STEVE TURNER
Searching For Melody (Roslyn Recordings)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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Known best as the lead guitarist for powerhouse rockers Mudhoney, not to mention bassist in outfits like the Fallouts and the Monkeywrench, Turner branches out into the world of folk music with his first solo CD. After months of apparent practice at learning how to sing and play at the same time, Steve played some lo key solo shows and recorded this release. Retaining the help of musicians like co-producer Johnny Sangster (guitar, bass, percussion and keys), Stone Gossard (bass) and Dan Peters (drums), Turner's created a great album that's totally different from anything else he's ever done musically, but is equally engaging. Sparse instrumentation and Turner's nasally Dylan-esque vocals drive songs like "The Idiot Blues," "Living Through The Mistakes," "Not Only You" and "Nothing But The Blues." It's not all folky, though: a jazzy feel permeates "You, My Girl" and his cover of Colin McDonel's "I'm 37," with its cheap rhythm beatbox and wiggly guitar, sounds like something off of Brian Eno's Taking Tiger Mountain album! Some of the other tunes, like "Take Care," have a bouncy, rollicking American Heartland sound that reminds me of some of those mid-80s bands like Miracle Legion. There's even an acapella song, a cover of Dave Van Ronk's "Last Call" that finishes the album off. I like this a lot, and it's neat to hear someone breaking out of their standard musical style and being successful with it.

[Pick this up at www.barsuk.com.]

© 2003 - Alan Wright