Former Starch Martins front man Dick Prall goes it alone on the mysteriously named album Fizzlebuzzie. The album comes off as an autobiographical piece, with tales of indecision ("Learning to Merge"), the maturing process ("Saturday's Changed"), or wanting a love that is already taken by another ("Great Admirer"). In short, Prall knows what we all go through, provides a forum for us to examine it, offering no solutions, but instead extending empathy and a wry smile.
Prall's vocals are faintly nasal, somewhat in the Elvis Costello mode with a dash of Bleu and Joel Henderson popping up from time to time. The plaintive nature works best on tunes like "Book of Songs," a tribute to unqualified love. "Barely Moving" is the standout musically, providing the right backdrop to Prall's voice. "Great Admirer" starts out slowly, then builds to a climax that recalls the days of Phil Spector's production, rife with horns.
"Grand Marquee" recalls the days that those over thirty will remember fondly, before the Internet, before MTV, before compact discs, and when radio stations would play anything:
The stereo is playing on
The 45 stacks
Track after track
God, I miss those headphones
Pressing in my ears
Year after year
Wipe off the vinyl and turn it on
Louder than bombs...
Prall, like many Generation X-ers, has a healthy hold on the nostalgia of his youth, and the introspection of knowing how things might have been, while still understanding the reality of today must be dealt with. Wistful, but not maudlin, Fizzlebuzzie will please those looking for a good hook, yet it will also satisfy fans of strong lyrics.
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