The Andrew J. Reimers Country-Punk Extravaganza (CPX) is somewhat of an anomaly in the Buffalo music scene - there really is nothing else like them. As their name describes, CPX is a little bit punk and a little bit country (and rockabilly and bluegrass and indie-rock and whatever else you'd like to throw into the mix) and they blend the two polar opposites very well. Guitarist/vocalist Andrew J. Reimers might be on to something here - and his bandmates, Fiddler/vocalist Katie Panfil, lead guitarist Eric Rovner, bassist James Warren, and drummer/vocalist Josh Mullin are the perfect compliment. The greatest thing about CPX? They are able to be a punk band without being too brash and they are able to be a country band without offending the nuanced tastes of indie-rockers. Their newest release is the 12-song Wide Right Blues, which is, to put it bluntly, an excellent country-punk extravaganza.
Wide Right Blues starts off strong with "Beggar's Pay," which is probably the album's most upbeat tune. It is here where the hallmarks of CPX are introduced - strong male/female harmonies, fun (but not overly aggressive) country-punk, and dueling lead guitar and fiddle. This is perhaps what makes CPX so appealing; Buffalo definitely has a thriving underground music scene, but it's not every day you come across a group of musicians making punk music with a fiddle.
One of the album's strongest tracks, "The South of France," finds CPX showcasing what makes them such an interesting band. The song's tempo ebbs and flows while CPX blends the best aspects of country and punk throughout. With a minute left of the song, "The South of France" dies down to their trademark southern crawl as Reimers sings, "Maybe I didn't try my hardest, but what's the use being this modest? It ain't my first time feeling rejected and probably ain't the last I'm guessing..." They could have ended it there, but Reimers finds it in him to really let loose for the last thirty seconds of the song.
"Small World, Smaller City" is the kind of song you'd expect to hear playing in a sad country western bar with a broken mechanical bull, and that's definitely not a bad thing. This is where CPX is their strongest - their slow tempo tracks are filled with Reimers/Panfil's lamenting (but not complaining) harmonies and allow the band's strong instrumentals to really shine through. The same can be said for songs like "Ten Degrees on New Years Eve" or the title track. That's not to say that CPX's punkier moments aren't a worthwhile listen - they are also great, but if there were any more, Wide Right Blues might feel cluttered. Luckily, CPX has found a good balance here.
Reimers is a great singer - his drawl is unique and is definitely a selling point for CPX, but he lays it on pretty thick. Because of this, when Katie Panfil takes center stage, her songs stand out. "Katie's Song" takes CPX to their most "bluegrass," and although she definitely sings with a southern twang, it's not quite as heavy as Reimers'. "Temporary Load" is her shining moment - reminiscent of Bright Eyes' "Lua," it's gentle and beautiful which is not something you'd expect from a band with the word "punk" in their moniker.
One of the best moments on Wide Right Blues is the closing track "A Constant Reminder (Of Things Done Wrong)." Reimers and Panfil's harmonies are perfect here, and when he sings, "Won't you tell me if there's more to life than to simply exist," I take solace in the fact that I'm not the only one feeling existential. This is CPX at their slowest and again, although it's one of their best moments on Wide Right Blues, if there were any more slow songs, the album would feel sluggish. Reimers has really found a great balance here, which makes Wide Right Blues an enjoyable listen front to back.
Ultimately, CPX has crafted a great 12-song offering with Wide Right Blues. The LP's best quality? Everyone, especially the weather-hardened citizens of Buffalo, can relate to Reimers blue-collar laments without feeling sorry for themselves. CPX might not be on heavy rotation at 106.5 WYRK, but they definitely should be.
CD Release show this FRIDAY @ DBGB -- https://www.facebook.com/events/337289433029361/
This is my FAVORITE band! Have been going to their shows for over a year....they are the BEST! Can't wait to get a copy of their big CD Release part this Friday!
Proceeds from the 1st day record sales will be donated to Wings Flights of Hope Buffalo -- Check out all of the amazing things they do at: wingsflight.org . Thanks buffaBLOG!
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