MP3 Al Polito - Jackass EP

Al reconciles the opposites: the sacred with the profane, the spiritual with the sensual. Matching sensitivity and eloquence with a rock-and-roll edge, Al sees the world through a lens that is both compassionate and unapologetically masculine.

6 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Acoustic, FOLK: Folk Pop



Details:
"Of Things Afflicted and Beautiful"

With the perspective of a mystic and the testosterone of a teenaged boy, Al Polito reconciles the opposites: the sacred with the profane, the spiritual with the sensual, the mysterious with the familiar. In the same song he may combine both poetic imagery and brutal honesty to make his point. His high-flying vocals carry both power and vulnerability, and his deft guitar work is both sweet and edgy.

âKeep your heart in heaven and your feet in the gutter,â is Alâs advice to anyone seeking lifeâs great truths. Finding inspiration in Taoist masters, exotic dancers and even his own traditional Catholic upbringing, Al explores these truths in his new EP, âJackass.â

In the title track, Al admits to an infidelity, moves from self-recrimination to self-examination, finally concluding in a statement of self-forgiveness and dignity:

âWhat can I do, if I wonât hate myself?
I can hold my head high, and sing to myself
âIâm a Jackass, Big Jerk, Loser, Piece of Work
Jackass, Scoundrel, Bastard, Assholeââ

Instantly and consistently memorable, Alâs songs comfort the afflicted. But infusing his songs with irony and distorted guitars, Al is anything but a soft-spoken balladeer or tortured poet. âWeâre all afflicted in one way or another,â says Polito. âDespite or because of our afflicted nature we manage to be brilliant, and beautiful. I want to celebrate that in my music.â

Alâs guitar work earned him the honor of playing electric and acoustic tracks alongside Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher of Elvis Costelloâs band for the debut CD effort of Emily Tessmer. On his own recordings he has attracted the participation of musicians who have played with Sheryl Crow, Michael Penn, Van Morrison, Doobie Bros. and Three Dog Night.

Al has toured in California, Australia and New Zealand, performing at festivals, clubs, songwriter venues, even fronting a gospel choir once. Songs from his debut CD, âGift,â were named to Broadjam.comâs Top Ten a total of 8 times, and he has been added to FM and Internet radio stations across America.

Al is currently touring promoting the âJackassâ EP (on Politoâs own Medicine Stone Records), while working on more songs for a full-length to be released later in 2006.