The Kinks The Who Beatles Monkees Beach Boys The Moody Blues Bon Scott-era AC/DC Carpenters Bread The Zombies Mark Eric Malmborg (!) The Association Bee Gees Redd Kross Todd Rundgren Laura Nyro Carole King Steely Dan early Pink Floyd Partridge Family
Paul Bertolino is a behind-the-scenes musician's musician from Berkeley, California... a short-list Bay Area session player who has done time fronting one of San Francisco's toughest garage-soul outfits The Sleaves, and is currently playing drums for major label breakout band Persephone's Bees.
Paul's debut solo effort is a gently psychedelic soft rock oddyssey-an inspired homage from a pop culture obsessive who spent an unhealthy amount of his childhood watching labels spinning on turntables. With Paul supplying most of the instrumentation and good vibes, this is the kind of record that just can't help but make new friends with every first-time listener. Infusing classic elements of Baroque, Chamber and Power Pop, each track is a timeless yet thoroughly modern example of unique rock songwriting at it's very best, and is enough to hook even the most jaded music-lover. But this album is more than just an exercise in mastery of boutique styles. This is an intimate experience, an Inner Soundtrack, if you will. Just listen to his sadly-sweet, pitch-perfect vocal sensibilities and you can forget about coming through the other side...these songs are right-on. Combine that with an ear for classic arrangements and production that acknowledges the best aspects of psychedelic pop, from Smile to Screamadelica and beyond....And both sides of your cranium will be feelin' it.
Paul draws from a well that incorporates the toughest 60s jangle-rock, the softest 70's a.m. gold, and maybe even a pinch of Radio Shack synth swagger. Almost in spite of that it's laid back, California songwriting so solid and proprietary that it refuses to be picked apart into it's base elements...try as you might. This is the stuff that will make up the Nuggets Boxes of the future, so why wait? Come feel the love.
Hey Stranger! Everytime I visit your page I am struck by how wonderful your voice is! Keep Singing & Bringing Joy to us all! Happy New Year! All the Best, XOXO
Hey great meeting and playing with you the other night! My band is performing at the Bay Rising Battle of the Bands this Monday night at Cafe Du Nord. You should come check it out!
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