Steve Wynn - Tick...tick..tick...

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 19 / 11 / 2005

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Review

'Tick...Tick...Tick' is Steve Wynn's fifth album with drummer Linda Pitmon and, as she recently confessed to me, it was recorded in 10 days. When I asked Steve about this, he told me that he likes to work that way. 'Tick...Tick...Tick' is for me Steve's best album to date in his lengthy solo career. It is full of brutal savage guitar and edgy power and is absolutely smashing. It opens with 'Wired', a loud rocker with a distorted vocal and which is a real kick ass rock 'n' roll number . 'Cindy, It Was Always You' has the grinding, deranged feel of Steve's former band the Dream Syndicate, and is a song about not being with the one you really be with but second best. 'Freakstar' has a slower feel than the previous two tracks, and. acoustic based but involving some electric instruments, recollects early R.E.M. 'Killing Me', which features muddied vocals from Steve, returns to screaming guitars and feedback noise and has a primitive drum beat that sounds like the Cramps. It works pefectly. 'The Deep End' is Steve's own personal favourite here, and I have to agree with him. It is an intelligent and well thought out anthem and features him duetting on joint vocals with Linda. The drums and a piano part meanwhile give it an extra lift. It is the only song that I have heard this year that has brought me to the edge of shedding tears for its mere beauty. 'Turning of The Tide' is the album's Neil Young and Crazy Horse number and features clear vocals with a grunge backing. The commercial-sounding 'Bruises' is another rocker, while 'Your Secret' is deep and spooky and sounds like classic Dream Syndicate. 'Wild Mercury' is big and thrashy. Imagine experimental Velvets with experimental the Who. 'All the Squares Go Home' has a psychedelic fuzztones vibe and garage rock style guitar. 'No Tomorrow' ends the cd, and is classic Wynn, with an ace guitar solo, a perfect linda drum beat which keeps the band tight, and is pure jamming heaven. We need more guys like Steve Wynn in the world today. This is easily one of this year's best albums. Just buy it !

Track Listing:-

1 Wired
2 Cindy, It Was Only You
3 Freak Star
4 Killing Me
5 Deep End
6 Turning of the Tide
7 Bruises
8 Your Secret
9 Wild Mercury
10 All the Squares Go Home
11 No Tomorrow

Band Links:-

https://www.stevewynn.net
https://www.facebook.com/stevewynn

Label Links:-

http://bluerose-records.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Rose-Rec