Tag: The Cynz

The Cynz and The Legal Matters

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The Cynz “Confess”

After the breakout punch of ‘Little Miss Lost’, The Cynz raise the stakes with ‘Confess‘, a tight blast of hook-heavy rock that hits hard from track one. “Woman Child” kicks the door in with crunching guitars and attitude to spare, while their take on “You Wreck Me” by Tom Petty feels built for them, fast, loud, and fearless.

Cyndi Dawson steps up with full throttle swagger, channeling the grit of Joan Jett without losing her own bite. Henry Seiz fires off sharp, driving riffs that keep everything moving. The pace eases on “Ghost Rider” and “Watching You,” both strong on narrative and melody. The emotional core lands with “My Father’s Gun,” a confessional that turns personal scars into strength. “Impossible Ending” delivers classic power pop punch, chiming chords and a chorus that sticks after one spin. “Don’t Give Up” leans bittersweet, proving this band knows how to balance muscle with melody. Produced by Kurt Reil of The Grip Weeds, ‘Confess’ tackles loss and trauma head on. If you want melody-driven rock with heart and grit, this record delivers. Highly Recommended.

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The Legal Matters “Lost At Sea”

The Legal Matters (aka Keith Klingensmith, Andy Reed, and Chris Richards) deliver another sharp set built on strong songwriting and rich harmonies. “Everybody Knows” kicks things off with a ringing guitar hook and a chorus built on big, confident chords. It sets the tone fast. “The Message” raises the bar. Think The Beach Boys with a glossy studio touch in the spirit of Alan Parsons. At over four minutes, it never drags. The melody locks you in and stays with you. Across the album, the arrangements feel full without getting cluttered. Subtle orchestral flourishes deepen the reflective mood.

“Shake This Feeling” lands at the emotional center. It tackles grown up heartbreak head on, with a slow burn arrangement that lets the weight of the lyrics sink in. These songs deal in adult themes, and the band handles them with restraint and craft. “Stuck with Me” channels the melodic snap of XTC, while “Slow Down” strips things back acoustically. Even when the subject matter turns heavy, the songwriting keeps you engaged. For balance, “It Doesn’t Matter” brings the guitar crunch, and “The Exit Signs” stretches out with Abbey-road styled sweeping vocal harmonies. Overall, highly recommended.

Amazon | Big Stir Records

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!

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.

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