Release Date: March 7, 2025
The Big Takeover by Jack Rabid (Spring 2025 Issue)
The smackin’ Boston-based singer/drummer/power-popster has now four solo albums in 19 years, and as he goes, he allows wider historic influence into his band while his quiver expands. 2020’s Slow Recovery began trafficking in the added taste of twangy alt-country/folk and canyon rock (pedal steel, even); now Nothing’s Promised doubles down on that (“You Brought the Love”) while chipping in new roots rock (“Busted Sad Lonely and Blue”), old western music (“In the Shadow”), and Westerberg balladry (“Go It Alone”). His old power-pop/guitar rock dexterity still comes a cropper on the LP’s bookends, the opening “Hard to Believe” and closing, 2024 single “Tomorrow,” plus the middle helping of the fuller-Replacements-esque (/Successful Failures-like) “Sometimes I Just Gotta Get Away,” while his songwriting skills remain stalwart. These days he does it all, with gusto.
Power Popaholic by Aaron Kupferberg (April 2025)
Peter Baldrachi is back after over a year with a new LP that collects recent singles and a few new tracks as well. Opening with “Hard To Believe,” it’s got a strong riff leading the way, some nice harmonies and a sweet solo break with a touch of blues pop. The honky tonk country beat of “Busted, Sad, Lonely, and Blue” is another winner, with juicy slide guitar accents. The energetic and catchy tunes contrast with the sad lyrics. Most of the music here follows a weary confessional heartbreak, songs like “Go It Alone” and “Wearing My Heart Around” are perfect examples. But power pop does poke it’s head out with “Sometimes I Just Gotta Get Away,” a really catchy song akin to Tommy Keene, and the jangling pop finale “Tomorrow” with a little optimism, and a layered guitar rhythm, with all the bells and whistles reminding me of Lindsey Buckingham in places. The production is clean and crisp, and this is definitely highly recommended. 8/10
ALBUM NOTES:
Nothing’s Promised was once again recorded by Craig Welsch at Rear Window Studios, mixed by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios, and mastered by Joe Lambert at Joe Lambert Mastering. The album features a core band of Mike Hermans on guitar, David Becker on bass, and me on drums and vocals. Guests include Justin Lopes and Zack Brines on keyboards, percussionist Jay Stanley, Billy Cross (Bob Dylan, Robert Gordon/Link Wray) on guitar, Kevin Barry (Rosanne Cash, Jackson Browne, Peter Wolf) on lap steel, vocalists Ingrid Gerdes and Sonya Rae Taylor, and guitarist Van Gordon Martin (Dub Apocalypse, John Brown’s Body).
CREDITS:
Peter Baldrachi – Lead Vocals, Drums, Percussion
David Becker – Bass Guitar, Harmony and Backing Vocals
Mike Hermans – Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Lead Guitar, Bass VI
Justin Lopes – Piano, Hammond B3, Wurlitzer, Mellotron
Ingrid Gerdes – Backing Vocals
Jay Stanley – Congas, Percussion
Kevin Barry – Lap Steel Guitar
Billy Cross – Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Lead Guitar, Slide Guitar tracks 2 & 4
Van Martin – Electric Guitar, Lead Guitar, Slide Guitar track 6
Sonya Rae Taylor – Vocals track 8
Zack Brines – Hammond B3 track 7
Recorded and Engineered by Craig Welsch at Rear Window Studio, Brookline, MA
Mixed by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios, Allston, MA
Mastered by Joe Lambert at Joe Lambert Mastering, Cortlandt, NY
Photography by Craig Welsch
Layout & Design by Steven Jergensmeyer
Tracks 1, 4, 7 and 9 by Baldrachi and published by Crash Boom Bam Music (ASCAP)
Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 by Baldrachi/Rand and Published by Crash Boom Bam Music (ASCAP) and Gleason Rand Music (ASCAP)
ALBUM TRACKS:
1. Hard To Believe
2. Busted, Sad, Lonely & Blue
3. You Brought The Love
4. Go It Alone
5. Sometimes I just Gotta Get Away
6. The Pieces Of You
7. Wearing My Heart Around
8. In The Shadow
9. Tomorrow