Customer Reviews

Flying High

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Return of a late '70s power-pop pioneer (former member of the seminal, as they say, Nerves with Peter Case, pre-Plimsouls), and it's strong -- Collins hasn't lost the knack for the instantly catchy riff and melody. Odd to find one song sounding uncannily like Dire Straits, though -- not that that's a bad thing. -USA Today Blog

Beat + Kids Are the Same

It's great to see this classic power-pop songwriter back in action. It has been awhile (it's his first since his self-titled record in 2000 on the Julio's Record label). If you recall, Collins as a member of the Nerves, an early L.A. power-pop band (with Peter Case and Jack Lee) who pioneered the new wave movement , self-released their debut 7' and toured the country in a station wagon (When I booked Peter Case on the early 90's he told me some classic stories). Well, Collins in back with a 12 song record that he recorded in Spain (in 4 days !). Things start off with the jangly sparkplug, "Rock and Roll Shoes" (which Collins described as "the daughter to the Beat's "Rock and Roll Girl") into the awesome love song "Helen" (with classic stuttering vocals) into the more-mid-tempo "Afton Place." Elsewhere the songwriting gets a bit darker and moodier on tunes like the title track and the mostly acoustic "Bobby" while the lovely "More than Yesterday" hearkens back to a time when songwriting really meant something . It still does (occasionally) but it seemed like Collins came from a time when song craft was the number one priority. FLYING HIGH is chock full of tasty songs. I was hoping Collins still had it in him and he obviously does, in spades. -Dagger

The Beat

Whilst the twelve songs here are not instant classics, they all have nifty hooks and catchy choruses. Let's hope Paul keeps writing and playing stuff like this for another 25 years. -Phil Suggitt/

Shindig Magazine

Since the day Paul Collins joined Jack Lee and Peter Case in The Nerves, no one could have predicted that his career would be so long-lived. Collins formed The Beat in Los Angeles during the late 70s and has managed to maintain a cult following in rock and roll for more than 30 years. Some would consider "Flying High" their best work to date and I must agree. The album was recorded over the course of only a few days and maintains a polished yet honest feel while combining a sense of raw energy. All of the songs on this album are excellent and the best evidence to support these statements is to preview the CD. The opening song, "Rock N Roll Shoes," takes listeners back to the glory days of The Beat, while meeting the edgy punk sound of The Ramones, The Replacements or Paul Westerberg. The new singles "Will You Be A Woman" and "Afton Place" are also found on this CD. Songs like "Baby I'm On Fire" and "Helen" prove that Collins has only progressed as a songwriter. Collins' cult status marks him as a hero around the world and understandibly, a Paul Collins' Beat tribute disc was released not long ago. Purchase "Flying High" right now on Amazon or at one of their shows and hear their best work to date. -Eric Brown

Paul Collins Beat started off as the Beat before the English Beat gummed things up. Collins earned his power-pop-pioneer pin as drummer for the Nerves, then moved to guitar for the Beat's superb 1979 debut. The New York native's new Get Hip album, Flying High, retains that pop prowess along with a hint of Americana. -Greg Beets/Austin Chronicle

We're honored here at PCP to have the great Paul Collins, a power pop pioneer for his work with the Nerves and the Beat, on our sampler. "Afton Place," from his strong new Flying High LP, looks back on those fevered Sunset Strip days with passion and melancholy. -Pop Culture Press Magazine

Paul Collins' Beat have taken a strange approach to the typical comeback album. They released 2 albums at the same time, the studio album "Flying High" and the live album "Live In Europe." "Live In Europe" features new guitar-crunching versions of the well-known songs from the early albums by The Beat. "Flying High" is the new studio album, with 1/2 the songs recorded acoustic and semi-acoustic and the other 1/2 as a full band with electric guitars. If you're a fan of Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Jayhawks or even The Byrds, this new studio album is for you. If you're a fan of rock bands such as The Ramones, The Rolling Stones or AC/DC, I recommend getting "Live In Europe."