Steve Gunn has played all sorts of music, from experimental jazz to noise-punk to country-tinged folk to Delta blues. On his sixth studio release, Other You, Gunn sticks to one style, 60’s influenced dreamy pop-rock, as he delivers his prettiest offering to date.
Physically relocating from Brooklyn to Los Angeles to record with producer Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliot Smith) this coastal change had a clear influence on Gunn as Laurel Canyon relaxed vibes and sunshiny breeziness color every track. Efforts like “Morning River”, “The Painter” and “Fulton” (which displays a cool brief noisy solo) all recall The Byrds, Jackson Browne, and Buffalo Springfield at points.
The excellent album opener however brings to mind a band from a different location, as the title tune has a Phish studio track feel with light psychedelic wanderings and an urge to explore deeper. The jams have to wait though as Gunn focuses on his songwriting and singing throughout Other You. Tunes like “On The Way” display layers of gorgeous guitar and the piano accented, warbling “Circuit Rider” prove his light singing touch, and his deft six-string work, shine bright.
The overall sameness of tone and texture can lead to Other You falling into background music; songs like the easy-rolling “Good Wind” dully float by without a lasting impact. The slight deviations arrive via the slowly expanding instrumental “Sugar Kiss” along with the synth and bass-driven “Protection”, both of which run on too long while “Reflection” just pulls back in from being over the top dramatic with swelling sounds.
The album closes on a high point as the relaxed “Ever Feel That Way” brings a Neil Young sorta shuffle to the table with Gunn putting his own spin on the repetitive questioning refrain. The cohesive Other You finds Gunn comfortably delivering gorgeous layers of guitar sounds over relaxed songs which are in no hurry to do much more than reflecting the Southern California sun.
