"Pickin' Up The Pieces" is the debut album from Fitz and The Tantrums. Fitz uses Motown and Soul as the backbone of their debut but fuses in indie pop influences as well to create an anomaly of an album, The album sounds old and new at the same time while putting together a solid line-up of songs necessary to differentiate themselves from the pack. For an album recorded mainly in the lead singer's living room, "Pickin' Up The Pieces" provides us with an aesthetically pleasing album that packs a large punch.
The album is the perfect soundtrack to any upscale night on the town. The classic feel mixed with the new-age vibe creates an intoxicating environment that lasts throughout the album. Songs such as "Breakin' The Chains Of Love" and "Don't Gotta Work It Out" serve as the epitome of Fitz and The Tantrums sound. The hand claps, the shuffling, and church organs all blend so well together to create a satisfying finished product. Also, the flute on the title track shines as one of the brightest moments on this album as the catchy riff grabs your attention and makes you move.
Fitz's musical partner Noelle Scaggs cuts some impressive work on this album and you wish she'd have a little more attention on "Pickin' Up The Pieces". Other tracks that stand out on their own are "Moneygrabber" and "Winds Of Change". "Moneygrabber" serves as the anthem for this album as the hook on the chorus grabs every one's attention as we are sucked into the soul-influenced band's wheelhouse. And "Winds Of Change" builds up very slowly and is credited in my opinion as the album's finest slow jam.
Final Summary:
For a debut album, you can't ask for much more than what Fitz and The Tantrums did here. They established what they were all about, they put themselves on a platform that is all to their own, and they created an overall enjoyable album. The Soul/Motown influences didn't hinder them on the originality standpoint, in fact, it helped them stand out even more so as their indie/underground upbringing blended with their influences quite smoothly. For an album recorded in a living room, the sound they created trumps some full length studio albums on quality.
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