Search - Paul Spencer :: The Whole Shebang

"The Whole Shebang" marks the debut of CT native singer/songwriter Paul Spencer. Opening with the 1-2 punch of "We Don't Give A Damn" & "Instant Crush", the first an AC/DC-meets-The-Replacements rocker, the second a frenzied Bo Diddley romp that manages to sound both fresh and classic at the same time, these two songs make it clear that Spencer is broadcasting live from Garageland, and yes, he has his bullshit detector on. "Bettie Page" keeps the momentum going with its Ramones-like hooks and twisted 50's imagery ("locks the world in a cage / she's kinky like Bettie Page"), segueing into the menacing "Going Higher", a perfect blend of MC5 & Trompe Le Monde-era Pixies that contains a great opening line: "the universe is expanding / and so is my mind". "Hard To Get Across" conjures up mid-70's George Harrison, complete with some beautiful slide guitar work. "Asian Eyes", with a catchy chorus & sugary harmonies is a slice of mellow power-pop that gives way to the acoustic, mandolin-tinged "Say Goodbye To Summer" where Spencer releases his inner Dylan to great effect. "She's One Of A Kind" crosses 60's garage rock with 70's power-pop in an irresistible mix of handclaps, hooks & clever lyrics ("she likes Dali and David Lynch / and says the Pixies are the missing link"), while "New Mexico" pushes Spencer's sci-fi fixation to the forefront with its mentions of UFOs & parallel universes, all this put to a frenetic beat and killer riff. "Hands Off" breezes through with punk guitars & sunny harmonies, and "Don't Let The World" shows that Spencer can write a disarmingly tender ballad just as well. "Walk Away Christie" recalls late 70's Cheap Trick in the rich wall of guitars / synthesizer that anchors the power chorus, before flowing into the quiet acoustic despair of "Worried About You", a song where the narrator helplessly witnesses the slow death brought on by drug addiction ("...now your eyes have no sparks / and your body's full of needle marks"). By the time we get to the last track, Paul Spencer has already flexed his songwriting muscles rather impressively. A glorious distillation of punk, garage & glam rock with a happy-go-lucky vibe, super-tight harmonies and a solo that threatens to burn the speakers down, "The Whole Shebang" is a bona-fide classic that closes the record in style and leaves the listener wanting more.