Michael Zapruder - This Is A Beautiful Town

A really cool find w/ this one as Zapruder reminds us of so many great singers and songwriters......all of which seem to be on display here, while not necessarily being overtly influenced by, at the same time...but you`ll hear beautiful evocations and incantations of Ron Sexsmith, Rufus Wainwright, Steve Forbert, the Eels, Harry Nillson and Not Lame fave Frank Bango. "Michael Zapruder is part of a rare breed, able to weave sophisticated lyrics into sophisticated songs without losing our interest or bagging the whole thing in some Dylan-esque mad-grab for attention. Zapruder`s not vying for some dime-a-dozen "new Dylan" tag like so many of that ilk. There`s an ache in his voice and a cut to the cloth of his electric guitar and elaborate grand piano that`s more Hunky Dory-Bowie and similarly grandiose glam, and might fit on either of Nick Cave`s last two records." - Pittsburgh City Paper "a master of mellow, sitting at his piano and playing songs that fit somewhere along the lines of Ron Sexsmith mixed with Paul McCartney and Elliot Smith."-Mike Bennett, Fufkin.com. "frequently exerts a quiet and haunting allure. Lacing his songs with vivid imagery and peculiar scenarios is Zapruder`s chief talent [and] the emphasis on piano ballads and shimmering acoustics adds to the album`s suite-like intimacy. This is a Beautiful Town may well turn out to be a lasting pop pleasure."-Washington Post.

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