MIKE ZITO "PEARL RIVER Source: TheCelebrityCafe.com Date: 11/2009 Writer: Alicia Neubauer

Mike Zito grew up in St. Louis where he began performing at the age of five. He soon found inspiration in the form of a Van Halen record, and picked up the electric guitar. At 19, Zito made a name for himself in the St. Louis music scene, and released his first album in 1996, “Blue Moon.”

After bouncing around the country and releasing several more albums, Zito signed with Eclecto Groove Music in 2007, releasing his fifth album, “Today.” Released Sept. 22, “Pearl River” is Zito’s latest release, described on his website as “is a rollicking slice of Americana served up with heaping slabs of greasy New Orleans funk, gritty blues and good old fashioned rock 'n' roll.” The album certainly sounds as if it crawled directly out of the Mississippi River, through New Orleans, then wandered the South in search of someone to listen.

The album kicks off with “Dirty Blonde,” an ode to a woman and her hair that men just can’t seem to resist. The title track is slower and more contemplative, where Zito muses about what the river has seen in its many years: “How many run to you for refuge, how many have you witnessed killed?” The feeling of the bayous in Louisiana especially comes to mind with this track. “Water Moccasins glide, hungry alligators hide deep inside your waters,” Zito sings.

“One Step at a Time,” another slower track, could refer to Zito’s own personal life, as he struggled with alcohol and drugs as he tried to make his way in the music business. “I thought I was the only one, that never got anything done, I was hiding in anger and fear,” he sings. “One step at a time, I trust these feet of mine, to carry me on where I belong.”

“Shoes Blues” lyrically depicts one of those days that goes wrong the minute you wake up, as Zito trades sob-stories with a female vocalist. Beginning with waking up and not being able to find your shoes, it all goes downhill from there. The strange music box-like opening of “The Dead of Night” leads to a slightly creepy scene of roaming at night with ghostly figures of people who you can’t tell are there or not.

Zito is an extremely talented guitarist, which is easily evident by listening to just one of his songs. His backing band brings great talent to the table, as well. Judging by just “Pearl River,” Zito sounds like he’d be an absolute blast to see live.

Lyrically, Zito relies on relationship struggles for his material, not so surprising when you’re making blues music. But it’s not cookie-cutter; the lyrics are sharp where they need to be and fun where they should be.

The lyrics are great, the musicianship is superb, but Zito’s voice is the real surprise. Gritty, thick, and expressive, Zito delivers his lyrics with heart and soul, whether it’s an upbeat track or a slower contemplative ballad. His is less a growling Bob Dylan and more so a world-weary John Mayer.