Tread lightly at the Moon Winx Lodge

Birmingham-based songwriter Will Stewart isn’t shy about his far-reaching musical taste. Any given day, you can visit his Instagram Stories and discover diverse recommendations and plugs, ranging from Ornette Coleman to Robyn Hitchcock to Phish. So, it’s not surprising that on his new album, “Moon Winx”, Stewart stretches into new genres, production styles, and narrator voices.

Although it’s been done in the past, nowadays it would be unfair to label Stewart as “alt-country.” He’s reaching for something that’s a bit harder to pin down with his new release, creating space for more surprises and world-building. And the world-building is key, given the conceit of the album — 10 songs about the characters and calamity that may or may not have inhabited and intersected with the dismantled Tuscaloosa motel of the same name (Moon Winx Lodge). It’s a grim world fraught with drinking, anti-heroes, and blurry memories. 

Cover of Will Stewart’s “Moon Winx.”

Out of the gate, Stewart introduces the listener to “Penny” — a troubled soul who sips Eight O’Clock Coffee and smokes American Spirits. The Tom Petty influence is present but doesn’t dominate the track. Instead, Stewart lets the Petty-vibe serve as a jumping off point, a sonic compass of sorts. His main focus is framing Penny’s story in a candid and comical light. 

The songs continue to move in and out of the rooms of the Moon Winx, with plenty of conflict and fat-chewing along the way. The guitars do some heavy lifting on this record, particularly the lead parts. Stewart puts his Rickenbacker to work, showing the versatility of the legendary guitar. One minute you hear touches of REM, then you're swallowed up by a soulful ballad about an overdose. That’s not hyperbole by the way. 

“Roxy Blue” is said ballad, and it casts a heavy shadow on the whole album (in the best way possible). With downtrodden soul and a narrator who can’t seem to shake his front row seat to his partner’s self-destruction, the song leaves it up to the listener to decide how this one actually ends … my guess is not so good.

Altogether, the Moon Winx Lodge provides Stewart a canvas to tell stories and explore new genres. Just be careful when you pull back the curtains on one of these motel windows, though. You might not always like what you discover (even if it sounds great).

Grab the record from the ever-expanding Earth Libraries label.