You’ll have to be familiar with San Francisco’s music scene to understand why I absolutely adore Going My Way, the CD of local musician Shane Papatolicas. That’s because I can’t give a review that doesn’t mention a comparison between Shane’s music and the music of my favorite San Francisco Band, Bag of Toys. And with this CD, Shane managed to surpass the band in my eyes because of the diversity of his music. But for those of you who aren’t on the same page as me, let’s backtrack a little bit. We’ll start with Bag of Toys. I stumbled on this band one night last year when they were playing a free show at Grant and Green which is around the corner from me. I immediately liked their live music. I hate to use the word “catchy” because it’s so cliché but their music is definitely catchy. And danceable. And it has that surf reggae alt-rock blend that’s unique to California (or was until it spread, I suppose). In short, they are a fun band with fun music. So when I put on Going My Way and immediately heard the similarities between Shane’s instrumentals between the title track and those of Bag of Toys, I knew that I’d love the CD. It’s got that same catchy beat with lyrics that are easy to learn and enjoyable to sing along with. But when you start to pay attention to the lyrics that you’re already singing, you’ll find that there’s a density there despite the upbeat instrumentals. The lyrics are poignant and they weave poetic images with straightforward descriptions to give you a glimpse into a life that’s not all roses and dancing. For example, in “Maybe”, Shane sings the lines: “There’s a cold, black shadow in a slow daydream just waiting for somebody to fall. Over and over I keep finding myself here standing in these same old shoes”. Later, in “Sometimes on the 38”, Shane simplifies his feelings: “Sometimes I read the paper and I get depressed. Sometimes I stand and stare at the ground”. Either way, whether waxing poetic or putting it plainly, Shane’s lyrics grasp the truth of what he’s trying to say. And even when the picture he’s painting for you isn’t pleasant, his music is fun. But unlike what I’ve heard from Bag of Toys, Shane displays a diversity in his instrumental ability. In other words, many of his songs sound different from each other despite the fact that you could easily recognize his voice and style once you’d gotten used to him. He has slower songs and he has songs that emphasize the instrumentals instead of just using them to support his vocals. Shane Papatolicas is one of those San Francisco musicians that captures the sound of California, infuses it with the life specific to San Francisco and tells it as a story through his own perception. And he’s a San Francisco musician that you should pay attention to. Check out his MySpace page and website.