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Saturday, September 20, 2008

CD Review: Bob Pepek - From The Let Go


Bob Pepek - From The Let Go
2008, Bob Pepek


Bob Pepek grew up wanting to play punk rock. His earliest musical experiences included bands like Green Day, and he started out on a $37 JC Penney guitar strumming for his life. Twists and turns abound in life, and on his 2008 debut, From The Let Go, Bob Pepek displays songwriting craft that far exceeds the usual expectations of punk rock.

From The Let Go is upbeat and energetic acoustic rock (think Sister Hazel or Train). Bob Pepek shows real promise as a songwriter, displaying a strong sense of melody (and great harmonies!). From The Let Go opens with Just One More Word, a melancholy air about spending the night alone with unrequited love. The tune is hopeful and hopeless all at once and is utterly amazing. This is a song that most any lovelorn teen (or anyone who's ever been one) can identify with, and has a universal angst that could make it a very popular song indeed.

A Little More revisits a long-lost relationship with a peppy tune that will get stuck between your ears. Open Your Heart is a lovely ballad that will be definite mix tape material. Redundancy brings a fuller sound to From The Let Go and is a decent song, but not as enjoyable as the more stripped down tracks that came before. This Promise To You returns to the bare acoustic sound that dominates From The Let Go. Pepek seems most comfortable (or at least at his best) when it's just him, guitar, a few voices and scant supporting instrumentation. This is part songwriting and part his natural sound. The one song on From The Let Go that went to a fuller sound became somewhat muddy. The rest? Amazing.

Bob Pepek is a name you should be hearing more of over the next few years. I would not be surprised if he builds a fairly steady following over time and if we're still hearing new music from him 20 years from now. For the time being, From The Let Go is a strong entry into the pop music discography. It's definitely worth a listen, so check it out!

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Bob Pepek at www.myspace.com/bobpepek. Bob Pepek does not currently have sale information on his MySpace page for From The Let Go, so you’ll have to send him a message and ask!

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