Reviews
halfhearteddude.com
Already in his 50s Walt Cronin’s gravelly baritone and sound reflect the experience of life, wistfully and defiantly. “I would never count the days of my life, but I’ll always let the dawn greet my eyes,” the former medic in the Vietnam war sings in Shinin’ Through, one of several sweet love songs on this most appealing set. Please see link below:
The Gousters – 2005
While you would probably describe The Gousters CD as alt-country/Folk, these guys actually run the gamut of alternative variety and do it all extremely well. They play their own unique and distinctive brand of music ranging from hillbilly to folk to grunge rock and you are bound to enjoy it all. Walt Cronin’s & Zander Schloss’ strong vocals and excellent harmony make the music very entertaining and easy to listen to. But there is a great deal more to their music than just great sound. Listen closely to the lyrics, for they reveal extraordinary songwriting talent. Within those lyrics is a rich experiential content that could only be produced by one who has strong emotional ties to the theme. Those lyrics coupled with this talented duo’s delivery will leave you wanting more.
The Gousters music is rough-hewn, and much of it resembles early 1970s country-rock made by groups like the New Riders and Pure Prairie League, crossed with Zuma-era Neil Young… The centerpiece is the emotionally charged “Only Eighteen,” which sounds like an autobiiographical tale of a young man given the choice of jail or Vietnam. “I’ve nurtured an illness / as deep as the stillness / that lives in my dreams…the loss and the horror / of what I have seen.” he drawls as a blues-harp wails in the distance….it’s honest and heart-felt, and it has moments when it soars.
Sense the World
On Walt Cronin and the Gousters’ newest effort, Sense the World, the established troubadour paints many bold portraits. His voice is every bit as brooding as was Leonard Cohen’s in his later years, yet his lyrics (much like Cohen’s) are spoken like a true poet of the first order. With a darkened mystique much like that of an elder Johnny Cash, Cronin, in his peculiar spirit, sets the pace with his new set of material.
From the title track to “We Were Young Then,” the album’s closer, Cronin delivers each song in Kristofferson-esq spirit. The galloping, western undertones of “Way Back Home” and the rollicking “Try to Be Kind” suggest a let go and go on way of living while other tracks such as the swaying of “Vagabonds” and “Tumble Me Down” offer up more in scenery as shown lyrically in the ever revolving American ways of life.
With other tracks such as the telling “Dancin’ Girl”, Cronin’s latest is brash, haunting, and bending in so many ways as he gives us his own sense of the world as he knows it.
https://americanahighways.org/2019/09/04/review-walter-cronins-sense-the-world-is-brooding-mystique/
In an era where besting your earlier releases is rare, Walt Cronin just keeps getting better and better. He still has that plain voice that reminds you of a smoother Kris Kristofferson, but his songwriting continues to improve. Joined by Martin Beal on this album, the production is solid, the melodies are wonderful and the the lyrics ring true. This is the best Walt Cronin CD yet and highly recommended if you love Americana/Folk. You can find him on Facebook.
Walt Cronin, half of the duo named The Gousters and the principle lyricist, displays an infectious enthusiasm about his music. Scattered across the web are numerous postings, blogs, notes and comments from him that celebrate, in a surpised kind of joy, the independent success of his self-released album. He seems thrilled that anyone even noticed The Gousters. But then again, how could you not notice them?
The energy of Walt, the perfectly loose composition of the songs, the stark poeticism of the lyrics and the fact that the other half of the duo is Zander Schloss, made famous by his founding of the seminal punk band The Circle Jerks and less famous by his role in the cult film Repo Man, would seem to make this point moot. And, in the interest of coming full circle, their rapid climbing of the music charts without a label, promoter, publicist or manager seems to prove the point.
As for the music itself, Walt loosely defines it as alt-country, with the caveat that the term has become a catch-all description, like jam or indie rock. Listening to it at a distance, it reminds me of the gritty folk of Neil Young (“Trickle Past”), the deadpan somberness of Leonard Cohen (“Only Eighteen”) and the tumbling melodies of the classic 60’s folk groups (“If It All Goes Well”).
Listening to it up close and personal still reminds me of those artists but also helps give a sense of, mainly, who Walt Cronin is. His experience as a combat medic in Vietnam, love, lost friends and the realities of living a rough life permeate the songs that are strummed on an acoustic guitar, frantically picked on a mandolin and tapped out on a small basement drum kit.
From the beautifully rough and tumble rockabilly-tinged “Make Me A Kinder Man” with it’s straightforward tribute to a loved one, the down home picking of “Bottlenecked Confusion” and its yearning for a simpler life to the melodic folk of “Showered in Blue” with it’s CSNY-esque vocal harmonies and the Civil War tale built into the rollicking country rock of “Wheatfield” Walt and Zander create music that sounds like wood, dead leaves, oil, dirt, tears and a just a bit punk.
It is an album that deserves the notice it is receiving and worthy of many more accolades. So let’s all keep surprising Walt Cronin and spread the word about The Gousters around the scene.
