Cassino’s lead singer Nick Torres is one of my favorite lyricists of all-time, both from his stint in pop-punk band Northstar and his subsequent folk rock project Cassino. Torres and childhood friend Tyler Odom actually formed Cassino after Northstar broke up in the mid-2000’s, putting down their overdriven guitars for a subtler indie/folk sound.
And boy does it ever work. As previously mentioned, Torres’ lyrics have always been filled with a wonderful storytelling richness and the more nuanced arrangements of Cassino lend itself perfectly to his world-building capabilities. His ability to describe emotions and day-to-day experiences reminds me a lot of the lyrical prowess of Stephan Jenkins from 3EB— like Jenkins, everything feels grand and mythical in Torres’ hands, stories that spill out like little pieces of French cinema.
The musical arrangements led by Tyler Odom are a natural compliment to the vocals, creating a wonderful soundtrack to the stories Torres tells. The guitar work, dynamic shifts, and pacing of the entire record is sublime. There isn’t a note that feels out of place, and every instrument which joins the fray has a concise purpose that is played to serve the song as a whole vs. calling attention to any one specific instrument.
Sounds of Salvation sounds just like salvation. I’ll be back again and again and again.
Standout Songs: “The Gin War”, “Lolita”, “New Jerusalem”, “American Low”
