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Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band makes it Better

Posted on April 30, 2014 by mrhodes

Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band – Make it Better

Primary URL: http://jimmyjaxpinchakband.com/

I cannot believe how long it’s been since I heard a good rock n’ roll record. I review a lot of music week in and week out, and looking back over the last 5 years at what’s landed in my in-box I’ve noticed a disturbing trend. Music seems to be steering away from a guitar driven primary to more of an electronic based primary. Music also seems to be delivered much louder these days than it used to be – not in a good way either. I guess many feel you are not capable of turning up your volume knob so they’ve done it for you.

So enter The Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band has released their first CD “Make It Better.” Available on iTunes, Amazon MP3 store, Spotify and Soundcloud. Jimmy’s band is a late 60s influenced blues/rock band with a contemporary feel based out of Granada Hills, Ca. He has been influenced by Freddie King, Hendrix, The Doors, The Beatles, The Allman Brothers and his favorite Eric Clapton. He also follows the Black Keyes and Gary Clark Jr. Band consists of Jacob Delott on bass, Lael Eccard on drums, Nathan Leigh on keyboards, Stan Nirenberg on guitar and Jimmy Jax Pinchak on lead guitar and vocals. In an ambitious move this latest release finds him collaborating, musically, with Producer Jon Fowler, mixed by Josh Mosser (Imagine Dragons – Radioactive) and mastered by Grammy winner Erick Labson. A physical CD can be purchased directly from the band’s website. It consists of eight songs, six are originals written by Jimmy Jax Pinchak. Right from the start Pinchak provide some interesting sounds for this classic yet distinctive style of music. By the way it’s guitar driven. ‘There is More” is the album’s first track and, from the great drum sounds, right through to the excellent guitar work, the result is perfect setting for Pinchak’s raspy yet smooth voice. Make no bones about it this is a tight band. With fading rock based influences over the years, there’s possibly a nod in the direction here from  Peter Frampton, BTO, Stevie Ray Vaughn and John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band. Do I dare say I can hear a bit of John Mayer and the Jonathan Butler Trio. My favorite track “On the Run”’ describes that feeling of excitement as one journey’s into the unknown. “Tell Me” It’s another engaging song and, lyrically, spot on and emotionally engaging music about love, loss, distraction, and trying to stay fully present in a rapidly paced and changing world. There’s an almost 80’s sound to the title track. I’m not sure that I’ve got this right, but it sounds as if Pinchak’s singing about life on the grind, but with a positive outlook about the road ahead. It’s definitely more blues-based rock than Indie College Rock, but I liked it a lot despite the somewhat flashback sound. You have the noise drone of shoegaze and emo mixed with the energetic pulse of new wave and alternative, all the while a force of lyric and emotion keeps it alive and humble.

This band will get good draws at places like House of Blues of even The Hard Rock Café. ‘Soul Sacrifice” an action packed finale. This track comes at you full board and wraps up a strong 8 track album. All song present mainly distorted guitar, drums, organ and syncopated rhythm section rounds out the overall accompaniment. Pinchak is a good solo , slide, rhythm player in his own right and has the prefect voice for this style. Laid back and perfectly comfortable in his skin he draws out his words with a dramatic quality that is almost Frampton-like while the band plays around him.  Spaking of which if I had to compare him to anyone I’d say he’s a modern day version of Peter Frampton.

Like I had previously mentioned I cannot believe how long it’s been since I heard a good rock n’ roll record – until today. .hen all is said and done Make it Better by Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band is a classic return of Classic Blues Based rock and it’s long overdue.   This is straight forward music in which the glue that binds it sometimes seems to be made of opposing forces, yet it comes together to form a perfect bit of symmetry and style. Bottom line: Sometimes it your destiny to walk with into the unknown, not sure of the outcome, but with your head held high and a guitar slung across the back. I also  get the feeling Jimmy Jax Pinchak is not afraid to be himself in modern world. I think that’s why Iike many others look forward to hearing more of his music in the future and and maybe catching him live. Who knows where the future will lead? But one thing is for sure. When one listener to the music of is Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band – it just makes it feel better.

Score: 8/10

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Make-Better-Jimmy-Pinchak-Band/dp/B00HWJSWXE

Brenda Scott, approved by Janne Zawa

Review comments: jannezawa@gmail.com

© James Pinchak 2012