As often happens whenever two or more pop obsessed people converse
for more than 15 minutes, the conversation meandered onto the subject of Sir
Paul McCartney. “I’d love to get Paul into the studio,” said singer/songwriter Mark
Bacino. “I believe he has another great album in him, but he needs someone who
can say ‘no, this isn’t to your standards. Go write something better.'”
Happily, Bacino is completely in-charge of his own artistic
vision, a vision fully on display on his latest album Top of The World
(available on LP and CD from Parasol Records.) Granted, it was a vision that
took a good while to come into view as his previous album, Queen’s English,
was released 13 years ago. “The songs were recorded at various times over the
last eleven or so years,” explained Bacino. This long gestation period required
a little finessing when it came time to put the album together. “I needed an
old school guy to help the songs sound like they go together, which is why Greg
Calbi [who mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New Jersey] was so great.”
Indeed, the album does hang together remarkably well. When I pointed out the
album seemed to have an overarching theme to me, a man of a certain age taking
stock of where he was and how he got there, Bacino responded, “If it does it
was completely unintentional, but looking at it now, I can see how you might
get there.”
The album starter, the bouncy “Kaylee Hughes” sets the tone of the record, being at once
playful and a little cynical in its look at a woman who is a little too good to
be true. “Flop of the World” continues with a wry observational look of the pop
artist living in a world that very obviously doesn’t know what to do with pop
artists.
“Not That Guy” a tune Bacino had released as a single 8 years ago (and which I
reviewed at the time here) slides very nicely into the mix at this point, testament to the
good work of Calbi and the overall excellent production values of this record.
“Shaky Hand” offers an autobiographical look at Bacino
himself. “Yeah, it is just about something that happened to me. I have no idea
what made me write about it. It isn’t your typical lyrical content. I will say
the third verse is one of the favorite things I’ve ever written.” It is a poignant
and beautiful track, a definite highlight of the album.
I pointed out to Bacino that I thought the album was succinct, coming in just a
smidge over 23 minutes long. “That’s a good word for it,” he said. “In another
interview someone asked me why I didn’t make longer records, but I have always
thought the point of a pop song was to say what you wanted to say in 3 minutes.
I like making something interesting under those limitations.”
Top of The World is more than just interesting, it is
a seriously good listen which I predict will be just as satisfying on the 100th
listen as it is on the first.
Grade: A-
