Showing posts with label Glam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glam. Show all posts

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Badzy - ...To The Bone


You've surely seen some of the rave reviews for ...To The Bone, the debut album from New Orleans-based Badzy. I sure don't disagree with anything I've read about this record. Three years in the making, ...To The Bone is pure energy and catchiness from start to finish. It hits that sweet spot where power pop, glammy punk rock 'n' roll, and big, hooky arena rock all crash into each other at full speed. There's no pretension to what these guys are doing. They are throwbacks to a time when rock 'n' roll was loud and fun but never afraid to be radio friendly. This is a great record to throw on when you're having a good time or want to be having a good time. The band's sound is the epitome of powerful pop, and it's plenty gritty enough to fit nicely within the underground punk rock 'n' roll bubble. But you can also tell that there's some Def Leppard, KISS, and Cheap Trick in its spiritual DNA. Sometimes the key with rock 'n' roll is not taking yourself too seriously but being damn serious about the craft of songwriting. Tracks like "Say That You Will," "Say You're Ready," and "Ain't That Enuff" would be radio hits in some alternative timeline where they still play real rock 'n' roll on commercial radio. "Shadows" is full-on classic power pop. "Ripped Outta Time" and "Bad Til I Die" venture into heavy metal territory without a trace of irony and kick all kinds of ass. This is an absolutely killer album. I can't help but be reminded of the early 2010s when the likes of The Mandates, Barreracudas, and WYLDLIFE were just coming on the scene. This year in music continues to please!

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Thursday, July 16, 2026

Amplifier Heads - Super 8


Smack dab in the middle of this most wonderful year for music — a year in which many have observed that real deal rock 'n' roll has come back with a vengeance — it seems fitting that we would be treated to a new full-length album from The Amplifier Heads. Super 8 releases tomorrow on the world-famous Rum Bar Records. It is, by my count, the band's sixth LP. And it's almost certainly the finest effort yet from Sal Baglio and friends. It's essentially a sonic journey through rock 'n' roll history — a history that is, in fact, still being written. As you would expect from an Amplifier Heads album, the menu is packed with a variety of popular flavors. You'll hear hints of everything from the blues and first generation rock 'n' roll to the British Invasion to garage rock to power pop to glam rock to the Rolling Stones to OG punk rock. If the firecracker opening track "Rock N' Roll Riot" had been the whole record, Baglio could have dropped the mic and declared victory. But that's just a starting point, and Super 8 keeps on bringing the hits. Life is too short to waste on filler. 

Off the bat, "Rock N' Roll Riot" is a pure jolt of raucous energy to get you moving and shaking and dominating your day. It literally starts at the beginning — time-traveling back to the Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland in 1952 and rocketing forward into the world-altering sonic explosion that soon followed. On the sexy and sticky-sweet "Hot Stars," the time machine stops off in the early '70s for a rendezvous with Marc Bolan. "A Song Called Sha La La" takes it back to the '60s and slyly pilfers a melody from The Troggs. Baglio, as he longs for someone out there to write another timeless rock 'n' roll radio smash, proceeds to will that very thing into existence. Just like that, you've got an opening 1-2-3 punch that few albums will ever beat. But wait! There's more! "They Don't Dance Anymore" is a reflective ballad longing for a time when rock 'n' roll ruled the airwaves and all the kids still knew how to groove. "A Girl Named Chop Suey" is kickin' livewire garage rock that winks and nods in the direction of "Louie Louie." "Can't Put My Finger On It," which is a little bit country and a whole lot of rock 'n' roll, is an earworm of master class status. "Superstar" sounds like the best song Dave Edmunds never wrote. "Hot Wax" takes us back to a moment in time when rock 'n' roll was climbing mischievously out of the womb of rhythm and blues — a suitable last stop on this full circle journey through time and sound. 

It's hard not to look back at last year's tremendous Peppermint Kicks album Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum (which Baglio co-authored) and note that Super 8 seems to have been made from the same magical stuff. Sometimes The Amplifier Heads sound like an intergalactic rock machine, but on this record, they're sticking to Planet Earth and the scorching sounds that pumped new life into it in the latter half of the 20th century. As a songwriter, Baglio has never sounded more inspired. Joined by Kevin "King" Rapillo on drums and Brad Hallen on bass (along with some special guest stars on a few tracks), he exemplifies everything that rock 'n' roll ought to be and still can be. There's no need for bells and whistles when you can conjure this sort of glorious and rousing racket that comes roaring out of the garage and into the dive bars and dance halls. These guys truly put their soul into this record, and the joy is palpable in every note. This is the work of a child of the '60s who fondly recalls the majestic past but isn't resigned to being stuck in it. 

Is Super 8 a throwback record? Yes and no. The whole point of all this time traveling is to remind ourselves why we still love rock 'n' roll and why we all remain so passionate about its preservation. All of you out there playing in bands, running labels, promoting music, buying records, hosting radio shows, writing reviews, and going out to see bands don't even have to question why you do it. This is the music that sets our souls on fire. Who wants to live in a world without rock 'n' roll? Thankfully we'll never have to (as the first half of 2026 has made evident). Gather 'round, true believers, and behold the gospel according to The Amplifier Heads!

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Wednesday, July 01, 2026

Songs From The Film* - "She Don't Mind"/"Waiting For the World to Explode"


I didn't have much time to cry in my beer over the sudden split of The Cheap Cassettes. Charles Matthews has already launched his new solo project Songs From The Film* (who doesn't love a good Tommy Keene reference every once in a while?). A debut single (and video!) have been unleashed on this very blessed day. Are you ready? Are you excited? 

