Tommy Stinson: Village Gorilla Head : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Despite a rock & roll resume few can touch, Replacements co-founder and current Guns n' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson has spent most of his career in the shadow of complex frontmen. While his spotty, post-'Mats projects like Bash and Pop and Perfect were destined for the cut-out bin, Stinson's first real solo disc is a stunning achievement. Set in motion with the captivating, slow crawling "Without a View," Village Gorilla Head wins fans early with the blissful power of "Not a Moment too Soon." The adept Stones-like frenzy of "Something's Wrong" exhilarates, but it's lilting, yet edgy ballads like "O.K." and "Light of Day" that magically touch on the Replacements legacy. No matter that Village took five years to build, these are concise, consistently great songs that suddenly find Stinson in the same league with players like Ryan Adams and Josh Rouse.