Tuesday, February 10, 2026

The Cheap Cassettes: Ten Golden Greats




I usually don't write "in memoriam" posts for bands, so I won't quite do that for the The Cheap Cassettes in the wake of their recently announced disbandment. I believe what I've written about this band over the years more than suffices for a proper tribute. I'm not in the mood for any sad shit. But given that I was with this band from the beginning, I ought to be there at the end as well. As a public service to anyone who might still be unfamiliar with this band's catalog, I now present to you my top ten all-time favorite Cheap Cassettes songs. This was very difficult to pick just ten tracks from a catalog that included three full-length albums and three 7" records. Damn it, Charles — why do you have to be so brilliant? But I think if you look at what this band put out over the course of the years 2011–24, you could argue, without hyperbole, that this was one of the five or ten best power pop groups of the past two decades. What a body of work! Someday, books will be written about this band (probably by me — ha ha!). And people will eventually pound the table for an overpriced reunion tour. I'm not saying that what lies below is the band's definitive "greatest hits." These are just my personal favorite tracks. But a lot of bands would wish to have a best-of collection as good as this. If you believe, as I do, in power pop as one of the purest forms of rock 'n' roll, The Cheap Cassettes are a band you need to know about, even in retrospect. Alright, let's go! 

10. "Disappear with You" (2016) 

If my memory serves me correct, this was a song that Charles just had sitting around when Malibu Lou wanted a new track for a Rum Bar Records reissue of The Cheap Cassettes' debut album All Anxious, All The Time. Imagine having something this good in your secret stash of songs!

9. "Wreckless" (2013) 

This was a very early Cheap Cassettes song. All of us who had been waiting for Charles to write his own "Bastards of Young" were finally rewarded.

8. "Red Line Blue" (2022) 

I consider this one of The Cheap Cassettes' finest "deep cuts." When I talk about Charles Matthews being not just a great punk or power pop songwriter but rather a great songwriter, period, I can point to this song as a prime example. This is music with soul.

7. "Hung the Moon" (2024)

What was I just saying?

6. "See Her In Action!" (2021) 

Will they someday make physical compilations of the best of 2020s power pop when CDs come back into mass popularity? If so, this will be on a lot of them.

5. "Fade to Nothin'" (2024)

Side two, track 1 from the best album anyone put out in 2024.

4. "My Little Twin" (2011) 

Now we're going way back. I love that this song was never "properly" recorded. The original rough version that was shared with the world via Bandcamp back before anyone else was using Bandcamp remains the definitive version of this stone cold banger.

3. "How I Got What I Wanted" (2022) 

I'm not saying I have pandemic nostalgia, but this song sure takes me back.

2. "Bad Xerox" (2024) 

If your ex ends up with an inferior version of you, that's a win, right?

1. "Kiss The Ass Of My Heart" (2018)

Quite possibly the greatest song ever written by anyone.

There you have it. I know some of you will be outraged about me overlooking "New Gun In Town," perplexed about me snubbing "She Ain't Nothing Like You," and apoplectic about me sleeping on "Worse N' Better." But tough choices had to be made. RIP The Cheap Cassettes. If you like what you've heard, smash the links below for a whole lot more power pop rock 'n' roll goodness! 

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The Falling Out - Don't


It's probably a little late to be talking about New Year's resolutions. But if I had some, one of them would be to write about more bands from "my area" — which I would loosely define as anything in between the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers (even though I'm technically a few miles west of that). On that note, The Falling Out are an awesome band from Philadelphia, and their new album Don't is one of the most original and interesting things I've heard in a while. It comes to us from the ever-reliable Dummest Records, who also proudly rep the City of Brotherly Love. 

Don't is a not-quite sophomore album from The Falling Out. It's more like album 1.5, as it's comprised of a few tracks the band wrote for its debut LP (but were not properly mixed in time to be on the album) as well as newly remixed versions of some songs that were on the album. The first time I listened to this record, I didn't know quite what to make of it. It doesn't quite fit into any of my usual go-to genres. But that's not a bad thing at all. As I continued to listen, I was really blown away by the quality of the songs and the undeniable appeal of the band. Broadly, The Falling Out sound like garage rock meets reverb-heavy indie/alternative with co-ed harmony vocals and the feel of '60s pop and rock 'n' roll. Sometimes they remind me of X if they'd been into the Jesus and Mary Chain. Other times, I'm hearing a less-campy Cramps. Other times, they aren't too far off from the loud crunching garage/punk/pop I'm always so fond of. The band enlisted EJ Hagen to mix and master these tracks. So the unreleased songs are now ready for the world to hear, and the previously released tracks have been given a slightly noisier edge. It all comes together nicely, which is no surprise given that all these songs were written around the same time. There's a great variety of tunes on this album. Songs like "I Draw the Line" and "We're Alright" work a more controlled pace and really let those harmonies and melodies breathe. "I Don't Believe in Love" and "Dead Dumb and Blind" are full-bore rockers that absolutely pound. "I Don't Wanna Cry" is straight-forward garage/punk/powerpop that totally rules. "Falling," one of the remixed tracks from the self-titled album, is one of the catchiest and most exhilarating rock 'n' roll tunes you'll hear all year.  

If you enjoyed The Falling Out's debut album, you'll certainly enjoy Don't. And if Don't is your first exposure to The Falling Out, it will surely make you want to hear the debut album. This Philly trio has a cool vibe and legit killer songs, and it's certain that I will be following this band closely in the future. Hand-stamped red cassettes are available now from Dummest Records' Bandcamp!


