| Punctuated Equilibrium | ||
|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Wino | ||
| Released | January 26 2009 | |
| Recorded | 2008 at The Magpie Cage in Baltimore, Maryland | |
| Genre | Doom Metal, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock | |
| Length | 43:13 | |
| Label | Southern Lord Records | |
| Producer | Wino, J. Robbins | |
| Wino chronology | ||
| first solo release (N/A) |
Punctuated Equilibrium (2009) |
Adrift (2010) |
Punctuated Equilibrium is the first solo album by Wino.
Recorded in 2008 after the dissolution of The Hidden Hand, it would be the first time Wino would release an album under his own name. Punctuated Equilibrium would be released in January 2009 via Southern Lord Records in what would be the last Wino-related release on the label.
Backing Wino on this release would be Jean-Paul Gaster (Clutch) and Jon Blank (Rezin, Wretched, Unorthodox). In regards to the latter, Punctuated Equilibrium would be the last studio release Jon Blank would contribute to before his death in April 2010.
Background[]
Following the dissolution of The Hidden Hand, Wino would recruit a band in 2008 to perform under his own name. He would find Jon Blank of Rezin and Jean-Paul Gaster of Clutch as his backing band, the latter he had toured with and harbored an admiration for.[1] Recording would take place in 2008 at The Magpie Cage with J. Robbins, who helped with recording on The Hidden Hand's last album The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote. The album would also feature extensive liner notes from Wino in regards to each track.
Punctuated Equilibrium was released in January 2009 with the vinyl edition to follow that May. The vinyl edition comes with a bonus 10" EP and packaged in a gatefold sleeve with a specially constructed pocket to hold the 10".
Punctuated Equilibrium garnered mostly positive reception from numerous publications. BraveWords would award an 8/10 and praise the variety from song to song.[2] Echoes and Dust would be largely positive of the record, praising the musicianship.[3] Chronicles of Chaos would award an 8 out of 10 and while praising most of the songs, noted that the album as a whole listen can be fairly inconsistent.[4] Tiny Mix Tapes would award a 3.5/5 and largely praised the record with exception to "Gods, Frauds, Neo-Cons and Demagogues".[5] Both Metalsucks[6] and Exclaim![7] would be critical of the albums "inconsistent" tone.
Other notable reviews would be from the likes of Ox Fanzine (8/10),[8] Scene Point Blank (8/10)[9] and Your Last Rites (Positive).[10]
Tracklist[]
All songs arranged by Weinrich, Blank and Gaster except where noted.
Punctuated Equilibrium[]
- 1. Release Me (6:30) (Wino)
- 2. Punctuated Equilibrium (2:50)
- 3. The Woman in the Orange Pants (3:33) (Wino, John Reese)
- 4. Smilin' Road (5:10)
- 5. Eyes of the Flesh (4:14)
- 6. Wild Blue Yonder (6:26)
- 7. Secret Realm Devotion (4:52)
- 8. Water Crane (2:02)
- 9. Gods, Frauds, Neo-cons and Demagogues (3:12)
- 10. Silver Lining (4:24)
===Vinyl Bonus Tracks
- 11. Chest Fever (4:33) (The Band)
- 12. Der Gift (The Poison) (2:44)
- 13. The Comet and the Moon (4:45)
- 14. On the (Sacrificial) (Lam (2:20)
Personnel[]
Wino[]
- Wino - Guitar, Vocals; Slide Guitar (1); Liner Notes; Producer
- Jon Blank - Bass
- Jean-Paul Gaster - Drums
Other Personnel[]
- J. Robbins - Engineer, Producer; Keyboards (7, 8, 11)
- David V. D'andrea - Artwork, Design
- Steve Fisher - Additional Guitar (2)
- Bert Raabe - Arrangement ("Crazy Part") (12)
- Bob Weston - Mastering
- Diana Weinrich - Photography