As someone who lived in the Seattle ‘burbs for 18 years, I have an embarrassing admission. I’d never heard of Richard Stuverud until he filled in for Matt Cameron on a Pearl Jam tour a few years ago. That’s a glaring omission by me, as Stuverud has an extensive discography and got his start with Seattle legends The Fastbacks. It was an omission that I’ve since rectified, taking in the various musical styles and projects that Richard has been involved in. Strangely enough, the guitarist on his latest record and in his LA based band is a friend of a friend – someone I hung out with in an LA bar just before the COVID lockdowns. It is a small world, indeed.
Sunset Ghosts was released late last year and is an album that I’ve returned to quite a few times over the last few months. My buddy in LA, Neal Walter, features on just about every song, giving the album killer guitar licks in abundance. Guests include Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam), Jeff Rouse (Loaded), and Kurt Bloch (The Fastbacks / Young Fresh Fellows). The songwriting by Stuverud gives the album a classic feel, perfect for summer nights. A nice mix of ballads, alternative, and light metal / hard rock. Standouts include the title track, Standing There On a Cloud (my favorite song on the album, a shredders paradise), Slow Motion Heartache, and A Memory Can Weigh a Ton. Shredding, grunge, Beatles inspired laments – this album has it all. Check it out!
You can buy the album here.
Verdict: Soulful Shredding
For Fans of: Pearl Jam, The Fastbacks, Van Halen, The Beatles, Foo Fighters
Tracks:
- Sunset Ghosts
- Standing There On a Cloud
- Come On! Come On!
- Top of the World
- Been There
- Slow Motion Heartache
- Over and Over Again
- Roll With You
- All We Have Is Now
- It’s You
- She Tastes Haunted
- A Memory Can Weigh a Ton