Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Nick Piunti and The Complicated Men — Up and Out of It
(Bandcamp no#, 2024, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2024-11-21

Up and Out of It Cover art

Nothing too complicated about it, Piunti and crew are back with ten new songs of a distinctive rockin’ pedigree. Even though it might sound unbelievable, over the course of six or so albums his clever approach to that high energy sound known as power pop has only gotten better and more engaging with each subsequent release. A couple of single tracks that were released previously. “Get the Feeling” and “Bottle It” are both here in all their glory, along with a bunch of other could-be singles, and of course there ain’t nothing wrong with that! The band is as it was before — Piunti on guitar and vocals,  Jeff Hupp on bass, drummer Ron Vensko, second guitarist Joe Daksiewicz, and keyboardist Kevin Darnall — all Motor City music scene veterans and great players. “I’m Ready” with its aggressive rhythm approach is another standout, and at almost five minutes long is the album’s longest cut, most of the others being between two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half minutes, the standard length of the classic airplay single; the compositions and lyrics are clever and at times brilliant, as on the rock powerhouse “Rejection Letter” that stands up strong to anything by Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Big Star, or the late Tom Petty, among many others from the late 70s. Slowing things down a bit, “Long Way Down” is at once catchy and unforgettable, with a majestic melody and impressive guitar soloing throughout. “Eyelids” and “Seasick” both seem to have a bit of a jangly surf element, while “On the Ropes” closes the album out nicely with a mysterious power that could be as timeless as it is hard driving. It isn’t a terribly long album, maybe only about 33 minutes, but every second counts and you’ll want to keep listening to it over and over again.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Nick Piunti

More info
http://nickpiuntimusic.bandcamp.com/album/up-and-out-of-it

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.