Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 “…tick…tick…tick” (Blue Rose 2005

Third instalment from Tucson finds Wynn revved up. Steve Wynn achieved a critical renaissance with 2001’s “Here Come the Miracles.” He followed it up with “Static Transmission” again recorded with Craig Shumacher in Tucson and on this album the Miracle 3 have returned to Tucson’s Wavelab studios and come up with the third in what Wynn has called his Desert Trilogy. Recorded in 10 days, Wynn says it’s” louder, harder, sicker, freakier” than the previous instalments. As befits a hard working band they are well drilled and play with, at times, a ferocious wall of sound. The guitars (Wynn and Jason Victor) are well to the fore although extra colour is provided on some songs by organ, particularly on “Squares Go Home”. Opening with “Wired” the band blister through a punked up Dylanesque frenzy, two minutes of amphetamined rock energy. “Killing Me” has a killer Bo Diddley beat driving Wynn’s lyrics which again have a Dylanesque quality although on this occasion it’s Dylan as seen through Kim Fowley’s mondo vision. “All The Squares Go Home” is an organ driven garage song with freakbeat guitar soloing, distorted vocals and again clocking in at just over two minutes. Not all of the album is so energetic. Wynn’s melodic sense is well to the fore on “Freak Star” which nods to the Tucson sound of Rich Hopkins with an acoustic intro and silvery guitar lines woven between an anthemic chorus. The Hopkins reference leads inevitably to Neil Young connections and the song “Turning of the Tide” churns up big Neil/Crazy Horse associations. “Bruises” has that meaty beaty Who pop sound especially at the end where the guitar sounds like Townshend’s stuttering morse code art attack. “Cindy It Was Always You” and “Your Secret” hark back to earlier sounding Wynn albums, the latter with a loping bass line and excellent guitar squalls behind his vocals. The final track, “No Tomorrow” pursues the dual guitar attack beloved of the Quicksilver Messenger Service and Television and around the four minute mark achieves an epiphany of sorts as the guitars climax furiously before Wynn shifts the song into a lower gear. The centrepoint of the album and the best track is “The Deep End”. Starting with strummed guitar and a cascade of tinkling bells, the music ebbs and flows with a grandeur, chiming guitars and a wash of percussion and lap steel envelop Wynn’s vocals as he uses the sea as a metaphor for life’s challenges. The review copy is in a standard jewel case but I’ve seen a really nice packaged book facsimile in some of the local indie shops adding up to a great little item. One of the nicer guys in rock with an active role in his web presence, Wynn even gives a nod to his fanbase of traders in the liner notes. Although not as expansive or immediate as “Miracles” and with some songs that seem rushed (“Wild Mercury”) this album will be lapped up by Wynn fans and for the songs “The Deep End” and “No Tomorrow” is well worth a purchase for fair weather followers.

Date review added:  Monday, November 21, 2005
Reviewer:  Paul Kerr
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  www.stevewynn.net