Jacob Vanags: Pulses are Pluses

BEST USE:
An a.m. energy boost. Blast it as you brew your morning coffee.

Following in the footsteps of piano powerhouses such as Keane and Ben Folds, Jacob Vanags delivers energetic percussion with his own pop twist on his second EP, Pulses are Pluses, released November 2009.

The first song in the set, “All That You Have,” pulsates with pensive energy. Youth resonates in Vanags’s voice as it pops against the pounding keys with a quirk similar to that of Nate Reuss’s (fun., The Format). However, despite the lighthearted pace of the track, Vanags steers very clear of cute. Given his relatively new arrival to the music scene—his first EP was just released January 2008—his lyrics are clever and sophisticated for their juvenescence. The Ohio-grown Hofstra student doesn’t bounce innocently from verse to verse; he bites. “Baby, when you realize that/you have all that you have/then maybe I will care a little more,” he chides. His skepticism is clear evidence of Foldsian influence—Vanags echoes the sarcasm Folds voiced in songs like “Silver Street” and “There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You.”

Vanags maintains vibrancy throughout the album with the accompaniment of drummer/trumpeter Zach Periharos and bassist Nicky Cantatore. “Toss” flows like water, while “Stuck” packs a staccato punch. The most pleasant surprise, however, waits on the last track, “Johah’s Dream.” Where previous songs jolt listeners awake, the final piece provides a calmer, more spiritual lift. The unexpected addition of a choir and violin (Dylan Ebrahimian) is mellow yet invigorating, and gives the EP a sense of finality after such fast-paced tempos.

Sources: http://www.myspace.com/jacobvanags; http://www.enochmagazine.com/articles/band-interviews/jacob-vanags-interview

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