The Cynz & The East Brunswick Sound

 

                          

 

 

The Cynz from East Brunswick, New Jersey have a new record out. It's called "Confess" and it's even better than their last "Little Miss Lost," which would have remained off of my radar if it wasn't for our pal Shriner. Clocking in at a tight 33 minutes, "Confess" is full of hooks and melody, with more meat than your average power pop sound. 

 

Call me crazy, but I think "Ghost Rider" sounds like what I imagine a Matthew Sweet/Bruce Springsteen collab might sound. I dig their Tom Petty cover, too. 

 

Check'em out here. 

 

 

 

We Gotta Groove

 

As you may or may not have read, Brian Wilson was obsessed with the song "Shortenin' Bread," so much so, various rock stars have stories to tell about the obsession, including one incident where Iggy Pop and Elton John were hanging out with Brian and Brian played the song so many times in a row, it prompted Iggy to say, “I gotta get outta here, man. This guy is nuts.”

On February 13th, a new boxed set will be released called "We Gotta Groove," which will feature a new remix of "Beach Boys Love You," the first official release of "Adult Child," the aborted follow-up to "Love You," which includes "Shortenin' Bread," as well as 35 unreleased tracks from the "15 Big Ones"/"Love You" era, many newly remixed.

I'm not sure how you feel about these records, but I love them and I am very excited about this box.  

If I had to listen to "Shortenin' Bread" over and over, I'll go with The Cramps version. 

Songs Of The Week, 2026: 1/17-1/23

That's What Life Is All About- The Beat
Irene- Guitar Gable w/King Karl
Brand New Second Hand- The Wailers
Same Time Same Place- Mable John
Little Martha- Allman Brothers Band
Anyway- Genesis
No Sir- The Both

This week's mix covers a lot ground, from perfect power pop, to perfect reggae, to perfect R&B from the swamps of Louisiana. And the miracle of music is, Mable John into the ABB into Genesis into Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, sounds perfect, too!

Enjoy!

ZIP

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One more thing before you go--

I am running a SNOWMAGGEDON record sale over at my Discogs page. Lots of great records for ridiculous prices. There are plenty of solid titles left, as it seems all of my customers are saving their money for snow blowers.

HERE IS THE LINK! 

Load up your cart and I will ship these out later this week, assuming my heart doesn't explode digging myself out.

 

 

Look! Another Van Morrison Record!

 

 

Well I wasn't expecting a new Van Morrison record, were you? I read nothing about this. It just appeared, 20 blues covers on a record called "Someone Tried To Sell Me A Bridge." If I didn't love his last, "Remembering Now" as much as I did, I might have just laughed this one off. But I'm glad I didn't

It's not great, by any stretch of the imagination. The problem is, it feels like very little thought went into making it. It's mostly cookie-cutter arrangements with little variation from tempo and style. But, when it does change things up a bit, it's solid Van, like slowing down Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame," for example. That's pretty damn good. 

Elvin Bishop guests on a number of tracks, but really doesn't make any of them better, though I could listen to "(I'm Gonna) Play The Honky Tonks" by anybody, and this version is solid.

Taj Mahal is featured on a few tracks, as well as Buddy Guy, and most of those work, as well. I think the album would play much better if it was half the length, something I seem to be saying a lot these days.

"Someone Tried To Sell Me A Bridge" isn't essential. It's harmless and it has its moments. But it also swings and misses a bunch, and I blame that on the production. Ten less songs and some balls, and this album might have been a winner. 

 

 

 

   

World's Gone Wrong

 

I finished Lucinda Williams' terrific memoir "Don't Tell Anybody The Secrets I Told You" just as her new album "World's Gone Wrong" is about to be released. I had been listening to Lu records while reading and that really put me in the mood for new music.

This is the title cut. Mark Ford, once a Black Crow, starts things off with the Crowes "Twice As Hard" riff and Lucinda takes it from there. She's angry and I love it.

 

For Your Love

 

You're welcome.