The Dream Syndicate
Out of the Grey

The comforting and long-awaited news about the new Dream Syndicate album has arrived: it is ready and will be released on the upcoming September 8th. You already know what I think about the band and Steve Wynn: for decades, they have earned a front row seat in my absolute musical excellences.

"Out Of The Grey" is the third album by the Californian band; released in 1986.

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahah; forgive the hearty and loud laugh, but now I will explain the reason for my hilarity.

Over all these years, I've read everything on the album; in most cases, completely negative comments.

According to some pretentious critics, it's a dull work (and what the hell does dull even mean, sorry!!), lethargic, poorly produced by the new guitarist who joined the group just a few months prior. Others describe the songs as weak and anonymous (??), adding that Steve's singing and lyrics are completely uninspired; the band's execution of the songs is not very convincing, seeming to perform just the bare minimum, without any type of acid-psychedelic deviation.

I could go on with the critical judgments I've read all these years in industry magazines and also online; judgments that I find totally wrong, misplaced, and that I do not agree with at all.

One thing is certain: the album in question does not reach the unreachable heights (forgive the play on words) of its two predecessors "Medicine Show" and "The Days Of Wine And Roses" (the usual immense shivers just by mentioning the titles of these two genuine masterpieces of eighties' American Rock). It's also true that a guitarist as explosive, dynamic, and ever-changing as Karl Precoda is very hard to replace; Paul B. Cutler has a much more disciplined, careful, and thoughtful sound and approach. (Let’s always remember it's his sparkling and irresistible guitar that made "Live At Raji's" legendary, which they played in January 1988, concluding the first part of their career until their reunion in 2012).

I wonder how it's possible not to jump off the couch and turn up the stereo volume when the very first notes of "Forest For The Trees" kick in: furious and uncontrolled are the blasts thrown by the two guitars, supported by Mark Walton's ever-present bass and Dennis "the metronome" Duck's sharp and punchy drumming, never missing a beat.

The strong and rocky Rock Blues of "50 In A 25 Zone" where it's precisely an inspired solo by Cutler that makes the track take off; the easy listening brilliance of "Now I Ride Alone." And we reach the masterpiece of the album, "Boston": my favorite song of the Sacred Syndicate!!! With that epic leading riff on the six-string, so damn engaging (I've tried it live and can confirm it all). Its proverbial and anthology-worthy steady rise, in dramatic ascent until the end where all the instrumentation is put to the test by the musicians who let go, release the brakes and give us something indescribably beautiful and engaging.

And there are at least three more pieces deserving top marks.

But here I stop because my stereo system is spreading the first notes of "Boston" and I can’t remain seated…

As always happens to me, top marks to the Dream Syndicate.

Ad Maiora.