I’ve learned a simple way to determine if I’ll have a long-term relationship with a new album. On first listen, is there at least one cut I must immediately experience again?
Kevin Pakulis’ recent release Shadesville got me to listen twice, and two more times. This tasty 10-cut disk features Pakulis’ ripping guitar work, with organ and piano virtuosity by Duncan Stitt and rhythm from bassist Larry Lee Lerma and Ralph Gilmore on percussion.
The first cut that hooked me was Dying By The Moment. It is great instrumentally and lyrically with one fabulous line after the other about a time in two peoples’ lives when living was edgy and thumbing rides to places like Shadesville was rote. Top cut of the last several months for me! I can relate to it, remembering being broke, broke down and having fun despite being utterly irresponsible and lost in the great West.
The music here, as is true for Pakulis’ 2004 release Yeah Yeah Yeah and Mockingbird Radio in 2007, reaches into and utilizes genre after genre. From a quirky and fast rocker about everything flying off the handle (Outa Hand) to a beautiful country ballad about the sacred nature of the grave of a dearly departed (Uncle Harlan) and on to a slammin’ honky-tonk number Heavy Load - there isn’t a weak track on the album.
Preview tunes at KevinPakulis.com. Pakulis and Lerma perform as an acoustic duo at Bookdocks Lounge, 3306 N. 1st Ave., Nov 14, 7pm. On Nov 20, Kevin Pakulis Band has a CD release show at Abounding Grace Sanctuary, 2450 S. Kolb, from 7pm-9pm, $10. See more at LavaMusic.org.
