Okay Paddy - The Cactus Has a Point

I think Prison Jazz Records is poised to become a common name on the tongues of indie kids sometime in the near future. Last year's release from The A-Sides definitely garnered the label some well-deserved attention, and Okay Paddy's The Cactus Has a Point is another gem from the small Pennsylvania label. First off, I've gotta say something to the band. You've got me stumped on the album title. Between the liner notes, your website, and your Myspace page, I've heard that this album is inspired by a book of the same name written by "Japhry Turner," though search engine could find such a thing. The album's spine notes "Jophry Warner," while yet again, an online search proved futile. With that unneccessary rambling aside, we'll get to the album itself. As a debut full-length, The Cactus Has a Point is a fine chunk of power-pop, utilizing Weezer's nerd factor and early Pavement-ish song structures. Culling their finer points from 60's pop, the record clocks in at under 30 minutes, but the curtness can be overlooked when the songs are this good. Simple guitar solos, harmonies, and hooks--Okay Paddy isn't the most original band, but this entire record is infectious, enjoyable, and simply irresistable after a few spins. [www.okaypaddy.com]