Gary Sunshine is a veteran most known for his work in the group Circus of Power. You might not know he was in a number of other bands as well. Beer, Picks & Old Records is his solo record.
There are thirteen songs on the album. Sunshine at times delves into warm Americana alt-country and also likes to rock out. I was immediately on board with the title track “Beer, Picks & Old Records.” The song has an authentic vibe not unlike a band like Wilco. This type of song has been done before but rarely does it sound this good. There is a good amount of nostalgia and this sing-along type of vibe along with some exceptional guitar picking sounds just as good on a back porch as the stage. The second track contains unique inventive percussive aspects and loose almost spoken word type of singing. I thought the groove was very unusual in a good way. The Velvet Underground came to mind here. “But I Got All My Feelings Hurt” is a highlight. The song is such a sing-along with certain lines being repeated. It was hard not to think of Jack White on this song. There is more than a hint of blues rock. There are more great songs and plenty of different moods. “Love Turns” is a good breakup song that really works. It’s not too saccharine. The lead guitar and the vocals hit the right amount of melancholy without sounding melodramatic. “We Had Gold” is the first full-fledged rocked song and Sunshine pulls this off as well. His vocals sound at home here as well. The album is really just getting started. The whole album relies on realistic situations and deciphers life through a lens most people can relate to. This is an album about the human condition in many ways and feels very true. It encapsulates the ups and downs poetically but also with language that never feels too ambiguous. I thought this was a great album. Sunshine’s songwriting was consistent and really was a pleasure listening to in sequential order. Recommended.
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