The beauty of recording solo material is that it doesn't necessarily have to fit in with any particular band or even any particular genre of music. You can just write the songs that are in your heart. Whatever comes out is whatever comes out! My history with writing about Charles's music now dates back 30 years. We were both young men then. Now, we're somehow still young men since 55 is the new 30. The first thing I'll say about this single is that it sounds like Charles. This is him on a plate that you'll absolutely want to eat up. This isn't specifically a punk rock project or a power pop project, but you can hear elements of both — along with all that bubblegum glam rock and big hair new wave pop we all grew up on. Anyone who loved the Dimestore Haloes and Cheap Cassettes will recognize Charles's signature style and voice. It's not like this is his Metal Machine Music. He's still in the familiar territory of hooky three-chord rock 'n' roll with punchy guitars. But at the same time, this is something a little different. You can hear Charles experimenting a little with his guitar tone, vocals, and the overall vibe. The guitar riffs on "She Don't Mind" are by themselves worth the price of admission. 

Upbeat and rockin,' "She Don't Mind" is a more conventional loud pop love song and certified smash. I literally laughed out loud at the entire first verse — not just because of the cleverness of it all but also because I recognized my own experience in those lines. If you can find your person who can put up with all your weirdness and return it with their own wonderful weirdness, that's a priceless, beautiful thing. A line like "And the day we met, I knew I'd be your singin', dancin' clown" hits me so hard that it gives me chills. If that's a little too much feelgood for your tastes, the mid-tempo rocker "Waiting For the World to Explode" ought to be very much to your liking. Who can't relate to a song about being so disenchanted with living in this dystopian timeline that you start thinking that the complete obliteration of the world might be a best-case scenario? Tailgating the apocalypse with a six-pack of Corona would be half-hearted; a 12-pack, though, is a full commitment. I love social commentary, sarcasm, and dark humor. Put them all together, and you've got pure gold. 

Recording by yourself has to be way harder than it seems. You are responsible for getting every detail right, and you're likely to be far more critical of yourself than you'd be of bandmates. When it comes to all those hours spent rehearsing and recording in solitude, you better damn well hope you like the company. It takes a special temperament and skill set to excel as a solo artist. For every George Michael, there are ten Stings. Thankfully, Charles Matthews is the antithesis of Sting. When I first heard "She Don't Mind," I knew that he had freaking nailed it with this new project. It was an immediate "Holy shit! This is good!" reaction. And before I could consider that maybe I was just a weirdo with funny taste in music, bona fide movers and shakers like Malibu Lou and Ryan Meyers had joined the fan club too. I'll gladly throw my lot in with those guys. Songs From The Film* has come out firing like a rocket. Digital is available now from the mighty Rum Bar Records. Vinyl is coming soon from Sioux Records. And how cool is that music video? Add the title of "filmmaker" to Charles's resume!

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Saturday, April 11, 2026

Josephine Network - Hooked


If there's one thing that moves me the most in music, it's when I can feel the genuine joy in it. And that's what came through instantly on Josephine Network's new album Hooked (out on Lollipop Records). From the opening note to the very end, you can feel the unadulterated enthusiasm and excitement that Josephine put into writing and recording these songs. Loud, catchy, and fun has always been the secret sauce for rock 'n' roll, and there's something absolutely perfect about the title of this album. I was instantly hooked, and you will be as well if you dig glam rock and power pop that take their cues from the '70s but still sound hot and fresh today. 

Glam rock and classic power pop were always close cousins, and here Josephine brings them together in a way that could not sound more natural. There are sticky-sweet hooks all over the place, and there's plenty of swagger as well. And plain and simple, this album rocks. Put in on, turn it up, and forget about your troubles for 26 minutes. By the time you get to the end, it will be impossible to feel pessimistic about life. The title track would be a massive radio hit if they still played real rock 'n' roll on the radio. "All I'll Do" sounds like the best song Shoes never wrote. "Mary Jane Girls" is like the Beach Boys gone glam and so joyfully catchy that it ought to be illegal. Elsewhere, Josephine hits the sweet spot for bubblegum pop ("When Nobody's Home"), wham bam glam rock ("Kiss of the T" and "Babbling Fool"), and even some full-throttle riff rock boogie ("Revved Up Things"). "The Rockers" is pure rock 'n' roll with a pop heartbeat and the perfect closer for this absolute delight of an album. For this release, Josephine worked with producer Ryan Howe, who clearly gets what Josephine Network is all about. Hershguy and Nat Brower share drumming duties and totally match Josephine's energy with every beat. If an album that meets at the intersection of Nick Gilder, Big Star, T. Rex, and Thin Lizzy sounds like something that would get your heart beating faster, Hooked just might have you obsessed. And how glorious is that cover art?

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Sunday, March 22, 2026

The New Brutarians - "Del Rio Way"


Today must be Adam Turkel Day in Faster and Louder Land! I just weighed in on the Beatings retrospective, and now I've got something new for your ears. "Del Rio Way" is the latest single from The New Brutarians. The track features Alan MP from Juvenile Wrecks on lead guitar, Robbie Rist on drums on bass, and Greg Shankland on piano. What we've got here is a quintessential glam rock blues ballad in the neighborhood of The Dogs D'Amour with hints of '70s Stones. This song is pure heart and soul and finds Adam in fine form both lyrically and vocally. And of course the recording sounds amazing. Arriving on the heels of the hard-rocking "Tonight's Your Night (Tonight)", "Del Rio Way" takes things in a mellower, more reflective direction. Both of these songs should be turning up on vinyl later this year courtesy of Sioux Records. For now, enjoy this poignant track on your favorite streaming platform!

