Anybody who's a friend of Johnette Napolitano is fine by me. Steve Wynn is one of those quirky individuals that doesn't like swimming in mainstream waters. He was the leader of the Dream Syndicate back in the early '80s and he has an impressive body of work. This is somewhere around his 40th (!) or so record (counting collections) and time has not dented this sorely under-rated singer-songwriter.I love this record more every time I play it, which means soon I won't be able to play anything else….a hazard in this job! There is a mix of material on this record. It goes from the smoky haze of "Turning of The Tide" to the raucous rave-up "Killing Me". Wynn's voice is the perfect framework for this material. Far from polished, it's sometimes almost labored, yet filling the bill more so than a virtuoso ever could.
My two favourite cuts on here are "The Deep End" a gorgeous, laid-back piece that is so hypnotic you can almost see the waves he's referencing. It has some Dark Side of the Moon-flavored guitar tones that color the portrait perfectly. The other is the stoner-ish jam of "Freak Star".
This record recalls Neil Young at some points with the tasty guitar lines and memorable choruses. Not something to drop on at a party, this record requires and deserves your full attention.
