Search - Winger :: IV

It's been 20 years - things change.

Lane T. Denson | Spring Hill, TN | 07/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It seems to me the majority of bad reviews are from those who want to pull their old ripped jeans and bandannas out of the closet and tease their hair up to the ceiling again. If you're looking to relive the late 80s, this album isn't for you. It's darker, moodier, and there's hardly any poppy/major key'd songs like "Seventeen" or "Can't Get Enuff" (ugh), true enough.



But to say that it's lacking hooks, energy, or musicianship is flat out wrong. "Blue Suede Shoes" has one of the catchiest (if somewhat sad) choruses in recent memory. The one-two punch of "Your Great Escape"/"Disappear" has as much energy or passion as anything they've done in the past, and "Living Just To Die" and "Can't Take It Back" are far more emotional and heartwrenching than anything on their previous albums.



On top of that, the playing is superb. The entire band is allowed to stretch out more than on previous albums, and they seem far more comfortable now with the prog-rock edge than when they had something to prove with Pull.



In addition, I *really* appreciate the lyrical tack Winger took on this album. Many tracks are obviously targeted towards the current situation in the Middle East, but unlike the mindless anti-war/Bush-is-the-debil drum-beating that's typical of most musicians who address the current political climate, Kip's take is actually *thoughtful*. He looks at it from multiple perspectives, both honoring the sacrifices and selflessness of the people involved, as well as addressing the broader scope of war and the destruction it causes. A very even-handed approach that your more celebrated songwriters could take a lesson or two from."