On Valentine’s Day, Deena Shoshkes and Jon Fried of The Cucumbers will release a book (Hello George) with music (As You Heard Me). The longtime Hoboken favorites found their first flush of love and art while busking in early ‘80s Paris and Rome.

John is our favorite Beatle. Keith is our favorite Stone. Ray is our favorite Kink. And Deena Shoshkes is our favorite Cucumber.  Hoboken’s Cucumbers have been rocking since 1982. Now singer-songwriter-guitarist Deena has temporarily “gone solo” with the release of a three-song EP called This Is The Time. She wrote the three with a lyricist friend David Graham.

It’s been almost 20 years since Hoboken mainstays The Cucumbers released new music. The jangly guitars, bright pop melodies and brisk backbeat of their Power Pop—key to their national success—are all still evident.