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The Beatings - 1997-2007

Since late '90s/early 2000s punk rock is my jam, I am thrilled about Baltimore's glam-punk heroes The Beatings finally getting the full retrospective treatment. If you've been on this ride with me from the beginning, you may recall me flipping my shit for The Beatings' Kiss on the Cheek EP circa 25 years ago. And while my prognostications of The Beatings becoming the next huge band in American punk rock never came true, Adam T. is still going strong with one of the best bands out there, the mighty New Brutarians. So whether you think of The Beatings as part of Adam T.'s origin story, one of the best and most overlooked of the later '90s old school punk revivalists, or a mainstay of the Baltimore punk scene back in the day, the new digital collection 1997-2007 is well worth your time and attention. As the title suggests, this album compiles material that was recorded and released from the late '90s through the early-to-mid 2000s. It includes the songs from all three of the band's 7" releases: "The Ballad Of Jimmy & Jenny" (WAX/Telegraph Records), Kiss on the Cheek (Pelado Records), and the Solid Gold picture disc (Glass Manacle Records). It also includes The Beatings' cover of The Boys' "First Time," which was originally released on Pelado's cult classic Three Minute Heroes compilation. Also included are "Pretty Face (Born Too Late)" and "Like a Broken Shoe" from the band's 1997 demo tape, a live recording of "Party In Berlin" from New Year's Eve 1998, and some demos from Adam's bands Heavy Metal Kitchen and Treasure Island. At 23 tracks in one hour, this is a massive collection for longtime fans or anyone interested in the music Adam made prior to The New Brutarians. 

I was hardly the only reviewer giving The Beatings their flowers in the early 2000s. Some noteworthy lines of praise included "If Duran Duran wanted to be Motörhead and not Roxy Music", "The Bay City Rollers meets the Dwarves", "Better than a boot to the ear hole" and "The NY Dolls on Crack!" The magic of The Beatings was that there wasn't really another band out there quite like them. They were playing sleazy, glammy '70s-style punk with an unlikely mix of bubblegum, new wave, and hard rock influences. It had been a long time since I had listened to The Beatings, so the release of 1997-2007 has been an occasion for me to revisit these songs and decide if my younger self had any idea what he was talking about. By the time I got through "Kiss on the Cheek" and "Ghetto Blaster," I was able to assert that, at least in the case of The Beatings, I wasn't totally full of shit back then! These tracks really hold up — as do "Rollercoaster Girl," "The Ballad Of Jimmy & Jenny," and "Medicine." I don't recall ever owning or hearing the Solid Gold 7", but "New Wave Love" is a stone cold ripper. 

The beauty of the digital music revolution is that old records don't have to be lost to the dustbin of history. And we don't have to play the "You had to be there!" game. Even if you had never heard of The Beatings before, if you like trashy punk rock with a heavy glam influence, it's likely you'll be really into this compilation. I know there's so much music out there to listen to, but I truly believe that there's a significant audience for this album in 2026. It will warm my heart if a few of my influential friends play some of these tracks on their radio shows or if a couple of you end up discovering The Beatings for the first time and genuinely liking what you hear. I remember getting into punk in the '90s and thinking that all those old punk records from 20 years prior were ancient. Now we are three decades removed from the new bands I was into then! Will there be a '90s punk revival? Let's make it happen while there's still time!

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Wednesday, March 04, 2026

Loose Lips - Live at the Cactus Room

How good do you have to be to pull off releasing virtually the same set of songs six months apart and have your fans ecstatic about it? Well Loose Lips have done it! Live at the Cactus Room was recorded this past October in Melbourne, and it captures Loose Lips fully in their element. Outside of a couple songs that were on the band's first 7", the entire set is from the band's debut album Last Laugh. The recording debuted on Todd Ophonic's WFMU show, and now it's available as a digital album from Bandcamp. I'm usually not a fan of live albums, but this particular one is an exception for me. It's a good-sounding recording (credit must go to Dave Forcier for a stellar mixing job). And hearing these songs in a slightly different form reminds me how great of an album Last Laugh is. I'm not going to give you some hot take about how this "side project" band is better than Josh's and Nadine's main bands. But if you gave me that take, I wouldn't fight you. This recording demonstrates how Loose Lips sound rawer and looser than the typical power pop band but still fill their '60s girl group and '70s glam inspired sound with killer hooks. Is a live digital album from this band worth ten Australian dollars? If you're a huge fan, you bet it is! Could you perhaps expect more new tunes from Loose Lips sometime this year? If you check out Jay's interview with the band over at Shock Treatment, you just might find an answer!

