To my mind, there are few modern artists that can capture the essence of that sound without being “retro” or derivative as effortlessly as Mark Bacino. It takes little imagination to merely replicate what came before. Luckily for us, Mark Bacino’s music is not retro. He effortlessly embraces the heart and soul of that era’s sound and its broad musical palette, without being mere imitation. Amazingly he manages to do this by making songs that feel both familiar and fresh, no easy feat. Look no further than his previous releases: Pop Job, Million Dollar Milkshake, and Queens English for proof.
This ability is again on full display with his new single, “Not That Guy”. The song is sweet (both in sentiment and sound), bubbly, and catchy as hell. Lyrically, it’s a treat. It’s about a “nice guy” that finds himself wondering why the girl of his dreams is ignoring him for some oaf who doesn’t treat her right. In the end, the poor fellow is consigned to “friend” status. He’s left being her “girlfriend who wears a suit and tie, forever wondering why he’s Not That Guy”. Absolutely Brilliant!
While the lyrics are familiar to any of us that have found ourselves in similar situations (I know I have), it’s the music that instantly grabs you. To my delight, the song starts off with bouncy piano (2 things the songs of today need more of: bouncy piano and hand claps) and continues in the vein of pop in truest sense: strong on melody and loaded with hooks and harmonies. Bonus points awarded for clocking in at just under 3 minutes. A real tasty slice of pure pop heaven!
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