My stripped-down review of Dropped Out's new album Get Lost would read like this: pop-punk done right. That will entice some of you and send others running for the hills. But I think you all catch my drift. Austin-based trio Dropped Out makes no claims of reinventing the wheel. These guys are all about '90s pop-punk, and they execute the style exceptionally well. Out now on Otitis Media Records, Get Lost is full of tight, well-crafted songs with likeable vocals and lyrics. Influence-wise, I'm picking up on everything from Screeching Weasel to Green Day to Teen Idols to Parasites. So this band is definitely in my sweet spot for pop-punk. Some songs touch on classic pop-punk themes of heartbreak and relationship woes. Others exhibit a self-deprecating sense of humor. I like that these 10 tracks deliver a nice mix of really poppy mid-tempo tunes (definitely my cup of tea) and fast-paced '90s style melodic punk numbers (not always my cup of tea, but surprisingly pleasing to my ears in the case of this band). If you're cynical about pop-punk as a genre, Dropped Out is not going to turn you to the dark side. That said, Get Lost is everything a good pop-punk record ought to be. It's fun, catchy, and relatable to love and life. If I could somehow go back in time and play "Nicola" for 1996 me, he/I would have absolutely flipped!
Boom! The greatest '90s garage punk band of the 2020s continues soothe our ears with its gloriously thumping racket! Out now on the legendary Big Neck Records, "You Don't Know Me" is the third 7" release from Bandung, Indonesia's The Battlebeats -- and the second of three singles due out from this band in 2022. In the same vein as the recent EP Killed By Boredom, "You Don't Know Me" updates The Battlebeats' primitive budget rock assault with a tougher edge and a higher quality of production. While Teengenerate and '90s Goner Records remain the obvious reference points for Andresa's songwriting, these tracks also dig back into the primordial ooze of '70s American punk rock and old school garage rock. These are killer tunes -- some of Andresa's strongest yet in terms of both composition and performance. This is the kind of record that Big Neck would have been proud to have released 25 years ago. How fortunate we are to have this label still going strong at a time when bands like The Battlebeats are on the rise! If you're looking for some real deal garage punk rock and roll to rip through your earhole, this is the noise you need!
There's nothing more rewarding as a music fan than watching super talented people blossom into true artists. Amado Movado (Devious Ones, Bump-N-Uglies, Bill Bondsmen) has long been one of the finest guitar players in the modern punk rock world. In the early stages of the pandemic, he started the solo recording project Norcos Y Horchata as a means to hold on to his sanity. Before long, his pals Dougie Tangent and Roman Wonsul joined in. And just like that, Norcos Y Horchata was a real band! Recorded last summer with Jim Diamond, Forever Disheveled is the band's debut album and the first-ever release made up entirely of songs written and sung by Amado. Essentially this album is Amado's rookie effort as a frontman, and it's quite spectacular!
I previously raved about "Almost Lost My Thumb (to the Pinewood Derby)," a delightful sing-along tribute to Amado's grandfather. That was such an amazing song that I had to wonder: did Amado have more songs of that caliber in him? The answer is a resounding YES. Forever Disheveled is an absolute treat for anyone who likes catchy punk rock with a whole lot of grit. Amado takes quite well to being the face (and voice) of a band. His gruff everyman style perfectly suits lyrics that are honest, heartfelt, and down to earth. Musically, Norcos Y Horchata inhabit the shared space between the more tuneful side of street punk and the tougher side of rock and roll. Forever Disheveled conveniently arrives in this first week of summer and is best enjoyed in the company of good friends and the coldest, cheapest beer you can find. Over the course of these 10 tracks, Amado reflects on the consequences of his choices ("Forever Disheveled," "Clutter, Debt & Disarray"), dispenses some solid life advice ("There's Always Something New," "Oysters"), and laments a human race gone terribly wrong ("Chords Against Humanity," "...Out For Smokes"). Of course Amado has a knack for writing appealing and catchy three-chord rock tunes. Better yet, he's the kind of songwriter you can't help relating to. As he confronts his failures and shortcomings on the album's title track, he could just as easily be describing most of us. And on the timely "...Out For Smokes," he puts into words the thoughts that bring distress to almost any rational human at the moment:
It's like the whole world got dropped on its head/ Dropped on its head all at once/ And now it’s looking like some contest/ To crown the biggest dunce
We talk about COVID silver linings all the time, and Norcos Y Horchata is yet another example. This band may never have existed if Amado Movado hadn't found himself on the verge of losing his mind two years ago. He started writing these songs because he had to. Yet in spite of its despairing origins and moments of hard-to-swallow truths, Forever Disheveled is a really enjoyable and uplifting punk rock record. These are songs that are fun to sing along with -- perhaps even more so because they say something genuine about the present human experience. Amado the amazing guitarist is now Amado the amazing singer/songwriter, and we are all better off for it. LP ships in early August!