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Saturday, February 14, 2026

Michael Des Barres - "Kiss or Kill Me"


How about an absolute scorcher of a new single from the legendary Michael Des Barres? Out on Rum Bar Records, "Kiss or Kill Me" finds the 26th Marquis Des Barres obliterating the notion that we ever become too old to rock. Co-written with guitarist Loren Molinare (The Dogs, Slamdinistas) and co-produced by Richard Duguay (Personality Crisis), this song is a shot of pure glam/punk/rock 'n' roll energy delivering a truly provocative proposition. Its release on the eve of Valentine's Day was no coincidence. "Really the song is an anthem of love," Des Barres notes. "Love me or leave me. You either bring love to life, or you're not living." And man oh man, this song sure does bring love to life. Joined by Paul Ill on bass and Rob Klonel on drums, Des Barres and Molinare kick up a swaggering, hard-rocking racket with a hook that cannot be denied. It's one thing to hear bands pay homage to the heyday of glam rock and proto-punk. But to hear guys who were there when it was originally happening still sound this enthused and inspired in 2026 is quite the thrill. If you aren't already aware of how massive Silverhead ought to have been, go track down its two LPs. But buy this first! While most people may now think of Des Barres as an actor and radio personality, he has never stopped writing and releasing music. And with "Kiss or Kill Me," he has a massive indie radio hit on his hands. The B-side of this single, "I Was Saved In '64," is something quite extraordinary. It's a spoken word number in which Des Barres tells his rock 'n' roll origin story while Molinare and Duguay accompany him on guitar. It's an exhilarating piece of poetry, and of course no one is better suited than Des Barres to turn a spoken word track into a captivating performance.  

"Kiss or Kill Me" is available on vinyl (in three color options) and compact disc from Rum Bar Records. With only 100 copies pressed in each color, you know the vinyl (shipping next month) is going to go fast. Mozy on up to the bar and order yourself a proper jolt of rock 'n' roll!

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Sunday, January 11, 2026

The New Brutarians - "Tonight's Your Night (Tonight)"


The New Brutarians are back with another stone cold banger of a single! Last year's summer of singles was just the beginning! Adam T. and Robbie Rist are in full glam fury on this glitzy rocker that practically explodes out of your speakers. I'm talking scorching guitars, smashing drums, a whiff of whiskey and hairspray, and enough attitude in the vocals to raise Stiv Bators from the dead. If you dig Hanoi Rocks, the New York Dolls, early KISS, and Adam's old band The Beatings, then The New Brutarians are speaking your language! Vinyl release coming from Sioux Records later this year!

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Friday, August 01, 2025

The Peppermint Kicks - Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum


The Peppermint Kicks have titled their second album Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum, so of course you can expect a doom metal masterpiece. Just kidding. The sensational super-duo of Dan Kopko (Watts, The Shang Hi Los) and Sal Baglio (Amplifier Heads, The Stompers) is back with ten more tracks of '70s-inspired glam rock and pop that fittingly arrive with several weeks of summer still in front of us. As terrific as the band's 2021 self-titled debut album was, Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum (out today on Rum Bar Records) is at a whole other level. We can debate all day whether it's better to be a singles band or an album band, but The Peppermint Kicks have aspired to make the whole question moot. Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum is essentially a whole album of singles. The duo's sound and identity remain heavily influenced by the pre-punk '70s — think glam rock, bubblegum, early power pop, and big hooky arena rock. One listen to this album will have you fondly recalling a time when you lived for listening to the radio and spending your allowance on LPs at the record store. But the chemistry and shared musical vision between these two fantastic songwriters feel considerably more developed this time out. You can hear elements of their other bands at times, but you can also hear them combining their talents to create something that's uniquely The Peppermint Kicks. 

The best thing about being an indie band making a classic rock record in the 2020s is that you don't have to worry about record label interference, commercial pressures, or unsympathetic producers getting in your way. I am reasonably sure that Malibu Lou didn't lock these guys in a closet and threaten to not let them out until they had written another "When Rock & Roll Met Your Dad." Kopko and Baglio were free to just make the album they wanted to make. And just as the title suggests, this is a great pop record that really rocks. But by no means is it a copy of its predecessor. "Radio Wam Bam Boom" and "Too Sweet (Oh Yeah!)" kick off the album with a 1-2 punch of vintage glam rock pop action. But any fears of every song on the record sounding the same are quickly assuaged. "Number One Record" and "Out Of The Trashcan Into Your Heart" are truly perfect pop songs. "Little Doll (Picolla Pupa)" is a garage-rocking throwback to prime '60s British pop. "Shangri La" is laidback and dreamy — a calming moment in the shade that gives way to the dizzying, Cheap Trick meets The Strokes rush of "Lollipop Girl". "Gigantor," with its classic Bowie vibes, is nicely paired with the upbeat punky power pop of "Speed Racer." "We Did It All For Rock & Roll" is the big arena rock anthem that brings it all to a rousing conclusion. 

It goes without saying that Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum is a perfect record for the summertime. But like any great pop-rock album, it's truly for all seasons. There was never going to be much mystery about what a band called The Peppermint Kicks would sound like. But on this second album, Kopko and Baglio (joined by drummers Kevin Rapillo, Chris Anzalone, and Napoleon Hashimoto) bring a sound that's bigger, hookier, and even more satisfying. Who can't relate to songs about the radio, French girls, British girls, Italian pop stars, Japanese cartoons, and rock 'n' roll itself? And with Danny The K himself mixing and mastering the record, there was no chance that the musical vision would be compromised in the studio. The album sounds both classic and contemporary, and that's absolutely a hallmark of a Kopko production. I can still remember the first time Lou told me that these two guys we working on a record together and thinking, "Holy shit!" Well The Peppermint Kicks have turned out to be everything I hoped they would be and then some. I spent most of this week driving around in 95 degree weather in my non air-conditioned car listening to Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum trying to decide which songs were the "hits." I had no success, but rarely in my life have I enjoyed failing at something that much. This is indeed a whole album of hits!

