Paul Spencer & The Maxines: Press

'Adrenaline-fueled rock the way you like it'

"This is the second album for CT-based rocker Spencer, following 2005's 'The Whole Shebang', his backing band now credited as The Maxines. From the first track, the chugging, propulsive "No Regrets", it's clearly apparent that the band has gelled nicely. Bobby and Mark Soares form a potent rhythm section, effortlessly alternating the tempos throughout, with Spencer and Danny Soares providing thick and meaty guitar licks (producer Paul Opalach gives the LP a raw edge, and contributes rapid-fire, Jerry Lee Lewis-like piano trilling on the title track). Further, Spencer has that perfect rock 'n' roll voice: gruff and abrasive like David Johansen and Paul Westerberg, with loads of Mick Jagger-like swagger. Recalling The Replacements and Heartbreakers, with bits of Stooges and Misfits, this is adrenaline-fueled rock the way you like it."

'Brilliant Balls-Out R+R'

"On 'Cut The Jive' Paul leads his Maxines through chunky slabs of thrumming guitars with a brio and elan that is the perfect counterpoint to the intentionally primitive nature of this recording. Spencer has lots of solid sonic ideas - there are hooks galore, hot riffs and balls-out self-assurance that propell these simple-on-the-surface rockers into the realm of musical profundity. Don't go here seeking subtlety - but if you're ready for a hot neo-punk party - this is the place."

'Great power pop stuff'

"Spencer sounds like the New York Dolls' David Johansen fronting a tight version of The Replacements circa 1983. Great power pop stuff."

'Raw, simple, direct, brilliant'

"'Cut The Jive' delivers without sounding dated. Really good rock doesn't need a lot of over production and filler thrown in when the songs sound this good. Raw, simple, direct, brilliant."

'Paul Spencer & the Maxines have a raunchy sound that lingers over them'

"Paul Spencer & the Maxines have a raunchy sound that lingers over them. Spencer’s style of singing is punk-like as is much of the music, but they include guitar solos and catchy vocal harmonies. Throughout the album, “Cut the Jive,” Spencer shines light on partying and girls. I was reminded of KISS by the second song “Bolt of Lightning” because of Paul’s style of singing. I like how he emphasizes and sings certain parts of words, like “lin-uh” in “adrenaline.” The bassist also adds some nice backing vocals and harmonies that make the song more enjoyable. In “Shake Off,” Paul Spencer & the Maxines play an attractive groove topped with what sounds like a cowbell. This tune also makes me chuckle when the chorus kicks in, after “off,” a round of “Lalalalalala….” completes Spencer’s “losing streak” that he’s trying to shake. To close out “Cut the Jive,” an almost all acoustic piece is played. Spencer sings about “Alcohol, Cigarettes, & Coffee,” three indulgences that help with his hangover. He also sounds a bit like the singer of the band 'Love'"

'Absolute uitschieter is de titelsong (met piano!) "Cut The Jive"'

"Zonder het internet had mijn vrienden en -kennissenkring er heel anders uitgezien. Sterker nog, ik ken zelfs mijn lief via dit medium. Verder ken ik vele anderen, zoals het opperhoofd van dit weblog. En zonder het internet was er simpelweg geen File Under, en had ik andere wegen moeten bewandelen om stukjes gepubliceerd te krijgen. Ik ontmoet nog steeds mensen virtueel. Zo raakte ik aan de chat (praat) met ene Paul Spencer. Hij bleek in 2005 een album onder zijn eigen naam uitgebracht te hebben. Dit jaar was er dan de opvolger samen met "The Maxines", getiteld "Cut The Jive". Aangezien ik ook wat over mezelf los liet kwam de vraag, die de reden is voor dit stukje, namelijk of ik er iets over wilde schrijven. Hij zou het leuk vinden dat ook mensen in Nederland kennis namen van zijn muziek. Ik ging dus over stag en het eerste dat ik tegen Paul zei, "Herman Brood". Ik moet namelijk erg denken aan onze grootste rock ‘n' roll -held aller tijden. De onderwerpen in de liedjes van Spencer zijn ook te vinden in de seks, drugs en rock ‘n' roll (en koffie). Paul was erg verguld met deze referentie. Nu is de muziek niet regelrecht een kopie, want de muziek is ook gebaseerd op de fifties rock ‘n' roll en dan weer in een mix met de new wave van bands als Mink DeVille en Elvis Costello & The Attractions. Absolute uitschieter is de titelsong (met piano!) "Cut The Jive". Gezien de vergelijkingen die ik bespeur vraag ik me af hoe oud Paul eigenlijk is. Lijkt me een goed begin van onze volgende chat."

