2008 Woodie Awards
Spinto Band creates great sophomore CD
Evan Bernard
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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If you got into the Spinto's quirky, sing-a-longs from the previous album, this record is for you.
In fact, this record is not only quirkier, but it's also the catchiest record I've heard in a while. Think "Nice and Nicely Done" got stuck in the sunniest of the 1960s summers with Dave Trumfio acting as if he were George Martin, who instead of producing the Beatles, produced the Beach Boys.
Behind the outstandingly well-written vocal melodies are the almost unintelligible shouting and babbling of Nick Krill and the precisely executed vocals of Thomas Hughes. The harmonies are exactly performed in perfect Brian Wilson fashion, but play out in true Spinto style. One cannot forget all of the standard Spinto sing-a-longs, from the chorus of "So Goodbyes" and "I won't lies" found in "Summer Grof" to the "Na-Na's" taking over "Pumpkins And Paisley."
These boys do not leave you hanging-not one bit. The album is scattered with little surprises. Whether it be the saloon-styled piano solo on the album's opener, "Later On," the dramatic chords to "They All Laughed" or the horns opening "The Carnival," it sounds as though The Spinto Band has taken their high school jazz band to the circus.
Whether it be the strings, orchestra percussion, casiotones or glockenspiels that are peppered throughout the album, the sounds will keep the listener interested-only if you aren't first blown away by the amount of sporadic chord changes and vocal harmonies strewn all over the record that, previously, only Kevin Barnes was capable of.
Some careful wordplay humorously makes its way through all of the hooks and vocal melodies on "Needlepoint," which definitely sticks with the aforementioned circus music theme. The album runs by at 10,000 miles per hour and doesn't really let up the "boom-boom-tcha" of the drums, but this record does take a small breather with, easily the record's most awkward song, "Alphabetical Order."
Yes, the band does actually recite parts of the alphabet over a retro Apples-In-Stereo-esque chord progression and play combo organs. Thus, I have decided this is definitely a record for the lighthearted bookworm who happens to be strung out on coffee.
"Moonwink" is now available at select record stores nationwide. Catch The Spinto Band at the First Unitarian Church Oct. 17. Tickets can be purchased at www.r5productions.com.
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