The Brian Shapiro Band takes you to almost screeching highs and silly baritone lows in the new sonic extravaganza All That We See. If you’re a fan of David Byrne or Talking Heads and you find yourself pondering life, then The Brian Shapiro Band’s debut album is right up your alley. Smacked in between the measures are cutting guitar clanks and some nice bass grooves and rhythms. This Philadelphia rock/folk outfit is bringing something really special to the indie music world.

“Three Things” has Shapiro singing about things that he’d like to see to change the world, to make it better. He acknowledges it will take wishful thinking, and his voice hovers over a music bed filled with guitar and achy bass and percussion backbeat. “We’ll Take Them All” has some lovely piano tones and gripping lyrics. “What’s Real” and the awesome “Why Wait” continue the sonic chapters. These songs all feel like they are a part of the same book, but in a way, perhaps more journal entries and prose. I liked the pallet and the foundation this band presents. Their music beds are strong and forceful, but also gliding and beautiful at times.

“One More Time” and the very-fun “Thick Skin” come in hot. I loved the cheeky tony of “Thick Skin”. Don’t get too close to me, because I will walk the other way, Shapiro sings in his Warren Zevon-like vocals. Shapiro does seem like he comes from another time and I really dug how the songs sound very fresh, but give some sort of nod to punk, rock and folk. He seems like he really thinks of the world in a whole other light and when you want to laugh, you also want to cry. He also seems to be singing about things from afar, like he’s living his life as an observer.

The last three songs, “Away And Away”, “Gourmet Mind” and “Le Chein” are brilliant. I especially liked “Le Chein”. Shapiro sings the song in French, and from what I can gather, the song is about a dog. I feel like this song transports me to a busy Parisian street and Shapiro is performing on a corner, and a stray dog is his only audience. Again, there’s this painful sadness in Shapiro’s voice, but laced with an unrelenting joy. As a listener, I felt that something real when he sings, probably the most in “Le Chein”. I think the backing music is tight, but in all of the tracks, his playful way of singing and delivering the words takes center stage.

The verdict? It’s a fun, weird, delightful ride. All That We See has many moments of strange observations, but more so, moments when it all comes together and makes sense after all. Shapiro sings in entertaining ways. I think it will make sense for most listeners – especially fans of the aforementioned groups and bands. The Brian Shapiro Band possesses a unique sound and if you’re sick of the run-of-the-mill sound, you will fall deep into All That We See.

Garth Thomas