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Saturday, February 07, 2026

The Melmacs - "Keep On"


I often think about what it is that draws me to certain bands. Of course The Melmacs are my cup of tea (or better yet, my pint of beer) musically. But beyond that, there's something special with this band. And I just realized it: I've never known another band that puts more love into its music. And I'm not just talking about a love for playing music. I'm talking about using that music to put more love into the universe. New single "Keep On" is a perfect case in point. This song is essentially a pep talk to anyone who might be listening. Its message is simple and powerful: no matter how bad things get, you should never give up on hoping for better things. As long as you believe in yourself, it's never too late to turn things around. And what I appreciate about this song is that it's not really aimed at one person in particular. It's aimed at all of us. How can you possibly listen to this song and NOT feel inspired to be kind to yourself — and to others as well? Musically, this is one of the band's most "pop" songs yet, but it still has that punk energy and urgency to it. Bimmi's sprightly keyboard riff is totally infectious, and the whole song is as well. This is not phony feelgood nonsense — this is a genuine anthem of hope and resolution. The Melmacs are not going to tolerate you quitting on life because they know you deserve better! There are not sufficient words in the English vocabulary for me to convey how much I love this band! The full album EUPHANCHOLIA will be out April, and it's going to be an early contender for album of the year. For now, check out this new single and keep on keeping on!

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High On Stress - Over/Thru EP


One of my favorite things that Rum Bar Records does is to re-introduce the world to amazing music. The Over/Thru EP is a compilation of four previously released tracks from Minneapolis rebel rousers High On Stress. I can imagine Lou coming across some of these tracks and just knowing this band needed to be part of the Rum Bar family. One connection is that drummer Mark Devaraj is in Cindy Lawson's amazing band. Another is that singer/guitarist Nick Leet sounds like he could be Tom Baker's brother from another mother. And so Lou has assembled a four-song sampler that will turn just about anyone (myself included) into an instant High On Stress fan. These four tracks sit at the intersection of power pop and no-frills heartland rock 'n' roll, and of course that's a sweet spot for me. If you dig hooky, heart-on-sleeve songwriting that doesn't apologize for worshipping at the Church of Westerberg, you will find a lot to like here (and in the band's full catalog). The fact that one of these tracks is a cover of Tommy Keene's "Nothing Can Change You" gives you a further glimpse into the soul of High On Stress. Great find, Lou!

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Itchy & The Nits - Greetings From...


And they're back! Sydney-based garage punk sensations Itchy & The Nits, authors of my 16th-ranked album of 2024, return with that rare just-as-good-as-its-predecessor sophomore long player. While Itchy & The Nits have graduated from the no-budget minimalist production of their debut EP, they've managed to retain all that charm from that initial release. Out on Anti Fade Records in Australia and Total Punk Records in the U.S., Greetings From... blasts through 12 tracks of quintessential garage punk in less than 22 minutes. Simple, catchy, and fun is a formula that does not need to be messed with, and these three gals pull it off with unbeatable snap, crackle, and pop. Who doesn't love songs about smelly boys, nude beaches, television, and fortune tellers? And what's the only thing better than a rock 'n' roll band with a theme song? A rock 'n' roll band with two theme songs! Even in times as dark as these, an album like Greetings From... is sure to make you smile. It will also have you tapping your toes to a frantic degree and singing along like your life depended on it. Is it possible that the band that gave us classic songs like "Beat It Bozo!" and "Crabs" has gotten even better? My ears tell me the answer is yes!

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The Cynz - Confess


In my mind, one of the hardest things to do in music is to follow up a fantastic album and not disappoint. On 2024's Little Miss Lost, the long-running New York/New Jersey—based band The Cynz absolutely wowed me. This was a proper rock band playing splendidly crafted pop songs and doing it with honesty and heart. I was reminded of a whole bunch of later '80s/early '90s bands that were cool enough to be college radio darlings but accessible enough to get played on album rock radio formats. The album set an extremely high bar for the follow-up to clear. But sure enough, the new album Confess finds The Cynz knocking another one out of the park. This is the band's sixth album and second on JEM Records. Once again, the musical and songwriting partnership between Cyndi Dawson and Henry Seiz has produced a stellar set of tunes that will go over well with just about any fan of melody-driven rock 'n' roll that's packed with lyrical substance. 

Produced by the ever-dependable Kurt Reil, Confess finds The Cynz confronting (in their own words) "trauma and losses." That's some pretty heavy stuff, but that's certainly where this band thrives — harnessing darker, deeply personal subject matter into relatable and ultimately empowering songs. While the title of the record is certainly a play on the band name, it's also an accurate description of the songs themselves. The band's mix of crunching '80s guitars and '60s-inspired psych-tinged jangle could not be any more in Reil's lane, and he ably captures the band's sound in all its multifaceted glory. Confess's track listing includes a couple of fantastic previously released singles ("Woman Child' and "Heartbreak Time") along with a splendidly rocking cover of Tom Petty's "You Wreck Me." These songs blend seamlessly with the new material, which is marvelous in its own right. "My Father's Gun" marries the band's roots in punk rock with a modern and thunderous rock 'n' roll edge. With its soaring hooks and impassioned vocals, "Ghost Rider" sounds like it could have been a staple of later '80s rock radio. "Light the Sky" is the kind of finely crafted classic rock that many people assume doesn't exist anymore. On the more melodic side, "Impossible Ending" and "Don't Give Up" are elegantly bittersweet pop gems — the work of a confident songwriting duo at the top of its game.  

