Based out of Sacramento, California, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter/producer Zac Bauman successfully hones in on the baroque pop genre, with a bedroom recording allure. His new album, Bell Jar, released on September 17th and includes the highlight “(Nothing) Like A Rolling Stone”. Beginning with a sparse folk progression, Bauman’s vocals emerge around the 30-second mark with an endearing tone reminiscent of Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt.
The chorus – “just look around you now, if you want to see heaven” – adds some elegant key twinkles and a lusher vocal delivery, book-ended by a sharp brass accompaniment that returns past the two-minute mark for some Brian Wilson-esque instrumental expansion. This is a very fine piece of songwriting and elaborate pop songwriting, beginning quaintly though ending with impressive expansion and melodic wit.
