Describing their blended sound as a combination of rock, blues, jazzy-pop, folk-rock, Tejano, zydeco, and retro-pop; just over a year ago we reviewed the album, Where We Are Now, by the Davis, California-based Americana-Pop outfit know as, According To Bazooka. We called it, “…a truly authentic piece of Americana music. Meaning: Americana in its truest sense of the word: a sonic melting-pot of a multitude of influences.”
“…songs of relatable stories that dip into the communal subconscious.”
Fast-forward almost 14 months, and Richard Urbino (guitar, singer-songwriter), René Martucci (vocals, accordion, keyboards), Jamie Knapp (harmony vocals, upright bass), and Don Johnston (drums), have followed-up that album as well as 2015’s Easy Come, Easy Go with this year’s The Devil’s In The Details, a lively and spirited collection of songs which—in A2B’s trademark style—find the ability to put a tastefully playful spin on some heavy subject matter.
“We often look at life’s ups and downs with an ‘easy come easy go’ attitude.”
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
OUR FAVORITE TRACK…
The album’s opener, Just Another Breakup Song, goes down easy with it’s ultra mellow-clever combination of jazzy-Doo-wop-accordion goodness, and Martucci’s Patti Page-esque vocal timbre. Ready to move on with a wink and smile? This is your theme song…
“Raise your hand if you did it right
Raise your hand if you did it wrong
Toss and turn all through the night
It’s just another breakup song…”
You ever had a partner who drove your circle crazy, and you found yourself trying to sell him or her? It’s like Huey Lewis and the News cut a track with Jimmy Buffett in, You Gotta Get To Know Her.
Lazy Walking pans accordion in one ear, mouth harp in the other, and kicks in a nice & lazy electric solo in this ode to chilling-the-hell-out and minding your own business. Name that genre, will you? Good luck!
Don’t Come Running sees this usually-light-hearted foursome getting just a bit more serious in this pre-redemption break-up tune. It’s simple, It’s acoustic. It’s honest. It really works well.
Ghost rejuvenates our previous comparisons of René Martucci to Morcheeba’ Skye Edwards. Her vocals are an instrument unto themselves. Just lovely.
You’re In Love feels like the theme-song to the next Netflix dramedy.
IN CONCLUSION…
Uncommonly smooth. Island-esque. Anti-drama. According to Bazooka’s 3rd studio album, The Devil’s in the Details, offers a smart-&-gentle sonic respite in a musical culture that’s arguably becoming just a bit too loud and self-important. An album almost exclusively dedicated to the failed and desperate relationships of planet Earth, the members of A2B have an uncommon ability to paint plenty of light into a dark scene, willing the emotional landscape to change through song alone, turning tragedy into light-hearted reflection. It’s really something.
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
Jimmy Buffett meets Patti Page…
BELOW: Listen to According to Bazooka’s new album, The Devil’s in the Details, and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support According to Bazooka by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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