Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Bone for Us Old Dogs, January 28, 2002
Just under 20 years ago, a group of us (you know who we are) were crossing the threshold into adulthood listening to the likes of the Replacements, Husker Du, REM, Camper Van Beethoven, Meat Puppets, Let's Active, Feelies, Robyn Hitchcock, Green on Red, Rain Parade, and Game Theory (etc. etc. etc.). The sound we all loved passed away in the late '80's as REM became average (at best) and some of us got wives, jobs, car payments. I haven't spent too much time lamenting the passing of this era or getting nostalgic over a "sound" that could never return. But then I purchased this new Steve Wynn album a couple weeks ago, and have found myself simultaneously rejoicing over sounds I haven't heard in over 15 years, and feeling sad that such graceful grime is the exception rather than the rule here in the 21st century. I am not suggesting that this album is an insipid retread by any means. In fact, Steve Wynn has clearly assimilated sounds that have been created in the intervening years (such as Pavement, the Dead C), but the spirit surely harkens back to a period before the age of "made bands" (you know what I'm talkin' here). I have always felt that the music of my glory days was an artistic (and decidedly liberal) response to the conservativism of the Reagan era. Perhaps Steve Wynn's passionate new recording is an indication that with another conservative administration in office the underground is once again percolating with tention, regret, and a yearning for mystery. I am not going to indulge in any song-by-song "faux music critic" analysis of the disc. However, the disc has a delicious and decidedly un-state-of-the-art sound, one dominated by guitar. The musicianship is of the highest order, but is not dominated by solos or boring "vituosity". Overall, the music is about the songs and the passions behind them. This thang is a thrill and has given me a scratch I will be itching for some time.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
what does it take?, June 21, 2001
I have not followed Steve Wynn's solo career since the break-up of Dream Syndicate and boy am I sorry. This music has that loose all-American feel that can not be duplicated by anywhere else in the world. The blurb on the cover calls this Wynn's "Exile On Main Street" and I guess that's right, but there is a sincerity in the lyrics that I don't associate with the Glimmer Twins. When Wynn is having some derelict fun ("Topango Canyon Freaks", "Strange New World") you feeling like joining him. When he looks back on the road that he's gone over, you share his regret and weariness. The variety of musical styles on this record is breathtaking. On the opening (title) track Wynn plays an electric sitar solo. Chris Cavacas is there on some classic soul organ and even wurlitzer on several cuts. Good old Howe Gelb is here too (it was recorded in Tucson and I think he is king of Tucson). The rhythm section (Dan DeCastro on bass and Linda Pitmon on drums) is terrific. I just saw Wynn and this band a couple of nights ago and urge all who read this in the near future to get off your butt and go see them. Linda Pitmon is as good as Georgia Hubley and Georgia Hubley is about the best (and I'm not talking female drummers; I'm talking drummers period). Dave DeCastro knows how to put the melody into the rhythm. And I cannot leave out the guitars: this is a great guitar album (as the above allusion to Crazy Horse suggests), but there is no excess, no on-and-on solos. Instead there are all different tones and some interlocking playing that makes you smile because it is so mean and pretty.There is sadness and regret here. There is joy and redemption. There is that feeling that you are just going to have to deal with the way things are. There is that wonderful idea that you are going to do exactly what you want to do because you want to, not because someone else doesn't want you to. This is grown-up music about what is really important in life. This recording has it all. Quality production. Lyrics that mean something. Compelling music with great arrangements that are well played. Even the cover is nice.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wynn's Best of Career is a Masterstroke!, June 1, 2001
By A Customer
Steve Wynn comes back with both barrels blazing with this epic 2 CD set -- a nineteen song set with a widescreen cinematic vision. Wynn infuses the work with his literary aspirations as if he's fronting Raymond Chandler's supercharged garage band. With help from old pals Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), members of Calexico, and Chris Cacavas(Green on Red), Steve creates what ROLLING STONE says sounds like "Townes Van Zandt hitchhiking with Crazy Horse."Not only is it some of the best music Wynn has made in his long career, the 2CD set comes packaged in an AMAZING full-color eight panel digipak with a booklet that is truly awesome! [...]P>As a fan of guitar-based rock, I can't recommend this more highly!!
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by Steve Wynn 
