PUJOL - Nasty, Brutish, And Short Review

As fast as 'Nasty, Brutish, and Short' ends, you'll find yourself moving just as quickly to push the play button to hear it once again.

PUJOL - Nasty, Brutish, And Short (2011) - 7.7 / 10.0
Label: Saddle Creek

PUJOL is the project of Daniel Pujol and comes to us by way of Nashville, TN. Having previously recorded music for Third Man, Infinity Cat, Evil Weevil, Jeffrey Drag, Turbo Time and Velocity of Sound, Nasty, Brutish, And Short marks his tenth release in less than two years. Does this guy ever sleep? Pujol's secret to constant activity appears to be his pleasure in just recording off-the-cuff songs. Whereas most bands may painstakingly put together songs that they have toiled over for weeks, Pujol can rip a new one without any effort just based on what he's currently feeling. This approach could be a disaster for most artists, but it translates well to Pujol's blend of '60s garage and bratty punk rock.

Nasty, Brutish, and Short is a title that actually lives up to its claim. Look no further than the minute plus track "Stuff" that examines political and religious beliefs with Pujol singing, I must be consistent with what I believe in / Or I live a lie. Doesn't get anymore simple than that. The two-plus minute "Battles" could be an anthem for the current state of affairs for many Americans. Freaking out about money / Freaking about my life / What am I gonna do, sings Pujol over some fuzzy guitar bookended by southern rock flourishes. "Scully" is a love song that gets to the point -- there's no time spent on courting or romanticizing with flowery words. It's just straight to 'I like you' and this is why, now what happens next?

Since this is a rock album, there is the obligatory drugs rock anthem in "Tiny Gods (Singularity)". The song is rich in rock star pathos, and it's quite clear that despite Pujol's current enrollment in school, being a rock star is his true goal in life. It's another minute plus track that hits you over the head until you believe Pujol's claim that he's a tiny god. I also love that modem start-up sound thrown in near the song's end for no apparent reason. As fast as Nasty, Brutish, and Short ends, you'll find yourself moving just as quickly to push the play button to hear it once again. It's what rock should be: fast, care-free, and fun.

02 Scully by SaddleCreek