Note: This review originally
appeared as a From The Vault feature in the Illinois Entertainer.
Long before Butch Vig emerged as a
high-profile producer and member of the caustic rock band, Garbage, he was
performing catchy pop songs with the Madison Wisconsin quintet, Spooner. Back
in 1985, Vig, along with Garbage guitarist Duke (then Doug) Erikson, crafted a
power pop masterpiece that unfortunately has gone undiscovered for over a
decade. Spooner’s ambitious sophomore effort, Wildest Dreams, eclipsed their
promising debut, Every Corner Dance, with more depth and engaging melodies.
Lead vocalist-guitarist Erikson was
the mastermind behind the album, writing all 10 songs, but Vig co-produced and
provided a steady backbeat on the drums. Spooner brought a distinct Midwest
flavor to Wildest Dreams, particularly on the intense romance of “The Rainy
Days” and deceptively perky “This Town’s On Fire.” The heart-breaking “Woman
Out Of Time,” which opened with Erikson asking, “Whatever happened to summer?”
was another highlight. All the tracks were woven into a tapestry that
foreshadowed the Americana movement that would arrive in the mid-1990s.
Vig and Erikson later made their
mark producing and performing with other bands, but in a way, their Wildest
Dreams went unfulfilled.
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