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Friday, July 25, 2025

The New Brutarians - "(Better Than The) Apocalypse"


Back with the latest installment in their summer of hits, The New Brutarians are in full-on power ballad mode on "(Better Than The) Apocalypse." On this single, Adam T. is putting his love for The Dogs D'Amour on full display, and who's gonna complain about that? The track features the current New Bruts lineup (Adam T., Alan from The Juvenile Wrecks, Robbie Rist, Famous George, and Billy Summer), and it will get your glam rock juices flowing in a major way. Hot on the tails of the New Bruts having their Use Your Illusion moment on "Delinquent Things," "(Better Than The) Apocalypse" slows down the pace and highlights Adam's knack for gutsy, heart-on-sleeve poetry. He turns in a great vocal, and the musicianship on this track is truly top-notch. I can easily imagine big-haired teens slow-dancing to this track at the 1988 high school prom, but the sentiment of the song could not be more timely in 2025. In a better world, this tune would be all over the radio. You can always count on The New Brutarians to deliver the goods!

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Friday, June 13, 2025

The Peppermint Kicks - "Radio Wam Bam Boom"


And they're back! The last time The Peppermint Kicks released new music, we were all walking around wearing masks. It's hard to believe it has been four years since Sal Baglio and Dan Kopko unleashed the supersonic, intergalactic glam rock transmission that had hips shaking and toes tapping from here to MoM-z14. As The Peppermint Kicks prepare for the release of their second long player, they've treated us to an advance single just in time for summer. Out on Rum Bar Records, "Radio Wam Bam Boom" is a tribute to the medium that has always meant the most to rock 'n' roll: the almighty radio! Don't we all have memories of growing up when radio was everything — a magical entity which brought us the hottest sounds from all over the globe and compelled us to gleefully descend upon the nearest record store in search of that magic wax that set our souls on fire? And what I love about "Radio Wam Bam Boom" is that it doesn't just celebrate the heyday of rock 'n' roll radio. It also gives kudos to all the D.J.s and radio programs that continue to fill the world with music via the internet, satellite, and left of the dial stations. How could a song called "Radio Wam Bam Boom" NOT be awesome? It's all big guitars and big hooks — a glam-rocking, power-popping, radio smash earworm launching like a rocket from your headphones or speakers. If you can get through even half of this song without frantically bobbing your head and thrusting your fist in the air, you might want to check yourself for a pulse. And check it out: they got the world's #1 radio personality, Palmyra freaking Delran, to appear on the track as the voice of radio! And that's Kevin Rapillo, who has played with Baglio in The Amplifier Heads, absolutely killing it on drums. I was not sure that the first Peppermint Kicks album could ever be topped, but if "Radio Wam Bam Boom" is any indication, it seems these guys have found another gear. In the immortal words of Hesh Rabkin, "Now that's a hit!"

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Saturday, June 07, 2025

New Brutarians - "Delinquent Things"


The New Brutarians' summer of singles continues with the release of "Delinquent Things" — a hip-shaking, balls-out glam rocker. Adam T. sticks to the lead singer role on this recording, and he's joined by Billy Summer on guitar, Famous George on bass, Alan MP from The Juvenile Wrecks on lead guitar, producer Robbie Rist on drums & keys, Ronnie Dee on sax, and Roxx Gang front-man Kevin Steele (making his first public appearance in nearly a decade) on backing vocals. What a lineup that is, and you can definitely feel the party atmosphere on this track. The New Bruts promised us some bigger-sounding rock 'n' roll this summer, and clearly they are delivering. "Delinquent Things" has the DNA of the Stones, Dolls, and Dramarama coursing through its veins, but it also has that distinctive Adam T. quality in the songwriting and vocal delivery. And lyrically, this is brilliant stuff — the kind of song that manages to be memorable & poetic without being the least bit subtle. All in all, this is the perfect summertime rocker for all of you who aspire to stay up all night breaking all the rules. The digital release is live now; vinyl will be coming out on Sioux!

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Friday, April 11, 2025

The New Brutarians - "Born Out of Time"


It has been over two years since The New Brutarians last released new music. But America's favorite pop art glam-protopunk rock 'n' roll band is about to treat us to a summer of hits! After the gonzo lo-fi stylings of the excellent Don't Want To Know Your Secrets EP, Adam, Christina, and friends figured it was time to treat us to some more polished, sub–three-minute pop gems. Our first taste of this is the new single "Born Out of Time," which has been released to coincide with tonight's special event at the Redwood Bar in Los Angeles: an Adam T. art show and glam punk gig extraordinaire featuring The New Brutarians (acoustic), The Juvenile Wrecks, Richard Duguay and The Beautiful Decline, Monodelux, and Bill DeGidio of The Pagans. Produced by Robbie Rist (yes, THE Robbie Rist!), "Born Out of Time" is a perfect little shot of glitzy, melody-driven rock 'n' roll. The lyrics are amazing, and Adam's voice sounds so freaking cool on this track. And those backing vocals are absolute majesty. If glam punk with a power pop heart is your thing, this song will be right up your alley. "Born Out of Time" has left me wanting more, and thankfully more is very soon to come!

