"Pin Your Spin" review
One Way - June 2004

Once in a while, a great album falls into your lap that makes you wonder, "Who in the hell is that and where have they been hiding?" Grooves that could only emanate from the Big Easy are oozing out of this disc from a chap born and raised in jolly olde England. (The last two decades that Mr. Cleary has lived in N'awlins certainly rubbed off on the man.) From the nazzty clavinet that opens up the album on the title track, this thang is shtanky like Bootsy - if he was sittin' in with the Neville Brothers. "Oh No No No" sounds like something straight out of the Dr. John songbook, and "Ain't Nuttin Nice" is a groovin' instrumental that wouldn't be out of place on a Meters' album This is definitely a Crescent City album, but other influences creep in as well. "Funky Munky Biznis" sounds like it came outta tha' Mothership; "Best Ain't Good Enough" is an a capella doo-wop number; and the closing tune "Zulu Strut," is straight Salsa. Need your voodoo funk? J.C. is your man.
- Steve Pandis