"Wearing influences as diverse as the Beatles, the Kinks and Bob Dylan to the Ramones, Replacements and Pixies proudly on his sleeve, Paul Spencer’s "The Whole Shebang" is chock-full of screaming Rickenbackers and Les Pauls, great melodic riffs and vocals that would make Iggy proud. Highlight tracks for me include "We Don’t Give a Damn", "Walk Away Christie" and "The Whole Shebang" but really the whole album is a great rock and roll blast that demands to be played at high volume. Paul Spencer and his band deserve your support not only because they rock out but because they rock out with conviction. The two are not always a part of rock and roll these days so when they are you want to make sure the musicians know it. Great stuff."

"In sheer devotion to that which we hold above all other things, rock 'n' roll, Paul Spencer doggedly pursues an audio shrine to The Greats on his album, 'The Whole Shebang'. Whether a determined attempt at recreation or a modern twist with a little classic resurrection, Spencer incorporates all things sacred to achieve that sound. With vocals floating between The Pixies and The Clash and some killer guitar riffs every so often, Spencer runs his fingers through his hair and sets out to prove rock 'n' roll isn’t dead after all.

Spencer’s triumph can be found simply in that he actually achieves what he seems to be striving for ... solid melodies and a sound nearly anyone can nod a head to. His lyrical transitions are as thick and amber-pleasant as honey, and he has the ability to make you believe he has felt and learned something from those experiences he references."

"Paul Spencer's debut, 'The Whole Shebang', bursts out of the gate in a hail of bullets. It has the raw nerve attitude of early new-wave artists like Elvis Costello or Joe Jackson with smart lyrics to back it up. It's obvious that Spencer is fan of the rougher side of rock, as influences such as MC5 and Clash percolate to the surface of his music, much like Cheap Trick. Using Bettie Page as a simile never hurts. Every teenager needs an album like this in their collection."

"A promising debut album - Spencer infuses his meaty, Cheap Trick / Heartbreakers-like garage / power-pop with thick catchy riffs, and a scratchy, bluesy voice which alternately recalls Elvis Costello, Paul Westerberg and The New York Dolls’ David Johansen...the songs are solid and Spencer's enthusiasm remains unchecked throughout the album.”

"Paul Spencer brings back memories of The Clash and other rock icons. His music has a great mix of punk and rock bringing his own interpretation and vision of what rock music could be. Some of his best songs include Instant Crush, Going Higher, She's One of a Kind, Walk Away Christie, and The Whole Shebang. Go ahead and give Paul Spencer an hour of your time, who knows you might want to give more."

“Imagine Billy Childish at his most childish. Combine that with a lunatic 'Mats fan who joined a garage band in '80's, got locked away, and was released twenty years later after consuming every notable punk and garage album ever recorded and you might begin to understand the logic behind this album. Paul Spencer is a true needle-down rock n soul aficionado, and what I love most of all about the album is that music is clearly a labor of love for Paul Spencer - cathartic, even. Of course, being referential and having good taste (dude likes MC5, The Kinks, Big Star, The Replacements so I don't think that's open to any scrutiny) can only do so much. The material has to be good. Fortunately, you can breathe a deep sigh of relief, because "The Whole Shebang" is a glorious mix of upfront punk rockers and some rather more reflective offerings. Intelligent, sweaty and gloriously executed punk rawk and rollah? I'm in.”

"Paul Spencer é um completo desconhecido para nós, brasileiros, e também para a mídia americana. Eu o conheci pela internet, mais precisamente pelo Soulseek, quando ele ofereceu suas músicas para que fossem baixadas. Com certeza uma ótima forma de divulgação, mas como, por lá, o pessoal está mais interessado em surrupiar os últimos discos de grandes bandas, não creio que muita gente tenha feito o download do álbum The Whole Shebang, mas deveriam.

