Black Wine
Black Wine
Don Giovannni
Black Wine, the band, open Black Wine, the album, with “Black Wine,” the song. Thus, achieving the rare Talk Talk, Talk Talk, “Talk Talk” trifecta. (Kudos!) But it, the song, is too slow for my tastes. Too much stomp, not enough melody. So why the recommend Black Wine, the band, and Black Wine, the album? Because said tune is exception not rule. The balance of Black Wine is excellent, mixing riffs that make my neck ache and melodies and harmonies that swim in my head for days; sweet pop to contrast the big ROCK action. At least on side one where the Dinosaur Jr./Screaming Trees influences loom largest. Side two shifts from indie rock to indie pop, more reminiscent of Hypnolovewheel or King Missile. In fact, Black Wine gets better as it goes on. In the middle of side two we find “Chateau of Ghosts,” the record’s poppiest song. (It’s also bassist J Nixon’s one songwriting credit. Is he Black Wine’s George Harrison/Dave Davies figure? Kind of like Jeff Schroeck was in the Ergs? Is a J Nixon-led band in the future? Does one exist now? How did he come to receive so much ink in this write up?) There is also “Belong,” a perfect closer that could go on for another five minutes.
– Mike Faloon
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