The Cynz are a fine example of a rock 'n' roll band aging like fine wine. Confess demonstrates that maturity and musical growth don't have to equate with losing your edge or going soft. If not a "power pop" record per se, this album does represent what powerful pop music ought to be. It brings together elements of rock, pop, and punk in a way that's reminiscent of the past yet also very "now." From start to finish, this album delivers the goods. Confession is certainly good for the soul, and it's also fertile ground for songwriting inspiration!

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Sunday, February 01, 2026

TJ Cabot - "Some People Just Ain't Liked" (2026 Real Rejects demo)


As one of the tens of Real Rejects super-fans populating this Earth, I am a firm believer that a TJ Cabot biopic would be must-see TV. If they can make a gigantic Hollywood film about Bruce Springsteen recording demos in his house with Stingray from Cobra Kai, why can't they make one for TJ Cabot that would at least go straight to streaming? Whether or not the lyrics in new demo "Some People Just Ain't Liked" are fact or fantasy, I can totally see someone pitching Ryan Gosling the role of the hapless barista who has been disliked and mistreated his whole life for no good reason and proceeds to exact his sweet revenge through fabricated allegations of a pubic hair turning up in a cup of coffee. Why does no one else see the cinematic gold that lies right in front of us? Look, there's Tyler lying on the floor listening to MOTO. Look, there's Tyler throwing the remains of a gas station sandwich at the TV when the Leafs choke away a playoff series. Who could resist a dramatized account of the time the words "occipital neuralgia" were first scribbled on a piece of paper? They could call the movie Patron Saint of Degenerate Little Shitheads. You are all welcome to steal my idea. All I ask for in return is a six-pack of high quality Canadian lager. 

For musical inspiration here, Tyler turns to early '80s Australia. While the rest of the punk world had hardcore fever, the Aussies were busy trying to re-create power pop in the garage by way of the Ramones. "Some People Just Ain't Liked" marries that vibe to the spirit of poorly recorded and sloppily performed bedroom budget punk. This doesn't aim to be a finished product, but it absolutely cranks. In the hands of the full Real Rejects, it will almost certainly be transformed into a beloved track on the band's next record. In all seriousness, this is actually quite a profound song. Sometimes in life, you run into people who don't like you. You can drive yourself crazy trying to win them over, or you can just say "Fuck 'em!" and get on with your day. Let it be said that if a child cares enough to abscond with loose leaf paper from a classroom cupboard, that sort of intellectual curiosity should celebrated.

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Saturday, January 31, 2026

Ricky Rochelle - "Can't Erase"


On his new single "Can't Erase," our friend Ricky Rochelle isn't holding back. He's weighing in with full fury on this dark chapter of history we're living through right now. "Bad news swirls all around, " he sings in the first line of the song. "Not in my conscience to avoid it." And so he tears into this real-life dystopian nightmare and all that it encompasses: disinformation spreading like wildfire, the normalization of hate speech, a pointless culture war tearing the people apart, a free society devolving into a police state, and blood spilling as a result of all of it. This isn't just a song —  it's a call to resistance! In collaboration with Billy Pfister, Ricky Rochelle has crafted perhaps his most modern-sounding track to date. This is leaps and bounds past his Ramones-inspired sound of old and heavily reminiscent of 2000s/2010s pop-punk with even a little touch of metal. The hard-crunching sheen of this track definitely amplifies the intensity of the lyrics. Ricky is singing his heart out because he means every word. This is certainly the most mosh pit–friendly track he has ever released, and it's also his most urgent anthem so far. The whole point is to crank up the volume, pump your fist in the air, and get inspired to take action. Last year with Second Layer, we heard all sorts of new sides to Ricky Rochelle. Clearly that progression is still very much on-going.

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The Stripp - Life Imitates Art


At least 51% of music-related press releases are utterly cringeworthy. But this inspired spiel from Spaghetty Town Records on the new album from The Stripp was absolutely speaking my language: "Life Imitates Art sounds like the Aussie missing link between AC/DC, Cosmic Psychos, Radio Birdman and The Onyas." Well that sold me! On its second long player, the Melbourne-based foursome steps up from the straight-forward (albeit blistering) action rock of its debut and turns loose a powerhouse rock 'n' roll record with hooks for days. A co-release with Ghost Highway Recordings (Spain) and Beluga Records (Sweden), Life Imitates Art would be absolutely massive if they still played real rock 'n' roll on the radio. 

Fundamentally, The Stripp hasn't veered much at all from its steamrolling, high-energy approach to music. If you're looking for scorching lead guitar and a killer groove, you will be not be disappointed. But while this album brings just as much rock, it delivers a lot more roll. Certainly tracks like "Gotta Go," "Gone," and "MF from Hell" will have the action rock crowd thrashing in firm approval. Yet other songs find the band building off of the fast and furious punk rock 'n' roll blueprint in very satisfying ways. "If You Want Me To" and "Turn Back Time" would not sound out of place on your Joan Jett Pandora channel. "So Long" is kick-ass garage rock of the highest caliber. "Good for Me" is a great modern-sounding rocker with a chorus that will be stuck in your head all week. Album-closer "The End" is measured and haunting and totally unlike anything this band has done before. Bek Taylor has got insane pipes and undeniable star power, and I can absolutely see this album elevating The Stripp to a whole new level of recognition. Not an ounce of energy has been sacrificed, but the more polished production and progression in songwriting really works for this band. I don't have to say "I bet these songs would sound great live" because they also sound great on record! I can't wait to hear what Ted thinks of this album!

