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Album Review

Steve Wynn
Crossing Dragon Bridge Blue Rose

Article written by Ged M - May 5, 2008

Dragon Bridge is in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where Steve Wynn recorded this with Chris Eckman of the Walkabouts. Wynn - who’s much bigger in Europe than his native US - describes his album as “a snapshot...a tourist guide” but there’s not much Slovenia here. As ‘Manhattan Fault Line’ explains, you can move on but the old issues follow you: “a lesson learned is a lesson forgotten”. So as he’s gone from Paisley Underground rocker to singer-songwriter in the last 25 years, and from his New York apartment to a temporary residence in Ljubljana, the themes represented here have just travelled with him: growing older (‘Annie & Me’), self-esteem (‘Believe In Yourself’), nostalgia for music radio (‘Bring the Magic’) and relationships (all these songs). The real surprise in these songs is the contribution of Prague’s Apollon Chamber Orchestra who provide an uplifting dimension to ‘Manhattan Fault Line’ and ‘When We Talk About Forever’ (dadrock title, stunning string arrangements).

Ultimately, you learn some tricks on the way but you’re not going to be a novelty act after 25 years. This will call out to people who’ve already fallen in love with the Dream Syndicate, Danny and Dusty or his earlier Wynn works; it echoes that classic 80s-90s Americana on songs like ‘Love Me Anyway’ with its dominating organ sound. Think of it as a postcard from the more mature sort of tourist, one who’s given up the beach for an art gallery.

Links:
http://www.stevewynn.net/
http://www.bluerose-records.com
http://www.myspace.com/stevewynnthemiracle3