The second studio album from Brian Shapiro Band, It’s Amazing!, features ten tracks that take the iconoclastic tendencies of their first album All That We See one step further. It flirts with cliché but there’s something for everyone in this collection. I believe a major reason for this is the restless creativity underlying Shapiro’s songwriting, the skill of his collaborators, and the philosophical foundation guiding his art.
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I hear Shapiro’s cathartic aims coming through during each song. Part of his songwriting motivation is the desire to transmute the experiences of an unruly and chaotic childhood into art that heals and connects with listeners. It isn’t a closed experience, however, as even those who haven’t endured a similar childhood can still get a lot out of these songs, particularly those who value passionate and substantial writing.
Those who value wit and intelligence as well will flock to this music. “Ambitigeddon” will hit newcomers to Shapiro with a wallop as it defies almost every expectation. Space is important in several Shapiro songs and its use in the opener invests Shapiro’s message about the perils of ambition with added dramatics. It has a herky-jerky arrangement, but there are fragmented melodies present throughout the release.
I love how Rory Flynn and Shapiro’s guitar opens “So Much”. Shapiro’s writing during this song faces life with a sense of wonder and the delicate melodic simplicity of their playing captures that feeling. It has a light bluesy swing, as well, that carries listeners through the song. Guest musicians Behn Gillece and Alex Posmontier, playing vibraphone and piano respectively, pepper the song with a slightly surreal and very theatrical quality.
“Go To” has several things working in its favor. An underrated strength of the song is its humor. It’s understated, without question, but mitigates the otherwise thorny adult situations often portrayed in his songs. The presence of St, Clair Simmons’ trombone is another instance of Shapiro incorporating brass into his material. You wouldn’t expect it to work, but it does. “LALA” is scathing social satire, but it admittedly picks an easy target. Shapiro and the band lay down the compelling guitar for the track and its seemingly abbreviated jangle is appealing.
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Only one track may sharply divide listeners. “New Newz” catalogs a long list of media outlets and performers, everything from Facebook Live to the New York Times, before breaking off into an impassioned bit of writing near the song’s conclusion. It’s a masterful piece, in some ways, but there’s people who are going to hear it and say it’s not their cup of tea. So be it. It’s nature, however, does dictate the lyrics overshadow everything else.
The finale “Savor” is one of the album’s highlights as well. He writes with simplicity about taking the time to note the present moment and enjoy the proper perspective on life, but it never sounds trite. Shapiro’s personal experiences have informed his art without ever making it heavy-handed and the Brian Shapiro Band’s It’s Amazing illustrates that many times over its ten tracks.
Chadwick Easton