After selecting one of the tracks off his album, blink, for IMR’s Indie Overdose, it was impossible to not give Jay Pinto more exposure. So IMR decided to review the full album to give fans a closer look at the artist who gave us “can’t take that away” on IMR’s June issue of the Indie Overdose.
Jay is no stranger to the music industry. His infectious melodies and catchy lyrics have been entertaining fans for more than twenty five years. He’s not only a singer, but a songwriter, musician, and a producer. With that amount of experience, it’s no surprise how enjoyable his latest release, blink, is.
When listening to Jay Pinto’s voice, you may feel like you’ve heard him before. Well, that’s probably because his music has appeared in network and cable television shows, feature films, and radio stations worldwide. Pinto’s soothing vocals could be described as a mix of James Taylor and R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. He has a gift for creating an album full of different sounds. blink starts off with a folk/Americana vibe on the title track “blink”, then showcases many acoustic driven tracks like “change your mind” and “undone”, and adds an electric guitar based rock song to the mix on the fifth track, “even in dreams.”
On the second track of blink, “can’t take that away,” Pinto sounds like an acoustic version of R.E.M.’s Stipe. Great harmonies and catchy lyrics will have you singing along to every beat of the song. Pinto sings about the idea of not taking away life’s experiences, memories, and lessons because it’s all a part of living.
I remember every thing
the pleasure and the pain
if I could do it all again
I’d do it all the same
“i was made for loving you” is a fun, upbeat song that will have you tapping your toes to the beat. It sounds like a classic James Taylor type of song with the piano bringing out the personality of the track. Pinto adds clever lyrics like “I need you like a detective needs a clue” and “I need you like a shortstop needs a chew” to help express his feelings.
“it’s not where you are but who” is a beautiful, slower song with a strong message. It’s thought provoking and will have you reflecting on your life, memories, and how they’ve shaped you as a person.
So many days I wasted
And looking back I don’t know what I’d change
A friend of mine once told me
We’re only doing time
But now I find
That’s just a state of mind
Jay sings about always looking for a place to call home, but realizes “it’s not where you are but who” and he reflects on all of the lovers he’s had in the past. Some broke his heart, and he broke a few as well, but “it’s not who you love but how.”
Clearly Jay Pinto was deserving of having “can’t take that away” featured in IMR’s June Indie Overdose, and he is even more deserving of having IMR’s readers support his full album, blink. This talented musician wears many hats in the music industry and his album is an example of his hard work. Through a variety of sounds on blink and relatable lyrics, Pinto proves why he’s been around for more than a quarter of a century.
Rating: 4/5 Stars!
Album: blink
Release Date: May 2012
Genre(s): indie pop/rock/acoustic
Location: Issaquah, Washington
Members: Jay Pinto
Additional Musicians: Marty Jourard (saxophone & piano on “i was made for loving you”), Davey French (electric guitar on “can’t take that away,” “even in dreams,” and “alone together”), Marty Lepore (dobro on “it’s not where you are but who”)
Website: http://www.jaypintomusic.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jay-Pinto/353974664633246
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/jaypinto