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Sunday, March 30, 2025

The States - Gimme Joy


Let's add another one to the growing stack of rave reviews of The States' debut release! At seven tracks, the appropriately-titled Gimme Joy is either a generously sized EP or a really short album. Whatever you call it, it's sure to leave you wanting more. This Melbourne-based foursome brings a wide array of influences to the table (glam rock, power pop, punk, '60s girl groups, even a little country), but basically what we have here is a good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll band playing timeless and splendidly infectious music. The States are Scarlett Maloney (tuffy) on lead vocals and guitar, Joe Imfeld (The Prize) on lead guitar, Paddy Leahy on bass, and Georgie Harkin on drums. They aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, and why would you want them to when they can turn out songs this good and play them with this much gusto? There's not a bad song in this bunch. In fact, you could land anywhere on this record and find yourself assured that rock 'n' roll is as alive and well as it has ever been. This is the kind of music you wish they still played on the radio! The States, who deliver the perfect mix of irresistible hooks and bad-ass attitude, will remind you of some of your old favorites (Suzi Quatro, Runaways, T.Rex, New York Dolls) without ever coming off like copyists. Gimme Joy is a great debut that creates sky-high expectations for a follow-up. Something tells me The States are not bound to disappoint.

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Friday, October 11, 2024

The Cheap Cassettes - They'll Never Forgive You For Pop


They'll Never Forgive You For Pop is a pretty funny name for an album that's far less pop than anybody would have ever expected. The Cheap Cassettes, who released a textbook rockin' power pop album in 2022's Ever Since Ever Since, have gone in a somewhat different direction on their brilliant third LP, a Rum Bar Records/Cassettes On Record Records joint release. While They'll Never Forgive You For Pop still fits the big tent definition of power pop I like to subscribe to, it doesn't tie itself to any single genre — unless "psychedelic garage-glam-alternative pop" counts as a single genre. The Cheap Cassettes have basically made their own (The Damned) The Black Album, and I am all about that! 

Much of the difference between this album and the last one for The Cheap Cassettes is the addition of Seattle music legend Scott Sutherland (Chemistry Set, The Model Rockets, Llama) to the band. Sutherland joins Charles Matthews on guitar and lead vocals, and he contributes five of the album's 11 songs. I'm having a hard time thinking of a precedent for a situation like this — where a great band that had existed for a decade-plus with one vocalist/songwriter brought in a second vocalist/songwriter and became even greater as a result! Not only is Sutherland a fantastic songwriter, but he also infuses an oddball 1980s/early '90s left of the dial flavor into The Cheap Cassettes' rootsy pop rock 'n' roll sound. As songwriters, Matthews and Sutherland have styles that are contrasting yet complementary. And that, my friends, is the secret sauce. Not surprisingly, the level of songwriting on They'll Never Forgive You For Pop is top tier. 

I've been touting Charles Matthews as a great songwriter for more than a quarter century, and this is the best set of songs I've ever heard him bring to a record. On opening track "New Gun In Town" and lead single "Bad Xerox," he's still demonstrating that power pop is one of the purest forms of rock 'n' roll. Dude knows how to write a catchy tune with killer lyrics! In some far cooler alternate universe, these songs are all over the radio. If the rocker "Creeping Thyme" were any catchier, it would be the subject of conspiracy theories. And a la Paul Westerberg, Matthews turns out deeper cuts which are just as good if not better than the obvious hits. "Don't You Want To Know" brings to mind the later '60s heyday of psychedelic pop yet still sounds like vintage Charles Matthews. The melodious, heartfelt ballad "Hung The Moon" just might be the best song Matthews has ever written. "Fade To Nothin'" is a tearjerker love song which epitomizes pop music with soul. 

Sutherland, in his Cheap Cassettes debut, delivers some remarkable material in his own right. "Everyone But You" is perfect guitar pop with a quirky touch. "If You Know, You Know" is haunting cosmic glam with hints of '60s psych-pop. "The Strangest Friends" is sure to be stuck in your head for the rest of the month if not the year. And then there's "Down to Mexico," which in my book is the centerpiece of the album. Sutherland wrote the song with his friend Jim Honeycutt when they 13 years old. It's unlike anything else on the album or anything else The Cheap Cassettes have ever done. Hearing it for the first time, you might find yourself asking out loud, "What band is this?" Yet it's a brilliant six-and-a-half-minute epic of a rock song — a genius mix of garage, punk, heavy rock, and indie skronk that succeeds on the strength of inspired vocal and musical performances. Every time I listen to the album, I get a little giddy when it's time for this track. It took balls to stick a song like this in the middle of the album, and these guys 100% pulled it off! 

I have conflicting feelings about "power pop" as a musical label. I can use it as a general way to describe a lot of the music I like. But I would never use the term to limit what kinds of songs I would want a band to write. The Cheap Cassettes are still all about big hooks and big guitars, but I kind of love that they've gone out and made a record that could very well alienate a lot of the power pop purists and gatekeepers. Coming off a sophomore album which was essentially produced in pandemic isolation, these guys had to be stoked to get together in the studio and just have fun making a rock 'n' roll record. They'll Never Forgive You For Pop captures a confident band firing on all cylinders and basking in the thrill of trying new things. I remember Matthews telling me he thought this record might garner The Cheap Cassettes their first bad review from me. But perhaps the opposite is true: this is such a superb record that now I'm thinking their previous two pale in comparison! And it's not just the songwriting. The band sounds amazing, and Kurt Bloch's production is perfect. There are some obvious "hits" on this release, but it's the deep cuts that elevate it to something special. There's not a single track out of 11 that isn't essential to the album as a whole. 

