All A View
Self-Released, 2021
9/10
If you’ve been around for awhile, you might remember the Philadelphia outfit Wanderlust from their major label stint in the ‘90s. Their robust guitar work, pop hooks and agile songwriting from frontman Scot Sax had the band opening for The Who and touring with Collective Soul, though by 1998 they had dissolved.
A reunion happened in 2011 and a new record in 2012, and this installment of the Wanderlust story actually came about when Sax found unfinished demos that needed to be completed so that the record that never was, finally is.
The title track starts the listen with a warbly version of pop and rock, as spacey moments, dreamy vocals and even more forceful bouts end up residing somewhere near prog-rock and jam band fun, and “Black Currant Jam” follows with some classic rock nods as fluid drumming and soaring backing vocals add much to the melodic landscape that’s both gritty and tuneful.
Near to the middle, “2 Million Pieces” is a calmer track, where vocal harmonies, a drum machine and some gospel nods enter the gentle climate, while “Corduroy Moon” brings folksy acoustic strumming and a nostalgic appeal that we will never tire of. “Trick Of The Light”, one of the album’s best, then recruits a soulful quality to the flowing, breezy retro rock that could have been penned in any decade since the ‘60s.
Close to the end, the warm pedal steel of “Bored And Blue” complements the reflective tone well, and “Inspiration” exits the listen with timeless folk-rock that’s a little jangly and a whole lot exceptional as the band finish just as strong as they started.
All 4 members of Wanderlust- Sax, Rob Bonfiglio, Mark Getten and Jim Cavanaugh, have remained active playing music since Wanderlust formally ended decades ago, and you can certainly tell as All A View is superbly delivered, and it’s clear that the chemistry that ignited them as youngsters is still very much present.
Travels well with: The Jayhawks- XOXO; The Long Ryders- Psychedelic Country Soul