O.A.R. - In Between Now And Then (2003)

O.A.R. (an acronym for the band's full moniker, Of a Revolution) transformed themselves from local Ohio State University bandmates to Billboard chartbusters and headliners at venues across America. First, the band's two demo recordings were hawked at universities. Then, news spread about the band's roots rock and reggae-inflected songs, which owed much to the jam band genre. Before long, O.A.R.'s website had turned into a highly-trafficked internet destination, and the group gradually left the college scene for the bright lights of national stardom.

Formed in 1996 in Rockville, MD, O.A.R. coalesced around lead singer/rhythm guitarist Marc Roberge, lead guitarist Richard On, saxophonist Jerry DePizzo, bassist Benj Gershman, and drummer Chris Culos. Roberge had known Culos since childhood; he also played in local bands with On and Gershman. DePizzo, who hails from Youngstown, OH, met the other Maryland natives at Ohio State, and the band made its recorded debut with the release of an independent demo, 1997's The Wanderer. Many of the songs on O.A.R.'s debut disc were written while Roberge and Culos were living in Israel.

Two years later, the switch from student band to headlining act started with the arrival of an intensely popular song titled "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker." (Many lyrics for the band's songs came from Roberge's interest in literature, particularly Stephen King's novel The Stand.) The group went back into the recording studio for a second demo, which was released independently as Souls Aflame in 1999. With the success of 2001's Risen, Roberge began writing songs for a new CD late that year. To appease their dedicated fan base, they issued a live album, Any Time Now, in the spring of 2002 and subsequently signed with Lava/Atlantic for the release of 2003's In Between Now and Then. Additional tour dates led to the release of 34th & 8th, the band's second live offering. The band returned to the studio again with 2005's Stories of a Stranger, which contained a pair of Top 20 Hot AC hits in "Love and Memories" and "Heard the World." The Live from Madison Square Garden CD/DVD appeared in 2007. O.A.R.'s slickest album yet, the commercially-minded All Sides, was released in 2008, followed in 2009 by the four-disc live set Rain or Shine. by Robert Hicks


Bursting with island grooves, passionate vocals, and tasteful instrumentation, In Between Now and Then is the musical equivalent of every friendly hippie you've ever met. It's accommodating and full of entertaining stories, and will get even the sourest of pusses on the dancefloor. Released just in time for summer break, the LP is such a rousing, good-timing affair, it might as well open the fridge and grab a beer for you. This is exactly the kind of musical hospitality O.A.R. has been providing since it first emerged on the college jam band scene in the late '90s. Building a reputation through energetic live gigs and a strong Internet file-sharing presence, the band finally opted for a jump to the big leagues, no doubt encouraged by the success of rootsy types like John Mayer. But unlike Mayer, who too often suggests a younger Dave Matthews, O.A.R. -- Marc Roberge (vocals/guitar), Jerry DePizzo (saxophone), Richard On (guitar), Chris Culos (drums), and Benj Gershman (bass) -- is more akin to the uplifting folk-pop of Guster or David Gray, albeit with a substantial debt to Bob Marley. Helmed by longtime O.A.R. collaborator John Alagía, In Between Now and Then wisely stays close to what the band does best, and doesn't worry about trying to impress new listeners with bells and whistles. Instead, it's sort of like an invitation for the rest of the world to join the party O.A.R. has been playing for its fans all these years. From the insistent reggae breeze of "Dareh Meyod" and irresistibly peppy "Risen" (sample lyric: "I never knew life could taste so good!") to the gentle jamming of ballad "James," In Between ambles through 13 tracks with the comfort and ease of a countryside bike ride. O.A.R. veterans will recognize first single "Hey Girl" as a holdover from the band's early days; it appears here in re-recorded form. Elsewhere, the band dabbles in free jamming ("Anyway," "Whose Chariot?"), but never does so in such an obtuse way as to alienate the casual backyard fan. In Between Now and Then is sure to have O.A.R.'s old fans -- of which there are many -- playing Frisbee with its soon-to-be-numerous new ones. by Johnny Loftus

An All Music Guide Album Pick
I typically join short tracks together, because its annoying to have iTunes shuffle cut off after a short segment that leads into another song...any feelings about that? (tracks NOT joined on this post)

1.Now :19
2.Dareh Meyod 3:41
3.Risen 4:13
4.Right on Time 5:16
5.Mr. Moon  4:03
6.Revisited  6:29
7.Hey Girl 4:13
8.James 5:16
9.Coalminer 4:15
10.Old Man Time 4:38
11.Anyway 4:15
12.Road Outside Columbus  4:16
13.Any Time Now 3:56
14.Whose Chariot?  7:51
15.Then :08

320AAC
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