Rick Berlin is rocking, bopping old soul. Berlin has been brightening up the Boston music scene longer than some of us care to remember. His new CD Paper Airplane, released on Boston’s HI-N-DRY label, gathers up his genius in 13 successful tracks.
Whether he rocks it up or goes into ballad mode, Berlin forges his own original sound and he always has a lot of fun with it. Each tune has its own story arc and each offers something special to the listener. Paper Airplane demands a track by track review to account for all that Berlin has accomplished here.
He opens with a song he calls “If I Wasn’t Such A Bum.” This thumping, piano-driven, mid-tempo rocker gets a marvelous vocal treatment from Berlin’s low, husky voice. His blend of rock piano and synthesized background sound is infectious and winsome. His intense, spoken word portions come alive with aggressive piano and the tune reaches an exciting climax after keeping the listener glued for over three minutes.
Berlin’s “Driving’ Grandpa Home” is another catchy blend of Berlin’s handsome, husky vocal and his take no prisoners piano line. Berlin’s drummer Andy Plaisted whips up a lot of skin smacking in tight places, giving this song impressive muscle. “Real Slow” is a quiet build up laced with Dennis Brennan’s beautiful harmonica lament behind it. Berlin is both masterful at composing these orchestrated songs as well as directing his backing band. Smoky lead guitar notes sneak around the voice in this one to keep your ears glued to find out where he‘s going with it. Through out this CD, Berlin has composed the songs so that makeyou feel interested in hearing where he is going with it. There is nothing predictable about this artist.
“Hard To Be Liked” swaggers along a bopping beat with a bouncy bass line. A guitar riff playfully moves the song along. The song makes you picture a happy worker walking down the sidewalk to get to a job he loves. Berlin takes he sweet time unraveling his tale. The maestro has concocted a nifty, infectious ditty that puts special emphasis on each poptacular instrument.
Turning melancholy, Berlin laments about a strained father-son relationship in “I Wish I Could Talk With My Dad.” This slow-brushed tale is full of restrained emotion that pushes its way through and around its melancholic melody to reach the male heart. Berlin’s lyrical insights and layered compositions make this a double treat for the listener. “My Friend” is another touching piece, as heartfelt as Elton John, as vocally steady as Billy Joel.
I’m not sure what the letters stand for in Berlin’s song title “PBR” but the song works as Berlin bring his rough, husky voice to its edgiest on this CD. He lowers it down to a Tom Waits baritone and that works wonders on this rollicking bar room vibe that is pure sing along fun. Don’t worry, folks, Berlin isn’t being a copycat. He’s just paying homage.
“Bermuda Triangle” continues this Tom Waits mode of rough vocal over drunken swagger vibe. Edgy guitar punctuates at odd moments Berlin’s recollection of a fist fight. A good time will be had by all who listen to, sing along with, or, dance to this crazy piece of brilliance. “Walkin’ In The Hood” recounts Berlin’s neighborhood meanderings. It sounds like it might be about an evening strolling down the sidewalk in Jamaica Plain and Roslindale. Raw, emotive piano chords work their way around haunting harmonica notes as well as Berlin’s personalized vocal style and warmth. Berlin so knows how to put together his instrumentation.
“The Kiss” offers more of Berlin’s story song format with more incredibly good instrumentation behind him. His band reminds me on some level of an orchestra pit. They seem directed to come in more subtly or more fiercely during moments of high drama and stunning climax.
“Sean Penn On Charlie Rose” has yet another peculiar song title, but hey, if Berlin did things the way every other musician did, he wouldn’t be so good at what he does. Sardonic organ opens up this twitchy rocker inspired by a TV interview Berlin had watched. This perfect blend of instrumentation rocks right out, and the guitar leads are good to the last drop. “Rearview Mirror” makes use of lovely electric piano notes as Berlin’s beautiful, smooth croon cruises over.
Title track “Paper Airplane” closes out the CD with an autobiographical song about the songwriter himself. It’s gentler, sweeter, though not by much, than the previous tracks, and it feels like the closing number in a musical theater production. Berlin knows how to bookend his CD. Echoes of “If I Wasn’t Such A Bum” can be felt in his downcast view of his own place in the universe. It isn’t just the forlorn piano and melancholic guitar notes that make this song heartfelt. There is something in the number’s overall sound, coming from a cohesive orchestration, fired by imagination, talent, and the depth of the artist’s heart.
PBR=Pabst Blue Ribbon