This is my 11th time reviewing The Prostitutes for this blog, and it looks to be the last. The last two is the title of the latest single from The Prostitutes -- signaling a defined ending to a 27-year institution of American punk rock. And if these really are the last two Prostitutes tracks, it's great to hear this band going out exactly as it came in: with absolute fury. Even with its modern edge in production and guitar tone, "Sick to Death of Myself" has the feel of a classic Prostitutes song. Let me correct myself: it is a classic Prostitutes song. It knocks my head off in the same way that songs like "1-2-3 GO," "Twenty-Two," and "Living Wreck" did back in the day. This is raging, explosive punk rock from a true master craftsman of the form. From Pennsylvania to Ohio to Long Beach, California to Pennsylvania again to Baltimore to Ohio again with an ever-changing supporting cast, Kevin McGovern has kept The Prostitutes going strong for two-and-a-half decades plus. And now is the right time for him to close the book on this musical entity as he moves on to other things (most immediately the truly excellent Trouble Seekers). And so these last two tracks (recorded in 2020) complete a discography that includes two full-length albums, five 7" singles, 12 digital singles/EPs, and one un-released album. If you have somehow been living under a rock since 1996 and never experienced The Prostitutes, I can't recommend the Complete Recordings 1995-1998 compilation enough (in my book, Can't Teach Kids Responsibility is a top five 1990s punk rock LP). For those of you who are longtime fans, I assure you that you will find the last two to be a fitting swan song. Tonight I will drink to the storied legacy of The Prostitutes -- and to new beginnings for the force of nature that is Kevin McGovern!
Just a quick public service announcement: the 20th anniversary reissue of Tina and the Total Babes' classic album She's So Tuff is now available on the LP format! If you want to own one of the greatest power pop albums ever made on gorgeous 180-gram vinyl, hop on over to the Surfin' Ki Records webstore and order away! While supplies last, the album is available on black, gold, blue, clear orange, and clear yellow vinyl. You can also order a test press with a pink cover. Super-super-fans might want to spring for the full bundle: all six versions of the record for 89.99€! I know for my American friends, postage on this thing is gonna be murder. But man, what an incredibly cool release this is! This is perhaps THE most significant album of the modern power pop revival, and you know these LPs are gonna go fast. CD and digital are still available from Rum Bar Records!
If you're gonna do a split, this is the way to do it! Hey Pizza! Records, Mom's Basement Records, and I Buy Records have their united their superpowers and released a split 7" featuring two of the top pop-punk bands on the planet: Zoanoids and Proton Packs. Zoanoids out of Kalamazoo, Michigan took the pop-punk world by storm with their debut album in 2020. Here they return with two more top-notch tracks of gothic pop-punk. I'm usually not much of a death-punk guy, but I've got to admit that this band has pulled me to the dark side. When it comes to writing songs, executing a sound, and owning a distinctive style, Zoanoids are as good as it gets in this genre of music. A "feelgood" horror song sounds like a contradiction in terms, but "Cemetery Nights" is exactly that. What a smash! Italy's Proton Packs, the founding fathers of ecto-punk, have been standouts in the Euro pop-punk scene for 15 years plus. Their sci-fi/conspiracy theory brand of darkness is a little more up my alley. In any case, they make ideal partners for Zoanoids on this split. "Follow the Protocol" is more on the pop side of things and one of the catchiest tunes you'll hear all year. "The End of Everything" is textbook pop-punk done right. I imagine that any super-fan of modern-day pop-punk would already be familiar with both of these bands and probably own this record already. But if you've been living on a faraway planet or recently became undead, here are a couple of bands you really ought to check out. Vinyl copies on blood red and slimy green are going fast!