After serving in the CAP unit in Viet Nam, Walt Cronin moved from Chicago to Los Angeles and met Zander Schloss during the filming of “Repo Man”. Eventually Zander moved into the apartment over Walt’s garage and the two began recording hours and hours of music. The singing duo, “The Gousters” was formed. Their musical style is best described as “alt-country” which means they perform music by their rules, not Nashville’s. Their music is unfettered by the constraints of adapting to the razzle-dazzle used by many of today’s music “stars”.
Jerry Farrell - St. Paul, MN
“Your music and song writing is fantastic. I really enjoy listening to it. You have a rich voice and wonderful lyrics that tease the imagination. The visuals created by your music & lyrics remind me of all the things we love and the obstacles we struggle to overcome on our life’s journey. Singing of family and of friendships that we developed so long ago make us rich and strong. It is refreshing and most of all comforting to hear you sing about them. Five months before my brother Kevin died we stood together in an Illinois cornfield. The memories of that day are special to me..and now so is your song: Gone So Long.” –Jerry Farrell St. Paul, MN
Robert J. Callahan
Beeb Ashcroft - (formerly with Indie-Music)
A few years back, I wrote a review for Indie-Music.com of an album called The Gousters by folk/Americana artist Walt Cronin. I appreciated his genuine approach to songwriting and have enjoyed hearing updates on his new projects since then. Earlier this year, Walt released a collaborative album with friend Martin Beal titled Gone So Long. I was pleased to receive a copy in the mail and was eager to hear what he’s been up to. This album is a fun slice of Americana country, with a touch of inspiration from classic blues and rock. As the title suggests, the album muses on experiences lived and times past. Cuts like the title track, “Gone So Long” and “Hear That Train” are a folksy, nostalgic ode to small town country life – “Train” even has a bit of a CCR vibe to it – while “Younger In Your Mind” eloquently expresses the feeling of how quickly time passes. The feeling of this album is a little bittersweet, but optimistic – I think it really captures the feeling that we all have about the passage of years, whether you’re a college student feeling homesick, a mother watching her baby grow or a person celebrating their 80th birthday. Walt has a knack for relatable and touching songwriting, so if you’re in the mood for some classic country roots rock, check out this album.
Sharon Lunsford, Editor - The Back Porch News
Walt Cronin – The Gousters © 2008
When you listen to Walt Cronin, don’t expect fancy language or complicated musical structure. Listen to the words, though, because simple words can carry a great impact. On his recent solo release, Walt Cronin~The Gousters, Walt sings of love, war and everyday things, and brings you into the experience. These are songs from the heart—-the essence of true folk music. Of a war widow. “It’s the hurt that’s in us all as we watch those young men fall….” (Flowers In Her Hand). Of a veteran’s life.” I was a soldier, led to the places that left me bereaved….”Came home a stranger….” (The Rift) Of a homeless girl: ” How can this be, in the land of the free…no one is listening….” (She’s On Her Own). The Gousters derives it’s name from a term Walt and his former co-musician Zander Schloss used to describe themselves, based on urban Chicago street slang. The CD is similar in style to one issued by Walt and Zander in 2005, but the two are not to be confused. As far as musical style the instrumental accompaniment reminds me of a time when folk, rock and country were more closely related and were played interchangeably on pop radio. A little reminiscent of The Outlaws. There is even a touch of Celtic sound in ” Ageless Dreams. ” The album finishes up with a with a very sweet tribute to a loved one ( You Are The Light). You can listen to clips from the new CD on Folk Alley, MySpace or CDBaby. Spend a little time with Walt Cronin and his music. It will be time well spent.
Bill McDonald - President of the MWSA
Vietnam – PTSD – Hillbilly – Folk – Grunge Rock at its BEST!
There is no way to place or fit this musical CD into some neat fitting musical genre box—so I have described it as Vietnam-PTSD-Hillbilly-Folk-Grunge Rock! It will knock you in butt with its themed songs that related to Walt Cronin’s life as a Vietnam veteran. We are now playing it on our web radio station: K-Dade Radio to great reviews from listeners who can identify with this creative voice from a fellow veteran.
Hearing is the only way one can share what this experience is like. It is edgy poetry with shades of emotional trauma and memories of things past.
This touchstone of emotions is from the creative partnership of Walt Cronin (who is a former Navy Corpsman with a Marine platoon in Vietnam in 1970) and his friend Zander Schloss. There are many others who contributed time and creative juices to this CD; however, this still remains an undiscovered gem of musical enlightenment. WARNING: Their music will hook you and entrance you—so caution must be voiced if you listen to this CD.
Hillbilly, mystical, grunge rhythms mixed with spiritual folk lyrics—what more can I say. I LOVE IT! Go out and buy it and listen to it. Your life will be touched and changed. A FIVE STAR REVIEW!!
halfhearteddude.com
“California I Gotta Run” Walt’s 3rd CD peaked at # 2 on Roots Music Report Internet Country Chart in 2010 and was listed in the top 20 country albums by: Any Major Dude With Half A Heart in the same year. Please see link below: