paul banks by Paul Banks

Banks, it turns out, can probably count both of these nasally piano players as influences (although, he's not nasally), but that doesn't mean he doesn't also add a bit of his own stuff to the mix.

"This Austin-based singer-songwriter's self-titled debut introduces itself on track seven. That is, track seven is called 'Introduction' and offers a 47 second soothing/haunting instrumental that ends on an unresolved note. This is not to say that the record is in any way unresolved. It provides some tight sounding pop songs while also experimenting a bit with melodies. In fact, this might be what sets Banks apart from the singer-songwriters mentioned above. He doesn't seem content with sticking to the formula all the time. The beginning of 'Color' will remind you of the Cardigans 'Paralyzed,' but heads in a different direction. Where Nina Persson promised 'This is where your sanity gives in / And love begins,' Banks offers 'I've got my mind made up / I've got my bags packed.'

"'Medicine,' 'Family,' and 'The World' are more straightforward songs featuring Banks' vocals and pretty melodies. The strongest of this batch is 'The World,' a song about changing, um, the world…There's always a chance for cheese with such songs, but Banks keeps things reigned in with lyrics that stop short of dreaminess: 'We wanna change the world / But we don't know anything about it at all / Ain't it humbling, my friend?'

"Banks and his studio crew (Daniel Ellsworth, Adam Keafer, Dan Burns) have managed to put together eight tracks that confidently tell their stories with a charm and melodies that stick in your head. I've been whistling 'Live to Share' for a week now, and I'm okay with that. See, I told you I was predictable."

-Jim Brown, AUSTIN SOUND

http://www.austinsound.net/?q=PaulBanksRev5-30-07

Paul Banks is an Austin musician who is weighty yet endearing. Influenced by an entire century of firmly melodic music, from the clever Tin Pan Alley pop of Cole Porter to the melancholy prog of Radiohead, Paul's music is diverse, simple and complex, but his soul and honesty are what grab audiences by the guts. He moves and pierces listeners, but he also makes them his friends.

It had been rumored that Paul Banks was spotted in a castle somewhere near Nashville, juxtaposing the melancholy of life against pensive and hopeful melodic movement while conducting a hoe-down around a room mic, shouting "yahoooo," and clinking glasses and beer bottles together. Our sources reported that sleigh bells (and guitars?) may have been involved as well. Upon hearing these rumors, we thought that perhaps a record was in the works. And we were right.

Paul Banks: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitars, piano, organ, charmingly jocular yet professional stage presence, whistling, etc.

Daniel Ellsworth: piano, organ, electric piano, hand claps, laughter, the occasional inappropriate remark, etc.

Adam Keafer (the biv, tyler james): bass guitar, general merriment, etc.

Dan Burns (the biv, tyler james): drums, cymbals, sleigh bells, killer smile, etc.

Average Customer Review: 5