Led by guitar virtuoso Simon Chardiet, Simon & the Bar Sinisters make music that is truly unclassifiable. Chardiet shifts effortlessly, both in terms of guitar and vocal style, from rockabilly to Big Star-type pop to snarling British punk, and then onto ZZ Top-ish riffing. Listening to Simon could be a shortcut to a more complete musical education. Seeing him live is more like receiving a guitar lesson. Throw some N.Y.C. bad attitude ("I'd Be Grateful if You Were Dead") into the mix, then stir, and you have some serious gumbo. ~ Geoff Ginsberg