Steve Wynn, the creative force behind the Dream Syndicate, doesn’t do much wrong on his first solo album in over a decade, Make It Right, with help from friends Mike Mills of R.E.M. and Vicki Peterson of the Bangles.
Released alongside his memoir, I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True, Make It Right gives us an intimate glimpse into Steve Wynn's reflective mind, twisting together music and memory in a way only a veteran of the alternative rock wars could manage. This isn’t your typical rock record, it's like a nuanced conversation between Wynn the writer and Wynn the musician. With each chapter of his memoir, new ideas for songs surfaced, turning this album into a dialogue of sorts. “It was a one-man Q&A, a gentle volley in the tennis court of my mind,” Wynn explains, summing up the record’s philosophical tone. While the album isn’t strictly autobiographical, it carries a deeply personal feel, tracing emotional and geographical milestones. The journey begins with "Santa Monica," a nod to the city of his birth, and ends with "Roosevelt Avenue," a tribute to his current home in Queens, New York.
Wynn’s introspective journey is backed by a lineup of longtime peers from across the music world. Mike Mills of R.E.M. contributes his signature bass lines, Vicki Peterson of the Bangles adds her harmonic flair, and Linda Pitmon of the Baseball Project provides the rhythmic backbone. More friends like Chris Schlarb (Psychic Temple) and Emil Nikolaisen (Serena Maneesh) round out the cast, making Make It Right an experience, an extended family alt-rock family affair.
It has touches of the Dream Syndicate's brand of neo-psychedelia, but Make It Right also leans into vulnerability and reflection, showing a side of Wynn that's more contemplative than confrontational. Tracks like "Bring Me The Moon" and "What’s Left Of Yesterday" are approached with nostalgia but refuse to dwell in the past. Instead, they implore us to consider how memories shape the present, a theme that reverberates throughout both the album and the memoir. Wynn's tour in support of the album promises to be a unique experience, blending live music with readings from the memoir, creating a narrative arc that bridges his past and present. This one-man show is poised to be as much a storytelling session as it is a concert, with Wynn peppering personal anecdotes into his performances, giving fans a rare chance to hear the stories behind the songs.