Press

"After listening to his full-length solo debut, Paths, roughly 47 times in the last week or so, I have a question for Zack duPont: Just where the hell did you come from, man?

Ideally, that question will serve a dual purpose. One, I honestly don't know much about the dude beyond that he currently lives in Burlington and plays around town fairly often, both solo and with his band Stacked, and that once upon a time he played in Japhy Ryder and Hollywood Farm. When duPont approached me about reviewing his album, he was hesitant to say too much about his background or the project itself, preferring to let his music stand on its own. I can respect that.

The other purpose: I'm hoping said query implies something about my general bewilderment regarding duPont's freshman effort. At the risk of hyperbole - fair warning: this won't be the last time - it is an astounding display of musicianship and raw, emotionally gripping songwriting talent. How, oh, how has he flown under my radar to this point?

A swooning, finger-picked acoustic guitar line introduces "Piece of Work" and sets the disc's moonlit tone. Though every instinct in my critical brain is screaming not to, I have to say this: His playing reminds me of Nick Drake. Simply put, duPont is an elite guitarist. Here and throughout the album, his attention to dynamic subtlety - in addition to immaculate technical polish and engaging melody lines - is remarkable.

Similarly, duPont's vocal performance is intimate, nuanced and affecting. He appears to take as much care with his hushed delivery as he does with his impressively understated guitar work. The result, evidenced throughout but especially on cuts such as "Brother the Hero" and "Across the Coals," is that each of his talents works fully in concert with the others. Imagine M. Ward collaborating with Iron and Wine. The word you're looking for is "sublime."

The disc has just one flaw and it comes in the form of "The Pilot," a decidedly jammy cut that simmers on a low groove and closes the album. It's not a bad tune, per se. In fact, even given my general aversion to all things wiggly, I'd say it's a tight little tune. But considering the tone of the art-folk brilliance preceding it, the song feels woefully out of place, as if it belongs on another disc - or with another band.

Regardless, Paths is a tantalizing gem from start to (almost) finish. And with it, duPont has firmly established himself as one of the area's most promising and exciting songwriters.

Zack duPont embarks on a mini-tour of local haunts this week to celebrate the release of Paths. Catch him Friday at The Monkey House, Saturday at Parima's Acoustic Lounge, Monday at Nectar's, or Tuesday at the Bee's Knees in Morrisville."

- Dan Bolles, Seven Days

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"Zack is all about songcraft. With gorgeous vocal harmonies and Appalachian fingerpicking that tips into the realm of high-plains balladry, virtuosity here is a means toward more mature ends." "Stacked is poised to become one of Burlington's freshest, most-sophisticated new sounds amid a small metropolis of talent."

- Josh Potter, Contributing writer to Relix, State of Mind, and Jambase

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"I passed early on Zack's sound on myspace last week when I stopped by knowing I'd be seeing him open for Chris Trapper at Tin Angel. That's all changed as his voice has flat captured my musical heart. His awe shucks demeanor about the gig and mad guitar skills won us over in no time at all. But that voice! All during his 30 minute set I tried to place just who Zack's voice brought to mind. I asked our tablemates right after who they thought he sounded most like. Paul Simon one said. Hmmn.

Zack was talking with folks near the stage after his set and Pam saw and heard someone else mention to him that he reminded them of Paul Simon. Hmmn. I asked him myself a little later, Zack, who do folks say you sound most like? "Uh, I don't know, some people say Paul Simon" I said, "no way, I don't hear it at all!" Zack offered an emphatic "Thank You!" When I asked him about influences he mentioned the Beatles and how his parents played all kinds of great music around the house growing up and added that his mom was a folk singer.

Spent time online digging a little deeper with Youtubes and the myspace to see if I could put to rest once and for all just who Zack duPont sounds like to me. He's in another band called Stacked and seems to be having fun with the four letter folk label given to artists alone on a stage with an acoustic guitar.

Still can't pin it down but after several more listens and youtubes I'm convinced of just one thing. Zack duPont has the same pure and natural vocal stylings of the likes of Ray LaMontagne, the late great John Martyn, and just a few minutes ago I thought I was listening to early David Crosby.

Zack calls Burlington, Vermont home these days. He didn't have a CD for sale (one's in the mastering stage) at merch and after all the attention afterwards and seeing the line for Chris Trapper merch he looked at family and friends in his midst (he's from Newark, Delaware and had many on hand) and said "I wish I had a CD to sell..."

He will someday, and when he does, I'll want to buy it. Based on one of those 'you had to be there' to hear him WOW the crowd on guitar and vocal and the kind of stage presence that let you know he took this stuff seriously but not terribly so. It's nice to stuble upon raw talent like Zack's ~ especially when you least expect it.

You can hear for yourself here with some myspace tunes. My advice would be to check him out live though where that voice is on display and see if he doesn't just surprise you, too. I especially enjoyed reading his "oh, that's not cool music" blog on myspace about getting out of your comfort zone and getting out to hear live independent music at a venue in your town. Timely and sage advice, indeed.

I really like this guy....."