The Dream Syndicate “The Days of Wine and Roses” released 40 years ago today, October 28th, 1982. Ruby Records. Jangly post-punk, The Days of Wine and Roses helped define the “paisley underground” musical movement of the 80’s, a sound characterized by psychedelia, jangly guitars and a 60’s garage aesthetic. The Days of Wine and Roses is The Dream Syndicate’s first full-length; they released an EP earlier in ’82. I love this whole record, but my top pick is the Velvet Underground-meets-garage groover “That’s What You Always Say.” I also really like the all-out rocker “Then She Remembers” and the wild, epic title track “The Days of Wine and Roses.”

The Dream Syndicate at the Back Room, 2019

Steve Wynn at Ursa, 2021

We saw The Dream Syndicate perform in May 2019 and they played a few songs from the album, including “That’s What You Alway Say,” the title track, and “Halloween.” After the show I accidentally got the chance to have a fairly extended chat with frontman Steve Wynn at the merch table (I was actually there to purchase the opener’s record): we discussed the different cover variants in the printings of The Days of Wine and Roses over the years. Then in September 2021 we saw Wynn perform solo at a small boutique in our neighborhood, which was intimate and amazing; he played some Dream Syndicate songs and told many stories about his time with the Dream Syndicate as well as other bands and recording experiences from the past 40 years.