Published on Sep 22, 2000
Whatever you think about Kip Winger, you have to admit he’s a
survivor.
Although he was in one of the more popular pop-metal bands of
the late ’80s, just mentioning the name Winger to those who grew up
in that timeframe might produce looks of disgust — looks which, in
retrospect, are undeserved. Yet he has continued in the music
business, although in a smaller, more introspective role. The death
of his wife in a car crash in 1996 was an incident that might have
sent lesser men into a tailspin of grief. Yet Winger was able to
look upon his pain and loss and create a surprisingly powerful
album,
Songs From The Ocean Floor.
If you pick this up expecting to hear the same musician who
recorded songs such as “Seventeen” and “Headed For A Heartbreak,”
you’re going to be disappointed. However, if you pick this disc up
expecting to hear the man behind the music, you’re going to be in
for a treat… as well as one hell of an emotional
rollercoaster.
The album teams Winger up with a diverse yet eclectic group of
musicians, not the least of which is his former bandmates Rod
Morgenstein and Reb Beach. Also making a surprising appearance is
Moon Zappa, who contributes vocals on “Sure Was A Wildflower.” This
particular track is not one which leaps out at the listener on the
first listen, but as you grow more comfortable with the disc, it
becomes a hidden gem.
There is no doubt that Winger uses
Songs From The Ocean Floor as a way to deal with the tragic
loss he was dealt in 1996. Tracks such as “Cross” and “Two Lovers
Stand” seem to deal with life before his loss, almost as if it sets
up a preface to the intense emotional scars that Winger rips open
just a short time later.
“Song Of Midnight” seems to be the first track which begins this
process, though it’s more of a gentle love letter to one who was
lost too young. Yet Winger seems to begin exposing the raw nerves
in this track as he laments the lost chance to say goodbye: “My
secret room… darkening / Eclipse my waking soul / Fuse the memory
of our lost goodbye / To a story never told.”
Following the instrumental-based “Free,” Winger pulls out all
the stops on “Only One Word,” a song which leaves no doubt that the
pain is still fresh. Sample lyric: “A river of novocain / could
never ease the pain / that I’ll never see you again.” Another
sample lyric, immediately following that line: “And I’m still so
freaked / that we couldn’t even speak / If only one, only one word
/ But no words were spoken / Your body lay broken.” Ka-pow.
Yet Winger realizes that even in the sorrow, one must try to
move forward with their life, and
Songs From The Ocean Floor is as much a celebration of life
as it is a cry of pain. “Resurrection” is proof that Winger does
not want to be locked in a cycle of grief: “All I know, I don’t
wanna be dead and done / All I know is I don’t wanna be a setting
sun / Find a way to paint the color in my heart.” As much as Winger
will bear the scars of his loss, he boldly proclaims that he has
the strength to continue — something many widows and widowers
struggle with throughout their lives. The healing process continues
on the album’s final song, “Everything You Need.”
Musically,
Songs From The Ocean Floor is an album that takes time for
the listener to become comfortable with… but once you get past
the awkwardness of listening to someone bear their heart for the
world to hear, it proves to be a testament to the strength of the
human soul. This is not something that can be forced, and Winger
proves this comes straight from the heart even down to the musical
arrangements. Encompassing Egyptian rhythms in many songs, Winger
paints a portrait which allows the listener to almost see the man
trying to come to grips as he walks the streets of Cairo.
Chances are
Songs From the Ocean Floor will never spawn a hit single
along the lines of “Seventeen.” Somehow, I don’t think that matters
to Winger. He can be proud that he’s created an album which
challenges, as well as entertains, the listener, and is one which
he could easily call his masterpiece.