The Listening To This Week Playlist has exploded and as it is solely based on submissions rather than the albums we normally dig out ourselves. The aim was to give the single song a place that it never had on here previously. It has added a younger audience and the hope was that it would also open up new albums to review that we hadn't discovered.
Southern California's Spud Davenport is a prime example of the latter. Songs For The Cynical is a fine example of the rockier end of Pop Rock. A little more commercial than we normally cover perhaps, but an album that is dripping with melody and with and a fine statement of how engaging the genre can be.
The album is at its best when it Rocks and it does so in a very 80s way at times adding humour and tongue in lyrics. Come Inside and Roommates are both great examples of that 80s sound, the latter sounding more than a little Cheap Trick.
The slower songs work well too. Don't Flip Your Lid, for example, is aided by a great instrumental track, a sort of 80s Mellencap vibe that is aided by the addition of Brass. Car Wreck is a great Piano Pop Ballad that builds into great Soft Pop Rock and is built on a wonderful arrangement.
The Mary Grasso vocal on the big sounding, Let's Lead Together edges towards Country and adds even more variety. Paper Maps is built on a stomping rhythm track, a Bryan May like solo and a fine catch all chorus, but the real stand out song is the splendid Home For The Headaches.
That song borders on great Power Pop at times and stands up with any of the great Pop Rock presently around. Davenport, originally noted as a drummer, pieces everything together so well and his multi instrument skills are to be applauded. Songs For The Cynical is a fun packed album and fun is really what we need these days.
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