Zumpano

Look What the Rookie Did (Sub Pop)
by Jim Johnson

In “Temptation Summary,” singer Carl Newman asks, “Is there anyone anywhere I can love without trying to?” I’ve had to pose that question to myself many times, regarding various women who have flashed in and out of my life, as well as numerous rock ‘n’ roll bands currently on the “scene.”

Since you’re reading this to decide whether Look What the Rookie Did is worth your time and money and not whether or not I need therapy (Therapy?), it’s the rock ‘n’ roll part of this dilemma that I’ll discuss.

It really seems that there’s nothing new these days, that everything’s either a rehash or the rehash of a rehash of the same hooks, lines, and riffs that were used in the ’60s or even the ’50s, with the only noticeable difference being recording techniques and/or the lyrics. As a culture, we’re still striving to process everything that went on more than two decades ago, and not until we’re done assimilating will there be room for anything innovative to occur.

That’s my theory today, anyhow. Zumpano make no bones about what they’re doing, as they sound straight out of the time and place that brought us sing-along tunes by the likes of the Beatles and the Dave Clark 5. Of all the bands vying for the retro image, Zumpano are one of the few who have earned their grainy semi-color photograph replete with shades and Velvet Underground haircuts. In summary, if you would like to help youth culture achieve the next stage in musical evolution, you can visit your local oldies but goodies shop or you can try listening to Zumpano and their ilk as often as you can stand it.