John Smith

The young buck of Peanuts & Corn returns with another concept album. This time, John Smith concentrates on the blue collar blues, building up character studies of average individuals in (or out of) average jobs, connected by a string of songs and light-hearted interludes based around Pinky’s Laundromat. It’s not an uplifting, escapist album; no one is flashing bling, drinking copious amounts of expensive alcohol or dancing with hoochies. Instead, Smith uses detail to paint realistic portraits that unify "the kinship of the down and out.” There are cab drivers ("Taxicab Confessions”), pushy, short order cooks ("Iron Chef”), lazy employees ("Screwin’ the Pooch”), and crazies, both general ("Baypak”) and psychotic ("A Black Knife”). Mcenroe’s use of dark, moody strings and piano lend the songs a feeling of melancholy. Unfortunately, Pinky’s Laundromat would have been better off without the silly interludes and cartoon voices. Still, another solid P&C release.