The first and only album by New York quintet
Quincy was a fiery blend of
Elvis Costello,
Roxy Music, and
the Cars, and remains a perfect mix of both U.K. and U.S. new wave influences. Though the songs are credited to vocalist
Brian Butler, bassist
Gerald Emerick, and guitarist
Steve Butler, it's
Brian and
Gerald who trade off vocals superbly.
Emerick has a quirky, kinetic energy about him, while
Butler is the crooning
Costello, sounding cool and collected. Highlights on the album include "Just a Tragedy" (this thing should have been a huge radio hit!), "Don't Knock on My Door" (likewise), and "Turn the Other Way Around" (the sexual innuendo alone should have guaranteed it plenty of airplay on college stations). Though the album is not entirely perfect, it's as close as many bands can ever get. With big, thick production and great songs, it's a shame that this album wasn't embraced by the general public.