When it comes to take-it-to-the-bank certainties in this rarely predictable world, a new Nick Piunti album being guaranteed to be great is right up there with death and taxes. The man is on some kind of roll. Solo...ish (out now on JEM Records) is his eighth album in less than 12 years, and per usual, he does not disappoint.
The title speaks for itself. After three albums with his band The Complicated Men, Piunti was looking for a different vibe to suit the more personal songs he was writing. So he sent some bare-bones demos to his pal Andy Reed (The Legal Matters, An American Underdog), who proceeded to build the songs from there. The album was recorded in Bay City, Michigan with drummer Donny Brown (The Verve Pipe) filling out the trio. Joe Daksiewicz from The Complicated Men also added guitar on three tracks and co-wrote a couple of songs. By now, you know what to expect from Nick Piunti. He has a signature style when it comes to his singing and songwriting. In the world of melodic guitar pop, he is the definition of class. And collaborating with a couple of the most distinguished players in the Midwest indie pop scene has truly brought out the best in him.
Is it hyperbole to call Solo...ish Piunti's best album yet? The quality of the songwriting is exceptional from start to finish. This is Piunti doing what he does best: crafting tuneful, hook-laden gems with exceptionally clever lyrics that balance fascinating storytelling with honest and deeply personal reflections. Songs like "Big in Madrid," "Break Even," and "Handshake Deal" are vintage Piunti numbers and certain crowd-pleasers. "Better Songs," a clever play on the idea that some of an artist's greatest inspirations come in their sleep, is, co-incidentally, one of Piunti's best songs. "One Dimensional" is classic Piunti: a song so self-deprecating that it's ultimately self-affirming. Elsewhere, songs like "Darken My Days," "Bruises and Bandages," and the stunning ballad "Tragic Tragedy" find Piunti breaking from his typical power pop style and absolutely shining. The man is not just a great pop songwriter — he's a great songwriter, period.
Solo...ish hits a perfect sweet spot between a full band rock record and a one-man singer/songwriter experience. Me telling you that Piunti has managed to outdo himself after all these records would be a little bit like saying the the best pizzeria in New Jersey has just now made its best pizza. What was left to improve upon? But somehow Piunti and Reed (who does a masterful job of producing) have found the secret sauce with this release. The thing is truly flawless, and it leaves me crossing my fingers that we'll have many more years of Nick Piunti making records just like this one.
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