Tag: Nick Piunti

Nick Piunti and Peter Holsapple

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Nick Piunti

Nick Piunti “Temporary High”

Nick Piunti is back and better than ever. Like other power pop contemporary artists (David Mhyr, Rob Bonfiglio) he’s firing on all cylinders here. The opening title track is a great summer anthem with Nick’s distinct raspy vocal and layered guitar riffs. The strong melody lines of “You Invented Hell,” and”If This Was Right” were co-written by Ryan Allen and fit in perfectly.

Nick’s expressive lyrics and jangly guitars on “No Return” are like musical comfort food. The rough edges of some songs are polished just right, like “Blameless” and “Keep Me Guessing.” Nick is amazingly consistent throughout the album, with his all-star band Donny Brown, Andy Reed, Geoff Michael, Plink Giglio and Chris Richards. A joy to listen to from start to finish. Highly Recommended and yes, it’s on my crowded year-end top ten list!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Peter Holsapple

Peter Holsapple “Game Day”

After 21 years, Peter Holsapple (dB’s, Continental Drifters, REM) returns with his second solo album. I loved Out of My Way in 1997 – it was a classic indie LP with a lot of quirky melodies that stuck. Game Day takes a very different approach. It’s classic freeform musical expression with thoughts that float around to a musical soundtrack. On “Game Day” he wonders “do I still have what it takes to pull this off?” and pays tribute to his road days with “Continental Drifters.”

Holsapple has a lot of space to get weird and wild. “In Too Deep” and “Tuff Day” are great highlights that prove the old man still has it. Another fun track is “I Got High With You” about late nights with friends. The “Inventory” of his life is a long look back at all the possessions he accumulated during his youth. Other notable tracks are the strong “She Handed Him A Pencil” and the Hendrix-like “Them Changes.” This potpourri of tracks is like finding a box of old records — some you will love, others will go in the sale bin. But you’re glad you found them. Check it out!

Amazon 

Nick Piunti and Look Park

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Nick Piunti

Nick Piunti “Trust Your Instincts”

Nick Piunti has reliably delivered another amazing album. “Trust Your Instincts” is everything exemplary about power pop, the title track layers fantastic guitar melody with a great message to “trust your gut.” The next track “One Hit Wonder” pokes fun at the rush of fleeting music success, with a nice key change in the final verse. Great harmonies and melodies are all over the songs, with Nick’s throaty vocals leading the charge, which I’ve previously compared to Bryan Adams. Back in the studio assisting is Ryan Allen (guitar,backing vocals) Andy Reed (bass, synth) and Donny Brown (drums, backing vocals).

Every song here is a gem, but some favorites stick out like “Dumb It Down” with its a magical chorus and “As Far As I Throw” has the catchiest riffs you’ll ever hear in modern rock music. You’ll also hear multiple influences, but unlike past albums its better integrated into Nick’s overall unique sound. Even without a slow ballad, this easily gets on my top ten album list for 2016. Was there any doubt?

Amazon


Look

Look Park “Look Park”

Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne) goes out of his way to make Look Park feel different from his old band, and it does (to a point.) It’s much more of a “grown-up” softer sound without those guitar hooks thanks to producer Mitchell Froom. Starting out boldly “Shout Part 1” has a shimmering guitar rhythm with Collingwood’s distinct vocals. “Stars of New York” is more laid back ’70s yacht rock with its synth piano and strings.

There are gems to be found, like “You Can Come Round If You Want To” with its simple acoustic strums and “Aeroplane” with its catchy melody. Lots of pastoral sounds are found on “I’m Gonna Haunt This Place” and “Minor is the Lonely Key” where he seems to be channeling Sting. Not everything here works, but its worth exploration. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Nick Piunti “Beyond The Static”

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Nick Piunti

At last years Power Popaholic Fest, Nick Piunti was promoting his debut “13 in my Head” and played alongside the brilliant Chris Richards & The Subtractions. He hinted to me then that a sophomore release was in the works, and I waited with anticipation. Nick has upped the ante with this release, as “Beyond The Static” delivers the goods. Nick also had the studio filled with notable musicians: Chris Richards, Andy Reed (Legal Matters), Donny Brown, and Ryan Allen.

The power chords of “It’s A Trap” ring out a cautionary tale about that little voice in your head trying to prevent disaster, “Just as soon as you’re certain, there’s a lie behind the curtain” he sings out. Vocally Nick still reminds me of Paul Westerberg, but now with a bit of Mike Viola. That dark mood sung with those catchy hooks is personified on “Heart Stops Beating.” And another signature gem “Time Machine” warns about hanging onto the past, “Been there done that too many times” he tells us.  “Six Bands” is a memorable melody about rejection in the music business where “just because, doesn’t mean you should.” Each track shines, without a hint of filler. And at the album’s end, the love song “Quicksand” is another great composition that just won’t leave your head. Easily makes my top ten list for 2015. Don’t miss this one!

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CD Baby | Amazon

Sunday Singles: The Popravinas, Lannie Flowers, Lily Sparks, Spirit Kid, Nick Piunti

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Although I don’t review singles, we still want to let readers know when an artist comes out with something cool. And with a lot of new singles floating around, I wanted to feature a few standouts:

The Popravinas release their first tunes since the full-length CD Everybody’s Fault But Ours in 2008. The Santa Monica, CA based band continues to crank out great tunes and this single proves they haven’t lost a thing since then.
CD Baby

Lannie Flowers was a highlight at IPO this year and he released a new single at the show, the Big Star classic “Back of A Car”. It was recorded live at the Trash Bar in New York taken from the Live In NYC album. It also has an unreleased new song “Best I Can” which is so good, I’d call it another “A-side.”
CD Baby

Lily Sparks is a new trio that deserves your attention that performed at IPO. Lead vocalist Niamh (pronounced “neev”) is a rock diva comparable to Grace Potter or Ann Wilson (Heart) and the guitars really rock on this brand new single. Check it out!
CD Baby

Spirit Kid (Emeen Zarookian) continues to dazzle us with this new single, about a supposed “true story” about living off the remains of that last job. Its has a bit of glam in its DNA, and its catchy too! Awesome. Bandcamp

Nick Piunti is hard at work on his next album after the top-ten winner of Thirteen In My Head last year. I enjoyed meeting him and listening to his excellence at Power Popaholic Fest this past August. Once again comparisons to Mike Viola are apt, and I can’t wait for this new one as “Time Machine” is an awesome start. Bandcamp