Set 'em up and knock 'em down - this one was a request from a little bit ago, as well as a Bonnaroo artist this yeah!
So Fitz is an American Soul group, and this is their debut album. There was a home-recorded EP beforehand, which got them onto an indi label to start with.
The group came together after Michael Fitzpatrick's rough breakup and his need to release creatively and just as a general distraction. Piece built on over time in weird ways, such as inheriting a church organ from a neighbor. Apparently they melded so well together, they could have played a show right after their first rehearsal. This whole album wound up being recorded in a non-sound-proofed living room.
Check it out on Spotify, or watch the videos provided - because there's a pretty decent quality one for each!
And here's we go back to the 60's y'all! "Breakin' The Chains of Love" opens up the album I can't say I love it all around, but the sound is fantastic. There's a slight echo used on the main vocal to give a really interesting ambiance sound. The horns really do round out the band really well entertainment-wise. And, finally, the female backing voice gives this just-right funk and soul touch that makes the song's overall sound great. There's a little turn-off because of the older sound, but it's not necessarily a bad thing as you get into it.
So Fitz is an American Soul group, and this is their debut album. There was a home-recorded EP beforehand, which got them onto an indi label to start with.
The group came together after Michael Fitzpatrick's rough breakup and his need to release creatively and just as a general distraction. Piece built on over time in weird ways, such as inheriting a church organ from a neighbor. Apparently they melded so well together, they could have played a show right after their first rehearsal. This whole album wound up being recorded in a non-sound-proofed living room.
Check it out on Spotify, or watch the videos provided - because there's a pretty decent quality one for each!
And here's we go back to the 60's y'all! "Breakin' The Chains of Love" opens up the album I can't say I love it all around, but the sound is fantastic. There's a slight echo used on the main vocal to give a really interesting ambiance sound. The horns really do round out the band really well entertainment-wise. And, finally, the female backing voice gives this just-right funk and soul touch that makes the song's overall sound great. There's a little turn-off because of the older sound, but it's not necessarily a bad thing as you get into it.
"Dear Mr. President" continues on this sound that I only vaguely remember when learning about reverb in Rech Tech class in college. It almost does sound like a 60's protest song, maybe 70's. Bonnaroo could be interesting, given this Woodstock-esq sound they've got going on. It's got a call to action sound though, keeping it raw and relatable overall.
Title track time! "Pickin' Up The Pieces" starts using the flute in a much more prominent way, and now the hippie within me is in love. Flower children, unite in the field for a good dance about. The voices mesh together so well, remaining totally light and pretty enough to drift away to. And we now get the female voice with some solo work, which brings an element of back-and-forth to the song we didn't have. Sure, it's a song based in heartbreak, but it's about at least trying to move on as a person after it all.
"MoneyGrabber" hits with that harshness you have post-breakup, and I guess is what I would consider a darker 60's song. Oh, it's just a good kiss-off song. The reverb's getting to a little much, but you all know by now how i feel about vocal effects through machines. This one's probably one of the lesser-enjoyed Motown songs (and you know they existed). It's good to input onto an album, but not something you'd want to sing around all the time.
Anyone ever seen the movie Sweetwater, about the band? The one Amy Jo Johnson (who played the Pink Power Ranger in the original series) starred in? Sorry, this music's just taking me back to that feeling. "L.O.V." has so many elements that scream that era. Fitzpatrick said he wanted to make a Motown album, but this is a hippie one if I've ever heard it. The organ in there just makes you want to skip around in the fields. And the whole song is an anthem for love and kindness amongst each other. Throw up those peace signs!!
"News 4 U" has a very haunting sound, and I mean that because of the ghost-like sounds coming through my speakers right now. It's not a bad song, just a little over-done in some ways because of those recording effects. On one hand, it's a little too much. On the other hand, at least everything has a similar sound so it melds together a little more naturally. There's also this oddly cool live element given to the recording, probably because of that setup.
There's something completely familiar about "Don't Gotta Work it Out." I think it's in the chorus, where the singing out happens so significantly. I like it. This is one of those instances that the old-school charm of the music makes the most sense and is the most enjoyable. Their use of what I can only assume it today's technology to make a newer sound is wonderfully fun. The combo of horns and organ and maybe even some bells is just a really cool thing that I doubt you hear much now regularly played.
"Rich Girls" will hurt you, and poor girls will take your money. Or something like that. This is like a less-polished version of a Cee Lo song. Not that that's a bad thing, but it's just how it is. Apparently, you can't win with any of these girls. Let's keep in mind that this group was formed, and I'm sure the songs were written, in a time of heartache.
In a more light-hearted manner, but with a very real message, we get "Winds of Change." It's one of those songs that maybe you need to hear at just the right moment, as life is throwing it all at you at once. The song's lighter, but just so much more relatable than the rest in this bizarre way. I don't even know if it's the musical treatment to it, or maybe (much more likely) the lyrical content and mood - and need for that. Whatever it may be, the song's a good one.
The final song is "Tighter." It's probably got the most psychedelic feel to it out of any of the tracks. It's also a little more slowed down, providing a funkier mood in that softer kind of way. It's also probably the saddest song on the album of all, lamenting on what he probably did wrong throughout the relationship. Ah, poor guy.
Added to My Playlist:
What's funny is that I added almost every even-numbered track, with exception of the last pairing. It was a really cool album though, unlike anything I've heard outside of those 60's tracks. It felt like we had additional soundtrack songs for movies on the 60's and Woodstock, honestly. But this has been a lost form for a while now, and seeing a bad take a leap and do this the way they see fit is really cool.
- "Breakin' The Chains of Love"
- "Pickin' Up The Pieces"
- "L.O.V."
- "Don't Gotta Work It Out"
- "Winds of Change"
What's funny is that I added almost every even-numbered track, with exception of the last pairing. It was a really cool album though, unlike anything I've heard outside of those 60's tracks. It felt like we had additional soundtrack songs for movies on the 60's and Woodstock, honestly. But this has been a lost form for a while now, and seeing a bad take a leap and do this the way they see fit is really cool.
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