Com 14 faixas, The Whole Shebang, teria a chance de ter estourado, caso já tivesse sido descoberto por alguma gravadora. O som que sai dos auto-falantes não fica devendo para as dezenas de bandas incensadas pela crítica especializada e que já tocam nas rádios. Sabe aquela mistura de punk, folk rock, com um leve contato com o rock dos anos 80 e até com o metal. Não por coincidência, as influências assumidas por Paul vão desde Beatles, passando por MC5, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, Ramones, Replacements, até Pixies e Sonic Youth. Confuso? Não, o CD tem uma unidade que um leitor, apenas passando por estas linhas, não conseguirá captar sem ouví-lo.

Mesmo sendo influenciado por artistas mais novos, o pé de Paul Spencer está no final dos anos 60, começo dos 70. Faixas como Bettie Page, New Mexico, Hands Off e Going Higher - punk rock tradicional -, Hard to Get Across - folk, lembrando George Harrison e Alarm -, Asian Eyes - com riff lembrando Vicious de Lou Reed -, Say Goodbye to Summer e a linda balada Don´t Let the World - Dylan até a última nota. Mas o melhor foi deixado para o final, The Whole Shebang, que dá nome ao disco, é a síntese de todo o trabalho, folk e ao mesmo tempo punk. Perfeita.

Muitas bandas aqui no Brasil, e lá fora, fazem um som parecido com o de Paul Spencer, mas pecam em um ponto, esquecem que a essência do trabalho tem de ser pop. É aí que Paul acerta a mão. The Whole Shebang é pop na medida certa para não perder o seu ar rock and roll."

"Long ago I read a parody review which proclaimed a rock composition to be pretentious for containing more than three chords. Without suggesting any sense of parody, there's nothing pretentious whatsoever about this new CD which reduces the whole shebang of rock music history to its most glorious bare bones roots. Self consciously or not, the CD comes across as something of a synthesis of numerous noteworthy predecessors from the glory days of garage, folk and punk rock with all of the raw energy that an electric guitar can muster. In so doing it portrays the timelessly alienated urbanite locked away in self-imposed exile, armed with axe, drumsticks and girl by his side, making a rebellious rumble to the world outside: Here in the city the only place to play is the garage/And if the neighbors complain/ Just tell them to get lost... And like that, from an old dusty hat pulled out of a cupboard of stored knicknacks, jumps the likes of Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, X, the Plimsouls, The Kinks, Velvet Underground, The Cure and a host of others, several already mentioned on this page. Yet there are also moments when a defiant don't-give-a-damn spirit gives way to introspection: Ain't it funny how we build these walls/ Invisible to the eye/ And proceed to hit on them/ Everyday of our lives/ Like a fear that won't subside... Instant Crush, Going Higher, Hands Off and Walk Away Christie may have the neighborhood police pounding at the garage door but I think that the celebratory She's One of a Kind and The Whole Shebang should get the whole neighborhood knocking it down more out of curiosity to see what's cooking inside, without asking to be invited to the party"

"It's a dose of acid rain in the eye - It burns, and I love it. It's harsh and full of attitude, but I would not say punk. It's melodic and sensible, but not Chuck Berry. Truthfully, I think it's an exceptional album, raw and clever. The riffs never seem overbearing, the solos never proceed to soften the effect. I suppose...recommended if you like: the Replacements, Wire, the Minutemen, MC5, even pre-Rollins Black Flag. Yes...it's that diverse, and that much of a ship wrecking storm. I love it."

"This disc gets down to the bare bones of pure, back-to-basics rock and roll. Great listening if you're sick of todays electronicly defiled 'rock'. My personal favourites include the opening track worthy of rock anthem status 'We Don't Give A Damn', the slower, thought provoking, but still rocking 'Don't Let The World', and the absolutely brutal assult on track 4 called 'Going Higher'. Absolutely mind-blowing disc. Buy a convertible just so you can crank it with the top down!"

"Nice music, the more I listen to this album it feels like a recognition, have I heard something like this before? The album have a big mix of influences, I can say 'Punk, Garage, Rebel, Rock' or what ever, I will call it pure good Rock & Roll. The first song I reacted to was 'She's one of a kind' where the first tunes resemblance to The Kinks, and so it has rolled on with 'We don't give a damn', 'Bettie Page', 'The whole shebang' and so on. Thanx Paul, you reminded me that there is a future for good Rock & Roll!"

"This has got to be the best rock album I've heard in a while, definitely this year anyway. It reminded me of The Clash with catchy guitar riffs throughout. Instant Crush, Going Higher, Hard To Get Across and She's One Of A Kind were stand out tracks for me. Keep up the good work Paul."

