Friday, July 18, 2025

The Chelsea Curve - "Kindawanna"


Oh boy, here we go! The first new original song from The Chelsea Curve in over two years is a red-hot summertime smash! "Kindawanna," the first in a series of singles this Boston trio is releasing this year on Rum Bar Records, explodes with feelgood vibes and razor-sharp hooks. When it comes to mod-influenced power pop, this song is about as perfect as it gets — combining punchy guitars with an irresistible beat and sing-along lyrics that will have you daydreaming about all the fun things you could be doing with your latest crush. Chelsea 2.0 is here and sounding amazing. Linda Pardee's voice has never sounded stronger or more joyful. Tim Gillis is dishing out guitar hooks all day long. And new drummer Bruce Caporal is a freaking machine! If this song doesn't get your heart racing, I would seek medical attention immediately. The world can always use more songs where the singer is screaming things like "Yeah!" and "Wow!" I know I've been talking a lot about summer playlists lately, and now I must proclaim that "Kindawanna" is track #1 on my 2025 summer playlist! This tune is sure to get you up and moving and deeply feeling what it means to be alive. Crank it loud and go do all the things you kinda wanna do!

The Dogmatics - Nowheresville


Today is the day! Considering that The Dogmatics are one of my favorite bands of all-time, you can imagine that I was really looking forward to the group's first full-length album in 39 years. I can assure you that a lot of other people were too, and I'm confident that no one will be let down by the long-awaited Nowheresville. Out today on Rum Bar Records, this is exactly the kind of album I was hoping for. It sounds distinctively like The Dogmatics while still allowing for the kind of maturity and growth you'd expect from a band after four decades. Some of these songs sound like they could have been written back in the '80s (at least two of them actually were!). Others come off as very much belonging to the garage rock scene of today. And others sound unprecedented in the band's catalog. What results is an album that can stand on its own merits. You don't need to be a fan of The Dogmatics' beloved '80s output (or to have even heard it) to appreciate what a great album Nowheresville is. 

When The Dogmatics reunited in earnest prior to the pandemic, they never settled for writing new songs just to have something to play live. They were inspired not just by performing, but in creating something new — something that would reflect who and where they were in the 21st century. They'd still play the old favorites, but they were going to write new ones as well. Phoning it in was not an option. And that accounts for one of the most impressive second acts in rock 'n' roll history. Ask any fan at a Dogmatics show if they look forward to hearing the likes of "She's the One," "I Love Rock and Roll," and "Drop That Needle," and you'll get a "Hell yeah!". And now Nowheresville is the work of a band that's still showing all the young whippersnappers in the garage/punk scene how it ought to be done. It's a celebration of the spirit of family that exists literally within the band itself and also within the Boston garage rock scene. The album title is a tribute to Paul O'Halloran, referencing a song he was working on just before his passing. The cover art is a vintage photo taken by Mary Lou O'Halloran. The record features guest appearances by Tom Baker, the Nervous Eaters' Billy Loosigian, and John "J.G." Goetchius of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The song "You've Got What I Want" was written by a 20-year-old Jerry Lehane in 1981 in the aftermath of seeing The Outlets play a live show. The closing track "Ball Me Out" is a cover of a DMZ classic. And of course the album is out on a record label that has gifted the entire world with the chance to hear so much of this great music that Boston is known for. Had The Dogmatics turned out a passable but ultimately uninspired comeback effort, we would have been grateful just for that. But for the band to release an album in 2025 that can genuinely rival its predecessors Thayer St. (1984) and Everybody Does It (1986) is truly something to shout about. 

Right off the bat with "Key of B," Nowheresville makes it clear that you're listening to a more accomplished version of The Dogmatics. The song is a garage rocker, sure enough, but it shows off the band's highly refined musical and songwriting chops. It comes off like a love letter to music, and who among us can't relate to that? Elsewhere, the jaunty "Con Job" (featuring James Young on lead vocal singing lyrics penned by his late father) combines Irish pub rock with bluegrass and sounds like nothing you would have expected from The Dogmatics in the '80s. "Rainy Nights," a jangly tale of heartbreak and regret, was first written in 1986 and has surely become something far different in the hands of these older, wiser Dogmatics. The snappy "Nothing To Be Learned" is thoughtful power pop that has the spirit of The Replacements. Those hoping for some throwbacks to the band's heyday will love "No Likes No Comments," which combines a raw folky/country style with wickedly humorous commentary on life in the age of social media. The song is definitely in the tradition of the band's classics "Hardcore Rules" and "Teenage Lament." Recent singles "Library Girl" and "With a Scarlet Letter" sound like vintage Dogmatics but still have a very contemporary appeal. And that cover of "Ball Me Out" is an absolute ripper! 