Following three killer singles released 2016-18, Los Angeles punk trio Tenement Rats finally release their debut LP. And it's a doozy! Out now on No Front Teeth Records, Sods Law features ten tracks of snotty '77 punk rock that take inspiration from both sides of the Atlantic. This is what you'd call a vintage No Front Teeth release: a non-stop barrage of three-chord punk bangers full of attitude and aggression. No track surpasses two-and-half minutes, and song titles like "Decease and Exist," "Exterminator," and "Nerve Gas Love" give you a great idea of what to expect. This is old school punk rock in its rawest and most exciting form. As always, the lineup features Jonny Watkins on guitar & vocals and Shaun Clark on drums. Tsubasa Muratani from Rough Kids plays bass. Together these guys tear into these tunes with power and ferocity. If you have a soft spot for the more pummeling side of '77 punk rock, you need these filthy rodents in your life!
Last fall, I had the great pleasure to write about Lorne Behrman's debut solo EP When I Hit The Floor. Building on the momentum of that EP, Behrman will release his debut album A Little Midnight later this year on Spaghetty Town Records. The album will be made up of ten New York City vignettes blending street poetry with Behrman's punk rock roots. Behrman, who was played with the Dimestore Haloes, L.E.S. Stitches, The Dead Tricks, and The Sweet Things over the years, continues to shine as a guitarist while also proving himself to be a songwriter of remarkable talent. Anyone who knows him would not be surprised by his brilliant lyrics, but his emergence as a soulful poet vocalist in the Lou Reed/Bob Dylan mold has been a tremendous inspiration for all of us who aspire to be late bloomers in life.
In advance of A Little Midnight, Behrman has released the title track as a single and music video. Compared to the heaviness of When I Hit the Floor, "A Little Midnight" feels a little more upbeat on the surface. Clocking in at just one minute, 47 seconds, this is the most straight-forward punk song Behrman has recorded so far as a solo artist. It's short, punchy, and really fun to sing along with. But upon serious inspection, this song is anything but light. It's about being overwhelmed by problems in life and having to find the strength to pull through. Finding this track to be an ideal tone-setter for the full album, Behrman has chosen to release it a few months in advance. I love the message here: that even if you have struggle and sadness in your life, you can still have hope. The video, directed by David J Baron and featuring How Tragic singer Paige Campbell, was heavily inspired by the Replacements' classic "Bastards of Young" music video. The full album releases September 16 and promises to be something special. In the meantime, "A Little Midnight" is available from Bandcamp and all the major streaming platforms. A little midnight does you right.
I'm not one to judge a band by its name, but I had very hopes when I received an email from Philadelphia's Creem Circus. The only possible downside about naming your band after the two coolest rock magazines of the '70s is that you have a lot to live up to. But that's no issue for Creem Circus, who have just released the best 1974 hit single of this summer. I always love a band that owns its influences, and Creem Circus wears its love for Slade, Mud, T. Rex, and Ziggy-era David Bowie on its glittery sleeve. How could I not be into a band that's all about "tandem lead, sparkle-faced riffs," "chocolate covered choruses," and "glamtastic outfits"? The band has just released a video for its song "Those Shoes" which visually resembles an old Hanna-Barbera cartoon and musically recalls the foot-stomping '70s glam updates on '50s rock and roll. With its thunderous drums, hard candy hooks, and righteous guitar solo, this song is quintessential glam. But it doesn't stop there. Clearly Creem Circus endeavors to recreate the entire glam rock experience right down to the showmanship and over-the-top fashion. That might be off-putting if these guys took themselves too seriously, but instead they fully embrace the utter silliness of what they do. In these dark times, I love the idea of a band that wants to put on a fun show so you can forget your troubles for an hour or two. Just as importantly, Creem Circus understands that there is no show if the tunes aren't killer. If you find "Those Shoes" up your alley, you can purchase Creem Circus's most recent album The Glitterest Sladest, Rockinest Ladiest, Overtime-Paidest, Boogiest Band in Town from the illustrious Creep Records!
