Album Details

• Artist: Don Puglisi
• Album: Goodbye New York
• Label:
• Year of Release: 2010
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: paperdollface on 2010-08-11

You may remember Don Puglisi from a number of punk/rock bands of the 80’s and 90’s, but now he’s spreading his wings and giving a solid attempt at flying solo with his first release, “Goodbye New York.” 

The album opens with “Leavin’”; a much gentler starting track than you might expect, with it’s breezy feel and light tempo. Acoustic guitars, spoken words and female backing vocals add an element of intimacy, connecting the listener to Puglisi’s sound right off the bat.

Track number 6, “Lessons from the Road” owns a structure of a different kind; it starts off down a dark, winding road of steely guitars and a resonating beat, yet takes a slight curve into a more traditional rock ballad at points, but not without maintaining the richness in sound. Puglisi’s low register and slow progression carry an air of sultry stickiness in the same vain as Chris Isaac or Johnny Cash.  Full of intrigue and appeal, “Lessons from the Road” is well deserving of a repeat performance in anyone’s player.

“Evergreen,” one of the latter tracks on the album, surprisingly contains a melody line strikingly similar to a popular and recognizable Yuletide song. Cleverly structured and performed, Puglisi’s song maintains it’s originality despite having an obviously familiar vibe.

Engaging and intimate lyrics quell any preconceived notions about Puglisi’s punk background, as his songwriting skills tags him with an almost dark beatnik vibe.

It’s generally slow pace may seem a bit shadowy at first listen, but “Goodbye New York” has enough memorable points of lightness to smooth the edges and make for a well rounded and entirely unique album. 

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