“Love the record! Way to be! Emotionally expansive, tough and pretty…honest and WORTH IT!”
That’s a review to write home about, by any standard, and from anyone.
That it arrived unsolicited from one of the musical firmaments most eclectic and singular of wizards, Evan Dando is extraordinary in itself: the fact that it was then closely followed by an impromptu video message from a nameless, but perfect Pacific beach, inviting Alex Lipinski to “come fishing” and it should be immediately clear that this isn’t ‘same old, same old’. The Lemonheads figurehead then picked up the phone, again, and invited Alex to open a few of his UK shows centred around the seminal ‘Shame About Ray’ album.
Naturally, Lipinski said yes.
Liam Gallagher is a fan, which resulted in Alex belting out Elvis standards within the unlikely domesticity of Liam’s own North London kitchen, in a surreal battle of anthems; the voice of a generation responding with a heartfelt rendition of ‘Acquiesce’ much to the amusement of Bonehead, who just happened to be there because he and Lipinski just happened to be in the middle of the critically acclaimed ‘Phoneys & The Freaks’ collaboration, which saw them perform live together from Rome to Los Angeles.
His last album, the self-titled ‘Alex’ was produced by The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Anton Newcombe in Berlin. Hailed by Newcombe as “a young man worth my time and efforts” and also observing that “make no mistake, these songs have all the qualities of timeless music”.
Again, this is not ‘same old, same old’.
No coincidence then that for ‘For Everything Under the Sun’, his recently released third album, Lipinski was sought out by Wolf Alice & Elvis Costello producer Michael Smith who had the same desire as Anton to work with a voice that Rock & Reel magazine describes as “channelling the best tones of Lennon and Orbison and makes them his own”, and songs which BBC Radio 6 legend Tom Robinson declares “sweep you up and carry you along.”
Released physically & digitally across all platforms worldwide, the new album ‘For Everything Under the Sun’ ensured that Alex performed on festival main stages across the UK in 2023, with his band ‘The Crown Electric’.
The latter part of 2023 saw Alex record and release a limited edition live retrospective album, performing material from his three records to date. Plainly titled ‘12.10.23’, it showcases the depth of Lipinski’s songwriting and captures the band in blistering form.
‘For Everything Under The Sun’ is a truly articulate piece of work, from a songwriter who has served his apprenticeship. A lot of miles covered in what he himself acknowledges has been “the only choice he ever had”. On the strength of those performances, one of which was caught by Marc Almond’s musical director, Neal X – Alex played alongside Marc in Berlin’s iconic Passionskirche: and was then invited to continue as sole support for Marc’s sold out UK tour, bringing with it the chance to perform in some iconic venues including The London Palladium, and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Further shows across Europe followed, and Alex has been invited back out on tour with Marc in Autumn 2024.
The hard work has been years in the getting done. All you have to do now – is listen…
‘For Everything Under The Sun’, the new album from Alex Lipinski, is out now on Mi Casa Music.
All inquiries to micasamusiclimited@gmail.com