TO WHOEVER YOU ARE NOW

"Who draws the line between singer and song? And what if they were one and the same all along?" This curiosity is central to Pinnacle's latest gem, To Whoever You Are Now. After a bit of foreshadowing in the prelude, the proper album leads with reflections on hate ["Flying Colors"] and love ["Because of You"] before going on to explore many shades in between.

Some of the ensuing storyline is veiled, with much of the lyrical focus on an individual's development through his trials and traumas. The protagonist is a once-idealistic dreamer who ends up questioning his place in the world after certain horrific events. One of the album's most important and poignant lines appears both as the final phrase of the prelude and at a key point in the title track: "Would the one you dream of being now dream of being who you are?" For a man who finds himself at multiple crossroads, this layered conundrum may be the crux of his narrative.

Musically, the band's sound contains elements of Marillion, Kansas, and Spock's Beard. The first of these stands out even more because Matt Francisco's voice often channels Fish, especially in its higher register. Karl Eisenhart's guitar work frequently steals the show; he is one of the best axe slingers on the contemporary scene, demonstrating not only virtuosity but also tasteful restraint, a quality that skilled players often lack. In addition, Karl's soulful singing lends a nice vocal counterpoint to Matt's. Yet everyone shines, with repeated listens revealing the intricacy and power of Greg Jones's monstrous drumming and Bill Fox's riveting bass lines. For me, one of the most exciting moments on the entire album happens around the 6-minute mark of "Because of You," when Greg's toms suddenly explode into an intense tribal rhythm that makes me want to leap from my seat and pump my fists in the air. (I confess that I'm somewhat disappointed when this infectious beat changes so soon.)

This masterwork is meant to be heard, and heard again. The music is dynamic and tight, the lyrics are intelligent and thought-provoking, and the overall sound is of a band truly discovering itself. Whoever you are, you should give this a listen.