Americana Singer-Songwriter Tom Ciurczak’s new album, “Yorick” is out online and record stores as digital, CD on June 27.
It will be available soon on vinyl. Stay tuned for an announcement.
Watch the latest music video, “Yorick,” the album’s title track at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K5dcdI1Z18.
Directed by Robert Wakamatsu, the “Yorick” music video shows Tom as “Yorick” with the band (drummer Kyan Wnuck, backup singer Melissa Robin (who plays the princess and the witch in the “Yorick” music video), keyboardist Chris McKinney, guitarist Ken Harrill, and bassist Phil Stein) in Elizabethan costume.
“Yorick” is the skull of the jester that Hamlet says “Poor Yorick I knew thee well.” in the Shakespeare play. The song centers around Yorick’s rescuing of the princess together with the motivation to steal a ‘hidden treasure.’ Unfortunately, a witch has been masquerading at the Princess, and they both realize they have been deceiving each other. Tom’s story has Yorick’s making a deal with the witch for the reward. In the end, the witch reneges on their agreement, decapitates, and kills Yorick.
Inspired by timeless rock artists including Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, Steve Earle, the Who, Gentle Giant, and the Eagles, Tom Ciurczak writes songs with a “What if” kind of situation and story line. “YORICK” celebrates the artform of storytelling, and features songs from Tom’s creative imagination.
“The Watcher” is about an alien left on planet earth. While waiting for his people to return for him, he finds ways to involve himself with major planetary events.
“Am I M.I.A.” is a tongue twister about a bored guy that disappears and moves to Miami to become a mercenary.
Written as a theme for a fictitious TV Show, “Chameleon” is the story about a private eye and master of disguise.
“A.L.T.O.W.D.” which is short for “Another Long Typical Ordinary Working Day” is inspired by Billy Joel slow tempo ballad,, rock, a typical working day in the espionage world, encouraging a friend to join the CIA instead of going it alone, tagging “this land of ours” and “the russian” spying. Afghanistan heroin trade.
Soaring vocal and band performance in his declarative and topical rock anthem, “You’re Next.” The song is inspired by Martin Niemöller’s poem, “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak because I was not a socialist.”
“Malleus Maleficarum” means “The Witches’ Hammer;” this mystical sounding song parallels the Middle Ages struggles and the people of Ukraine fleeing the destruction from the war.
The guitar-rocker “Where Do I Belong” is a first-person story on the sometimes hopeful quest to survive through the homeless crisis.
The Steppenwolf-inspired “Wild One” about the death of a childhood friend.
“Top of the Rainbow”is a jazz-pop, yacht rock-leaning tune with horns about breaking up and how he felt on top of the rainbow through the relationship.
Let it Rock’s Dmitry Epstein writes of the “YORICK” album: “as adventurous as it gets in terms of stories’ twists and turns, and stylistic bends.” Americana Highways’ John Apice calls Tom’s story songs “gutsy” as “Some are heavy-duty subjects — not often found in rock music.”
Tom’s first album “Call Me Ishmael” was released in 2020. Then came the 2021 single “Christmas Time in Hollywood” his second CD, “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up -Volume I,” and 2023’s “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up-Volume II” and an ep, “Christmas Time in Hollywood.” He and five songwriters, that he met in 2014 at Steve Earle’s Camp Copperhead, put together “Muscle Shoals Record Shop” recorded at Muscle Shoals legendary Cypress Moon Studio, home of the Swampers (aka Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)!
The album was mixed and produced at the world-famous Sunset Sound Studios by Brett Grossman and Stephen Haaker, and mastered by Brett Grossman.
The Tom Ciurczak Band regularly plays throughout Southern California.
Pre-save link for “YORICK” YORICK is Coming!!!!
Pre-order “YORICK” at tomciurczak.com/buy-cd
