Joe Atkinson has played and toured with, amongst others, Flipron, the Original Rude Boy Neville Staple (formally of The Specials), Donovan, The Selecter, and Lee \u201cScratch\u201d Perry. He started sneaking into the studio during down-time between gigs “to find out what Big Star would sound like with Nicky Hopkins on piano”, which led to his new project The Rhynes, of which the self-titled debut album has now been released. He sings and plays every note on the album, with the exception of the drums, which are partly provided by Damned drummer and punk legend Rat Scabies and partly by Matty Bane from The Neville Staple Band. It’s a collection of 60s inspired jangly guitar pop and piano-led numbers, with rich Byrds and Teenage Fanclub style harmonies, Hammond organs and the occasional Dylanesque harmonica. Quality music for the coming fall, with convincing structures, beautiful melodies, and somewhat unsteady vocals, which makes the songs vulnerable and believable. Sympathetic record.<\/p>\n