Damn it, guys! There I was coasting along for months, thinking my 2024 album of the year pick was going to be an easy decision. Now there will have to be much pondering and reflecting and sleeplessness between now and year's end. I will likely have to break out the charts & graphs and consult my life coach, astrologist, and shrink. The Cheap Cassettes have made a freakin' masterpiece. In the words of Malibu Lou: "Holy crap sticks, Chaz man!"

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Wednesday, October 09, 2024

Teenage Frames - Everything Has Led To This


Back with their first full-length release in 25 years, the mighty Teenage Frames have turned out what is surely the record of their lives. That's hardly a surprise given the tremendous quality of the band's (relatively) recent output. When Frankie Delmane and Eric Vegas get together to write songs, greatness inevitably ensues. The title of the album says it all: Everything Has Led To This. Here we have one of the greatest bands of the modern power pop/rock 'n' roll universe doing anything but slowing down after three decades. These guys don't rest on their laurels; they build on their legacy. They describe Everything Has Led To This as their take on "the trials and travails of life in 2024 and beyond, " and thus the album feels very current and relevant. I get the sense that they basically decided that if they were going to go to the trouble of making an album in 2024, they might as well make the one album of 2024 they'd most like to listen to. In a day and age when bands rarely aspire to write the next generation of classic rock 'n' roll songs, this 14-track long player satisfies like few albums do. 

Everything Has Led To This features the same Teenage Frames lineup that has been a fixture for two decades: Delmane on vocals, Vegas on guitar, Aaron Money on bass, and Jim Holiday on drums. There's clearly a special chemistry that exists between these four guys, and they've all only gotten better at their craft over time. But an older, wiser Teenage Frames is in no way a softened Teenage Frames. On this release, the band rocks with as much swagger and piss & vinegar as it ever has. The band sounds tight and powerful, and Delmane's pipes and wit are in peak form. Never ones to restrict themselves to just a single lane, these four stir up their own unique mix of power pop, '70s punk, glam rock, new wave, and sleazy street rock 'n' roll (among other things). Having grown accustomed to releasing EPs that were literally nothing but hits, the band has applied that same principle to a full album. Many a band would aspire to be able to put out a greatest hits compilation that's as stacked as this album. 

From the '70s-style boogie rockin' power pop of "Brain Fever" all the way to the down & dirty rock action of "Agree to Disagree," Everything Has Led To This is a glitzy parade of bangers. There's something on this record for everyone: pure punk, perfect pop, big hooky rock, and even a Fats Domino cover. The likes of "I Wish I Didn't Know That About You," "Fake Crime," "Fighting Words," "Please Don't Be Stupid Tonight," "Back to the Beat," and "Disappointment" are up there with the best songs in the Teenage Frames catalog.  I suppose they could have spread all this goodness out over 4 or 5 EPs and kept us entertained through 2026, but I must say these songs feel right as a single album. If you're looking for music that will make wanna shake your ass and sing along — all the while having plenty to say about the world — this is the record you need. I know it's an almost unforgivable cliché for a music writer to speak of a musical recording disproving the notion that rock 'n' roll is dead. But damn it, how can I not say that about this album?  In a couple days, I will revisit this trend of middle-aged bands being the all-time best versions of themselves. I find that very inspiring on a personal level. 53 is the new 29!

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Sunday, July 28, 2024

Dangereens - Chic


After 25 years, Alien Snatch Records is going stronger than ever and continuing to show why it's one of the most important independent labels in the rock 'n' roll universe. I might even argue that the last few years of Alien Snatch have been its very best. Montreal's Dangereens have been a huge part of that. Their new album, Chic, arrives four years after their debut, Tough Luck. I was blown away by Tough Luck. It didn't really sound like anything else on Alien Snatch or anything else in modern music, for that matter. But from my very first listen, I knew it was something special. Chic follows it up in an impressive manner. It sounds like the best '70s rock 'n' roll record that never was — absorbing country, R &B, and  early rock 'n' roll influences into a warm-sounding mix of '70s glam, arena rock, and AM radio pop that somehow sounds current in 2024. On the album's press release, Daniel suggests that Dangereens are to rock 'n' roll what The Exbats are to pop, and that's really on the money. Somehow this band has developed a sound that's both classic and totally original, and its songwriting talents are absolutely extraordinary. Over the course of 13 tracks, Chic delivers a non-stop succession of radio-ready hooks, mighty guitar heroics, and irresistible rhythms. It's hard to put a finger on what separates great rock 'n' roll from not-so-great rock 'n' roll. But whatever "it" is, Dangereens have got it in abundance. Chic reminds us that we're still living in an era of great rock 'n' roll bands and great rock 'n' roll records. There are a lot of factors that have made Alien Snatch Records such an enduring institution of the garage/punk/rock 'n' roll underground, but Daniel's ear for exceptional music remains the stuff of legend. If Dangereens aren't one of your favorite bands, you probably haven't heard them yet.

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Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin - Now With More Rockets


If the name Rob Moss is familiar to you, you likely remember him as a member of D.C. hardcore bands Government Issue and Artificial Peace. Moss stopped playing music in the early '80s and never expected to start up again. For over 35 years, he did not record a single note of music. But a few years back, the inspiration returned. Under the name Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, he released the album We've Come Back to Rock 'n' Roll (How's that for a mission statement?) in 2020. Now he's back with his second full-length release, Now With More Rockets. If you're expecting this release to sound like hardcore, you will likely be disappointed. But if you're into proto punk glam rock and roll, this is 100% an album for you. Moss set out to emulate (but not reproduce exactly) the music that made him want to form a band in the first place. He has crafted a love letter to the sounds of his youth, and I am here for it. Broadly, Now With More Rockets revels in the influence of Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Brownsville Station, The Slickee Boys, the Dead Boys, Lou Reed, Sweet, Slade, Mott the Hoople, and many others. I'm hearing some Stooges, New York Dolls, and Johnny Thunders as well. That sure sounds like something I'd be into, right? Of course! 

