Ladies and gentlemen allow me to introduce to you what I would call “Bret’s Band of the Week,” if there were such a thing. Neil Lipuma sent me a copy of Come On, released by Scares the Daylights (white shoe records) on May 7.  I could tell from the first few bars that I ain’t scared of this one!

Greeted by a simple piano and guitar with violin and a raw, emotional vocal, I tuned in quick to pay attention to Come On a couple days ago and I’ve been playing it non-stop for a bit, now. Simplicity, now that’s what I needed, right when I needed it- a welcome relief!

Lipuma is no stranger to the music scene and his former experience serves him well with this latest effort, the third from Scares the Daylights. His writing is deep and provoking, while the music he writes with it fits the mood from slow jams like “Jelly Jam” or more up-tempo songs like “Out of the City.” Simple instrumentation that is never cluttered backs up lyrics cause me to get lost in thought (as in, you would not believe how long this editing page has been open while I just listen, again).

His writing has been described as

quirky, fun, mellow, and colored by his distinctive vocals, arrangements and poetic, even silly, with an underlying ode to Americana”.

and I have to agree with all of that, especially as regards the “poetic” bit. Some of the songs are delivered as simply as one to 4 lines like a mantra and they all have an element in the writing that causes me to think and rethink exactly what is he getting at and from what angle in the most intriguing way, like good poetry.

Beautifully recorded at The Bunker in New York, the arrangements which range from strict acoustic to electrics and strings and synths and neat little effects, mesh into what you could really call a record – one that I’ll be spinning for a long while.

Oh, and if you want a good one to give you pause in thought, check out their tune that could be a rallying cry for many people in almost every position, “Bully.” You may also want to check out the charity they recommend – Born This Way Foundation.

Thanks for the Tunes, guys!