Album Review: Cary Pierce

MUSIC

Cary Pierce

You Are Here

Aware

The sticker on the cover of You Are Here labels Cary Pierce as co-founder of Jackopierce, but it would be a mistake to use Pierce's former title to define his debut solo album. On You Are Here, Pierce eschews his college cult status in favor of straight-from-the-heart acoustic-based rockers. The album crunches into its opening track, "The Best Thing," with a funky ferocity that nevertheless shows off Pierce's soulful voice and harmonics, while "Transatlantic" is a true tear-the-top-off rocker. There are quieter moments as well: with the assistance of hometown friend Lisa Loeb, "Home" portrays the thoughts of a man who has recently found happiness in all that he already has. The album's strongest points, however, are where it weaves in between the happiness and sorrow. "Tower," probably the album's strongest track, exploresthe late-night loneliness of being trapped in a New York hotel.

You Are Here

Aware

If there is a downside to the album, it would be Pierce's sentimentality. Much of the disc explores Pierce's current and previous relationships, as well as his breakup with his bandmates of ten years. Yet this is not the overdone sap of teenage pop idols, but the mature pondering of an adult. For Pierce, this is a fine return from his sabbatical. A-