Now it can be told! It has been a well-kept secret for a while that The New Brutarians will be releasing their debut LP on my favorite record label of all-time, the mighty Alien Snatch Records. The band has officially opened preorders for the vinyl release via Bandcamp. The LPs will be shipping next month. If you absolutely can't wait to hear this glam-punk blockbuster, it's now up on Spotify and all major streaming platforms. Otherwise, you can now order a copy of Hysteria on black or solid gold vinyl directly from the band. The vinyl release contains an exclusive track called "Stop! In The Name of Art." While I'm going to save my full review for the official release next month, I will say that Adam and Christina have outdone themselves on their full-length debut. Long delayed by the international vinyl pressing crisis, Hysteria is finally arriving and proves to be well worth the wait. For a nice little taste of what to expect, check out the official music video for "New Muse" below!
I am beyond pleased to share another advance single from what is sure to be one of the best albums of 2022! German foursome The Melmacs will release their debut album Good Advice this fall on Barkraufarfita Records, Wanda Records, and Tape Or Die. Album preorder is now available via Bandcamp, and a video for new single "Watch Out" premiered this morning. "Watch Out", which The Melmacs describe as their "official announcement against all queer-phobic, sexist, right-wing, trash talking, energy-sucking Eiernacken," again finds this band living in that wonderful space where '77 punk, power pop, and rock and roll meet. This band's ability to write super-fun songs about really serious topics is a true gift. And I can assure you that the rest of the album is just as good as the singles. The best advice I can offer you is to preorderGood Advice today!
One thing I love about great pop is that it transcends language. Madrid-based foursome Los Recuerdos has released a new EP called Entre Macca y Juan Gabriel which is an absolute treat for anyone who loves power pop. I can't tell you anything about the lyrics since they're all in Spanish. What I can tell you is that Los Recuerdos write amazing songs with huge hooks and play them with an enthusiasm and energy that are positively contagious. If you're looking for tunes for your summer playlist, I offer my highest possible recommendation to "Una Idea Genial"! With influences ranging from the British Invasion to '70s mod & punk to contemporary power pop and beyond, Los Recuerdos are everything you want a guitar pop band to be. Entre Macca y Juan Gabriel is tremendous fun and full of songs that are destined to get stuck in your head. Be sure to also check out the band's excellent self-titled EP from last year!
I'm always a big fan of anything Charlie Murphy does. He's one of the most talented individuals in the modern punk rock universe. I've favorably reviewed six different bands of his, and today I'll make it seven! Life Forms, his newest band, began as a lockdown recording project. Life Forms have since become a proper band, and a debut EP is now available from Bandcamp for just £1. Murph recorded these songs with drummer Matt Cleave, his bandmate in The Red Cords. So right away, you know you're in familiar (yet somehow different) territory. What results is an EP that combines the best elements of all of Murph's projects. These songs are high-energy garage punk rippers with a post-punk edge, a touch of pop, and other-worldly lyrics. Songs range from fast and frantic ("Green Glare") to decidedly poppy ("Night Light Jellyfish") to wonderfully weird ("It Glows"). All throughout, you get a feel for what Murph does so well: write brilliant punk songs that make you wanna thrash about even as you uncover their hidden depths. Post-COVID life has filled all of our minds with disturbing thoughts, and luckily Murph channeled some of his into these most excellent songs. Now with a couple of gigs under their belt, Life Forms are a band of considerable promise. I'd advise you all to get in on the ground floor!