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Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Disket - "Running"


When it comes to the type of music I like, Disket could not be much more on the money. The New York–based band has just released its first single on General Speech, and it's the perfect mashup of old school punk and late '70s-style power pop. The band, featuring Dani Tute on vocals backed by Mary and Claudia from Baby Shakes, Myke from Mala Vista, and Roberto from Vaxine, more than lives up to its star power promise on this red-hot double A-sider. "Running" barely exceeds the 90-second mark and will quickly have you in vigorous head-bobbing, toe-tapping mode. On the flip, the snappy "Vamos a ganar" eases off the gas pedal just a little but still packs one hell of a punch. This, my friends, is how you do it. The songwriting is aces, and both of these songs are equally parts catchy and rockin'. If you're left wanting more, be sure to check out Disket's demos from last summer. Hit up General Speech to pre-order the new single on black or green vinyl. This thing is going to be on everyone's top ten list at year's end!

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Monday, January 26, 2026

1996 Revisited (Again!)

When I recently realized that all the records that I bought new in 1996 would be turning thirty years old this year, I got an idea. A bunch of years ago, I did a post called "1996 Revisited." What if I did a sequel to "1996 Revisited" but re-ranked these releases based on how I feel about them today? I told my friend Jay Castro about this idea, and he pitched the idea of us both writing about our favorite releases of 1996 and then tandem-posting on our blogs. And that's exactly what we have done! You can read Jay's list over at his site Shock Treatment. 

One thing I want to emphasize is that in 1996, I was listening to punk rock and very little else. I was buying LPs, CDs, and 7-inches like crazy and going to punk shows whenever I could. If I listened to the radio at all, it was the oldies station. I more or less completely disconnected myself from anything that was new on the radio or MTV. Certainly I've become aware over the years of other music that came out in '96. But for this list, I'm keeping it almost entirely to punk rock. That isn't to say that I bought all these records in '96, but I did buy most of them. So I listened back to all this stuff and decided to rank these albums and 7" records based on how much I like them now. There are items on this list that I didn't properly appreciate until years later, and there are a few things I loved in '96 that I'm pretty "Meh!" about today. But I've found that most of what I liked thirty years ago is stuff I still really, really like. Perhaps that means that I've had zero growth in my musical tastes over the last three decades (not surprising, ha ha!). 

1996 was a pivotal year for me. I had been a big pop-punk guy in the years prior to that, but in '96, I moved into a lot of the bands that had influenced '90s pop-punk, which ultimately led me to the newer '77-style punk bands and then garage punk. This was really the year that I fully settled on what my favorite kind of music was, and I've been in that lane ever since. Every title on this list still holds up for me. Perhaps you'll discover something here that's new to you or re-discover something you haven't thought about it in years. On to it! 

My Ten Favorite Albums of 1996 

10. The Lillingtons - Shit out of Luck (Clearview Records) 

While The Lillingtons at this point had not yet cultivated the sci-fi/horror/conspiracy themes that would ultimately define them, they arrived fully formed in terms of being a perfect three-chord pop-punk band with darkly funny lyrics and a unique singer. No shade to their later releases, but if I'm going to listen to The Lillingtons, I'm most likely reaching for their early stuff. To me, Shit out of Luck is a classic of '90s pop-punk. 

9. The Showcase Showdown - Appetite of Kings (Elevator Music)

Back in the '90s, we just called this "pogo punk." What do you call it now? I don't know, but it's awesome. 16 tracks of hyper-fast snotty punk rock with tongue-in-cheek lyrics that kind of brings to mind Johnny Rotten fronting The Toy Dolls. A stone cold gem from Boston. 

8. D Generation - No Lunch (Columbia Records)

I sometimes forget what an absolute ball of fire this record is. D Generation put out a debut album on Chrysalis Records in 1994 that was heavily hyped but probably mis-produced for a glam-punk record. After getting dropped by Chrysalis, the band found itself on Columbia Records and working with producer Ric Ocasek, who totally "got" what this band was all about. No Lunch is a perfect blend of grimy '70s punk and glam/hard rock with pop hooks a plenty. Shoulda been huge! 

7. Swingin' Utters - A Juvenile Product of the Working Class (Fat Wreck Chords)

I remember being so surprised that the Utters moved to Fat Wreck Chords for their second album. That's kind of funny now considering they've remained on the label ever since! In my mind, I always remembered there being a slight drop-off from Streets of San Francisco to A Juvenile Product of the Working Class. Listening back today, I have to say I was wrong. The level of songwriting here is beyond impressive. The Utters were never done any favors by people pigeonholing them in the "street punk" scene. This is just a great melodic old school punk rock record with the heart and soul of folk music.  

6. The Automatics (U.S.A.) - self-titled (Mutant Pop Records)

I played the hell out of this CD all through '96, and I am pleased to discover that I still love it. To me, The Automatics were far and away the most underrated pop-punk band of the '90s. Their sound was unique too: mixing hilariously snotty punk rock with bubblegum melodies and harmonies, lo-fi garage punk production, and a frantic speed & energy that just about left you breathless. If the two-minute punk song is the model of efficiency, one-and-a-half minutes is even better! 

