CD REVIEW: Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band - Make it Better

by: Cyrus Rhodes

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"JPB rocks the House"

- INDIE MUSIC DIGEST-

Artist: Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band
Album: Make It Better

Label: Independent Artist
Website: http://jimmyjaxpinchakband.com/

Genre: R&B, Classic Rock, Soul Rock, Jam Band    
Sounds Like: Bon Jovi, Gregg Allman, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Foo Fighters, Black Crows

Technical Grade: 9/10
Production/ Musicianship Grade: 9/10

Commercial Value: 8/10
Overall Talent Level: 9/10
Songwriting Skills: 9/10
Performance Skill: 9/10
Best Songs: On the Run, Make it Better, Souls Sacrifice 
Weakness: Short sided CD, a few winded songs

CD REVIEW:

The Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band has released their first CD "Make It Better." Available on iTunes, Amazon MP3 store, Spotify and Soundcloud. Produced by 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. The CD is currently getting airplay from college and community radio stations throughout the country. Also a professional actor, Jimmy is known for his role as Peter Wiggin from the movie "Ender's Game." Currently, the Jimmy Jax Pinchak 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.,  

The CD kicks things off with “There is More” a perfect intro piece forma CD like this with slamming rock groove, served up hot against infectious psychedelic rock flair, driving rock rhythm and compelling vocal melody from Pinchak. Track 2 On the Run” serves up a rock steady groove against melodic guitar riffs, soulful vocals with impressive saloon style Piano and solo guitar tandems against a grand slam chorus. Track 3 ‘Tell Me” keeps pushing hard with pulsating rock groove with an infectious rock melody that flows and ebbs its way through to emotional  fruition. This CD gets off to a good start dishing out 3 solid tracks in a row. As the CD unfolds I can hear many musical influences reminiscent of Bon Jovi, Gregg Allman, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Foo Fighters, Black Crows. Right from the start you will notice Jimmy Pinchak and company feel quite comfortable just letting it all hang out musically, not holding anything back. The overall musical vibe has a nice, raw hard rock feel to it reminiscent of music popular back in the late seventies and nineties yet with a modern day R&B twist and feel. The guitar playing hits you right between the eyes and dishes out impressive heavy R&B type guitar licks and slide guitar all built upon a solid low end rhythm foundation. The vocal timber from Pinchak is full of passion and recklessness abandon. His voice reminds me of John Cougar. and Jon Bon Jovi. All songs are extremely well crafted and consistent across the board - world class songwriting and instrumentation. It's obvious to me Pinchak is an old school blues rocker.The musicianship from all the other members in the band has everything you would expect from a no holds barred standard ho hold barred rock band. Besides the four piece standard I can also hear well placed Organ, Piano, lush vocal harmonies, impressive solo guitar, slide guitar, all built upon a thick as a brick rhythm section. The songs themselves are consistent musical experiences, each one possessing unique personality, flair and signature groove. All engineering aspects check out. CD possesses thick low end frequency and crystal clear high end clarity. This CD from JPB delivers 8 solid tracks all providing musical enjoyment filled with strong musical variety and diversity.From the rocking title track, to methodical “Into the Fire” to heartfelt “Free Your Mind” to grooving “Draggin’ the Line”  this CD has something for just about everyone. The CD ends with Track 8 “Soul Sacrifice” the perfect finale statement for a CD of this caliber.

All songs over 3.5 minutes tend to drag you to the finish line - typical Jam Band format. This 8 Track collection’ needs maybe 3-4 more tracks on it to make it a fully loaded CD release .  

In close Make it Better by Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band rocks the house and proves where there is smoke there is fire. From start to finish this CD is an action packed production from start to finish. It’s strong suit – its raw but tight feel almost as if you were watching a band play in a live setting. If these guys have a slam dunk live presentation then that would be a deadly combination indeed. The songs are extremely heavy, melodic, passionate and powerful. This band will no doubt get your adrenalin pumping. We need more bands like JPB immediately. Yep – it looks like Rock n Roll wheel is still rolling around just fine via the Jimmy Jax Pinchak Band.

Cyrus Rhodes