Released 25 years ago today, “Go Slow Down” was the fifth studio album from Wisconsin quartet BoDeans. The Slash collection was executive produced by T-Bone Burnett, who’d helmed the group’s acclaimed debut, and the set has a relaxed, acoustic feel well-suited to the dozen Neumann-Llanas originals here. The best-known of these songs is surely opener “Closer to Free,” which became the band’s biggest hit after it was used as the theme to the TV series Party of Five in 1994, but as “Idaho,” “Save a Little” and the title track illustrate, there’s no shortage of fine material here. This hook-filled, heartfelt set is easily among the best BoDeans albums, and Go Slow Down will reward any fan of American roots rock.
The band wanted to return to a simpler more rootsy sound and record an album that they were truly happy with. They began setting up a studio in a rented storefront and called upon T-Bone Burnett who had produced their debut album to work with them once again, this time in an executive producer role. They originally tracked 30 songs live as a full band, but under the advice of their record label, all except for “Closer to Free” were re-recorded with Kurt Neumann playing most of the instruments himself. The resulting album was more acoustic and laid-back.
From the Party of Five Soundtrack.
The Fat Angel Sings 