5. The Queers - Don't Back Down (Lookout! Records)

I can't think of a whole lot of bands that have had a run of albums as good as what The Queers put out between 1993 and '96. If Love Songs for the Retarded was the band's masterpiece, Don't Back Down rates a solid #2. I love the way this album alternates between vintage Queers punk snot-rockets and pure pop songs with bubblegum and surf influences. This was The Queers' peak moment, and it still holds up three decades later. 

4. Registrators - Terminal Boredom (Rip Off Records)

At a time when Teengenerate defined why trashy, stripped-to-its-core, budget garage punk was awesome, The Registrators were like their little brothers who somehow sounded catchier and even more recklessly enthusiastic. This album was a game-changer for garage punk in the '90s, and it's still the only Registrators record I need to listen to. 

3. Mr. T. Experience - Love Is Dead (Lookout! Records)

This is the pop-punk band that even a lot of people who don't like pop-punk will admit to liking. Basically anything that MTX released in the '90s was top-notch, but this album was Dr. Frank's magnum opus. In retrospect, I now realize that MTX's charm was that they were a pop-punk for people who liked power pop (or was it the other way around?). With its smart & funny lyrics, undeniable hooks, and simple punchy guitar sound, Love Is Dead stands as one of the greatest pop-punk records of the '90s or any other decade. 

2. Beat Angels - Unhappy Hour (Epiphany) 

I was a latecomer to this band, having been swayed by Charles Matthews' steadfast evangelism. I found their first two albums in the bargain bin and played both constantly throughout the late '90s and early 2000s. There was no other band like the Beat Angels, and perhaps that was the problem. No one knew what to make of them. Were they punks, glam rockers, barroom poets, or pop stars for misfits? Perhaps it was all of the above. Unhappy Hour is truly a flawless album full of perfect pop made for people who love the Ramones, Clash, and New York Dolls.  

1. The Humpers - Live Forever or Die Trying (Epitaph Records)

I was not yet hip to this album in '96, but today I would call it one of the greatest punk rock albums ever released. Anyone who thought that signing to Epitaph Records would lead to the neutering of The Humpers was dead wrong. The power and ferocity of Live Forever or Die Trying still knock me on my ass. This album and its predecessor Positively Sick on 4th Street practically invented that sub-genre of music that mixed snotty 1977 punk rock with Chuck Berry and Little Richard and then doused the whole thing in rocket fuel. Add in a pinch of SoCal punk swagger, and you've got an untouchable band. Songs like "Wake Up and Lose," "Fast, Fucked & Furious," "Beyond Belief," "Loser's Club," and "Anarchy Juice" smash just as hard today as they did thirty years ago. Imitators abounded in subsequent years, but the genuine article could never be topped. 

Honorable Mentions

The Strike - A Conscience Left to Struggle with Pockets Full of Rust

The No-Talents - self titled 

U.S. Bombs - Garibaldi Guard 

Chixdiggit - self titled 

The Slobs - Down the Tubes


My Ten Favorite 7" Records of 1996 

10. The Wongs - "Get Away!" (Rerun Records)

An often overlooked gem of later '90s lo-fi garage punk trash. When I sometimes feel like the angry old man running kids off my lawn, I'll ask why bands don't write good, old-fashioned songs like "Jerkin' It To The Trashwomen" anymore. 

9. The Queers - Bubblegum Dreams (Lookout! Records)

Even though the first song was an album cut, the exclusive tracks are essential in their own right. "Never Ever" is one of the band's finest pop songs, and that Muffs cover is pure gold. 

8. Parasites - "(Our Love Is) Top Secret" (Rocco Records)

This was right around the time when the Parasites were my favorite band on the planet, and I certainly was not disappointed in this single. 

7. Moral Crux - "Victim of Hype" (Mutant Pop Records)

We can argue all day if it's really accurate to call Moral Crux a "pop-punk" band. I might call them a '77-style pop-punk band, a pop-punk band for revolutionaries, or just a punk band. You can just call them one of the best bands of the '90s, period. 

6. The Spastics - "Cherry Pop" (Rip Off Records)

I know you can get in trouble when you start talking about the best records that ever came out on Rip Off Records. But this is definitely one of the best records that ever came out on Rip Off Records. If they had stuck around longer, they would have been one of the biggest bands in punk rock. 

5. The Prostitutes - "Get Me Sick!" (Pelado Records)

On their classic debut single, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's finest sounded wildly ferocious and genuinely dangerous. This was my introduction to both The Prostitutes and Pelado Records — two names that always come to mind when I reflect on why later '90s punk rock ruled. 

4. Loli and the Chones - "Makeout Party" (Rip Off Records)

The next year, this band would release perhaps the greatest punk rock album of the decade. This precursor wasn't too shabby either. 

3. Dimestore Haloes - "Hate My Generation" (Junk Records)

The debut single from the band that would quickly become my favorite of the '90s. The A-side is an anthem of its time. 

2. The Beltones - "My Old Man" (Just Add Water)

The Beltones were one of the best punk bands of the later '90s and never really got proper credit for it. This single was the band's greatest moment: two stone-cold punk rock bangers featuring the raspy pipes and raw, honest lyrical brilliance of Mr. Bill McFadden.  

1. The Bobbyteens - "Firecracker" (Super*Teem!) 

I've often called this my favorite single of all-time, and I'll still stand by that. The epitome of low budget garage punk rock 'n' roll greatness. Can somebody please get this band's entire discography up on digital platforms?  

