Gathered over the course of four years, Stephen Winston has taken his diamond in the rough and transformed them into complete diamonds. His newest album One True Story was technically recorded between 2003 and 2007. Many were recorded in Colorado and found their way onto his album The Overlook Sessions and others left in the care of Winston’s producer and collaborator Michael Pfeifer.
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After recording other albums and working with many studios, curiosity struck Winston when he asked Pfeifer if he had any of the older unused songs. Turns out, Pfeifer had 10 eclectic tracks that were able to be remixed and remastered. This along with a newly recorded 11th track create the ambitious new record release. It should be noted that Winston is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades performer, not only supplying vocals, but acoustic guitar and piano and he pulls out every trick he’s picked up. However, it never feels self-indulgent and Winston, even with tracks recorded over a decade ago has such restraint and specificity like the album opener “All Quiet in The Bronx” which revels in universal connectivity and the desire that we have to work to be better in the world collectively, even when evoking what could be cringe parody lines “god bless America being among them” but turning them into an earnest declaration. He even transcends political difference by suggesting a unity between the left and the right and this positivity is most welcome.
Stephen Winston “One True Story” Lyric Video
“One True Story” is a reflection on the unrealized promises, false expectations and delusional hopes from a rehab facility in the desert.Written by Stephen W…
There’s a melancholy quality that never devolves into depression or averts darkness like in the track “Winter” with Bob Rebholz on a beautiful sax backing as well as using the Heritage Christian Center Choir for evoking and sparingly used backing vocals that almost have a Leonard Cohen quality to it. You can tell that Winston has a vast appreciation for all kinds of music and utilizes those tools he’s heard and perfect amongst his own craft to apply to his own work, even if these tracks were recorded long ago. He evokes a 90s Casio aesthetic with “Lavington Hill”. There’s an overt religious aspect to this work that never feels overbearing and allows these songs to be appreciated universally regardless of faith and it’s a delicate tight rope act that Winston aces.
Stephen Winston
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Winston while being light and positive is also able to display his confusion and disdain for darkness in the world and it becomes more apparent with how he was able to so seamlessly stitch these songs together to form a cohesive flow. There is such a wide variety and the record’s easy-going nature allows for great atmospheric background play but listening intently creates such an intimate setting across its beautiful 11 tracks. Winston looks at the past fondly with this release and I can’t recommend it enough, both as an experiment of continuing growth, but also as a fantastic addition to his work and one certainly hopes if he has any other unused tracks, he’s able to duplicate this experience and showcase his true love for his art.
Clay Burton