Powerful instrumentals and catchy riffs

Duff McKagan has a brand new album for listeners to enjoy, and Lighthouse has something for everyone. The title track immediately opens with an engaging riff, McKagan’s voice ringing out bright and spritely. The acoustic guitar offers enough melody to carry the song with limited percussion, but around the two-minute mark, drums kick in, along with some catchy electric guitar. The song transforms from something melodic into something that demands attention, punchy drumbeats warming up the album. 

The music is on point, but the album’s cover art is hard not to notice. It’s light and ethereal and matches each track’s mood effortlessly. As the album unfurls, listeners are met with an array of inviting instrumentals, including a piano that’s delicate and blends seamlessly with tracks such as “Longfeather.” There’s enough pop appeal to help the album attract a wide array of music aficionados, but still plenty of soul to classify the album as poetic. 

Lighthouse offers a glimpse into the inner workings of McKagan, reimagining his talent and showcasing it in a fresh, invigorating way. The music is peppy enough for the perfect driving soundtrack but is still relaxed and easy to enjoy. It’s clean with elegant melodies that leave plenty of room for McKagan’s voice to shine through. 

The guitars lend themselves to McKagan’s creativity, picking up the pace on tracks such as “Just Another Shakedown.” The track offers up more than enough pep to get listeners up and out of their seats and is enjoyable for first-time McKagan fans or veteran listeners. “Just Another Shakedown” is animated, as the name suggests and offers something for everyone. Lighthouse is a playful yet pensive album and straddles the line between emotive and invigorating, tapping into all the right sounds for a listening experience that’s intrinsically McKagan.