Wreckage From The Fire
Dr. Sam G, 2022
9/10
Listen to Wreckage From The Fire
Aaron Skiles has done plenty of great work in his band Bourbon Therapy, and here with his 2nd solo album he continues that trend, where members of Drive-By Truckers, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band and Seratones accompany him across 8 diverse tracks that are as likely to embrace punk influences as they are alt-country.
“Quarandream” opens the listen with an indeed dreamy landscape that builds into buzzing guitars and soulful, wordless backing vocals that make for a charming instrumental, and “Come With Me” follows with sturdy vocals from Skiles as a fuzzy climate unfolds with ruggedness and melody meeting in the very powerful delivery.
“Before You Go” occupies the middle spot, and benefits from graceful piano amid the eloquent and melancholic wordplay about a suicide close to Skiles, while “Love & Guilt” touches on his indie-rock past with a warm guitar crunch alongside playful synth and soothing vocal harmonies.
Moving towards the end, the swirling and feedback friendly demeanor of “On My Own” makes for an album highlight that takes nods to ‘90s alt-rock, and “I Believe” exits the listen with both intimacy and fuller moments of Skiles’ unique brand of thoughtful yet thumping rock.
A quick listen of brief and impactful rockers that are never short on grit and melody, Skiles on his own is a raw and introspective affair that ends entirely too soon.
Travels well with: Matt North- Bullies In The Backyard; Pete Mancini- Killing The Old Ways