Gin Wigmore “Gravel & Wine”
About forty years ago The Band wrote ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’, and they were Canadian. A few years later, Florida band Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote ‘Sweet Home Alabama’. So you don’t have to be experientially authentic or a method actor to tell a good story, or divorced to write a good break-up song. In fact it takes a lot of skill to inhabit other peoples’ stories with credibility, like Nebraska’s Springsteen, who I don’t think has actually killed anybody, but I could believe it.
The reason I say this is Gin Wigmore’s new album Gravel & Wine sounds very Southern. It could be the soundtrack for the next season of True Blood. Like the Cardinals’ sound on her first album Holy Smoke, there’s more of the warmly-distorted-reverbed-tremolo’d guitar, deep clanging piano with thick snare and tambourine on the accents. It’s very swampy-stompy.
The recording is lush and nice to listen to, but hasn’t suffered over-production, owing to the live band recording process, which always has an energy that separate tracking cannot capture. The producer and band were Atlanta-based Butch Walker and the Black Widows, whose production CV includes Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Pink. His diverse history in the industry certainly made him the ideal candidate to harness the sound/aesthetic Wigmore (and I’m sure Universal Music) wanted (and paid) to present.
The language surrounding Gravel & Wine from the lyrics to interviews refers to moonshine, railroads, spaghetti westerns and O Brother Where Art Thou, which is all cool, but that seems to be the only reason. The Southern trope, which has been in vogue since Johnny Cash met Rick Rubin, is only used to a surface-level-aesthetic extent. It’s as if the Southern tradition is worn for Wigmore as a cool jacket, whereas for Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds it’s a costume in an elaborate theatre.
The album does travel through movements: there are introductory brash anthems, sultry ballads, and a couple of nice stripped back contemplatives towards the end. So much of Gravel & Wine seems to be shouting “Beware, I’m Bad!” but in ‘Singing My Soul’ you hear Wigmore’s voice slowed down, more exposed and more vulnerable. It’s refreshing to discover some drawling gentleness amongst the noise.
Gravel & Wine is a great sounding album and Wigmore has a strong presence, but the lyrics are relatively unimaginative. It feels like a string of appropriately placed clichés, from “once you go black you never go back” to “girl you better wake up”. Hopefully she’ll read some Faulkner and listen to Lucinda Williams before the next record. Gin Wigmore’s performative attitude and command in her music is attractive though, and she was obviously noticed in the United States, as she will soon be releasing a duet with Mark Lanegan. I’m looking forward to it. [B+]
Wigmore is mediocre. An artist who banks on the ‘individuality’ of her voice (thanks for that Macy) rather than any sort of interesting approach to songwriting or production. Oh yes, she cranks out the lingerie in public too – that’s bound to get you on Nightline and garner a following (of a kind). Still, it’s tough these days in the industry right? Gotta do the odd cash-in single where you can, and the RWC was perfect for Black Sheep….eh………….wasn’t it?
I’m going to have to disagree with you Matt, distinctive voices are what seperates artists. Let me ask you this, if Elton John or Rod Stewart comes on the radio do you not immediately know who is singing? What about Pink or Taylor Swift? And if you’re old enough or diverse enough with your musical interest what about Stevie Wonder or Diana Ross?
Unique is the key. I have just recently discover Gin Wigmore thanks to a local Lowes commercial using her Don’t Stop song in their add. Her unique voice made me wonder who she was, so I did a Google search and found out. Listened to several song via the internet and ended up ordering both of her older CD’s Extended Play and Holy Smoke (Gravel & Wine in not available in the US yet). This was based purely on her voice because guess what they didn’t show her picture in the add.
it is apparent that you don’t care for Gin and that’s fine because there are several performers/artists out that I don’t care for, that’s why we are allowed to make choices. My question is if you don’t like her why did you read the article and why did you post? If I don’t care for someone or even a sports team I don’t read information on them because I’m not interested. I can’t help but wonder why you feel compelled to make critical remarks. Does it make you feel good about yourself to try to be critical of someone who is successful, or is it pure jealousy?
Take care Matt and keep hiding behind that keyboard!!
I think you missed Matt’s point, that Wigmore’s ‘unique’ voice is not actually that unique, but rather derivative of the Macy Gray rasp.
Matthew I think you missed my point. I know Macy but she is not an artist I care to listen too. I do like Gin Wigmore but that doesn’t mean I need to find articles on Macy so I can degrade her as a singer/artist. The main point being made was why always be negative? What purpose does it serve unless you have some kind of personal grudge or are simple a jealous person.
I also disagree she does have a very unique voice, that is what stirred my curiosity from hearing the local commercial. Remember you have probably heard her sing for years and have grown tired but she is new for me and many others. Believe it or not I have grown sick of local artist because the local radio stations played them non-stop, then after a few years I went back and loved them all over again. One such singer is someone we call “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen.
I may be able to sit down with Matt and have a great time talking sports, music, or any different number of topics. Who knows we may be best buds if we knew wach other. I just wanted to point out the old saying that if you don’t have something nice to say about someone its is best to say nothing at all. Or maybe this is a better way to explain:
“It is better to remain silent and have others think you are a fool rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt”.
What this world needs is less negative people and more support for one another….
I hope this clarifies what I was saying Matthew… Hope you have a Great Day!!
And Oscar Wilde said only auctioneers like all schools of art. Hope you have a Great Day!! too Marvin.
And Oscar Wilde also said “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”
Very similar to folks criticizing others while hiding behind a keyboard.
I still think Gin is a Marvelous talent and I look forward to her new CD becoming available in the US. And if she ever gets close enough to where I live I will definitely try to attend a concert.
That’s one thing I can honestly say is that I like all kinds of music. It doesn’t all have to fit into a single style.
I still wonder why someone would spend so much time reading about someone they dislike. HAppy Holidays!!
Don’t forget Butch Walker’s most impressive producing credit – Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted and Gilby Clarke’s reality TV band Rock Star: Supernova.
Haha that’s right. Yep he knows what sells.