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Sweetness And Light
Steve Wynn
"I'm really consciously excited by music and always trying to make the perfect record," Wynn laughs "but I haven't done that yet. Each record gets a little closer, though. That's a real motivation. I love music. I still buy tons of records and am still curious about everything that comes out and when it comes time to make another record, I filter all the things that are thrilling me at that moment into the new record.
But while Wynn is still drawing constantly from sources around him, he has also clearly developed a definitive sound of his own. "In a way, this new record is a combination of things I liked best about each of my solo albums. It has the raw live band sound of "Melting in the Dark", the songwriting style of "Fluorescent" and "Kerosene Man" and some of the pop production touches of "Dazzling Display". Wynn credits the cohesive approach to additonal time and opportunity in the studio.
"I took 20 days on "Sweetness and Light", which for me is kind of an epic," Wynn continues. He is renowned for making his records in about ten days. One wonders why this one then took twice that.
"Maybe the bettter question is how I was able to make all the other records in only ten days?" When I made the last few records, I had to go with completely maniacal hours and there's lots of stuff I would have done that I just didn't have the time to do. Not that it made them worse records, but I like adding the small overdubs that you don't hear until the fifth listen. That was the big difference and where I spent the extra time."
Does that mean that the mistakes have been polished out of the finished album?
"No no no no," he says emphatically. "That's the thing I don't do. I dont' go back and say "let's fix this part and fix that part". For me overdubs is just where you add the cool things. I'm more influenced by sixties Petula Clark records where there are magical things happening every second. That's what I like to do with my time and money, not make things "perfect" and antiseptic and fault-free."
"It's the live band I've been using for the last year. The guitarist is Rich Gilbert, who was in the Zulus and Human Sexual Response. Armistead Wellford from Love Tractor and Gutterball played bass and Linda Pitmon from Zuzu's Petals is the drummer. There are a few ringers here and there. Dave Rave (Teenage Head) and Lauren Agnelli (Washington Squares) add some background vocals and Joe McGinty (Baby Steps, Losers Lounge, Psychedelic Furs) plays keyboards on the whole album.
Wynn also benefits from the co-production and mixing skills of John Agnello (Dinosaur jr, Patti Smith, Jawbox). "I honestly think this is my best sounding record and a lot of the credit has to go to John Agnello," according to Wynn. "He was great in that he completely understood the record I wanted to make and always found ways to take the music from my head and get it onto tape. That hasn't always been so easy in the past."
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| # | Track Title | Play | |
| 1 | Silver Lining
LyricsJust out of JFKThe turbulence Was terrifying I held my breath And did my best To shake my fear of flying I'm not so heroic Cavalier Or even stoic You want catastrophe? It's nothing that you'd want to see Look over there The sun is shining Breaking the clouds That blocked the way Look over there A silver lining Right over there Well, look at that! Just over Wichita The flight attendant Started screaming I placed my head Between my knees And I started dreaming I don't set examples Bad excuses Always ample You want calamity It's nothing that you'd want to see Just shy of LAX The preacher Led us all in prayer I had objections But decided That I wouldn't dare I'm not ordinary Evidence Is quite contrary You want catastrophe It's nothing that you'd want to see Look over there! The sun is shining Breaking the clouds That blocked the way Look over there! A silver lining Right over there Well, look at that! If not the only song about a barely averted airline disaster, certainly the most cheerful and optimistic. I did actually write this aboard an airplane but nothing else in the song is true. Thank goodness.-SW | ||
| 2 | Black Magic
LyricsUnderneath the highwayThat's where you'll find me Broken mirrors and black cats Leaving trains behind me Messed around with fire Played around with thunder Messing with the shadows Is it any wonder? Nothing ventured, nothing gained And now there's nothing lef Black magic Coming down on me Black magic So blind that I can't see anymore When I was a young boy I was drawn to danger Double dares and bad luck We were never strangers Every bit of darkness Add to my collection And then the lights would fade Under my direction (ch) I hear that you've been laughing Around the skulls and bones PLaying with the candles When you were home alone It's an ancient story But you might forget it Careful what you wish for Because you might regret it (ch) In a world filled with pitfalls and potholes, it seems silly to actually go looking for trouble. Of course, that never stopped most people including myself. There's always an allure to the darkness but thrills are never really cheap.-SW | ||
| 3 | Sweetness And Light
LyricsJennifer sits and she cries in the darkAnd she dreams about dreaming and waits for the spark Of anything that would remind her Of anything else again She remembers the day that she drove him away How she hated him then! (But she loves him today) And she wonders what she would say to him now It doesn't matter anyway Sweetness and light Why can't it always be sweetness and light Jennifer writes in her journal. She says "He's been calling me over and over again And every time I pick up the phone He says nothing." She can't remember the pain, she can't remember the kicks Just a Stevie Wonder song from 1976 And they say you should learn from you past mistakes That's easy for you to say Sweetness and light Why can't it always be sweetness and light And she says, "Why do you call me? Why do you write me? Why are you always around? What do you want from me? What do I have for you? Why won't you leave me alone?" Jennifer writes in her journal, she says "He's been calling me over again And I put on a record and turn up the sound And I close my eyes until the sound goes down." The phone rings over and over again And over and over and over again She picks it up on the 20th ring and says, "Don't fuck with me!" Not a true story but even if it was a true story I'd never confess. More of a composite (ah, THERE'S a cop-out) and an observation of various degradations of love, perceived and actual. Also, I believe, the first time I've ever used a swear world on record. Damn!-SW | ||
| 4 | This Strange Effect | ||
| 5 | This Deadly Game