"I happened upon this album purely by chance and I'm glad I did. It has elements of all my favourite bands but still manages to sound original. All the comparisons have already been made by previous reviewers so I won't repeat!! Fave track has to be "Hands Off" (I love the ahh! ahhhs!) Plenty of great guitar solos which is always a plus for me. Recommended!!"

"It's a good sounding, absolutely not overproduced, first album. I's got a great 70ties garage feel and it reminded me of an album I've got on vinyl from the band: Third World War. Totally different musicgenre, but the same expressive raw vocals. This album should be pressed in that black stuff too! One of the songs I like best is: Going Higher: nice variation in the music and the vocals are absolutely great, scream off the roof dude!! Keep on doing this Paul!, and I'm really looking forward to album nr. 2"

"Discovered this album online and it fit perfectly into my eclectic collection of music, my favourites are the track The Whole Shebang and Say Goodbye to Summer, reminds me of good old Canadiana like Gordon Lightfoot and Bruce Cockburn. Love the harder stuff too, in particular the track We Don't Give a Damn because, well, we don't! Keep on rockin in the free world"

"Paul's album is really good, particularly for a debut. You know, I usually listen to the music of other kinds (extreme metal, dark ambient, dark folk), but, in spite of that, I enjoyed "The Whole Shebang". It seems that Paul was very enthusiastic and spontaneous while recording this CD, and this puts the listener in the good mood. The music reminds me somewhat of The Stooges (though less morbid), somewhat of The Misfits (when played faster), somewhat of british Punk'77. To be honest, I liked more the faster and more powerful tracks, because IMHO Paul's vocals fit better to noisy and energetic songs. Tracks are not too long, well composed, not repetitive, looking from perspective of whole album. Production is raw, but that's OK, it's garage rock! Favourite tracks: "Going Higher" (harsh vocals, sounding a bit metalish) and the title one. In my oppinion Paul definitely deserves more attention and wider audience."

"Paul Spencer a de l'énergie et de l'enthousiasme à revendre, mais ce qui le caractérise surtout c'est sa maturité : non seulement il maîtrise parfaitement ses compositions (trouver de jolies mélodies est une chose, en faire des chansons intéressantes en est une autre) mais il sait doser les genres avec adresse et générosité. Et s'il manifeste un savoir-faire incontestable dans le rock pur et dur (comme en témoignent d'emblée "We Don't Give a Damn" et "Instant Crush", deux titres qui bottent les fesses), c'est dans le registre folk qu'il révèle toute sa finesse et sa sensibilité (mention spéciale à "Say Goodbye to Summer" et "Worried About You", tout simplement magnifiques). En résumé, un premier album très honorable et déjà très personnel, qui pourrait bien annoncer de glorieux lendemains. Vivement son successeur, prévu pour la fin 2006..."

"Nicht unbedingt ein Album aus einem Guss, aber wem es gefällt auf einem Album eine größere Bandbreite an Musik zu finden, dem sei dieses Album wärmstens empfohlen. Von Balladen mit dominanter Klavierbegleitung (I’m Lonely), getragenen Softrock (Don’t Let the World, die Stimme ist wie eine Mischung aus Dylan und Jagger) über ein bisschen nach frühen 60er Jahre klingenden Rock (Betty Page), punkig angehauchte Stücke (Instant Crush), gitarrenbetonten fetzigen Hardrock (Hands Off, Walk Away Christine, und das dem Album den Namen gebenden The Whole Shebang), an die Kinks und Ray Davies erinnernde Rythmen und Vocals (She’s One of the Kind) bis hin zu melodiebetonten, durchaus chartfähigen Songs (Asian Eyes, Hard to Get Across)ist alles da. Erfrischend und alles andere als eintönig! Lieblingssong? Da gibt es nicht nur einen: Don’t Let the World, Asian Eyes, Hands Off, aber auch End of Summer gefallen mir richtig gut."

"Angesichts eines Zeit, in der es den meisten Künstlern nur noch daran liegt Zahlen zu schreiben, den Geschmack der Massen zu treffen, findet man selten noch Musik aus leidenschaftlicher Hingabe. Paul Spencer hat mit "The Whole Shebang" ein Album veröffentlicht, dass in Anlehnung an seine Inspirationquellen (Iggy and the Stooges, The Ramones bis hinzu Bob Dylan) die alten Zeiten nochmal aufleben lässt - und das wie!" - Jan (Germany)