SUPER 8 - Retro Metro (2024)

After 10 albums it might seem strange to re-introduce you to Super 8. But his new album is kind of a new start. Retro Metro gives you a kaleidoscope view of everything that is great about the Super 8’s supercharged take on the 1960s. So gather round errant flower children, folk rockers, sunshine pop lovers and Kinksian jangle fans, your pied piper is here with tunes to lead you astray and then some.

Following the funky keyboard-heavy instrumental opener “Retro Metro Theme” we get right down to what Super 8 does best with “Keep Doing It,” a chipper pop tune that manages to squeeze the sunshine out of the summer sky. You can practically feel the beach breeze coming off ‘feel good’ tracks like “Almost Anything” and “Mary Jane.” But the record has a harder edge too. Four songs included here are remnants of an aborted mystery-group side-project entitled The Plus 4 and they appear to have set the tone for the whole record. “You Look Right Through Me” rings out with jangle hooks that are unstoppable while the chorus is so Zombies it’ll make you swoon. Other former Plus 4 numbers like “Tell It Like It Is,” “Take It From Me” and “Every Word Is True” have a swinging Meet-the-Beatlesque charm, ornamented with some sweet sweet harmonica solos. But as we dig into the newer material here the star of this record might just be the Rickenbacker electric 12 string guitar. It makes everything sparkle. Check out its impact on “Lies,” which opens with a jauntiness reminiscent of the Fabs’ “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party.” Or see what it adds to the Stonesy “Just A Song,” the Ray Davies-ish “Another Me,” or Monkees-style “Just Me & You.”

'In-performance' music video for "Keep Doing It" by SUPER 8 - from the (upcoming) album Retro Metro. Step into a sonic time machine with Retro Metro, the eleventh album from Paul 'Trip' Ryan's one-man powerhouse, SUPER 8. This captivating collection of twelve original songs, inspired by Ryan's deep love for '60s jangly guitar pop, showcases his mastery of the craft, weaving intricate melodies and irresistible hooks that feel both classic and cutting-edge indie. Retro Metro marks Ryan's first release on the Think Like A Key Music label, and it's a testament to his enduring creativity and relentless pursuit of the perfect pop song. Get ready to fall in love with the sixties all over again – or maybe for the first time. This is an album that demands to be heard, felt, and celebrated.