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Keep It Together is the fourth studio album by the band Guster, released in June 2003. The album was recorded from 2001 to 2003 in Bearsville, New York, New York City, Burbank, California, and Shokan, New York. This is the first album by Guster with Brian Rosenworcel on kit drums instead of hand percussion. Keep It Together went through several working titles, including Bitch Magic, Olympia Dukakis and Come Downstairs & Say Hello.[1]

Keep It Together
Studio album by Guster
Released	June 24, 2003
Recorded	2001–2003
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	48:44
Label	Palm, Reprise
Producer	Roger Moutenot and Ron Aniello
Guster chronology
WBR Sessions (2003) Keep It Together (2003) Live 09/04/03 Knoxville, TN (2003)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Pitchfork Media	link
Rolling Stone	link

According to the album's liner notes, Joe Pisapia contributed guest vocals on "Jesus on the Radio" and Ben Kweller did the same on "I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today". Pisapia officially joined the band in 2003.[2]

The track "Red Oyster Cult" refers to the name of the American rock band Blue Öyster Cult.

A UK re-release included two bonus tracks, "Say That To My Face" and "Starless Heaven".

The record sold 267,000 copies by late 2005, according to Nielsen Soundscan.[3]

Track listing

All music composed by Guster, except where noted.

When the band plays "Jesus on the Radio" live, they often play it "unplugged", without any instruments or microphones plugged in.[4]

"Keep It Together" can be heard at the end of the season 1 The O.C. episode, "The Rescue".

"I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today" can be heard in the film Wedding Crashers and in the Malcolm in the Middle episode "Lois' Sister".

Personnel

Guster

• Ryan Miller - vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, mellotron
• Adam Gardner - vocals, guitar, banjo, piano
• Brian Rosenworcel - drums, percussion, bongos, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals

Guest musicians

• Ron Aniello - guitar, Mellotron, banjo
• David Henry - cello
• Jim Hoke - brass, woodwind
• Ben Kweller - guitar, piano, vocals
• Jacob Lawson - violin
• Randy Leago - brass, woodwind
• Brandon Mason - trumpet
• Roger Moutenot - Jew's harp
• Joe Pisapia - banjo, vocals
• Neil Rosengarden - flugelhorn

"Backyard" guest musicians

Every guest musician on Keep It Together was forced to record a take on the song "Backyard". The rule was they could only record one take, and they must have no knowledge of the song before they began recording.[5]

• Ron Aniello - additional instruments
• David Henry - upright bass
• Jim Hoke - harmonica
• Ben Kweller - "frightening double-necked string instrument"
• Jacob Lawson - additional instruments
• Randy Leago - additional instruments
• Brandon Mason - additional instruments
• Roger Moutenot - Moog synthesizer
• Joe Pisapia - banjo
• Neil Rosengarden - additional instruments
• Josh Rouse - backing vocals

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Year	Chart	Position
2003	The Billboard Top 200	35

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
2003	"Careful"	Adult Top 40	30
	"Amsterdam"	Adult Top 40	20

See also

• The Meowstro Sings – Guster's Keep It Together

References

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