Aficionado

On its self-titled full-length CD, Albany, New York, septet Aficionado serves as a platform for the youthful reflections on life made by its singer, Nick Warchol, in his earnest throaty tenor. The band plays driving rock set to the headlong rhythms of drummer Mark O'Brien, paced by bassist Chris Kehoe, with guitarists James Kehoe and Chris Tenerowicz, and keyboard player Craig Dutra providing the ringing tones to echo Warchol's impassioned vocals. He agonizes about authenticity in the lead-off track, "The Things You Like," declaring, "You don't even really like the things you like." For the singer himself, however, there isn't much that he likes. "My life has become an endless series of complaints," he acknowledges in "Grandfather," "I really need to make a change." But he hasn't much faith in that possibility, quoting his grandfather on the futility of travel to gain a different perspective, since "wherever you go, you're always there." Song titles tend to provide the positives, with the lyrics undercutting them. The chorus of "Honesty" is "Let us just admit we can't handle honesty," and that of "Permanent" is "We are not permanent." Warchol's unhappiness is ameliorated somewhat by his distaff partner, as Laura Carrozza sings along with him and occasionally takes over the vocals alone, giving the lyrics a calmer tone; her flute playing also calms the furious beast of the rock band along with its agonized singer. But such comfort can only go so far. Aficionado wants to take on big problems to which there don't seem to be immediate solutions; maybe all they can do to tolerate them is to keep rocking. ~ William Ruhlmann