My Amazon Reviews: Gary Myrick "Gary Myrick and The Figures"

Go Figure: A lost gem of an 80's debut
4 Out of 5 Stars 

Gary Myrick hit the highway from his Texas home for the golden promise of Los Angeles. By 1980, his strong guitar playing and songwriting led to a recording contract and this debut album. His three piece backing band, The Figures, were to Gary what The Attractions were to Elvis Costello, a bass/drums/keyboards power trio to support Gary's energetic, new wavey delivery. There was also more than a touch of The Clash and Sex Pistols (listen to his occasional vocal slip into Johnny Rotten turf) involved. The nine originals plus one engaging Kinks cover were a rousing opening salvo.

Gary Myrick and The Figures was a muscular outing, darker and more stark than many of the more famous New Wavers to explode out of Los Angeles in the early 80's (think The Motels or The Knack). Instead of the power pop of these bands, Myrick was looking for grittier turf even as he knocked out several catchy songs. "She Talks In Stereo" was the big attention getter, and probably has become his signature song. But there's also "She's So Teenage" and "The Party," There was even a shot at writing a Mellencamp/Petty type of 'hit' with "Deep In The Heartland"; oddly enough it is the only dud in the bunch.

I was surprised to finally find this on CD as Myrick's albums have been on my wishlist for a couple decades now. Even bigger a surprise is a live set as bonus tracks. Covering 9 of the debut's songs (minus "Heartland"), from a gig at LA's Whiskey A-Go-Go. While I think his second album, Living in a Movie, is a better album by a razor thin margin, this first album is still a winner for collectors of 80's obscurities.