Backing Moss on Now With More Rockets are Dwight Reid on bass, Danny Frankel (Urban Verbs, Lou Reed, John Cale) on drums, and a star-studded cast of guest players. Each of the album's 11 tracks features a different lead guitar player. The lead guitarists include Gil Leigh (of the U.S. High Llamas), Wes Tabayoyong (Savage Beliefs), Ken Moss (Acrylix, Seven Door Sedan), Abaad Behram (Johnny Bombay and the Reactions, Razz), Scrote (aka Angelo Bundini, coordinator of Celebrating David Bowie), Bob Balch (Fu Manchu), Joey Cola (Sorrows), Greg Strzempka (Raging Slab), Razzle Markel (Not Dead Yet), the mighty Sal Baglio (The Stompers, Amplifier Heads), and Glenn Kowalski (White Boy, Seven Door Sedan). Other special guest stars include Doug Wieselman (John Lurie and the Lounge Lizards, Laurie Anderson) on saxophone, Martha Hull (The Slickee Boys, Martha Hull and the Steady Jobs) on vocals, and Kim Reynolds on piano. That's an awful lot of star power, and credit must go to Moss for pulling all this talent together in a fully cohesive way. Of course you're going to love the solos if you dig rock and roll lead guitar. But in every single case, the lead guitar supports the song rather than upstaging it. As a singer, Moss has a unique, raspy style that has really come to grow on me after several spins. I suppose the technical term here is that his voice has "character." Whether he's reminiscing about the cool rockers walking around Ralphs grocery store, opining on the way the government and media did Richard Jewell dirty, celebrating the legacy of Chuck Berry, or lamenting the way New York City has changed over the last few decades, I'm absolutely buying what he's selling. Favorite tracks for me are the goth-tinged rocker "A Rocket Ship To You," the "House of the Rising Sun" homage "Red Beans and Gasoline," the '77 punk throwback "Rock 'n' Roll Ralphs," the Willie Alexander & The Boom Boom Band inspired "Two Slices of Bread," and the glam-tastic closer "I'm On a Rocket Ship (Heading My Way Back Home)." True to the title of the album, the two tracks with the word "rocket" in the title are marvelous bookends. Who wouldn't want more rockets?

I would recommend Now With More Rockets to anyone with a soft spot for proto punk, glam rock, and early New York punk rock. If you were a '70s kid, you'll be feeling these songs. But aside from that, Rob Moss proves himself to be a fine songwriter with a real flair for storytelling, clever lyrics, and quality hooks. Perhaps most importantly, this album straight-up rocks. It's available from Bandcamp in digital and compact disc formats for just $10.

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Friday, September 02, 2022

The Sorels - Love Your Rock N' Roll

 


Surely it would have been premature of me to have rated The Sorels as one of the best bands in the world when they had only released four songs. But that changes on this glorious day on which The Sorels double their recorded output with the release of their third 7" Love Your Rock N' Roll. The math teacher in me has spoken: eight is enough! The Sorels can no longer be denied their rightful place in the top tier of present-day rock and roll bands. If you're not yet hip to Canada's tiniest and toughest girl gang, you are depriving yourself of hours of joy and excitement. 

Another fab co-release between the world-renowned labels Reta Records and Surfin' Ki Records, Love Your Rock N' Roll delivers four tracks of glam-punk rock and roll goodness that will have you clapping your hands, stomping your feet, dancing in delight, singing along at the top of your lungs, and getting frisky with your significant other. While it didn't debut until the middle of August, the title track is 2022's song of the summer, hands down. You simply won't hear music more exuberant, catchy, and rocking than this. As you and your friends seek to fill the remaining weeks of summer with as much adventure and good times as humanly possible, "Love Your Rock N' Roll" ought to be your soundtrack. If The Shangri-Las had been reborn as a glam rock act in 1973, they might have produced a song this good! But this EP is no one-song wonder. The absolutely wonderful "The Jerk" finds The Sorels digging deep into their '60s girl group influences. "Make Me Party" is the kind of song that makes The Sorels special: it takes elements of glam rock, soul music, and straight-up rock and roll and creates something new and unique. The lead vocal on this track is one of the best I've heard in a long time (Jo Jo has powerful pipes and the charisma to match). And you've got to love that sax! Love Your Rock N' Roll closes with a powerhouse version of The Hello's 1973 single "Another School Day" that fits perfectly with the rest of the EP. 

The Sorels have followed two dynamite singles with by far their best release to date. I would challenge anyone to listen to Love Your Rock N' Roll and say with a a straight face that rock and roll is dead. Jo Jo, Jill, and Jennifer absolutely smashed it with this release. This EP has got everything you could want from a rock and roll record: amazing songs, incredible vocals, perfect backups & harmonies, smoking guitars, arena-sized drums, and a bad-ass attitude and unstoppable life force that come pouring out of every note. How can you listen to music like this and not feel happy to be alive? This release is limited to just 300 copies on bubblegum blast, red, and black vinyl. And as they say in the ads, supplies are running out! Hit up Reta Records on Bandcamp and the Surfin' Ki web store to get your orders in!

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