Tag: The Cynz

March Singles & EPs: Ally Kerr, The Speedways, Pretty Rude, Slow Motion Film, Clean Lines, Jeremy Messersmith, The Cynz

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“Lucky Streak” is new smooth pop from Ally Kerr, and the only use of a child’s voice in a current song I didn’t find annoying. Nice video too, album out in April. I wish NYC winter would leave already! Next The Speedways have really gem with “Visiting Hours” and it’s like a lost Elvis Costello hit. NYC rockers Pretty Rude are pretty damn good. Some glam touches on “Who Do You Think You Are (I Am)” won me over, but the entire EP is brilliant. Slow Motion Film are some members of Amoeba Teen, and it’s a different sound from that band. Check out “Painting Tattoos” and “The Ba Ba Ba Song.” Clean Lines is a band from Madrid, Spain and they kick ass all over the place with “Nuisance.” Fans of The Buzzcocks, The Nerves, The Ramones will enjoy it. A new single from Jeremy Messersmith wishes we can all be “Billionaires.” That’s a really nice dream, but Elon isn’t giving away anything to me. Finally, The Cynz have a new single with “Heartbreak Time,” and it really rocks with those harmonies and guitar licks. Enjoy!






The Cynz and BMX Bandits

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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!

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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.

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