. Unfortunately, Gomez have been floundering ever since.
1. Do One
2. These 3 Sins
3. Silence
4. Me, You And Everybody
5. We Don't Know Where We're Going
6. Sweet Virginia
7. Catch Me Up (Album Version)
8. Where Ya Going?
9. Meet Me In The City
10. Chicken Out
11. Extra Special Guy
12. Nothing Is Wrong
13. There It Was
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