Nick Piunti And The Complicated Men - Up And Out Of It

 

I Don't Hear A Single seems in a much different place than when it started over 8 years ago. Nick Piunti has been with us throughout and in the Anything Should Happens days that preceded it. A reminder of our past, but still very much in our future.

When we celebrated the 100th Edition of the IDHAS Audio Extravaganza, a precursor to Listening To This Week, we celebrated with a week of Live Sessions and Piunti was the centrepiece being a specially recorded session that got the biggest reaction of a stellar week.

In a self effacing manner, he will call his music Dad Rock, but that is tongue in cheek because few manage to be as melodic as the man. Since branching out with The Complicated Men, he's gathered even more pace.

This is Power Pop and Pop Rock of the highest order. Sing along foot tapping songs built on harmony, big riffs, big solos and massive choruses. There is never a duff song in sight. Few manage his consistency. You know a little of what you are gonna get, but you just want more and more of it.

There his even rockier intent here, particularly on Rejection Letter.Above Water even gets all Classic Rock, a slight surprise, but expertly done. I'm Ready isn't as pacy, but stretches across almost 5 minutes and again shows a different side to Piunti, more West Coast than you might expect. 

Eyelids has a magnificent Twang and On The Ropes is more keyboard led than usual. The obligatory ballad, Long Way Down is also top notch with a crackerjack riff and solo.  Piunti serves up for what you want to hear, but also takes more chances than he needs to and would expect. It really really works!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl and CD on the Jem Records label and as a download.

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