The Cynics and Ray Paul

The Cynics “Spinning Wheel Motel”
Pittsburgh based power pop punkers The Cynics never disappoint in cooking up a tasty slab of garage rock and roll. This latest album starts off with an instant classic with the jangle fueled “I Need More.” Next, “All Good Women” is punk nod that gets your attention with its sarcastic and misogynistic lyrics. More beautiful harmonies and jangle greet us on the catchy “Gehenna.” And the retro-surf rock genius of “Zombie Walk” stand right alongside the Ramones-like rhythms that punctuate “Rock Club.”

Plenty of great tracks are here, and after ten albums (!) I have to say this is the most balanced between pop jangle goodness and raw punk energy.  Highly recommended for sure.

Ray Paul “The Charles Beat”
Boston native Ray Paul runs Permanent Press Recordings, but back in the late 70’s and early 80’s he was a local power pop sensation as Ray Paul & RPM. The Charles Beat collects the singles and album tracks that are as timeless today as they were back then. The album opens with “Some Sing Some Dance” an unreleased song recorded with the legendary Emitt Rhodes. “How Do You Know?” is a classic single that recalls both The Raspberries and Pezband in its guitar melody. Ray’s vocal is similar to McCartney and his chiming guitar licks are a perfect compliment on a song like “Lady Be Mine Tonight.”

Other highlights include “Won’t You Take A Ride” with it’s James Gang styled slide guitar and organ and “Hold It” in both album and single versions. It also has several demos and unreleased cuts of various quality. For fans of Badfinger, Artful Dodger, Grass Roots and that early power pop era, this is essential listening.