"Rocking" Rick Padilla has been a fixture on the local music scene for years, transitioning between various band projects. With his latest project, The Mercy Beat, and its upcoming CD release, Shine, he's fused lush production values with solid writing to craft a collection of impressive songs. If you've heard of him, but never actually heard his music, this CD will be the place to start.
The Mercy Beat consists of Rick Padilla on vocals, Michael Allen on guitars, Alain Lucas on bass, and Howie Marlin on drums. The disc was mixed at Jim Parr's studio. The cover art will be provided by local artist Kara Taylor. Mr. Padilla is a much stronger singer than he's given credit for. His voice elicits classic '80s artists such as Jim Kerr of Simple Minds, Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen, Bono, Billy Idol, and Brian Ferry. He's able to evoke these artists without sounding derivative. Mr. Padilla is able to reach breathy crescendos or full-throated declarations, without sounding thin or strained.
The Mercy Beat's sound is reminiscent of early '80s pop in the best sense of the phrase. It evokes a time when musicians put their faith in 1-4-5 chord progressions, 2-4 bass-and-drums rhythms, melodic guitar notes, romantic keyboard flourishes, and breathy vocals. For anyone over age 25 who's horrified by the cacophony of plastic hip-hop and witless nu-metal currently defiling the airwaves, this return to melodic-ism is a welcome breath of fresh air.
While many of the tracks fall under the '80's pop rubric, there is diversity within the songs. "Drug Girl" is a lush, Chris Isaac-style pop song that's immediately catchy. "Happy Birthday" is an acoustic track with Byrds-like harmonies and faux Brit-pop accents. "Psychic Love" captures the sound of '70s-era Roxy Music with a vocal style that fuses Brian Ferry and David Byrne. "Suspicious" is a punk/techno thrash number with a catchy melodic break. "Sugar" recalls the best of Echo and the Bunnymen, with its blunted chords and piano runs. The final song, "Little Sister," is a luscious blend of melodic guitars and vocal harmonies.
The Mercy Beat has made itself visible with a series of performances, including a date at the Atlantic Connection. The bane of many new bands is a lack of engaging songs. This is not a problem for the Mercy Beat; this band has a bagful of catchy tunes, which will get the audience's feet moving. Give credit where it's due; Mr. Padilla and his companions have done what few artists bother to do today - write ear-pleasing songs backed by competent musicianship. If this preview CD is any indication of the future direction of the Mercy Beat, "Shine" is an appropriate title.
Decibel Magazine was one of the better attempts to dethrone The Phoenix as local music God. It folded after a few years, and we archive some of their material here for the benefit of future generations.