Nowheresville is everything you could want from a Dogmatics album. At just ten tracks and with only two songs longer than three minutes, it doesn't mess around. The songs are rockin' and fun to sing along with but also quite profound in what they have to say. The band isn't afraid to offer some nods to its early days, but it's not stuck in the past. It's no easy feat to make a record that successfully bridges the past, present, and future, but Nowheresville pulls off that very trick. Even as the album celebrates the legacy of Boston garage rock, it reminds us that that legacy is still being built today by a whole lot of great bands who continue to release exciting, inspired music. There's something very momentous about a band releasing its first album in 39 years, but what I appreciate about The Dogmatics is that they didn't overthink it. They just went out and made a terrific garage rock 'n' roll record that reflects who they are as a band today. I can honestly say that if you've never heard The Dogmatics before, this is a perfectly good place to start. And if you're a fan, I don't doubt for a second that you're going to love this album and play the heck out of it for a very long time to come!

Splitsville - MOBTOWN

Back in the late '90s and early 2000s, Baltimore-based Splitsville was one of the top bands (if not THE top band) in the indie power pop universe. Now the foursome returns with its first album in 22 years, and it's nothing short of a masterpiece. Out on Big Stir Records, MOBTOWN is an epic and beautifully-crafted love letter to the city of Baltimore. Any version of a reunited Splitsville would have been warmly welcomed in power pop circles, but MOBTOWN is even better than anyone could have imagined. It swings for the fences and crushes the ball out of the park. It's an extraordinary album that enriches the band's already sterling legacy. 

For MOBTOWN, Splitsville has re-assembled its most recent lineup: Brandt and Matt Huseman of the beloved power pop band The Greenberry Woods along with Paul Kryaiak and Tony Waddy. More than two decades since the release of the band's last album Incorporated, the group has picked up right where it left off. MOBTOWN, while truly an ambitious and stylistically varied effort, is built on a foundation of gorgeous melodies, majestic harmonies, and indelible, perfectly-constructed hooks. In other words, this is a master class in guitar pop. While the band doesn't exactly abandon its signature approach of classic power pop with a '90s indie/alternative flavor (check out "A Glorious Lie" and "I Hate Going To Hutzler's"), it also shows the kind of growth you'd expect from a group that had last recorded before YouTube, social media, and vaping existed. "Cold Open" finds the band reintroducing itself to the world and asserting its capacity to rock. "On Federal Hill" and "Southern Hospitality" are practically indie pop mini-symphonies. "Gray" is funky pop reminiscent of Prince — until it isn't. "Fallsways" is breezy '70s rock that ought to be pumping from every yacht on the Chesapeake. "Perry Hall" and "Penn Station" are stunning ballads that find the album concluding with its finest pair of songs. 

Tying it all together is the album's concept. MOBTOWN celebrates the band's hometown — examining everything from its history to its landmarks to its people to the racial divisions that still largely define it. Through storytelling, personal reflections, and social commentaries, the album explores all that is wonderful, flawed, storied, and unique about this great American city. Unlike some concept albums that crumble under the weight of their ambition, this one flows in a way that could not feel more natural. While of course these songs are best heard as one singular set, any of them can be enjoyed outside the context of the larger concept. MOBTOWN has the sweeping power of a great movie or novel, yet ultimately it's just a fantastic set of pop songs. The talent and skill of all the players involved have only progressed over the decades, and any concerns about rekindling that old chemistry are quickly assuaged once the music hits your ears. And the album's production is to die for. Those of you who fondly recall Splitsville from back in the day will not be disappointed. And if this is your introduction to the band, MOBTOWN will have you wanting to dig into all the greatness you have missed.

Sunday, July 13, 2025

The Scunthorpe Yobs - Kick It 'Til It Breaks


Mick Bladder's mighty punk/Oi! super-group The Scunthorpe Yobs are back with album #2, which does not mess around with a winning recipe. Also featuring members of bands such as Oil!, The Generators, The Randumbs, and Smogtown, The Scunthorpe Yobs are based in Southern California but sound like they just stepped out of the U.K. circa 1979-82. If you dig classic Oi! a la Cockney Rejects, Angelic Upstarts, and Sham 69 along with tougher first wave U.K. punk (Menace, UK Subs) and early '80s British street punk (Anti-Nowhere League, Blitz), The Scunthorpe Yobs will be right up your alley. Having already nailed this sound perfectly on 2023's We Are The Yobs, the band was going to be challenged to top itself. But I must say that Kick It 'Til It Breaks is even stronger than its predecessor, pounding out ten tracks of beer-swilling, first-pumping, teeth-kicking punk rock that mixes serious social commentary with boorish humor and a fuck-off attitude. Of course songs like "Hey Wanker," "Lager Frenzy," and "Two Finger Salute" live up to the promise of their titles. But "Council Estates," "Class War," and "Sing Through the Pain" prove that these self-proclaimed yobs are far more thoughtful and sophisticated than they let on. When it comes to old school street punk, this album checks all the boxes. These songs are powerful and aggressive yet also tuneful, anthemic, and fun to sing along with (preferably with a pint in your hand). If you didn't think music like this was still being made, well, you're wrong! Kick It 'Til It Breaks will be best enjoyed if played loud enough to piss off your neighbors, co-workers, or family members. It's available now from the iconic No Front Teeth Records!

