Paul Collins & The Beat

One of the best bands to emerge from the West Coast new wave/power pop boom of the late '70s, the Paul Collins' Beat (aka the Beat) merged tough but hook-laden tunes with vigorous, upbeat performances and plenty of rock-solid guitar work. Collins was one of the pioneering figures on the Los Angeles scene at the dawn of punk as part of the influential pop band the Nerves, and he went on to lead the Beat, who issued a cult-classic debut album in 1979. Collins would lead the group through a constantly shifting lineup into the 2000s, and while the country and roots rock influences...