Nick Zaino’s new album Blue Skies And Broken Arrows is a fine collection of witty, original folk songs. Zaino is definitely more of a folk artist than singer-songwriter, as he taps into deeply held American beliefs and cultural images, icons and ideas that assemble and resemble a national consciousness. His take on everything from bad relationships to alien invasion reveals a wit that can tie personal experiences into a journey into all of modern American life.
Zaino opens with “Live Through You,” a witty reflection on how living through a bad relationship is manageable because he’s lived through so many previous bad experiences. He carries the listener through his wide, sweeping song with a pleasant, amicable vocal tone. Zaino chirps merrily over the broth of melody and rhythm with gentlemanly aplomb and with masterful control over his vocal techniques. Listening even more closely, one can hear how much sophistication went into the instrumentation. There’s a whirl of instrumentation to carry one along.
Title track “Blue Skies And Broken Arrows” is a quiet acoustic guitar and vocal track that gets its strength from Zaino’s crisp, clear timbre. His hearty revelation about his philosophy of relationships is warm, inviting, and he tugs in his listener with a seriousness of purpose.
“She Makes Me Want To Believe” ambles on with an amicable harmonica line and an embraceable acoustic guitar rhythm. That tone cleverly belies the witty lyrical message about a woman who makes a man believe in hell. It’s an amusing ditty with an appealing, simplistic musical accompaniment.
“Hello, Moon” offers Zaino’s warm chirpy vocal, his pared down acoustic guitar beauty, and a shimmering, full organ in the backdrop. Every guitar note picked is pleasantly crisp while this singer sings with the earnestness of a lonesome person with only the moon as a companion. This one makes you feel it.
A sense of urgency runs through “Bruises.” Its low vocal melody and cautious touches of minor key melodic instruments in the backdrop make one picture the drama unfold. Zaino creates a perfect mood around his storyline and he lets the truth of his lyrics move the story forward with unstoppable force. An edgy guitar cruises the sonic landscape of this number, making the tale explode into a vivid three dimensional experience.
“I Hate Love” is another witty reflection and play on words. The singer is, of course, talking about the pitfalls of relationships. Here, his smooth sustains combine a pretty sound with a meaningful feeling. Balancing his song’s true meaning with his play on words is another sign of this singer-songwriter’s craftsmanship.
“Zaino’s friend Joe Kowan uses a saw to create a science fiction trill in the backdrop of “Giant Ant In The Sky.” That stroke of talent creates a perfect sonic landscape. Images of a robotic cat designed to look at us with eyes sending photos through its antenna tail is another amusing lyrical ploy. With warmth and wit, Zaino pokes fun at the idea of everybody being watched in our technology laden society. His hearty delivery, especially during his chorus, over a rippling acoustic guitar line, makes for a fine personal appeal.
“Everybody Wants To Mess With Me” taps into the male psyche of not wanting to be “messed with” in a world of people who will constantly irk us. Zaino’s humorous take on these ideas and his folksy charm carry well this up-tempo, playful gripe number. It’s also the catchiest song on his album and the one with the most crossover appeal. Anybody would like it, no matter what genre they prefer.
Zaino is at his hearty best on “I Love You And I’m Glad That You’re Gone.” Here, he balances the feeling of love with the need for one’s own space. Its brutal honesty is as refreshing as its acoustic guitar grist. Featuring a feisty lead guitar phrase from the fearless Domenic Frizzi, this tune swaggers forward with a fierce streak of independence in its message and delivery.
“Come Down With Me” is a spanking, fast moving, hearty shuffle beat number. Zaino speaks of his independence and his playful delivery fits this country jamboree sound beautifully. He will make you want to sing along and two step to this fun, motion-inducing piece.
“Start The Show” is warmly chockfull of harmonica, organ, and piano. Over that mesh of roots accompaniment, Zaino sings grandly, with a lot of wind under his sails, turning this into a sweeping anthem. He certainly makes his listener feel his appreciation of all that life has to offer, not to mention what it doesn’t.
Zaino shows he a rocking folk artist with his plucky, up-tempo paced “Your Sweet Memory.” One might expect a rock band to soon join in because this song feels full and hearty. His assertive acoustic guitar strums are full of grit while traveling a fun, twisty chord progression. Meanwhile, his vocal impacts his listener with hearty sustains. The artist also makes you feel the journey that compelled him to write this tune.
“One True Friend” mellows things out, with Paul Hansen’s support vocal making this duet feel like a personal conversation. The intimacy here, lyrically, and in the delivery, give this song a beautiful strength. Two friends who like to sing and play guitars together is often taken for granted because we see it all the time. Here, it creates a feeling of why one needs at least one true friend, especially if it’s a friend one can make music with.
Zaino closes out his album with the live recorded track “The Good News.” A sing along gives this one a full band feeling, as the artist has to play to an entire room with only the Chin Up Ugly Bastards Choir to support him. Just when you think Zaino and his fans are having fun, he plays a Ramones style version that amuses further.
Zaino is an interesting figure on the Boston music scene. Labeling him merely as a singer-songwriter might obscure his folk musician observations and deliveries. There is a sincerity and earnestness here, wrapped up in roots-folk idioms, that convey a wide sweep of Americana music and a distinctly American writer’s point of view. Well done.
http://www.nickzainomusic.com/
