The Dream Syndicate were instant hipster faves with their 1982 full-length debut, The Days Of Wine And Roses. Along with bands such as Rain Parade and Green On Red, Dream Syndicate came to be known as charter members of the unfortunately named Paisley Underground. As the movement’s name implies, the tendency was towards the music of the '60s, particularly the strummed guitars and clear harmonies of The Byrds.
For The Dream Syndicate, being heralded as overnight rock saviors was a little disconcerting. They were immediately signed by a major label (A&M), and were assigned a big-name rock producer, Sandy Pearlman (Blue Oyster Cult, The Clash) for the follow-up. When Medicine Show appeared in 1984, it shocked and angered many of the original fans of the group, and was a commercial flop.
With the passage of time comes perspective, a fact which has helped bolster the standing of Medicine Show a great deal. What was once considered a blatant sell-out is now seen for what it actually was: a tremendous leap forward.
The eight songs that make up Medicine Show were perfect for the then ubiquitous LP format. There were five relatively concise cuts on side one, and three long-form workouts on side two. This would prove to be Karl Precoda’s last record with the band, and his and Steve Wynn’s guitars are one of the big reasons Medicine Show has come to be so highly regarded.
Opening track “Still Holding On To You” is a definitive example of the “college rock” sound of the mid-'80s. It is hard to believe that Dream Syndicate fans did not like this music at the time. The tune resembles a harder-edged Badfinger. Precoda’s guitar cuts like a crystal all the way through, and the production is amazingly clear.
“Daddy’s Girl” takes an intriguing rockabilly turn, while “Burn” is Americana writ large. The dash of Neil Young-inspired guitar in “Burn” helps the song out considerably. The guitar action gets particularly frenzied during “Bullet With My Name On It.” This may not have been what Dream Syndicate fans were expecting back in the day, but that was their loss. “Bullet” is a great track, and was Precoda’s lone songwriting contribution to the record.
Article comments
1 - JC Mosquito
I always liked it, but thought the pressing was bad. The reissue sounds great - the songs themselves always were.
Wynn has experienced a renaissance of sorts recently - check out some of the discs he's released over the last few years.