It's hard for me to believe that Austin-based foursome Breaklights is just now releasing its debut album. I started writing about this band in 2016, and its releases have been consistently excellent over the years. But sure enough, Wind Down (out now on Wiretap Records) is Breaklights' first full-length release following three terrific EPs. While a Breaklights debut album may have been a long time coming, Wind Down sure does not disappoint. Splendidly produced by Deedle Lacour, this ten-song long player finds Breaklights doing what they do best: putting a modern spin on 1990s "big label" pop-punk. The selling point for this band has always been how silky-smooth Charlie is on lead vocals. Well guess what: Breaklights now feature two smooth voices as guitarist Dan has stepped up to write and sing three tracks on Wind Down! Sometimes adding a second singer to the mix can mess with a band's mojo. But in the case of Breaklights, this move into dual front-man mode has absolutely strengthened the band. Dan contributes three of the album's best tracks, and his vocal style blends perfectly with Charlie's (We'll let them fight amongst themselves as to which one is the Bob Mould of the band and which one is Grant Hart). This is definitely the best Breaklights release yet in terms of song quality. I would struggle to identify a single sub-par track out of the ten on the album. If you're looking for vintage Breaklights massive-sounding melodic punk, songs like "Dream On," "Crushed," "Sixty Five," and the album's lead single "When You Talk" are guaranteed to satisfy. If you're looking for something a little different as well, Wind Down has got you covered. "Illinois" and the extraordinary "Aging Well" are rare pop-punk acoustic ballads that aren't throwaways. And album closer "Fairview, 1991" is a true epic that will absolutely tear your heart out.
When it comes to modern-day punk rock, Breaklights are the definition of class. This band's gimmick is that it has no gimmick. These guys write fantastic songs full of genuine emotion and quality hooks. They take inspiration from past pop-punk greats without trying to straight-up copy them. Wind Down manages to push all the right buttons for my '90s pop-punk nostalgia while still keeping this form of music vital and current in 2022. Transparent lime green vinyl copies are still available if you act fast!
Look who's back! Donny, Luke, Frank and Spike, collectively known as MOM, return with another digital slab of bubblegum power pop gold! In the same vein as previous singles "Tonight" and "Don't Leave With My Heart," new single "To The Beat" will have all the kids dancing into the night while their moms sing along. These Swedish sensations sure know how to turn out an irresistible hook. If this song were any catchier, all of Europe would be back in lockdown. The virtual B-side, "Scary Mary," is another total earworm.Is this song actually scary, or is it a love song? Like all the best love songs, it seems to be a little bit of both. Good luck shaking that chorus! In some alternate universe where it's eternally 1976, this song will be blasting poolside from transistor radios all summer. All bow to the pop royalty that is MOM!
Today I've got something special for all of you who love great American punk rock and roll. The Recoils are a new band based out of my neck of the woods (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) but featuring members from various locations. The lead singer is Greg Lonesome, host of the legendary Rock N Roll Manifesto radio show. El Flyin', his band mate in The Lonesome Kings, is on guitar. Christopher "Preacher Boy" Watkins, the godfather of alt-blues, is on guitar, bass, and organ. Rounding out this super group is Zack Olsen (Slow Gherkin) on drums. With a lineup like this, you might expect blues or rockabilly. But The Recoils do more of a straight punk rock thing (I guess you could call it garage punk; I'll just call it punk). "Breakdown," the band's debut single, released yesterday -- probably not coincidentally on the anniversary of Stiv Bators' death. The title track is literally about what it feels like when you're on the verge of a complete breakdown. I love how the music and vocals truly capture the sensation of being overcome by anxiety and knowing you're about to break. El Flyin's work on this track demonstrates the power a killer guitarist has to take a ripping punk tune over the top. "Breakdown" is truly an anthem for our times. It's well-paired with "Grifter," a song that laments a nation ravaged by mass apathy, rampant misinformation, and the cult of science-denial. Sadly, this song is not a work of fiction. Political punk rock songs are a tricky thing to pull off in 2022, but "Grifter" shows how it ought to be done: with passion, guts, and a blistering energy.
"Breakdown" finds The Recoils delivering a debut punk single in the classic style. Both tunes smoke, and we're all left wanting more. An extremely limited run of lathe cut 45s sold out almost instantly. But even if you missed out on the vinyl, the digital version is a must-have. These are raging tunes for desperate times. Play loud and let those demons loose!
