Kerosene Man
| Kerosene Man | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Label | Rhino | |||
| Producer | Joe Chicarellia | |||
| Steve Wynn chronology | ||||
| ||||
Kerosene Man is an album by the American musician Steve Wynn, released in 1990.[1][2] Wynn supported the album with a North American tour.[3]
The title track was released as a single.[4] The album sold more than 70,000 copies in its first year of release.[5]
Production[edit]
Recorded in early 1990 after the resolution of legal issues related to the breakup of the Dream Syndicate, the album was produced by Joe Chicarellia.[6][7] Wynn had 40 songs to choose from, selecting 11 that were in a more pop style.[8] "Conspiracy of the Heart" is a duet with Johnette Napolitano.[9] "Here on Earth as Well" was written in the early 1980s.[10] Steve Berlin played saxophone on some of the songs; Fernando Saunders played bass.[11][12] Wynn used strings on some tracks.[13] Edward Colver contributed some of the photography.[14]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Chicago Sun-Times |   [11] |
| Robert Christgau |  [15] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [16] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [17] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [18] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [19] |
| Select | 3/5[20] |
The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "some of Wynn's influences become pretty obvious, but he puts his own spin on them with his distinctive voice that couches a snarl in crooner-smooth phrasing"; the paper listed the album among the 10 best of 1990.[18][21] The New York Times noted that the songs "are more tuneful and often funnier or more compassionate than typical Dream Syndicate fare."[22]
The Dallas Morning News determined that "guitar noise still predominates ... occasionally, Mr. Wynn lets things get all languid and acoustic."[23] The Plain Dealer opined that "it seems that throughout the album when the writing is there the music fails, and when the music is working the writing breaks down."[24] Spin stated that, "unpredictable and obsessive, Wynn's characters carry an unsettling edge of preoccupation."[25]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tears Won't Help" | |
| 2. | "Carolyn" | |
| 3. | "The Blue Drifter" | |
| 4. | "Younger" | |
| 5. | "Under the Weather" | |
| 6. | "Here on Earth as Well" | |
| 7. | "Something to Remember Me By" | |
| 8. | "Killing Time" | |
| 9. | "Conspiracy of the Heart" | |
| 10. | "Kerosene Man" | |
| 11. | "Anthem" |
References[edit]
- ^ Kot, Greg (22 Mar 1990). "Rhino will soon release...". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
- ^ Gittins, Ian (Jun 16, 1990). "Albums: Steve Wynn". Melody Maker. 66 (24): 32.
- ^ Brace, Eric (12 July 1990). "Steve Wynn". The Washington Post. p. B8.
- ^ Lustig, Jay (June 2, 1991). "Versions of Sonic Youth's 'Kool Thing'...". The Star-Ledger.
- ^ Sullivan, Jim (26 Apr 1991). "Real Music Revue's rolling into Boston". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Mitchell, Justin (June 22, 1990). "Steve Wynn Molts Himself a Solo Career". Rocky Mountain News. p. 18W.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (4 May 1990). "Steve Wynn, Kerosene Man". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 17.
- ^ Selvin, Joel (June 17, 1990). "Steve Wynn's Solo Sound". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. p. 49.
- ^ Hochman, Steve (3 June 1990). "Steve Wynn Breaks Out of the Syndicate". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 65.
- ^ Righi, Len (7 July 1990). "Steve Wynn Refuels with 'Kerosene'". The Morning Call. p. A53.
- ^ a b McLeese, Don (June 1, 1990). "Musical maturity fuels Wynn's 'Kerosene Man'". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 57.
- ^ "Steve Wynn". Trouser Press. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ DeVault, Russ (July 6, 1990). "With solo LP 'Kerosene Man,' Wynn not dreaming anymore". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. G4.
- ^ Colver, Edward (2006). Blight at the End of the Funnel. Last Gasp. p. 198.
- ^ "Steve Wynn". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 792.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 362.
- ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (22 June 1990). "Steve Wynn". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 24.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 788.
- ^ Brown, Russell (July 1990). "Steve Wynn: Kerosene Man". Select. p. 119.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (30 Dec 1990). "Popular Music". Orlando Sentinel. p. L8.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (18 July 1990). "A Triple Bill Takes Rock Back Toward Its Roots". The New York Times. p. C16.
- ^ Maurstad, Tom (June 4, 1990). "Kerosene Man, Steve Wynn". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.
- ^ Heaton, Michael (July 6, 1990). "Wynn can't get songs together". The Plain Dealer.
- ^ Menconi, David (Sep 1990). "Spins". Spin. 6 (6): 80.
