So as I reviewed last night’s new additions on my musical influence list– I noticed that one cd has been played over and over for the last 6 months on both my ipod, my car and in my daughter’s manic dance sessions in the house….

Rotondi was a band from California in the mid-80s that started as the brain child of Paul Lacques. As i was co-hosting my Dad’s radio show at the time (at the ripe old age of 8 or 9), I encountered their premier record- “Polka Changed my Life Today” and determined that I really didn’t like what they were doing… I was a staunch polka traditionalist at the time!

Fast forward about 20 years…. As I was recording the Polka Freak Out album with Bubba- he brings in some tunes by Paul Lacques that are among some of the prettiest and most thought out compositions I have played in ages… We ended up cutting “Baby” and “Girl of my Dreams” for the album and I gained a great admiration for Paul. Then— I saw him perform with his current band- I see Hawks, a great country group, that performed with PFO in LA last year.

Shortly after, I acquired the cds of Polka Changed my Life Today and Play On. Both are pretty amazing- but Play On is truly a masterpiece. The compositions, the arrangements and performances are really amazing. I can’t really describe where anything is coming from as it’s all over the place– some stuff has a good polka tempo with horn lines and melodies that seem to come from different pop influences– but they coalesce seemlessly. Other tunes would’ve sounded perfect done by THe Police– though I think Rotondi was better…. (also- keep in kind, everyone in the band was playing their secondary instruments…  imagine the Police with Sting on drums….)

If you get the chance- the cd is still available at cdbaby. Check it out…. oh, while you are– my new one should be there in the next few weeks… shameless plug, I know… but I’m preparing to pay for them!!! 🙂

-Alex