Will Stewart - Way Gone
WILL STEWART RELEASES WONDERFUL ‘WAY GONE’
Birmingham, Alabama singer-songwriter-guitarist Will Stewart recently released a new mini-album, entitled Way Gone, following on the heels of his 2018 release of County Seat.
Will Stewart
With six-tracks covering an expansive array of soundscapes, Way Gone is not a concept album. In fact, the album came together slowly, over a period of time, as a few of the songs required nurturing to attain realization, while others wanted for momentum. In the end, the album achieved fruition at Ol Elegante with Les Nuby and Communicating Vessels with Brad Timko.
Along with his solo career, Stewart works with Janet Simpson as Timber, performing in her solo band, as well as playing with Terry Ohms and a new band called The Blips. He contributed to Sarah Lee Langford’s 2019 album, Two-Hearted Rounder.
Way Gone begins with “Southern Raphael,” opening on platinum strumming guitars topped by Stewart's easygoing, slightly hushed voice. Nuanced synths provide gleaming resonant textures, as a dream-fused guitar delivers drifting accents. Rife with dark quixotic flavors, the song is both tantalizing and risk-filled.
Gloriously wrought, layered with graceful polished elegance and delicious forlorn washes of sound, Will Stewart delivers a gem on Way Gone.
Highlights include “River Child,” a bluesy country-laced tune with drawling steel guitars echoing plaintive notes and a measured crunching rhythm. A fat rolling bassline imbues the rhythm with slow woeful coloration, while Stewart’s sad croon fills the lyrics with melancholy.
“All Over Again” kicks up its heels, injecting glistening driving jangle-infused guitars on a galloping rhythm, as if Tom Petty decided to cover Jackson Browne. There’s a delicious alluring quality to this song, with its SoCal country-rock savors.
“Night God” conjures up memories of Bob Dylan, riding a dreamy, oozing melody chock-full of a low-slung wailing steel guitar atop a gently undulating rhythm. Stewart’s nasal-lite tones give the lyrics just the right amount of elusive sorrow and regret. A crying guitar solo delivers palpable colors of wistfulness.
Gloriously wrought, layered with graceful polished elegance and delicious forlorn washes of sound, Will Stewart delivers a gem on Way Gone.
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