Dick Stusso Gets Bizarre, Lo-FI & Trippy On Fascinating ‘S.P.’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

When California-based singer/songwriter Nic Russo dips into his alter ego Dick Stusso things get bizarre. On his most recent offering, S.P. the artist delivers Attention Deficit Disorder folk-rock that, like a toddler, the songs enter the room, causing disturbance/joy before quickly departing, farting as they exit.

Tracks are brief, nothing touches three minutes and most crash out around two or under as Russo lets his muse flow through his created character. The ominous, slowly thundering low end of the opener “Rocking Machine” is colored by random guitars and pianos, which, along with the distorted vocals from hell on “The Check-In”, is reminiscent of early Ween efforts.  

Russo also effectively digs into countrified rock throughout the album. “Part-time Apocalypse” uses a twanging sway, “Dinner For Two” brings onboard Grace Cooper for a cool duet, and “The Masterwork” is a slow loping country stroll with good guitar jamming to end, which, like most endings here, is cut short. 

There is also a theme of heaven and hell reiterated throughout the album as the artist grapples with reality, but things are too convoluted lyrically to draw much of a narrative. The real crux of Dick Stusso this go around lies in his lo-fi, dirtbag mashup of Father John Misty and Stereopathetic Soulmanure era Beck

Tracks like “Haunted Hotel”, the distorted “Checking Back” and more straight ahead “Twilight At The Shareholders Meeting” all play like a DIY Misty album with piano, Harry Nilsson wit, and a smirking disgust. “Garbagedump #1” brings his father Marc Russo (The Doobie Brothers) along, contributing excellent horn arrangements while “Self Reflection (Deep)” is the lynchpin of the album as the character examines his life around cop sirens, lush piano, and laughter.  

Efforts such as the distorted banging groove of “Big Money”, “How Do You Spell Success” and the cock rock blowout closer “Tears of Love” bring early Beck soundscapes to mind. The catchy, scuzz-up pop rocker “Convenient Life” is a good one that stays pretty straight ahead, albeit with a brief run time. 

Nic Russo, as Dick Stusso, plays with noise on one hand and beauty on the other, crafting a weird and disjointed, yet engaging ride with S.P.       

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