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Friends of Cesar Romero - "Empress of the South Pole"/"Florencia"


Man, I'm doing a really bad job at being a Friends of Cesar Romero super-fan! I last reviewed the band on June 14th and was apparently asleep when it released new music on two occasions later in the month. And then in came another single while I was on vacation this week. So let's catch up. The digital single "Florencia" is #46 in the Doomed Babe Series, and it's a loud and tremendously catchy power pop rocker with amazing lyrics that say more in two minutes than some novels do in hundreds of pages. J. Waylon writes songs like this so well that you might be tempted to take it for granted. But please don't! If you need Exhibit A to demonstrate why Friends of Cesar Romero is one of the best bands out there, crank "Florencia" at full blast and marvel at some masters' class power pop! "Empress of the South Pole," released earlier this week, is a two-track digital single and #47 in the Doomed Babe Series. Lead track "Like Extracting Teeth From The Jaws Of Death" is a kick-ass garage rocker that digs deep into the pain of loving someone who just can't stop jerking you around. Man, you can really feel the pain in this one. It lives up to its title for sure. On the digital flipside, the title track is a jangly pop song exploring a situation where the heartbreak is mutual but there's hope of starting over. The optimist in me believes that perhaps this particular babe isn't so doomed. Then again, in the Friends of Cesar Romero universe, happy endings are rare. And guess what? "Empress of the South Pole" and "Florencia" were actually preceded by All Goodbyes Aren't Bad Cause This Goodbye Is For Good, which was # 45 1/2 in the Doomed Babe Series. Three of the songs on the EP were previously released on Bandcamp but not on the streaming sites. They've been remastered and bundled with a new song called "Finish Him," which cleverly uses the brutality of Mortal Combat as a metaphor for the devastation of heartbreak. The "new old" songs on the EP are "Summer Boyfriend," "Longing Heart Condition," and "Rebound Baby." If you're not familiar with these tunes (or even if you are), I highly recommend adding this EP to your FOCR collection. And if you don't already have a FOCR collection, what in the world are you waiting for?! 


Hormones - "If I Was Your Girl"/"Hayley Smith"


The "world's hottest band" returns with single #2, and it's another stone-cold banger! Betty, Stuey, Jim Jim, and Joseph, collectively known as Hormones, are here to stand up for "trans rights and trans wrongs." I am here for it! These delightful humans play absolutely perfect old school pop-punk that's as endearing as it is catchy. Last month's "Out of the House, Out of the Closet" b/w "I Wanna Be Your Herfriend" was such a formidable debut that even a slightly lesser follow-up would have been more than satisfactory. But Hormones are here to show us that that first single was no fluke! "If I Was Your Girl," in fact, might be the best track the band has released so far. It finds the foursome dialing back the tempo just a tad but still living in that world where the Ramones are everything and the only thing. I'm always a sucker for a good love song, and this one is very heartfelt and sweet. Why should straight dudes have a monopoly on writing songs about girls? "Hayley Smith" is a bit faster and punkier, and it's a loving shout-out to a life-changing transgender role model. Sometimes in life, there's nothing more important than meeting someone who is like you or like the person you know you want to become. I love the way Hormones are able to use simple pop songs to reflect on something as serious as life and love from a trans woman's perspective — and to present it in a way that's both very vulnerable and fun to listen to. I love this band and can't wait to hear more!

Friday, July 11, 2025

Golden Richards - "Jenny on the Run"


It never really feels like summer without a Golden Richards hit in rotation on all the cool indie radio shows. And so here we go with Golden Richards' 2025 summer smash! "Jenny on the Run" is pretty much what you'd expect from this long-running Chicago-based duo: a power pop anthem with bigtime '90s vibes. But what's cool about this band is that it always brings interesting concepts for songs. "Jenny on the Run" might sound like modern power pop via crunching '90s alt-rock, but its lyrical inspiration goes back to the '60s. The song is somewhat inspired by the movie Woodstock and the young people in the film who talked about leaving their homes because they just had to be at Woodstock for the music. More generally, the song is about kids (or anyone) escaping their boring everyday routines through music. Who can't relate to that? The titular Jenny leaves it all behind to dance and rock out at Woodstock, feeling more alive than she ever has. But what I love about this song is that it's more universal than that. The idea of live music being this spiritually thrilling thing where you connect with like-minded souls and escape your shitty reality transcends time. Jenny may have been on an odyssey to experience Jimi Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone live, but the same story could be set in any year with any other artists. The song is vintage Golden Richards: rocking, tuneful, and chock full of hooks. It's got majestic vocals, all sorts of guitar heroics, and a bridge to die for. This, my friends, is rock 'n' roll! Crank this tune loudly in the car with the windows down and let the music take you far away from whatever might bum you out.