Search - Dream Syndicate :: 3 & 1/2: The Lost Tapes

We Were Lost, They Were Not

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 08/08/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The "Other" 80's Part Two: The Dream Syndicate



The liner notes call this the "Missing Album", well in the mid-1980's as so few folks had even heard of The Dream Syndicate, let's call the 1980's the "Missing Decade". Right in the middle of what was so wrong with popular Music in that decade, we had a Great Band such as this, and 99% of the Record Buying Masses were STILL replacing their worn-out copies of: "Thriller" {Shudders!} I found out about The Syndicate, at a R.E.M. Show in Virginia Beach, Va in the hot summer of 1984 when The Dream Syndicate opened that Concert with a blistering set of Freenzied/Amped-Up Rock that almost stole the Show from the Headliners.



After a blow out with Steve Wynn in late 84, Karl Precoda left the Band, and the whole thing almost came to an end. But in early 1985, Wynn was jamming with his friend Paul B. Cutler, and by adding Mark Walton & Dennis Duck on Bass Guitar & Drums..The Dream Syndicate lived once again.



Two numbers are from April 1985 {"Here On Earth as Well" & "Blood Money"} and the rest of the tracks were recorded August 1987. The Sound of the Band is indeed much different between the style of Karl and his replacement, Paul. The new sound is much akin to: "Merrittville" the final cut on: "Medicine Show" the Groups fantastic 1984 release. The new sound is a bit more Laid-Back and relaxed and even hints of 'Country' are starting to work their way into the bands music with the addition of Paul's style of Guitar. The Band has found new directions for their music here.



"Here On Earth As Well" has a bit of that 'Lonesome' Guitar, but as soon as you here Steve sing, we are safe, this is still The Dream Syndicate. "I Ain't Living Long Like This" is a Country/Romper-Stomper that sets my Cowboy Boots a tappin', this one has some stinging lead guitar work in it from Paul. "Killing Time" has a: Byrds meets the Velvets, sound to it, and a great piano line underscores this great Countrish Rocker. "Lucky" has a Hard Beat under Steve's Vocals, this isn't quite The Blues as The Syndicate takes this Torch/Slasher/Slow-Burner somewhere else altogether as only they can do. "Weathered & Torn" is as a Punky Cowboy Blooze Band, should sound and that is quite unique!



"The Best Years Of My Life" is the Great Lost Country/Rocker on this CD. This is just great Music, this one SHOULD have been a hit, but it didn't stand a chance, this was 1987. "Running from The Memory" continues to rock just like the track right before it, Steve's best vocal performance of the Disc is right here,this is what we used to call: "Hittin' The Beat With Class", like R.E.M. used to do way back in their early years, another great one. "When you Smile" is a Live one from Raji's, this number from the early years of the Band, isn't quite as Wild & Frantic as when Karl played it, but...it hasn't lost an ounce of steam or power.



"It Hits You Again" for me sounds like it could have had a Home on: Medicine Show, it's a Hard Fast Rock Song with some amazing 'Syndicate' guitar, this was just like summer 1984 for me {Wish it was longer, it needs more of a Playout!} "Blood Money" closes up this Fine CD in style, this is another great one that deserved to be heard on the Radio, Steve spits out the words, Paul is all over the frets here.



Some of these songs DID find homes on later Albums by The Dream Syndicate, but here on; "The Lost Tapes 1985-1988" you can here them in their Original Forms. Two great sessions produced this fine Record, It was outta place in the Mid-80's, and it is still outta place today. There is some Great Music here, listen to this, don't be "Lost" anymore!

Four Stars !!!"