Honorable Mentions 

The Decibels - "Radio" 

Apocalypse Babys - "I Don't Wanna Be A Nazi"

Webster - "1000 Letters" and "Static"

Jakkpot - "You Ain't Shit"

Automatics - Ten Golden Greats and "Makin' Out" 

The Muffs - "I'm a Dick"

The Lillingtons - "I Lost My Marbles" 


Man! What a year! 

-L.R.

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Sunday, January 25, 2026

Vista Blue - Still Curlin'


Eight years ago, Vista Blue released what I believed to be the first-ever pop record dedicated to the wonderful sport of curling — a split 7" with The Zambonis. And with the 2026 Winter Olympics drawing near, the time was right for a sequel. So Vista Blue is back with a second curling-themed release titled Still Curlin' (kudos to Nolan and Conor for the brilliant Beach Boys rip-off cover art!). 

You may recall that the energy created by Vista Blue's last curling record resulted in Olympic gold for Team U.S.A. In 2022, without a Vista Blue curling release, Team Shuster came up short in the bronze medal game. And while Team Shuster has been displaced by Team Casper, optimism abounds this year. In typical VB fashion, "We're Still Curling" is an upbeat punky pop anthem about the power of persistence and dedication. I also like how this song perpetuates a mystique that the members of Vista Blue are not just fans of curling but also competitive curlers themselves. That's a very Beach Boys angle to take, and I choose to believe that it's true: like all these guys, when they're not making music, are out there on the sheet perfecting their curling skills. There are, in fact, more than enough members in Vista Blue to form a curling team. Could they take The Vapids in a match? On the digital B-side, "Where's Team Shuster?" rips at a hardcore pace and asks a question that millions of people will be asking when they tune in to the Olympics this year. Perhaps Team Shuster will be back at the French Alps in 2030, but for now, it's all about Team Casper. Here's a crazy fact: When Vista Blue released that last curling record, Daniel Casper was only 16 years old! Can he get his squad to come up big against the vaunted teams from Great Britain and Canada? We shall see! But in the meantime, I've got my soundtrack ready.

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Gene Champagne - "I Can't Pretend"


You know I always love a good cover song, so I'm more than happy to welcome Gene Champagne's new single on Rum Bar Records. It's a splendidly executed rendition of The Barracudas' 1981 classic "I Can't Pretend," a song which certainly rates as one of the greatest pure pop songs ever written. While Gene Champagne is well know as an ace drummer (The Killjoys, Teenage Head, Brad Marino, etc.), he has also shown a great knack for power pop/punk songwriting and singing with The Un-Teens and as a solo artist. And here puts his signature on an iconic tune. There is a really great history of covers of "I Can't Pretend." Teenage Head did a great version in the mid-'80s. Most people my age remember The Riverdales' cover from 1995. Then The Yum Yums recorded it in 1998. That's quite a formidable list of bands, and Gene Champagne fits right in. He takes on this song fully solo — producing, singing, and playing all the instruments. Like all the others that covered the song before him, he has the good sense to not mess around much with a perfect song. Anytime anyone covers this song, it inevitably compels a few people to seek out the album Drop Out with The Barracudas. Surely that's going to happen again, and so we thank Mr. Champagne for being the latest to spread the gospel. If you're a fan of his and are wondering if you might hear some more original songs from him this year, the Magic 8 Ball says, "Signs points to yes!"

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Rob Moss - "And The Lies Go Round"


Following a series of tremendous split singles from Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, Moss has released a track that's 100% solo. Moss wrote, recorded, mixed, and played everything on "And The Lies Go Round." This is his first new original song since 2024, and it's a killer tune. We've come to expect everything from proto-punk to glam rock to post-punk from Moss. On this track, he's hitting a sweet spot for me: mid-tempo old school punk with a driving anthemic riff and a sing-along chorus. While Moss is often known for sarcasm in his lyrics, this particular song's message is more straight-forwardly serious. The song is about how people today are so quick to spread very damaging lies when they literally have no idea what they're talking about — and how this sort of thing can have very dire consequences. The lyric "And they believe/Everything that they've heard/Just like sheep/Standing in a big herd" could not be more spot-on. Since returning to the world of music back in 2020, Moss has developed a very distinctive style and sound as a lead artist. Fans of his excellent albums with Skin-Tight Skin ought to find this song very much to their liking.

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Friday, January 23, 2026

The ETTERS - self-titled 7"


My biggest fail in 2025, by a wide margin, was missing the boat on the greatest garage punk album in years — the debut long player from Dutch destroyers The ETTERS. When I finally heard that record, maken je hartstikke DOOD!, it practically scorched my ears clean off my head. If you too have been waiting forever for the best album that Rip Off Records never released, you're probably already an ETTERS super-fan. If not, well, now you've got two new releases to check out! Out on France's Fish & Cheap Records, The ETTERS' new self-titled 7" delivers three furious tracks of ultra-snotty lo-fi trash in three glorious minutes. Even if you don't know a single word of Dutch, you can tell how gleefully foul-mouthed and hilariously scathing these lyrics are. And this is how you play punk rock: with reckless thumping fury and a middle finger flying in the face of entire world. On top of that, these tunes are catchier than chlamydia on a college campus. With song titles that roughly translate to "There's Nothing About You That I Don't Hate" and "Eat My Snot," you know they're not singing about sunshine and roses. Had I been hip to the full-length while we are still living in 2025, it would have easily made my top three on my year-end albums list. But hey! At least I didn't make the same mistake twice! My friends in Europe will want to grab the 7" ASAP since it's extremely limited. Here in the states, import prices are probably prohibitive. But you can certainly stream the shit out of maken je hartstikke DOOD! while you guzzle cheap beer, pogo like a maniac, and plot the ruin of everyone who has ever wronged you. Cheers to Jerry, Luna, and Kate for breathing so much life into punk rock that I feel like I'm hearing it for the first time again!