What Is Even Happening Right Now?, the third album from Detroit indie rock/power pop foursome Extra Arms, is truly a release for these times. Out now on Chicago label Forge Again Records, this ten-song platter was recorded in the midst of an historic pandemic and lyrically inspired by the non-stop insanity that was 2020-21. But rather than fixating on the darkness, What Is Even Happening Right Now? moves at full force towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Singer/guitarist Ryan Allen used much of his COVID downtime to record and release music of various styles. But there's nothing quite like rocking out arena style with a kick-ass band. And while the making of What Is Even Happening Right Now? was difficult and time-consuming, its arrival feels celebratory. That's no accident. This album radiates positive energy. It features songs that are informed by bleak times yet profoundly triumphant -- as if these guys took all of their frustrations from the last couple of years and used them as fuel to rock harder than ever. As a longtime Extra Arms fan, I was looking forward to this album anyway. But the themes of this record (looking out for our own mental health, striving to become a better human) really speak to me at this moment in time. Essentially this is an album about accepting how messed-up things are and just saying, "Fuck it: I'm not going to be defeated by all of this!" That's a wonderful message, and it's delivered with Extra Arms' usual blend of crushing guitars, pummeling drums, and massive hooks.
While What Is Even Happening Right Now? follows Extra Arms' general blueprint of Midwestern power pop running straight into '90s alternative rock, it's definitely the band's most varied release in terms of influences. It tips the cap to everyone from The Cars ("Feeling Alright") to Elvis Costello ("Click Wars") to Jawbreaker ("In Control") to The Who and Kinks ("Big Dogs") to Randy Rhoads ("Falling Into Place"). And while the band isn't afraid to get overtly political ("Click Wars", "Denial"), the majority of these songs are vigorously life-affirming. This is particularly true of the album's bookend tracks: the big rocker opener "Fun Guy" and the anthemic closer "I Don't Wanna Die." It seems redundant to describe an Extra Arms album as "energetic," but What Is Even Happening Right Now? has the feel of an unstoppable force. I'm guessing these guys were listening to a lot of punk rock when this album was being written and recorded. It certainly didn't hurt that mixing/mastering guru Paul Miner was on hand to make this record sound massive!
What Is Even Happening Right Now? features more special guest stars than a Love Boat episode. Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Bob Nanna (Braid/Hey Mercedes), Gregory Macdonald (Sloan), Lily (the Plastic Beach), Scott Allen (Thunderbirds Are Now!), Chris Hatfield (Love Axe), and saxophonist Matt Jones all lend their talents to this powerhouse of a record. Fortunately, all of that star power was not wasted on a mediocre set of songs. What Is Even Happening Right Now? is one of those old school big hooky rock records that hardly anybody makes anymore. While the word "bangers" should not be in any 51-year-old man's vocabulary, I can't come up with a better word to describe each of these ten songs. The world may continue to be a train wreck, but at least Extra Arms have given us a killer soundtrack. As a very wise man once said: "It's really good to see you rocking out and having fun."
Given that I do this blog to share cool music you can buy, why in the world would I review a release that is literally not for sale? The answer is simple: we're talking about the great Holly Beth Vincent -- an icon of power pop rock and roll and a massive influence on a great many bands and artists I write about today. Holly: An unauthorized seven disc career retrospective was assembled by the mysterious Albanian bootlegger and new wave enthusiast Merkush Murat. It compiles tracks from out-of-print releases covering the years 1982 to 2009. By design, it omits Holly and the Italians' classic LP The Right To Be Italian -- which is still in print on compact disc. In a way, this is fitting. Anyone interested in Holly Beth Vincent should start with The Right To Be Italian -- one of the greatest power pop albums ever made. But if you're a longtime fan or merely want to take a deeper dive into the work of some true rock royalty, Holly is an invaluable collection. I am blown away by the amount of love and work that went into this extensive curation. Clearly this is the work of the biggest Holly fan alive. And although this set cannot technically be purchased, I hope a few copies wind up in the hands of other Holly super-fans.
