Reagan Youth A Collection Of Pop Classics
by Bob Yunger
Paul Cripple’s a haunted man. His youthful project didn’t end well. He’s looking for something more. He’d rather be doing his sludgy metal project band, House Of God, but like many gracefully aging erstwhile pre-internet alternative celebrities, younger fans reached out to him on social media and called him back into the limelight. So now it happens that Paul is getting something more, if not actual redemption then perhaps a do-over. This CD was sent in as a complement to the show coverage on Reviewer.TV of the current Reagan Youth’s show (of which Cripple is the only original member) at Brick by Brick last August. It’s a 22-track classic best-of album, half-punk and half-metalish, so of course I love it. I have a soft spot for “life’s work” compilations. The lineup here is listed online as this: Dave Rubinstein (aka Dave Insurgent) – vocals (all tracks), Paul Bakija (aka Paul Cripple) – guitar (all tracks); bass (tracks 11–22), Al Pike – bass (tracks 1–10), Steve Weinstein – drums (tracks 1–10), Javier Madriaga – drums (tracks 11–22). The band split up after President Reagan finished his second term. Won’t go into detail about the horrific ending to the life of the heroin-slinging Dave Insurgent and his street hooker girlfriend. But yeah, it’s real punk rock. BY