New album from the always interesting Kip
Winger.
Tragedy moved into
Winger's life some years back and it's clear that his eventual return to writing and performing was something of a cathartic process.
Consequently,
Winger the solo artist has moved on a million miles from the poprock debut of
Winger the band.
There's depth to the songs, with
Winger's lyrical and emotional range ensuring that real sentiment is not subverted by sentimentality. There are a few difficult listens - 'Ghosts' and 'Pages And Pages' for example - both showing the hand of
Winger's collaborator and thoroughly complicated character, Cenk Eroglu.
But the majority of the 13 tracks are reasonably accessible.
As you would expect now,
Winger doesn't limit his influences to the past masters of US rock'n'roll, though there's a classic rock undercurrent running through many songs, ranging from the laid back, country-ish
'Runaway' to
'Nothing', a track that climaxes a post grunge, industrial strength rock song with a soaring, melodic chorus.
But it's the homages that bite the deepest . . . the balladic, Jacques Brel like
'California'; the McCartney-ish
'Where Will You Go', and the Lennon-esque
'What We Are' are all deceptively simple, narrative driven melodic rock songs. Memorable, and definitively
Winger, despite the derivations.
Synths, violins and cellos feature just as much as guitars, giving the music an epic, dramatic feel. A
Mr Mister ('Every Story Told') or a
Martin Page ('Reason To Believe') or an Eagles at their most cerebral ('Why') for the new (ish) millennium.
Not one for broad brush strokes,
Winger paints clear, beautifully detailed pictures - often shrouded in darkness - with subjects ranging from death to forgiveness to redemption.
'Reason To Believe', reminiscent of 'Push' era
Winger, and the edgy, string sweetened romanticism of 'One Big Game' continue to showcase
Winger's versatility. And while you feel that Kip
Winger's sincerity and virtuoso musicianship are powerful tactical weapons in grabbing our attention and winning us over, you can't help thinking that a little light relief might just help us appreciate the more serious minded moments even more.
Written by
Brian Thursday, April 24, 2008
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