Album Reviews

- by Nate Hennon

Holy Pinto does not stick to one style, arrangement or vibe on their debut album, ‘Congratulations’. The first song, ‘Matches’, starts slow but builds to a Jukebox the Ghost type crescendo. The second song, ‘Hospital Room’, is speedy and melodic. This 2-song dynamic carries the first half of the album. One song is slow and slightly dull; the next is high-energy and melody.

With its guitar-driven verses, big drum sound, and layered vocals, ‘Phantom Limb’ is something different. This song breaks up the 2-song structure and throws everything into a four-minute package. After listening to ‘Phantom Limb’, the whole album begins to make sense. When Holy Pinto sticks to their musical strengths, guitar and drums, they create something charming and pleasant. Holy Pinto highlights this charm on ‘Graduation’ and ‘Congratulations’. Guitar and vocals take center stage on both songs while the drums fill the background. Holy Pinto needs nothing else when they keep things simple.