For those who are unfamiliar with Holly Beth Vincent's musical output post-1981, Holly fills in the gaps nicely. Disc one, Cool Love, features select tracks from Holly's 1982 solo album (which was confusingly titled Holly and the Italians). Disc two, Here Comes Another Day, includes demos recorded in 1988 plus one track from 1987. Discs 3 and 4, Crush and Sound of My Soul, contain tracks from Holly's brilliant 1993 album America, released under the band name The Oblivious. Disc 5, Carousel, predominantly features songs from 2007 to 2009. Disc 6, Rita Hayworth, includes album tracks from a rare CD-R release called Minnesota-California. Disc 7, Live NYC 1988, is an audience recording of a live performance. To say that every song on every disc is essential would be ludicrous. But that's not the point. What Holly demonstrates is that even if The Right To Be Italian had never existed, Holly Beth Vincent's discography would still be highly impressive.
One of my favorite things about Holly is that it casts her 1982 solo album in a favorable light. Upon its original release, Holly and the Italians was largely rejected by both fans and critics. Recorded with session musicians to fulfill a contractual obligation, this artsy new wave record was a dramatic departure from the punk-influenced power pop of The Right To Be Italian (Ira Robbins, one of the album's most notable fans, described it as "If Joni Mitchell and Ronnie Spector mated with Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen"). The album quickly vanished from the face of the Earth. Cool Love, Merkush's personal edit of the album, finds the best songs from this release holding up quite well in 2022. I remember being obsessed with owning this album circa 2000 and then not knowing what quite to make of it when I finally got my hands on a copy. Now I listen to these songs and can't believe how musically closed-minded I was in my 20s. This is brilliant stuff. Once you get past the whole "This isn't power pop at all" thing, you'll discover some of Holly's finest songs such as "Cool Love," "Honalu," and "We Danced." And rather than omitting Holly's wonderfully strange cover of "For What It's Worth," Merkush subs in a nearly seven-minute extended version and makes it track one!
If there's an obvious highlight to Holly, it would be discs 3 and 4. America (released on Amy Ray's Daemon Records) was one of the most underrated alternative rock/power pop albums of the early '90s. It stands next to The Right To Be Italian as a crown jewel of the Holly catalog. Merkush doesn't fool around here: he includes 12 of the album's 15 tracks over two discs. The music video for "Crush" is embedded below. Some of you may recall that The Dents recently and brilliantly covered "Homeless."
Holly is a magnificent and lovingly-created package. Each disc is hand-made and numbered and comes with cover art and a track list. Extensive liner notes cover the life and career of Holly Beth Vincent and reflect on the importance of her music. This set is not intended to be the definitive Holly retrospective, but it would be a great thing if its existence inspired the powers-that-be to produce one. If you're a Holly fan and would love to own this not-for-sale set, it appears that Merkush has handed over copies to Mutant Pop Records to give away. You can most likely score a free copy (while supplies last!) if you purchase something from the Mutant Pop mail order catalog (like, say, that amazing new Trevor Blendour album!). Email Timbo at MutantPop@aol.com for more information!
Let's kick off meteorological summer with some scorching hot '77-style punk rock and roll! Ruthless & Toothless is the debut LP from New York City's Mala Vista -- a band that made a promising debut in 2019 and has since proceeded to take things to another level. Ruthless & Toothless, which will be released on vinyl by No Front Teeth Records later this summer, features seven new songs (recorded last year) along with six tracks from the band's debut EP. While that first EP was really good, these new songs are even better. They're more melodic & better-produced, yet they rip just as hard. Put together, these 13 tracks make for a crackling debut album. At a time when so few newer bands are playing this traditional style of punk music, it's exciting to hear a band like Mala Vista totally nail it! If you took the best elements of The Clash, Dead Boys, Heartbreakers, and Ramones and updated them for modern times, it would sound an awful lot like this. It's always a joy to hear music with this kind of heart, passion, and grit -- and great hooks to boot! There's nothing better than punk rock permeating the summer air, so crank these tunes loud and enjoy. Keep checking No Front Teeth's monthly updates for news on the vinyl release!
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