This is the first solo record from The Slackers‘ Vic Ruggiero to be released in the UK and Household Name have the privilige of bringing it to our ears. Recorded around a year ago this is in places, surprisingly, a very, very poppy release. I say surprisingly because I didn’t quite know what to expect when I popped this record in my CD player. It’s very laid back, very raw and very…appealing. It’s difficult not to like this record, there’s such a fun charm. ‘Innocent Girl’ is just a very good pop song. But Vic’s not a one trick pony and ‘Taking Care of Business’ and ‘If This Night’ showcase different instrumentation that provide different results – yet both are good songs even though they sound very different.
At times chaotic in terms of arrangement, at times beautifully simple, Vic’s newest album is a very good listen. I approached this not knowing what I would be greeted with but in the past week or so this has barely left my CD player. The HHN press release describes this as ‘a perfect lazy days soundtrack’ which is a very, very apt way to sum up this album.