Subtitle: The Basement Tapes: 1977-1980. Japan only release. I have to share a long quote from the great pop scribe Bill Holmes at the Blurt Online site as it really tells the story so well(see full online review - just search on this release, it will come up):
"And now, almost full circle, we go back to the very beginning, where boxes of reel-to-reel tapes made in earnest optimism finally get their due as an archival treasure. Many cities had a band that never made it, along with legions of fans who will swear they were the great lost wonder; hyperbole growing over time. But here are twenty-two tracks of solid evidence that -along with the previously released anthology Bright Lights - makes an airtight case for The Flashcubes. The quartet seamlessly blended pop and punk so well that one might think a casting director was involved. Gary Frenay was - and remains - a pop craftsman; his knack for winning chord structure and earworm melodies deserved a bigger stage than it got at the time. He not only wrote great hooks, he wrote great bridges that were as good or better. "No More Lonely Nights" could have been a massive Raspberries hit; likewise "It`s You Tonight" would have lined Badfinger`s coffers...Here, finally, was a band matching the chops of the classic pop bands with the angst of the punk generation. And speaking of punks. If Gary was McCartney to Lenin`s... um, Lennon, then Paul Armstrong was Johnny - Thunders, Ramone or Rotten, take your pick. What made the Flashcubes special was the union of Gary and Arty`s pop sensibilities and Paul`s fiery, vibrant edge... Of course, even those who were first-hand witnesses might have missed some of the subtleties of the band; live gigs were played in loud rooms, and the band only issued two vinyl singles and a couple of cassette tapes in their first lifetime. But thankfully Frenay recorded as often as possible. Now modern technology is not only bringing the songs to light, but to life as well. A perfect example is "Boy Scout Pinup", which in muddy c-90 cassette form was a fun track, nothing special. Gary and Tommy (with Ducky Carlisle) worked their magic, and now it sounds like the great lost Elvis Costello track circa This Year`s Model. The package includes a lyric sheet and poignant liner notes from pop radio DJ and longtime fan Carl Cafarelli (Goldmine magazine), whose reaction is much like mine. Meaning those who never knew the band are in for a real treat, and for those who grew up with them... it`s Christmas morning." Sorry, that was a long one, but it truly gives you `the story` here - and that matters to pop geeks like you and me, right? An archival winner for power pop fans with that late 70s bent.
 Song #1 - mp3
Song #2 - mp3
Song #3 - mp3
Song #4 - mp3 | 