LyricsPolly said to Jack,"Baby I like your style. Would you step into my office For a little while? I've got a sugar-coated web And a candy center" I said "To know her Is to defend her." Oh, it's all or nothing Queen of diamonds And a second cousin Come in, sign your name For this deadly game Babylon was Draped in haze And nobody Had seen the night in days She was dancing in a room In a violet sweater I said, "To know her Is to regret her" Oh, it's now or never Don't think of me whenever Someone has to take the blame For this deadly game Daddy won't be home Until a little later And he'll be looking For his little instigator Take whatever Means are handy To know me Is to understand me Oh, it's not that easy Immaculate but a little greasy Sometimes they're not the same In this deadly game Polly said to Jack, "Baby, I like your style Would you step over here For a little while?" I said, "I'll see you later." To know her Is to hate her Oh, it's time for action A pile of words and a cool retraction No time for shame In this deadly game The black widow isn't alone in the animal kingdom, merely the most efficient. This song was written in a time when the lethality of love is more apparent and literal. But the deadly game is nothing new. Just ask Samson and John the Baptist.-SW | ||
| 6 | How's My Little Girl
LyricsRecognition stains your eyesMy, it's funny how time flies Maybe it's the liquor Nothing but a flicker How's my little girl? Is it really better now? Underneath the lines Underneath the signs Underneath the curls How's my little girl? Make the mark in borrowed time Words can soften any crime Never mind the scandals The lotions or the candles (ch) And there's nothing in your eyes And there's nothing you can hide Anymore The temptation of a second look To take back the chances that you took Maybe it's the liquor Nothing could be quicker (ch) Although this song seems to bring a wistful response from divorced fathers (and who am I to rain on their, um, rain) it's more of a somewhat sleazy, last-call come-on to a former lover. Sort of a more cynical version of Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times."-SW | ||
| 7 | Ghosts
LyricsI hear you're feeling better nowThe fog has lifted and the haze has shifted But the magic's really not the same And now there's nothing left to blame I hear you're sending letters now Apologies and explanations And though it's all forgiven now It's not forgotten anyhow It's only ghosts And ghosts can't touch me now I hear you're looking younger now Better than you ever were Though late at night when there's no one there You feel every rip and tear (ch) I hear you're walking lighter now The sun is shining from your eyes And even though it's brightly lit It's not the way you picture it (ch) I hear you're feeling wiser now And telling it to all your friends And though you're really not that sure You kind of miss the way you were (ch) In a time when every personal correction and reinvention is vocalized, documented and then marketed for the talk-show circuit, this song simply poses the possibility that any amputation leaves one occasionally scratching for the missing piece.-SW | ||
| 8 | Blood From A Stone
LyricsThe final curtain revealed nothing at allPiled up like junk at the end of the hall Empty bottles long since drained Cheapened by the smell that no longer remained Damned if you do, damned if you don't I said I still do but but she said that I won't The ending was written a long time ago It's a foregone conclusion that you just didn't know What do you want to hear Now that you're alone? Nothing left to give anymore Like blood from a stone Silence echoes through the lonely room Torn by the madness but no longer consumed I see you in the mirror but the mirror is gone Paralyzed and numb but I have to move on (ch) A pleasant little catharsis and there's nothing better to | ||
| 9 | In Love With Everyone
LyricsYou're a restless kindIn love with everyone I'm not saying I mind But you used to be so much fun If you think that you want to know me And you don't want to look in my eyes If there's nothing you want to show me It's not a surprise You're the ruthless kind In love with everyone I'm not saying that's nice But I guess you know how it's done And if you're looking in my direction And we don't see eye to eye If you want, you can try to call me But I'll be wondering why You're the perfect kind In love with everyone I'm not saying I mind Come on! Show me how it's done And if you think that you want to know me But you don't want to hear any lies If you're looking for your own reflection Just open your eyes! Given that yesterday's caustic rebel is today's bitter | ||
| 10 | The Great Divide
LyricsAfter all is clearAlong the great divide You can look down But you can't come inside And every day's a little slower Than the one before And everyone feels okay But they're still not sure Everything is breaking Along the great divide It's a long way down But it's a lovely slide And everybody feels the same As they did before And everybody feels okay But they're still not sure One of the slowest songs I've ever recorded and it certainly is harder to play slowly than quickly. Nonetheless, those major seventh chords certainly need time to breathe like any fine whine.-SW | ||
| 11 | That's The Way Love Is | ||
| 12 | If My Life Was An Open Book
LyricsIf my life was an open bookI guess I'd let you have a look Set you up with Chapter One And then I'd wait until you're done There's nothing that I'd want to hide I just forget to look inside Would it be worth the time it took If my life was an open book? If I could make some new mistakes And not the same ones every time Time and time and time again Time and time and time again Maybe I could feel some shame And not try hard to act surprised The promises I wouldn't break If I could make some new mistakes But I thought that I should let you know The things that I don't always show Might not be worth the time it took If my life was an open book If my life was an open book I guess I'd let you have a look And you could try to change the end But I'd just change it back again Then maybe we could collaborate On all the sections that you hate Would it be worth a second look If my life was an open book? A songwriter's denial of culpability. And after toiling over an explanation of each of these songs, this is the admission that sometimes I just don't know. Sorry. | ||
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Sweetness And Light
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Pitchfork
Steve Wynn's new CD, Sweetness and Light, is the record he wanted and tried to record in the early 1990s. Back then, over two records, Kerosene Man and Dazzling Display,... (click here for more...) -
Pitchfork Media
Steve Wynn Sweetness and Light [Zero Hour] Rating: 8.2 Steve Wynn's new CD, Sweetness and Light, is the record he wanted and tried to record in the early 1990s. Back then, over two records,... (click here for more...) -
CMJ
Steve Wynn's career goes back to the early '80s, when he served as the primary songwriter and frontman for the Dream Syndicate, a pivotal act in L.A.'s lauded "paisley underground"... (click here for more...)