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Sugar - "Long Live Love"


Hearing Sugar back in the game literally gives me chills. This was the one band that was the biggest game-changer for me as a young adult discovering music that existed outside the mainstream. I was a heavy metal and classic rock kid in the '80s and was never really hip to much of anything beyond the FM dial. There were certainly some other bands that helped to open the gateway for me to indie/alternative rock, but Sugar was the band that busted it wide open and got me asking, "Where has this music been all my life?" I can still remember traipsing to the record store to buy Beaster and File Under: Easy Listening the day they came out. Copper Blue remains an all-time top ten '90s album for me, and of course Sugar sent me down the rabbit hole to Husker Du and then to all the melodic/poppy punk rock that has been the love of my musical life. When Sugar suddenly re-appeared on the scene last year with its first new song in 30 years, it was like reuniting with an old friend. And as good as "House of Dead Memories" was, new single "Long Live Love" is even better. I always enjoy Bob Mould the most when he's embracing the fine art of writing great pop songs. And "Long Live Love," which he actually wrote in 2007, is the very definition of a great pop song. It conjures all those '90s alt-rock feels without sounding like an exercise in nostalgia. It immediately sounds like Sugar, and that can only be a good thing. How unmistakable are those guitars and drums? Both new singles will be released as a 7" record later this year, and you can pre-order it here! Sugar is back, and the world is better for it!

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Sunday, January 18, 2026

honeychain - "Let's Get Pretty"


What an awesome year this has been for new music already, and now we're getting a new single from from the almighty honeychain? The music gods have been kind to us! "Let's Get Pretty" is the first music I've reviewed from Hillary Burton and company since the summer of 2020. Lots of stuff has happened since then, and of course I've mentioned Burton's name a few times since she's one-half of The Trouble Seekers. "Let's Get Pretty" picks up where "Pocket Full Of Good Luck" left off, rocking quite a bit harder than honeychain's earlier releases yet still recalling the slice of '90s alternative rock that took its cues from power pop and punk. Co-produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Michael Eisenstein from Letters to Cleo, this track manages to sound classic and modern at the same time. This is a little bit of a darker sound for honeychain, and it has a very contemporary garage rock edge to it. If The Go-Go's had formed 40 years later, they might have sounded something like this. "Let's Get Pretty" is a promising return from one of the best bands out there, and I sure hope there's more on the way!

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Throttle Back Sparky - Throttle Back, Sparky (20th Anniversary Limited Edition Vinyl)


One of my favorite things about being a music fan is constantly discovering new bands and also new-to-me bands. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the first and only album by mid-2000s Los Angeles rock band Throttle Back Sparky has received a (very) limited vinyl release. I'm wondering where the heck I was when this album came out. Thirtysomething me would have flipped out over this thing! It's a remarkable album, and the story behind it is perhaps even more remarkable. How did a bunch of actors from a theater company, all with completely unlike musical tastes, become sensations of the LA power pop scene and release one of the best albums you never heard? Robbie Rist, who played drums on the album and produced most of the tracks, famously described Throttle Back Sparky as "seven people, each with different records in their record collections, vibrating at different frequencies, held together by rubber bands." How could you read a quote like that and not be intrigued? 

Throttle Back, Sparky, which was self-released on compact disc in 2005, is now available as a vinyl record that comes with a 32-page history of the band penned by lead singer Allen Lulu, who many of you know as an actor, music writer, and passionate rock historian. And what can I say about the album itself? In an entirely good way, it's unlike any record I've ever heard. It broadly falls under the umbrella of power pop, but any attempt to neatly place it into any defined genre of music would fail woefully. It's over-the-top theatrical yet also spectacularly hook-laden and audaciously rocking. Imagine if Meat Loaf had tried to make a hair metal record but only listened to the bands that secretly wanted to be The Raspberries or Cheap Trick, and he'd hired musicians who were into everything from punk to jazz, yet somehow it all worked through some kind of happy cosmic accident. If "Another Hoop" sounds like it could be the opening number from a rock opera, at least it's one you'd totally want to see. "Devil Got Shot" pushes itself oh-so-close to the line where a little campy might devolve into parody, but it never crosses it (largely because its hooks are undeniable, and it genuinely & convincingly rocks). "Beatrice" is the closest the album comes to power pop by the book, and it's glorious. Whatever your definition of an "epic" rock song is, "Trusted" will stretch it. Covers of The Sweet's "Hellraiser" and Cyndi Lauper's "She Bop" (which have been excluded from the Bandcamp digital version) present a fuller picture of what Throttle Back Sparky was all about, both musically and spiritually. 

If you're going to go to the trouble of releasing a largely unsung album on vinyl twenty years after its original release, above all else you have to believe in its staying power. Certainly the cult of power pop is better organized now than it was two decades ago — if not considerably larger. So there's clearly an audience for Throttle Back, Sparky beyond longtime fans who will be excited to upgrade to vinyl. More importantly, this is an album that has clearly stood the test of time. This is not a case of "You had to be there." At a time when literally thousands of new releases get launched into the ether every single day, this album is something that stands out, something highly worthy of being heard and discovered by a whole new generation of fans. With only 100 total copies of the vinyl available, there is certainly some urgency required if you want in on the action. But I also think this album will be thoroughly enjoyed by a whole lots of folks who prefer to listen to their music digitally. If you love power pop but not necessarily the "same old, same old" type stuff, Throttle Back, Sparky ought to bring a jolt of sonic excitement into your new year.

