Tag: BMX Bandits

The Cynz and BMX Bandits

powerpopaholic
Cynz

The Cynz “Little Miss Lost”

New Jersey-based The Cynz is the duo of Cyndi Dawson and Henry Seiz, and although they’ve been around for several years, it took Jem Records to shine a brighter light on their songwriting prowess. Cyndi’s punk attitude and Henry’s melodic rock style are perfectly balanced here on Little Miss Lost, with assists in production from a bevy of stars: Kurt Reil (The Grip Weeds), Michael Giblin (Split Squad), and Tommy Kristich (The Jellybricks). Even Smithereens legend Jim Babjak plays on a track! With all this in the mix, you will have a great album.

Cyndi’s vocal stylings resemble Brody Dalle (The Distillers) and Joan Jett. The inspiration for the record came from Cyndi’s preadult years when she lived a bit dangerously. There are so many good highlights here: “Crow-Haired Boys,” the 80s jangle of “You Would Not Miss Me,” “When We Were In Love,” “Tell That Girl To Shut Up,” and “Narrow Hips.” Another excellent song is the Smithereens cover “Room Without a View,” and Jim Babjak’s guitar riffs make it even better.  Highly recommended!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

BMX Bandits

BMX Bandits “Dreamers On The Run”

The 1990s may have seen the careers of former bandmates Teenage Fanclub, Soup Dragons, etc. overshadow those of Scottish cult pop legends BMX Bandits. Still, they remain mainly the home base of Duglas T. Stewart (vocalist & guitarist). After a run of excellent albums through 2017, Duglas has gradually expanded his style with more quirky folk, and unexpected musical turns. Dreamers on the Run is ambitious and more experimental than usual.

The record starts with the title track, a dreamy melodic folk song with Duglas’ wispy, mature vocals. This is followed by “Setting Sun,” a catchy pop song, and then “Time to Get Away, all about the joys of a beach vacation. Subtle harmonies and light strings make these very enjoyable. Then it takes a dramatic turn: “Cockerel’s Waiting,” is like a Broadway/circus ballad about finding love, but gets weird with the next song, a repeating stanza, “My Name Is Duglas (Don’t Listen To What They Say).” I preferred the straightforward “The World Was Round,” as opposed to the experiments here; like the 8-bit music of “Digital Dreamers.” Overall, it is a mixed bag that most fans will enjoy.

Amazon

BMX Bandits and The Poster Boy

powerpopaholic
BMX Bandits

BMX Bandits “BMX Bandits Forever”

One of the longest running power pop bands is the BMX Bandits, started in 1985 and led by singer/guitarist Duglas T. Stewart with a rotating line-up of musicians. Former members went on to form Teenage Fanclub and The Soup Dragons. After a long period of inactivity, the band reformed with vocalist Rachel Mackenzie in 2006 and made a few more albums before hibernating again.

Now Stewart’s back and concentrating on sweet love songs with Stuart Kidd (Linden), David Scott (The Pearlfishers) and Joe Kane (Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab) for BMX Bandits Forever. Opening with the earnest and easy listening “My Girl Midge” it’s an intimate style of indie pop. Recalling the simple melodies of late era Beach Boys, Stewart’s laid-back approach works on “Mais Do Que Valsa (Just A Memory)” and “Save Our Smiles.” It does get playful, with the polka kiddie tune “Way of The Wolf,” and hummable “It’s Time.” Another highlight is the dark gem “Razorblades and Honey” with Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) supplying an infectious bass line.

Some of this doesn’t work – from a painful cover of West Side Story’s “Somewhere” to the forgettable “Love Me ’Til My Heart Stops” and The Beach Boys cover “Forever.” However, some of the best new music about romance is part of this album, so check it out.

Amazon


The Poster Boy

The Poster Boy “On the Count of Three”

Its been several years since we heard from Budapest power poppers Poster Boy. Sadly, the band broke up last May and they released this final album, which is more alternative pop oriented. The opener “Heartache” and “Pedestrian Street (Sucker Punch)” still features guitarist Noel R. Mayer and bassist Imre Poniklo, but the tone is much darker.

The solid “Karen” is a song about the late Karen Carpenter with a catchy chorus and steady beat “yearning for some divinity.” The band does make an attempt to lift the mood with the quick tempo desperation of “Smile” and the bouncy harmonies in “Birthday.” Worth checking out, but it’s a long way from the joyous innocence of their debut Melody.

Amazon