[rating=7.00]
Following in the alliterative footsteps of previous releases Psychology and 2016’s Pleasure, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong have delivered an album that will satisfy their most loyal fans: Pizazz.
Clocking in at just under an hour long and 11 tracks deep, all of which have been stretched out and experimented with in their live shows, there are no surprises that you wouldn’t expect from a four-piece funk band with no horns. But sometimes it feels just as good to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. In this case, it’s a damn good time.
The album opens with an unapologetic reminder that this band likes to party hardy, claiming they put the “Fun in Funk” and dropping allusions to a high class (and safe) party routine: “We put the fun, in funk / our shit is never bunk,” sings frontman and guitarist Greg Ormont in the song’s chorus.
PPPP has earned a reputation for delivering a clean, tight and near limitless energy in their live shows, and in that regard, Pizazz comes across as a marker of their natural musical progression. The average listener doesn’t need to be a self-ascribed member of ‘The Flock’ (what the most hardcore of their fans call themselves) in order to pick up on or appreciate the urgency in each members’ delivery, either.
From Ormont’s lyrics, to lead guitarist Jeremy Schon’s explosively melodic solos, from the rapid-fire thunder of bassist Ben Carey (especially throughout “The Liquid”) to the sharp yet fluid fills of drummer Alex Petropulos; Pizazz is an enthusiastic recording.
Stand out tracks include “Porcupine”, “Fox and Toad” and the album closer “Poseidon”. The album is heavier on nautical themes than anything else, complementing the laid-back island grooves that underscore many of the tracks and the watery grooves that have helped define the band’s brand of funk.
“Porcupine” is a pretty loaded track. The longest on the record at over seven and a half minutes long, the track lays out a winning hand with an extended middle section, giving fans something new without setting a jam in stone. New listeners will appreciate how loose the middle section is without ever compromising itself as a piece of the composition – a concept that many jam bands struggle with when translating live bangers into polished studio gems.
“Fox and Toad” continues the zydeco/island influences, exemplifying the joy of finding friends and shelter during a storm. “Offshoot”, the next track, takes us inside the rhythm addled psychedelic melody of an instrumental groove from late-set of an evening festival slot before slipping into the album closer.
The bands’ biggest flaws, critically, might be some of their strongest assets among their base supporters. At their core, the band is sophomoric and silly without being crude and they don’t tip toe around the prevalent party lifestyle often associated with bands big on the festival circuit.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong know their audience, and they know how to deliver above their fans’ expectations. As for whether that is enough to sway a new set of ears, well, there’s only one way to know for sure; Give Pizazz a listen and decide for yourself if it’s time you flew with The Flock.
One Response
Spoiler alert: it’s definitely time that you fly with the flock.