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Friday, January 16, 2026

The Melmacs - "Run for Your Life"


There are quite a few albums releasing in 2026 that I'm super-excited about. #1 on the list is EUPHANCHOLIA, the sophomore long player from Dresden and Leipzig's mighty The Melmacs. The album will be out April 10th on Bakraufarfita Records and Wanda Records in Germany and Spaghetty Town Records in the USA. It has been nearly three years since I last had the privilege of writing about The Melmacs, so it's delight to today review "Run for Your Life," the first single from EUPHANCHOLIA. This song is vintage Melmacs. Musically it blends all the best parts of power pop, new wave, old school punk, and straight-forward rock 'n' roll. And in typical Melmacs fashion, the song manages to sound upbeat and infectious even though the lyrics are thoughtful and a little dark. This is really becoming this band's signature — crafting deeply serious songs yet having great fun doing it and exuding a contagious joy. This is a band you can always turn to when you're having a bad day or going through a rough patch. A little Melmacs does a lot for the soul! "Run for Your Life" has quickly emerged as my first favorite song of the year, and I can't for the world to hear the whole album!

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KÜKEN - Palermo


Look who's back! Out on the forever legendary Alien Snatch Records, Palermo is the first new music from the mighty KÜKEN since KÜKEN III was released back in December of 2023. I've had the honor of touting the musical creations of Chris and Philipp for more than 26 years. And here they are in the year 2026 still smashing it up like their life depended on it. Palermo is vintage KÜKEN: four tracks of raw, thumping, and undeniably catchy punk rock that mercilessly clubs you over the head yet leaves you begging for more. These guys keep it simple as always, cranking the attitude and energy levels to ten and making sure to not cross the threshold of the two-minute song. And these tracks sound amazing, delivering exactly the sort of unbridled sonic ferocity that you would expect to emerge from a St. Pauli bunker. All four of these songs are grade-A rippers! As long as the wonder twins keep on making music, you can count on me to keep on writing about it. Daniel's remark in the liner notes about this EP being the first entry in everyone's best-of-2026 list is no joke. Maybe it's time for me to start my first draft! 

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Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders - After The Dolls


Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders are one of the surest things in rock 'n' roll. Anything they release is guaranteed to be top-notch. And that goes for their cover songs as well. The band's new 10" EP, After The Dolls (out on Heavy Medication Records), was a passion project for Pat Todd. As one of the world's biggest fans of the New York Dolls, Todd has a deep love for the band's catalog that extends into the music the members later released as solo artists. The concept of After The Dolls was to pay tribute to some of the amazing songs that Johnny Thunders and David Johansen wrote when they were supposedly "past their peak." And when you give a great songwriter like Pat Todd the leeway to put his own twist on some old classics and deep cuts, you know you're going to get something special. 

Sometimes tribute albums fall flat, but After the Dolls feels different. All six of these tracks are inspired takes on incredible songs. The love for the original versions is palpable, but you can tell that you're listening to Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders. Any Dolls/Thunders fan will be intimately acquainted with the material on the "Thunders side" of the record. Todd & the Rankoutsiders push the tempo on "Dead or Alive" to the point where it practically sounds like a Heartbreakers song. You can feel every ounce of heart and soul in the classic ballad "Disappointed in You." "Short Lives," from Thunders' 1985 release Que Sera, Sera, is re-worked into the roaring '70s punk classic it could have been. On the "Johansen side" of the record, the band pulls some deeper cuts. "Melody" and "Wreckless Crazy" are both from Johansen's oft-overlooked second solo album, In Style. "The Rope," one of Johansen's rawest and punkiest solo tracks, was the B-side to the 1978 single "Funky But Chic." "Wreckless Crazy," as Ted pointed out, comes out sounding like it could have been a Rankoutsiders original. It's a scorching update on the original. The band drags the disco-era blue-eyed soul of "Melody" into modern times without losing the spirit of Johansen's version. "The Rope" sounds like vintage '90s by way of the '70s punk rock 'n' roll — reiterating Johansen's profound influence on Todd and so many of his contemporaries. 

If you're going to take your shot at covering Johnny freaking Thunders and Mr. David Johansen, you can't afford to miss. With After The Dolls, Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders show the world what a tribute album ought to be. You can tell that this project was on Todd's mind for many years. The song selection could not have been more perfect, and all six of these tracks absolutely smoke. While the band succeeds at making these songs its own, it does so with tremendous affection for the original versions. This EP will make you want to go listen to your Johnny Thunders records and perhaps seek out some David Johansen records. And that, my friends, is surely the point.

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Radio Weekend - "By My Side"


Back with its second single from its forthcoming debut EP, Seattle power pop outfit Radio Weekend punches up the volume on the crunching mid-tempo rocker "By My Side." This song is giving me early '90s Pacific Northwest alternative power pop feels by way of '80s AOR, and I am here for it! I have to love a song that radiates mellow vibes but still rocks your face off. These guys are walking the line between power pop and full-on FM radio rock, and they pull that off splendidly. You get hooks a plenty but also riffs for days and even some epic guitar soloing. Another excellent single that pushes all the retro buttons in all the right ways!

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