There's still life left in some familiar forms. If you describe the music of Dusk on paper, it might sound like something you think you've already heard enough of. But the Wisconsin band inject so much spark into the tunes on their new Don Giovanni Records release, that a listener is sort of surprised. Glass Pastures is a helluva record is what I'm saying.
The excellently-titled "Pissing in a Wishing Well" takes a Stones-in-'72-stab at familiar forms, while the more lyrical "Changes" adds in dashes of Big Star (and The Jayhawks channellilng Big Star). The cuts are buoyant and brash, even if the material feels so reminiscent of past acts. Dusk find a way to make this seem fresh, especially on things like "At the Roadside", where there's a bit of country-swing in the hook. I can see why folks have compared this lot to NRBQ when I hear a real winning number like this one. Dare you to listen to this without tapping your toes while you're doing it. And on "Don't Let Them Tell You", there's evidence of a debt owed to both Gram Parsons and Mick Taylor.
Dusk find a way to make most of their material quite engaging. There's clearly some juice left in this kind of thing, and, thankfully, Dusk are drawing inspiration from the very best to have done it already. Most of Glass Pastures is upbeat, and the players never get lost in their own influences. A very pleasant surprise here near the end of the year, Glass Pastures by Dusk is one to seek out. especially if you're a fan of any of the band's I've referenced in the course of this review.
Glass Pastures by Dusk is out now via Don Giovanni Records.
[Photo: Dusk Facebook]