The drummer known for his skills with Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, and The Cult, takes the lead in his country tinged new single “The Sea”.
On a road trip, Matt Sorum drives down a highway with the desert on either side of him. He looks out to one side and sees dolphins jumping and diving as if in the sea through the desert sands. Going along with the “sea” theme, he also sees a whale launching through the sand until he finally gets to the ocean, and jumps in.
The song itself sounds much like a mix of The Wallflowers and Tom Petty, deeply rooted in country with a steel pedal guitar weaving throughout. Off of his solo album Stratosphere, under the moniker Matt Sorum’s Fierce Joy, “The Sea” is a surprising departure from the Matt Sorum many of us grew up listening to pounding the skins in the aforementioned bands, but a welcome one. Much of the new album includes, of course, rock songs, but Sorum delves into blues and Americana, really showcasing his songwriting and crisp voice.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer released Stratosphere in March and while his focus has been on his solo efforts, in an interview with Billboard he hasn’t ruled out a future with Velvet Revolver. At present, the group, which includes GNR bandmates Slash and Duff McKagan, are still on the hunt to replace former singer Scott Weiland.