On December 8, 2021, The Innocent Bystanders released their first full length album, Book of Life. The title song was written by Ben Nieberg about original Bystander Chris Saunders. Here’s the first review:
“Book of Life by The Innocent Bystanders is both catchy and beautifully atmospheric. The arrangements are full and rich with guitars, keyboards, and horns each having their moment in the sun. Such full arrangements are a joy and a rarity these days.
The music is a wonderful blend of various influences, with a folk rock/Americana backbone. They reminded me at times of The Eagles, and at other times of Dan Fogelberg or Jackson Browne. There are also tunes like Cosmic Love which are a tip of the hat to more avant garde music.
Across the board, Book of Life brought to mind some of my favorite songs by Eric Andersen. The vocals have a similar quality to Andersen’s, and the lyrics are well-written, evocative, and thoughtful. Sometimes even faintly humorous.
I especially liked the Semeraro-penned Lost Things with his soulful guitar and the lovely piano motif. This is the kind of album
you can listen to over and over again, especially while driving down a winding road and reflecting. It will carry you away.”
~ Vivien Cooper