With country-tinged arrangements, Duff delivers an album that preaches tenderness as the solution to the world's problems.
Duff McKagan is back with his second solo album, Tenderness . His first since the reunion of Guns N' Roses , the band where he made his career as bassist. The perception of what this new album could be, when analyzing Guns N' Roses' work and all its Hollywood glamour, doesn't match the work Duff intended to create. Here, the musician sheds the glitzy hard rock and bets on atmosphere and country-tinged, gritty arrangements.
In this new work, McKagan joined producer Shooter Jennings and a team of musicians to build a new vision. The album features church organ, guitar, and choirs to keep everything very melodic and warm. The solos are restrained, the vocals are light and reminiscent of the American countryside. It's the kind of music that could be sung on a warm, starry night, on the porch of a farmhouse.
The objective is implicit in the album's title: tenderness. Duff described the album as political, but the message isn't about revolution or anything like that, but rather about affection. The musician addresses issues such as the opioid epidemic in the United States, school shootings, sexual abuse, and other heavy topics. But it's from the perspective of someone who believes in good. Someone tired, but who doesn't give up the fight for empathy.
In “It’s Not Too Late,” for example, Duff gives a hint: “Take a long walk/ meet your friend,” the lyrics say. Almost a plea for the re-humanization of society. As he said in an interview, “My point is not to add another political voice where there’s already too much noise. It’s about unity and peace. I want this album to be a meditation and to bring some healing, if that goal isn’t unattainable.”
At times, Duff's lens seems too innocent. In the song "Parkland," for example, which deals with shootings in American schools, the bassist doesn't offer any concrete solutions. It's as if he's just saying, "Wow, school shootings aren't cool." What overcomes this naiveté is precisely the truth behind the tracks. The musician's level of commitment is perceptible, as is the sincerity of the lyrics.
In this wave of stripping rock n' roll of its glamour, Duff McKagan manages to create a truly tender album. Tenderness never becomes self-indulgent, perhaps largely due to its contemplative arrangements. It's conscious country, not overly assertive, but always well-intentioned. The rebellious kid from Guns N' Roses lived life to the fullest and now stops, with a guitar, and reflects on life.
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