Caught in the Carousel

Scott Warren

By Alex Green

Scott Warren

Turtlenecked and tambourined, hair in his eyes and his thin lips thoughtfully pursed, Gene Clark was the physical embodiment of effortlessness. He was one of those guys who was genetically cool, like it was something that landed on him at birth and radiated there for the rest of his life. But as cool as the Missouri-born Clark looked, he sounded even cooler. Many of his songs were soaked in sadness, but master phraser that he was, they came out breezy, effortless and graceful.

Like Gene Clark, singer/songwriter Scott Warren hails from Missouri, but he's got more in common with Clark than just a birth state. Best known as the frontman of the indie rock roots outfit Signal Hill Transmission, Warren has a graceful Clark-like delivery and like the former Byrd, his work is imbued with a gentle but firm command of not only how to steer a pop song into the sky, but how to make it hang up there and glow.

Warren's solo debut Quick Fix Bandage is a stunning collection of thoughtful roots rock that comes with a lustrous poeticism and a masterful command of melody. "Before You Said Goodbye," which is one of the catchiest songs of the year, jangles mightily away; "Laugh Through The Pain" is achingly beautiful, and "Along For The Ride" brings to mind Dulcinea-era Toad The Wet Sprocket.

Like fellow songwriters Tim Easton or Joshua James, Warren opts for smoothness over bombast, the songs remaining placid and harmonious even when they're about being adrift in the stormiest of seas. The shimmering acoustica of "I Got Your Back" is particularly winning; "Same Old Scene" is a dreamy shuffle and Warren's nimble reading of America's "Sister Golden Hair" turns the song from a simple recollection to a complex journey through memory and desire.

Quick Fix Bandage is an affecting and moving collection—a true contender for album of the year.

Allow CITC to introduce you to Missouri's Master of Melody. This is Scott Warren.

FULL NAME: Scott Patrick Warren

NICKNAME: Scooter

HOMETOWN: St. Charles, MO now Los Angeles, CA

WEBSITE: scott-warren.com

RECORD LABEL: Jangular Music

DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN ONE SENTENCE: Off center country rock.

PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT: Listening to the final mastered version of Quick Fix Bandage.

STRANGEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT: Winning a local radio station contest w/ my band Signal Hill Transmission. They presented us with one of those giant sized checks.

THE SONG YOU WISH YOU'D WRITTEN: Bob Dylan - "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)."

FIVE MUSICIANS YOU ADMIRE: Ray Davies, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, George Harrison, Paul Weller.

ALBUM YOU CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO: Son Volt - Trace. The perfect road trip album.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A KID: Overall, I was a good kid, but certainly a bit of a shit at times. I remember one occasion when the baby sitter locked herself in the bathroom until my parents got home.

THREE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT: My girlfriend (she's a night owl, I am not), silence, hot August nights.

LAST TWO BOOKS YOU'VE READ: Tearing Down The Wall of Sound (Phil Spector Bio) and Ronnie (Ronnie Wood Bio).

THINGS WE'D FIND IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR: Spare tire, checkbook, some CDs and flyers for my next show.

FAVORITE MUPPET WITH A BRIEF EXPLANATION: I have two: Statler & Waldorf. Because everyone needs the piss taken out of them from time to time.

HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING A MUSICIAN: Being one without having a day job.

FAVORITE LATE NIGHT TV SHOW: Nightline

IDEAL BREAKFAST: Hot Pocket & Mimosa

DRINK OF CHOICE: Natural Light

BEST ALBUM TO PLAY AFTER A BREAK-UP AND YOU'RE HOLDING A BOTTLE OF VODKA AND SOMETHING SHARP: Nick Drake - Pink Moon

INDULGENCE YOU REFUSE TO GIVE UP: Beer. The cheaper the better.

WORDS TO LIVE BY: "Don't let the bastards get you down." - Kris Kristofferson

Internet: scott-warren.com

Quick Fix Bandage is out now.

Scott Warren