Welcome is an album by the American band Dharma Bums, released in 1992.[1][2] Issued via Frontier Records, it was the band's final album.[3][4] A video was shot for "The Light in You", the album's first single.[5] The band supported the album with European and North American tours.[6][7] Welcome was a hit on college radio charts.[8]
| Welcome | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Label | Frontier | |||
| Producer | Ed Brooks, Dharma Bums | |||
| Dharma Bums chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editThe album was produced by Ed Brooks and the band.[9] Most of the songs are about romantic relationships; the band considered the sound to be similar to power pop.[10] Dharma Bums were also influenced by the heavier music of the early 1990s Northwestern scene.[11]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [12] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [9] |
The Oregonian wrote: "Rough-hewn but melodic, their sound works the guitar-bass-drums basics with freshness and fervor."[5] The Arizona Daily Star deemed the songs "petulant, sweet, loose, jangly, folky."[13] The Los Angeles Times determined that Welcome "combines sharp pop tunefulness with the transparent innocence and energy of youth."[8] The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that Dharma Bums "make their sound from R.E.M.-style jingle-jangle crossed with a garage band's rugged edge."[14]
The Houston Chronicle noted that the band "combines pop hooks and post-punk grunge with the energy of misspent youth."[15] CD Review concluded that "Welcome finds the Bums just as up front and credible as ever, [reminiscent] of the Saints or the Hoodoo Gurus at those groups' very best."[16] The Missoula Independent praised the "cosmic, emotive, accessible, modern rock vein."[17] The Central New Jersey Home News opined that "melodies and solos are understated; there seems to be something dark simmering beneath."[18]
AllMusic wrote that "most of Welcome consists of intriguing slices of moody jangle pop and country-tinged alt-rock that are all the more refreshing for the fact that none of them particularly sound like R.E.M."[12] LA Weekly included Welcome among the best albums of 1992.[19]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Light in You" | |
| 2. | "First Time/Last Time" | |
| 3. | "Good Advice" | |
| 4. | "Incestuous" | |
| 5. | "Porch Song" | |
| 6. | "A Push Me Pull Me" | |
| 7. | "Favor" | |
| 8. | "Wreck Around Town" | |
| 9. | "Bright Orange Spot" | |
| 10. | "Words" | |
| 11. | "Aces" |
References
edit- ^ Hughley, Marty (6 Mar 1992). "Rockin' Out". Arts and Entertainment. The Oregonian. p. 23.
- ^ "Dharma Bums". Trouser Press. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ Herzog, Dave (20 Jun 1992). "Records". The Morning Call. p. A74.
- ^ "Dharma Bums Biography by Michael Sutton". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ a b Hughley, Marty (20 Mar 1992). "Coming into Focus". The Oregonian. p. AE9.
- ^ Hughley, Marty (17 Apr 1992). "The Essential Game Plan". Arts and Entertainment. The Oregonian. p. 5.
- ^ Blackstock, Peter (17 July 1992). "Dharma Bums Deserve Their Day in the Limelight, Too". What's Happening. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. 8.
- ^ a b Arnold, Gina (16 May 1992). "The Seattle-Style Karma of Portland's Dharma Bums". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 200.
- ^ Stockman, J. Michael (7 Feb 1992). "Three Bands: One Big Concert". Statesman Journal. p. B1.
- ^ Keyes, Bob (2 Jun 1992). "Real Bums Bring Success to Town on Wednesday". Argus Leader. p. B1.
- ^ a b "Welcome Review by Stewart Mason". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ Armstrong, Gene (15 May 1992). "Dharma Bums' new album, 'Welcome'...". Arizona Daily Star. p. 7G.
- ^ DeLuca, Dan (19 Jun 1992). "Dharma Bums". Pop/Rock. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 30.
- ^ "Critic's Picks". Houston. Houston Chronicle. 2 July 1992. p. 3.
- ^ "The Dharma Bums Welcome". CD Review Digest. Vol. 6. 1992. p. 140.
- ^ Knight, Patrick (22 May 1992). "In the Future". Missoula Independent. p. 10.
- ^ Cotter, Kelly-Jane (2 Jul 1992). "'Welcome', Dharma Bums". Central New Jersey Home News. p. D1.
- ^ Cummings, Sue (7 Jan 1993). "Nirvana, Madonna, Tabitha". LA Weekly. p. 36.