#494 The Cynics - Sixteen Flights Up

List?

Context context. Some time when you have a free weekend go out, record an album, grab a time machine, bundle up some industry clout, and put the same record out in a couple of spots. In 1962 it’s on the forefront, in 1973 it’s the next evolution, in 1994 is part of the revival (stale by 1997) in 2012 it’s part of the re-revival (stale by late 2012).

Here we have a 2000 reissue of a 1988 album (Twelve Flights up, plus 4) that wouldn’t have sounded out of place in the thick of the 60’s garage scene, a heaping helping of shouty, organ-drenched Nuggets. Everything is insistent and relentless, lightly nasty, with that organ soaring over top, sounding a bit like a toned-down Exploding Hearts. Erica is a lumbering highlight.

And in this case, I don’t know how to navigate the context. Why were these guys putting this out in 1988? Was that a thing that was going on? I guess I’ll have to take it for what it is, sloppy, fun, mildly original pre-punk in a post punk world 3.5/5

You might like this if: you like nasty rock and roll from the 60’s. This adds a dash of modern production tricks and a dallop of fun, but otherwise plays it pretty damn straight.