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Steve Gunn – Way Out Weather

October 13, 2014

Weather is probably the most common topic brought up amongst strangers. And its broad, unrevealing nature was something Steve Gunn had in mind when putting together his new album, “Way Out Weather. “Way out weather is a common song,” Gunn sings on the album’s opener. The Philadelphia-turned-New York City musician’s previous release, Time Off (2013), was the work of a purist not influenced by the exhausting nature of the city. It featured tumbling travis-picked acoustic guitar accented with light bass and guitar solos that wouldn’t dare wake up a sleeping baby, leaving the spare character of his songs almost wanting to be colored with something more. With his new album, Way Out Weather, they have been. Keys, banjo, and a sweeping pedal steel give a panoramic, widescreen feel to each of the album’s nine songs. Songs like “Wildwood” and “Fiction” bounce along some old country road. These are traditional roots-rock[...]

Steve Gunn – “Milly’s Garden”

July 9, 2014

Steve Gunn’s music sounds like coming home after a long journey from some far away place. Last year’s Time Off was a spare and easy album to fall into, comprising of Travis picking guitar figures that hint at the Dead circa American Beauty. I saw him earlier this year in an air condition-less club in Northampton, Mass., and I dug his set more than Kurt Vile’s, who Gunn opened for (and at one time backed up). On stage, Gunn seemed bothered and disinterested, telling the crowd that his music was on sale in the back before trailing off and mumbling, “It’s complicated.” His music, though, was the exact opposite: simple and serious, comprising of just him, a drummer, and a bassist. His guitar style feels like you are being strummed up and down by a thousand feathers, and his voice is pure. “Milly’s Garden,  the new single off his forthcoming[...]