Duff McKagan - Lighthouse

  by Zena Grieg

published: 5 / 12 / 2023

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Review

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

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