Liner Notes :

I still remember Steve Wynn sending me a tape of the first Gutterball album just after it was recorded. It immediately grabbed my attention - the rawness of the sound, the quality of the songwriting - it had a loose feel about it, that not only recalled albums such as Neil Young's Zuma, but was the closest thing I'd heard to the early Dream Syndicate since.......well, the early Dream Syndicate. While the songs and sound weren't exactly like the early D.S., the overall rough vibe was similar. To be honest, I hadn't been that blown away by Kerosene Man and I really wasn't into Dazzling Display, so I was excited by Steve's new/old direction with Gutterball.
Not only did the album prick up my ears, but I lucky enough to be in Europe during the band's first tour and spent a few days traveling around with them. The live shows were amazing (see my liner notes for SD05/Gutterball live 1993).

Fast forward 10 years after and we've got a "one off" Gutterball reunion that sounds as sweet as the day the baby was born. So many of Steve's best songs of the 1990's (along with the Fluorescent album) are contained here.
"Motorcycle Boy", "Lester Young", "Top Of The Hill", "One By One", "Trial Separation Blues", "When You Make Up Your Mind", "Cheaper By The Pound". All stone cold classics from the pen of Wynn and pals.

There's a wealth of fun and frolic here and I'd be doing the other guys a disservice if I didn't mention how much I love "It's A Fucked Up World", because frankly, it is.

Pat Thomas
Oakland, CA
Memorial Day 2003

The Tracks