SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TONY VAZ – PRETTY SIDE OF THE UGLY LIFE

TONY VAZ
PRETTY SIDE OF THE UGLY LIFE
JUBILEE GANG

Tony Vaz is one of those mavericks in music that have a left-of-center concept in songwriting (think R. Stevie Moore gone everywhere), where it is so hard to put a finger (or ear) where his starting point lies or where he is going to end up. Add to that characteristic, off-coloured (often monotone) vocals sometimes akin to Bill Callahan or late great David Berman, and you can (partly) get a picture of what is going on Vaz’s latest offering, Pretty Side Of The Ugly Life. 

Vaz also has a knack for unconventional arrangements evident throughout this album, where on paper, his instrumental combination sound improbable, but when actually presented, sound like they should have been together in the first place.

What makes the album even more fascinating is the fact that this is Vaz’s full-length debut, presenting himself as one of those left-field musical forces that should be reckoned with.

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