7.8/10
Shortly after releasing his 2022 album Hummingbirds, Richard Stuverud received a call that most musicians could only dream of. Pearl Jam’s legendary drummer, Matt Cameron, had fallen ill with COVID, leaving the band in need of a short-term replacement for several upcoming shows. Luckily, bassist Jeff Ament didn’t have to look far. He reached out to Stuverud, who brought the perfect energy, vibe, style, and chops to fill in. During this whirlwind time, Stuverud also found songwriting gold while vacationing in Crete, leading to the creation of his latest album, Sunset Ghosts.
The majority of the songs on Sunset Ghosts were written during that trip, and the album features a star-studded lineup of guest musicians. Among them are Ament, who contributes bass to “Sunset Ghosts” and “Standing There On A Cloud”; Tim DiJulio, who provides lead guitar on “Slow Motion Heartache” and “A Memory Can Weigh A Ton”; Neal Walter, who plays guitars on most tracks and bass on “All We Have Is Now”; and Drew Gordon, who appears on various tracks with both guitar and bass. The album also boasts contributions from Sluggo Cawley, Dave Flores, Jeff Rouse, Kurt Bloch, and Owen Adair Kelly. The blend of hard rock and atmospheric tones on Sunset Ghosts is the result of Stuverud’s experience recording at Ben Moore’s Singing Serpent Studios in San Diego, and his long-term collaboration with Bart Thurber at House of Faith Recording in Oakland.
The album kicks off with the title track, a straight-ahead rocker that opens with a killer drum sequence focused on toms and snare. Lightly overdriven guitars enter at 0:07, soon joined by bass and Stuverud’s vocals, which ask, “Tell me, will I see you in the morning?” The song has a hypnotic quality, especially when enhanced by backing vocals. A key change during the bridge adds depth, and the line, “She sees the stars and she wraps them around you… How the light must have burned out your eyes…” paints a vivid image. Ament’s melodic bass work shines here, recalling the descending lines of No Code’s “Habit.” With the dynamic interplay between Stuverud and Ament, the rhythm section drives the song forward, while Neal Walter’s guitars pierce through the mix with intensity. “Sunset Ghosts” is a triumph, full of musical chemistry and ingenuity.
Things pick up a notch on “Standing There On A Cloud.” A fuzzed-out guitar riff kicks off the track before the rhythm section locks in, setting a sense of urgency without ever feeling rushed. Stuverud’s higher-register vocals in the chorus of “Saw myself standing there all alone… thought I’d be at one with all the waves of clouds…” provide a brief contrast to the heavier verses, balancing the song’s immediacy with an air of reflection. The guitar solo at the 1:50 mark cuts through the track, adding another layer of sonic excitement. Ament’s bass and Stuverud’s Keith Moon-like drumming form the song's backbone, propelling it into the stratosphere.
Other highlights include “Top of the World,” a track that channels the spirit of The Replacements, feeling like it could have been lifted straight from Let It Be or Tim; the country-tinged yearning of “Slow Motion Heartache,” which features the haunting line, “There we are, another mile down the road… It’s moving fast, hurry up to slow down… I can see the past written all over your face… Where nothing’s real and nothing’s meant to stay…”; and the epic closer, “A Memory Can Weigh A Ton,” where Stuverud defies conventional song structure, crafting a genre-blurring track that moves from pop to spaced-out jam session.
Sunset Ghosts is a multifaceted album that balances haunting beauty with raw power. Stuverud’s fearless willingness to follow his creative instincts, incorporate diverse influences, and experiment with sound results in music that is cohesive and bold. Here’s hoping we won’t have to wait too long for what comes next.
Comentários