SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE WALLFLOWERS – EXIT WOUNDS

The Wallflowers
Exit Wounds
New West Records

Distance, patience, loss, and winning, and somewhere in between is Jakob Dylan, making choices. Over the decades, it seems he has been playing it safe enough not to fail. Whatever he does, however, cards are dealt, deals are made, and Dylan knows how to call the shots as they come. On this new release, Exit Wounds, he continues to call the shots, and that’s a good thing. This is one you will listen to from start to finish.

Note for note, “I’ll Let You Down” has several measures that are highly reminiscent of a page out of a Rolling Stones songbook, Keith Richards as a matter of fact singing a 1986 tune “Sleep Tonight” on Dirty Work. This has nothing to do with apples never falling far from certain trees, but more to do with writing good songs; however, do yourself a favour and have a listen to both. Not only are the melodies similar but both are also in the same key of F major, the saddest of all keys. This is a definite highlight on the album – and comes complete with all that Wallflowers mojo.

“The Daylight Between Us” and “Roots And Wings” give one the impression that the protagonist has seen a fair share of drugs and “heavy birds”, the girlfriends anchored into “roots and opportunities” that are taken for granted. Dylan could be talking about that elephant in the room we all have to deal with one way or another.

Exit Wounds could have survived and found success on either side of the millennium as it brings nostalgia, relief, and flavour to a sweet slice of Americana pie for the present day. No doubt, the only time Jakob Dylan could lose is perhaps at chess on the tour bus where failure can be chuckled upon.

Drive it home with both headlights because if you try a little, there’s something forever in the middle.

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