When
the Dream Syndicate broke up in 1989,
Steve Wynn insisted it wasn't because of bad blood between the bandmembers, but simply a matter of him wanting to try something new. And that's certainly what he did on his first solo album, 1990's
Kerosene Man, where he traded the hard-edged guitar interplay of his old band for a more eclectic and accessible sound. Compared to
the Dream Syndicate,
Kerosene Man often sounds like a pop album, albeit an intelligent and adventurous sort of pop album, and while
Wynn's guitar still played a prominent role in the mix, there's a hooky lilt to numbers like "Carolyn," "Tears Won't Help," and "Killing Time" that would have been unthinkable on
the Dream Syndicate's bruising finale, 1988's
Ghost Stories.
Wynn also took the opportunity to try out more low-key and contemplative numbers, particularly the moody "The Blue Drifter" (driven by slinky basslines from frequent
Lou Reed sideman
Fernando Saunders and bluesy sax from
Los Lobos'
Steve Berlin), the film noir atmospherics of "Under the Weather," and "Conspiracy of the Heart," a passionate duet with
Johnette Napolitano. Not that
Wynn had entirely given up on ferocious guitar workouts, with "Younger" featuring frantic fretwork from
Howe Gelb and
Robert Mache, and "Something to Remember Me By" sounding like a lively outtake from Medicine Show. But if a lighter musical attack dominated
Kerosene Man,
Wynn remained a powerful and thoughtful lyricist, finding a balance between cynicism and compassion, and while
Lou Reed and
Bob Dylan were still obvious influences on his work, he was melding them with his own ideas especially well here. Boasting a full-bodied production from
Joe Chiccarelli,
Kerosene Man kicked off
Steve Wynn's solo career on a strong note, showing he had plenty of new tricks up his sleeve. ~ Mark Deming