Rhino / Wea
2006
Dito Montiel
About This Album
For admirers of the movie A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, it is important to note that Dito Montiel's self-titled album is a supplement rather than an official soundtrack. This record does not (repeat, does not) include the opening glam jam "New York Groove" as recorded by Ace Frehley of Kiss. That aside, it's likely that fans will still find the autobiographical and self-examining lyrics a fantastic accompaniment to the film. All the songs here were written and performed by the scriptwriter, Montiel, and lend a much deeper insight into the psyche of the protagonist as he grows up in a dangerous part of Queens, escapes to California, and later fondly recalls the people of his past. Considering that Montiel's memoirs inspired both the movie script and the album lyrics, the basic plot of the record is nothing shocking. The unexpected twist is that Montiel's ability to sing and write catchy songs is as solid his script writing ability. Most of the material sprawls back into the early '90s, just after Montiel finished his punk career as the frontman for Gutterboy. A good share of the songs sound like they were baked under the heavy influence of Pablo Honey, with added sprinkles of Matthew Sweet, and both Jakob Dylan and Modern Times-era Bob Dylan.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and 11)

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