The infectious, up tempo energy of Up Popped Pancho makes it one of the first CDs that I have heard in a long time that make me want to crank up the CD player; roll down the windows; and drive fast. The NewMatics take you on a bouncy, rock-n-soul ride that cleverly reinvents a variety of classic American traditions and knowingly explores the complexities of love, life and loss—all without ever becoming jaded, over indulgent, or cynical. This is a CD that really hooks you. Besides patches of masterly guitar work, several tracks are original standouts not to be missed. I’ve Never Been to New Orleans is a richly layered, Zydeco-flavored arrangement. Its witty lyrics and danceable beat incite a party mood. It’s an addictive pleasure that makes you keep hitting the replay button over and over. Have a Little Faith with its optimistic trust in the transforming power of love punctuates its message with the urgings of raucous boogie piano and guitar licks. One True Love strikes an winning balance in the contrast between its deeply evocative theme of yearning for connection and its lively Texas two-step structure. The driving Black-eyed Susan channels the spirit of 60’s rock and shows how, in the right hands, the genre is eternally fresh and compelling. Even when the band slows it down, it delivers with several satisfying covers and a handful of original soul and rock ballads. These alternate between hauntingly lyrical vocals (especially in the elegantly understated consideration of obsession—Call it love) and grittier R&B interpretations.
by L. Doty from CD Baby