The year was 2004, MySpace was the only social media platform in town, and Pünsapaya, now known as Pino Farina Band, had just won Rock Album of the Year from Chicago Music Awards for their debut CD, Prepare to Qualify.

 

Now, Pino Farina Band proudly releases Pünsapaya/Prepare to Qualify from the vault to all streaming services on May 19, 2023.

 

The 15-song CD was hailed as fresh and innovative, with an expansive sound that the band has built upon to this day. Lead singer/guitarist Pino Farina and his radio-friendly wail, sings of heartache, hope, and the romantic and darker side of relationships. Fellow guitarist Michael Poupko lends a jazzy funk vibe to the compositions alongside drummer/vocalist Johnathan Schiller and bassist John Cwiok who fill out the sound so fully, it seems bigger than a four-piece band. Beautifully engineered and mixed by Paul Knegten, it is evident that the boys are at home in this sonic playground of an album, fine-tuning their music and exploring genres.

 

“What we cherish most about being in this band, is that we get to touch upon almost every emotion with the songs we write, record and bring to the stage,” said Pino Farina. “There are no particular genre boundaries that we adhere to. It may be a detriment to some…? For us, we believe it is our strength.”

 

The opening track Spread It Out sets the mood of the collection and could unknowingly have been penned as what would become the band’s worldview with “it’s all about the love, and how you go about, giving it away, spreading in out.” Full-body rocker Better Than This and its driving beat can only be described as controlled melodic insanity with a close second being the title track Prepare to Qualify. Their romantic side is exposed in the soft-hearted Perfect Sky, but the true heartbreaking beauty comes out in It Cracks. Honest and revealing lyrics of choosing to be stuck in a place that is not good for you is made more achingly poignant by Pino’s ascending vocalizations and a somber cello. Tuskegee ventures into rock-opera that poses the question, is this still Pino singing? (It is!) Interspersed throughout the songs are a few instrumental clips that add to the vibe of Prepare to Qualify and completes their musical introduction to the world.

 

The only thing that could make this album better is if the listener cranks it to 11 or listens with headphones. Then they will be fully transported to the band’s sonic playground, recognize the artistry and attention to detail, take a deep exhale and return often.

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RELEASE DETAILS

Available on streaming platforms: May 19, 2023

CD Release Show: The Vixen, McHenry, IL, May 19, 2023, 8 PM

*All attendees will receive a free commemorative Pünsapaya/Prepare to Qualify CD