Cynics - Stones I've Thrown 7"

Another post beginning with me at the Homestead... I met Cynics aka Giles Bidder there and he drunkenly kissed me at the end of the evening. I didn't think all the much of his live set, but the man certainly left an impression on me. Especially after seeing him in Front dressed as a woman a few days later, that's a sight that still haunts me when I close my eyes.
So when his 7" (ooo-errr vicar) "Stones I've Thrown" went on sale, I thought I'd give it a go despite him being a cross dressing possible closet homosexual. I'm glad to say it wasn't a mistake.
The record came with a download code, which is awesome. It can be difficult finding smaller releases like this for download, so a quick and legal way to do it is always appreciated, means I can enjoy the songs on my mp3 player/laptop instead of having to be at my turntable to play it. The fold out insert was also cool, featuring the lyrics and some pretty nice artwork by Ema Smith. There was also a slip of paper in the sleeve explaining that the money from the release is being donated to Partners In Health. The fact that a lot of effort has clearly gone into the package, as well as being for charity, is something that you just don't see enough of. Especially for 7" releases which are quite often just the record in a cardboard sleeve.
The music itself is upbeat, jaunty acoustic punk inspired by Gordon Gano's Army and Billy Bragg. Opening song "14 Coleman Street" is an ode to sleeping on floors and playing shows that whilst not exactly making it sound glamorous, certainly makes it sound more appealing than sitting on your arse and doing nothing. A sentiment that is echoed in the insert by Giles himself, saying "If I've done this, so can you. Do it yourself. Don't take yourself too seriously. Have fun." Following this is "You're Alright", a more downbeat song perhaps but just as memorable and catchy.
Side B opens with "Be Excellent To Each Other", perhaps my favourite song due to the Bill & Ted reference and the line "I'll be doing more this winter than drinking chocolate milk and listening to Take This To Your Grave". The hand claps in the song are great too, more songs need hand claps. The record closes with a cover of Paint It Black's "Memorial Day", which works surprisingly well as an acoustic song.
I can't get these songs out of my head, and I'm hoping I can catch Cynics live again soon now I have more of an appreciation for the songs. I think I've managed to memorise almost every word on the record, something which is rare for me due to the amount of music I listen to!
Check Cynics out at - http://www.myspace.com/ihatecynics