The Lienkes - Brothers By Choice (1982, Digi-Comm)

While I may never figure out the correct pronunciation of this presumably L.A.-based set of skinny-tiesters, that's not about to stop me from sharing this.  As The Lienkes album title suggests, there are indeed a band of brothers in this quartet, three sharing the surname Lienke (Roger on guitar and mic, Tom handling bass and vox, and keyboardist Tupper), with drummer Gary Lopac rounding things out.  As for the tunes, how does blue-eyed pub rock strike your fancy?  One listen to the revved up and rollicking Rockpile-esque "My Vexation" and "Nuclear Rage" will give some credibility to that oddball genre-zation.  Side two (tracks 8-13) aren't as peppy, but still rewarding, nipping at the heels of the Style Council, and even flirting with oldies slow dance ballads.  In short, not your average power pop/skinny tie affair.

01. Safety First
02. She's Not Disgusted
03. Ernestine
04. My Vexation
05. Without You
06. Los Angeles
07. Nuclear Rage
08. Looking for Religion
09. Hard Dirt
10. Phantom in the Night
11. Get Even With Your Love
12. Teenager
13. Step By Step

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