Nick Pipitone and Peter Batchelder, a.k.a. The Rip Off Artists, have delivered one of best power pop discs of 2008. The usual suspect blogs have been generating a big buzz on this one and it is well deserved.
You can tell the lyrics are one of the highlights just by some of the song titles, e.g. "The Present, Tense", "Without You I'm Something", and "The Look of Like". There is a true Paul Westerberg quality to the lyrics of every song, and even the couple of brief spoken word interludes. Musically, I am reminded of Fountains of Wayne, The Grays, XTC, and some Dada.
You will have to look hard to find a more upbeat and consistently enjoyable melodic pop disc. Vocals are perfect - great tones with just the right amount of tasteful falsetto, and the abundant harmonies are well planned and executed. Nearly every song has some well placed acoustic guitar and another unique element that keeps each track feeling fresh. They have done a great job in crafting a cohesive sound among all the songs without making them sound too much alike. The CD rewards the listener with each new spin because there always seems to be yet another cool little thing that is discovered during the replay.
Just go read their manifesto...it is an accurate reflection as to what this project is all about.
My favorite cuts include "The Present, Tense" and "Without You I'm Something". There really isn't a bad song in the batch, but our other picks for iPOD-goodness are listed below for your consideration.
iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15
The Rip Off Artists: Official site.
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