Indie Albums you Should Own, Vol. 1

In Many Rooms by Juano Lippi

Juano is a friend formerly from Grand Rapids, MI, where he was the lead guitarist and co-songwriter in the jam band Karmic.  Back then, Juano was known for slinging lightning-fast runs up and down the neck of his Parker Fly while scatting as the band funked along.  In the years since, Juano has traded in his parker for a Gibson, and Furniture City for the Big Apple, where he works as a recording engineer and writes and records songs with the likes of Edie Brickell.  

The album opens with "No One Ever Listens To Me," starting simply with a voice and an acoustic guitar, and like a pebble released atop a mountain snowballs, the song gains instrumentation and texture as it goes on.  His ode to Grand Rapids, "Wealthy Street," features a cool, singable chorus of guest singers and country guitar riffs. Even on seemingly straightforward ballads like "Love With You," Lippi interjects his quirky yet tasteful guitar in unexpected ways.  The one song on the album surviving from the Karmic days, Za Da Da finds new life with an energetic vocal and a sonic fire fueled by its excellent production.  

It's obvious Lippi knows his way around both the studio and his instrument - the playing is tasteful and the presentation is modern and slick, while retaining an organic, playful feel.  Check it out now! 

In Many Rooms was also reviewed on The Huffington Post.

 Download it from iTunes.

---