Back in the summer of 2018, I
reviewed an absolutely tremendous record by The Speedways that to my mind has never received its due acclaim. At the time, it was intended as a one-off solo project by Matt Julian. But you know how things sometimes work out, and before long The Speedways became a proper and permanent band. Julian and his band-mates are now hard at work on a second Speedways album likely coming out next year. In the meantime, Rum Bar Records has given that stunning debut
Just Another Regular Summer new life in the U.S. with a shiny new CD reissue. This deluxe edition includes all 12 songs from the original album plus both tracks from the band's "Seen Better Days" single and three acoustic demos. In my humble opinion, this is one of the best power pop albums of recent years. It absolutely merits some renewed attention. When it comes to writing songs about heartbreak and lost love, there's nothing more authentic than writing about
actual heartbreak and lost love.
Just Another Regular Summer is a concept album Julian wrote about his real-life summer of 2014. He really wore his heart on his sleeve penning these tracks, which take inspiration from '70s new wave and power pop and the timeless sounds of '60s pop. Hearing this album for the first time, I felt as if I'd encountered not just a talented songwriter, but also a kindred spirit. I am super stoked that Malibu Lou shared my affection for this record so deeply that he was willing to release it in America. Bonus material includes the band's warmly received cover of the Kirsty MacColl classic "They Don't Know". If you love power pop, you need some Speedways in your life!
-L.R.
https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/just-another-regular-summer-deluxe-edition
https://thespeedways.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JustAnotherRegularSummer/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
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