Duff McKagan - Lighthouse

by Zena Grieg

published: 5 / 12 / 2023

Label: World is Flat
Format: CD

intro

Versatile and reflective third solo album from Guns N’Roses founder member and bass player Duff McKagan

Guns N’Roses founder member and bass player Duff McKagan has brought out his first solo album in four years, his third, 'Lighthouse' - a follow-up to the 2019 ‘Tenderness’. Recorded in his home studio between 2019 and 2022, the songs on 'Lighthouse' are intimate and reflective: “…laid bare without me screaming…. The idea of starting the record off with an ode to my wife, and ending with an ode to life, codify the two things I love most”. Themes include the conflicts in Ukraine and Afghanistan, abuse by politicians, love and the search for truth. Songs to listen out for in this eleven– track collection include: the acoustic-led opener and title track ode to his wife of twenty-four years, with its gospel backdrop, about finding a port in a storm: ”I washed up in the rocks, all broke up on the stone/…shine on me my lighthouse/And dry these aching bones”; the second single from the album, the melodic, catchy rock ‘Longfeather’ with its propelling drumbeat; anthemic ‘Holy Water’ with its chilling, scathing lines: “ We kill men with no pity”; the folk-punk ‘I Saw God on 10th Street’ with its tirade against scheming politicians; the Dylanesque ‘Fallen’ with its interplay between guitar and Hammond; country-rock ‘Forgiveness’ with its uplifting refrain: “The clouds have gone/It’s time to carry on“; the enthralling ‘Hope’ with its insinuating riff, featuring Slash on lead guitar and Paul McCartney drummer Abe Laboriel Jr, and its chastening lines:”; Heaven only hopes, heaven only knows/To see her people just living/Not dying for someone’s faith”; the contemplative, emotive ballad ‘I Just Don’t Know’, with Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell; and a quirky recital by Iggy Pop in the closing ‘Lighthouse’ reprise. 'Lighthouse' is a versatile album, each song a different take on McKagan’s ultimately benevolent world vision; a cathartic musical journey.

Track Listing:-

1 Lighthouse
2 Longfeather
3 Holy Water
4 I Saw God on 10th St.
5 Fallen Down
6 Forgiveness
7 Just Another Shakedown
8 To the Fallen Ones
9 Hope
10 I Just Don't Know
11 Lighthouse (Reprise)

Band Links:-

https://duffonline.com/
https://www.facebook.com/duffmckagan/
https://twitter.com/DuffMcKagan

Play in YouTube:-

Have a Listen:-

interviews

Interview (2009)

Lisa Torem speaks to Chicago-based musician Mars Williams about his career both playing saxophone with the Psychedelic Furs and also as the leader of much acclaimed free jazz outfit Liquid Soul