Melting in the Dark

1996 studio album by Steve Wynn

Melting in the Dark

Studio album by

Steve Wynn

Released| 1996
Studio| Fort Apache Studios[1]
Genre| Rock, alternative rock
Label| Zero Hour[2]
Producer| Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn chronology
| Fluorescent
(1994)  | Melting in the Dark
(1996)  | Sweetness and Light
(1997)

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Melting in the Dark is an album by the American musician Steve Wynn, released in 1996.[3][4] It was recorded with a band consisting of all the members of Come.[5] Wynn supported the album by touring with a backing band that included members of Gutterball, Zuzu's Petals, and Love Tractor.[6]

## History

[edit]

Shortly before making the record, bassist Sean O'Brien and drummer Arthur Johnson quit Come, making this album's recording sessions the last time the original lineup of Come recorded together.[7][8] Come was more familiar with Wynn's Dream Syndicate work, which in turn influenced the writing and sound of Melting in the Dark.[9][10] The musicians rehearsed for a day before recording for four days.[11][12] "Shelley's Blues, Pt. 2" alludes to Mike Nesmith's "Some of Shelly's Blues".[13]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [14]
Calgary Herald| [15]
Chicago Tribune| [16]
Los Angeles Times| [17]
Orlando Sentinel| [18]

Trouser Press wrote: "Although something of a return to the Dream Syndicate’s savage guitar-frenzy, the album is flightier, with dry, laconic vocals, jauntily aggressive tempos and a joyous garage-crud vibe that suggests it was a lot of fun to make."[19] The Chicago Tribune called the album "spare, free-swinging rock studded with sharp hooks."[16] The Orlando Sentinel deemed it "tense but not humorless rock."[18]

Rolling Stone noted that "Come's clamor seems out of place next to Wynn's uninspired retrorock drawl."[20] The Calgary Herald concluded that "Wynn remains an unheralded anti-hero, a rocker who's never been a pretender and shoulda been a contender."[15] The Los Angeles Times determined that "it's at the midway point that Wynn's seething tales of bad love catch fire."[17]

## Track listing

[edit]

1. "Why"
2. "Shelley's Blues, Pt. 2"
3. "What We Call Love"
4. "Drizzle"
5. "Angels"
6. "Epilogue"
7. "Silence Is Your Only Friend"
8. "Stare It Down"
9. "Smooth"
10. "For All I Care"
11. "Way You Punish Me"
12. "Down"
13. "Melting in the Dark"

## Personnel

[edit]

* Steve Wynn \- vocals
* Thalia Zedek \- guitar, backing vocals
* Chris Brokaw \- guitar
* Sean O'Brien - bass
* Arthur Johnson - drums

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Sullivan, Jim (5 Jan 1996). "Thalia Zedek and Chris Brokaw agree to Come again". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 56.
2. ^ Thompson, Dave (June 1, 2000). "Alternative Rock". Hal Leonard Corporation - via Google Books.
3. ^ "Steve Wynn Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
4. ^ "Review". www.ox-fanzine.de.
5. ^ "Steve Wynn: What I Did After My Band Broke Up". Pitchfork.
6. ^ Menconi, David (October 4, 1996). "Combination plates". What's Up. The News & Observer. p. 13.
7. ^ Buckley, Peter (June 1, 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides - via Google Books.
8. ^ "Steve Wynn Melting In The Dark". Steve Wynn.
9. ^ Daniel, Jeff (10 Oct 1996). "ANOTHER NOTCH IN THE WYNN COLUMN". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 9.
10. ^ Lustig, Jay (July 12, 1996). "Dreaming and Come-ing again". Ticket. The Star-Ledger. p. 27.
11. ^ Weitz, Matt (September 19, 1996). "Out There". Music. Dallas Observer.
12. ^ Haymes, Greg (November 7, 1996). "A WYNNING HAND". Times Union. Albany. p. P4.
13. ^ Milano, Brett (Nov 1996). "Steve Wynn: Melting in the Dark". Stereo Review. 61 (11): 131.
14. ^ "Steve Wynn Melting in the Dark Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" - via www.allmusic.com.
15. ^ a b Muretich, James (18 Aug 1996). "New Releases". Calgary Herald. p. E2.
16. ^ a b Reger, Rick (1 Aug 1996). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
17. ^ a b Appleford, Steve (23 Oct 1996). "ALBUM REVIEWS". Los Angeles Times. p. F8.
18. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (30 Aug 1996). "SUMMER STOCK INCLUDES SOME BLUE CHIPS". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
19. ^ "Steve Wynn". Trouser Press. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
20. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (Aug 8, 1996). "Near Life Experience/Melting in the Dark". Rolling Stone (740): 58.

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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