When I opened the latest package from my lord and Master (and to be fair, I didn’t know it was even on the way) I thought to myself, “aha, more female fronted rock for my good self.” However, upon closer inspection it turned out that Lynn Allen wass, in fact, a three piece of the all male persuasion. Hailing from Iowa leading light Billy Peiffer has been making records since 1980 and, I’ll make a wager right now, that he hasn’t made many better than this. Sometimes Press Releases tend to be distinctly hyperbolic and the one for And The Horse You Rode In On ends with the line; “Lynn Allen is a legendary band and this is a great CD, a great way to finish 2007.” Whilst I’m not sure about the legendary status the rest of that line is certainly true.

Lynn Allen’s relationship with Escape goes back well over a decade and not for the first time in 2007 this label appears to be branching out somewhat. As with say, Airtime, Gary John Barden or Daydreamer, this is highly unlike the melodic AOR that Escape is known for but that doesn’t matter one jot because this is thirty six and a half minutes of fun! There’s a kind of grown up New Wave/punk feel to this record, it suggests a more mature Bowling for Soup as evidenced by the infectious opener I Will If You Will which is highly indicative of what is to come. I was hoping to guide you to Escape’s website in the hope of finding some Lynn Allen goodies but alas, there doesn’t appear to be any Lynn Allen related material at all. Oh well, you’ll just have to take my word for it.
 
On Enough to Make Me Sober, Michelle and others Mr. Peiffer sounds like Colin Hay of Men At Work and as that band were high class pop purveyors that is to be taken as a compliment especially as these tunes stand up just as well. Warning Shot features New Wave keyboards and guitars that make the band sound a bit like the aforementioned Men At Work crossed with Nerf Herder. Wouldn’t it Hurst You continues in the same vein mixing grown up lyrics with memorable tunes whereas Mine is perhaps a little rockier but I really had to check that this one wasn’t by Colin Hay himself such are the harmonies and the concise way with melody.
 
What’s She Doin’, Tonite is Alright and How Long are all excellent and catchy and I for one am very glad to meet Lynn Allen’s acquaintance. More than once recently I have condemned groups for being, “nice” and it would definitely be true that you could take this CD home to meet mother but in many ways, isn’t that occasionally a good thing?

Let us know your views on And The Horse You Rode In On 

Track Listing

I Will If You Will
Enough To Make Me Sober
Warning Shot
Leaving Las Vegas
Michelle
Would It Hurt You
Mine
What She's Doin'
Tonite is alright
How Long

Line Up

Billy Peiffer - Guitars/Vocals
Hal Williamson - Bass
Mark Dekalb - Drums