MariPili - self-titled

Out now on Jarama 45RPM Recs. is the excellent debut release from Spanish foursome MariPili. The band's lineup features members of Klaus & Kinski, Hollywood Sinners, Autócratas, Laplank, and Quicklime. If you like high-energy, high-spirited pop-punk with lyrics in Spanish, this EP will be very much up your alley. Even though I have no idea what they're singing about, I dig the vibe of these songs. This is straight-forward pop-punk that's catchy as heck and really fun to listen to. These tunes had me instantly tapping my toes, and it didn't take long for those hooks to sink their way into my skull. The vinyl is limited, so grab a copy while you can. Let's hear it for music that makes you smile! 

-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/maripili
https://maripili.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/somosmaripili/
https://www.instagram.com/jarama_45rpm_recs/
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/

Hakan - EP #2

What Hakan has done over the past decade is quite extraordinary. Without ever significantly altering its musical style or approach to songwriting, this Bergamo, Italy–based trio has delivered four equally great full-length albums. At no point have I tired of the band's hard-driving yet totally poppy punk rock sound. If almost any other band were this repetitive stylistically, the returns would inevitably diminish. But Hakan leaves me wanting more every time. In my book, this is one of the best punk rock bands of modern times. Perhaps Hakan has questioned exactly how long it can keep pulling off this trick, for its new EP does mix things up a little (in a way that will still please longtime fans). Out now on Jarama 45RPM Recs, EP #2 is a work of remarkable efficiency. It packs six songs onto one 7" record, with no track running longer than a minute and a half. Songs like "The Only One" and "Give It a Try" (which brings to mind labelmates Neon Bone) find Hakan going all-in on pop-punk. "Dead and Gone" sounds like the best song the Buzzcocks never wrote. "Another Man" has me hearing Weezer, and I'm not mad about it. "Rocco Baroque" is anthemic old school punk that will have you jumping around and shouting along. And if you're still seeking some classic Hakan, "Living in America" will not disappoint. Six songs on one 7" is a swell deal, and all these tunes are first rate. This EP makes me really excited for Hakan's forthcoming fifth LP. Clearly the band has found a way to expand its core sound while still continuing to marry punk and pop in a most satisfying way. Vinyl for EP #2 is limited to 300 copies, so hop to it if you want in on the action!

-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/ep-2
https://hakanbeibi.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1sILWPB9pqb5rUQKxEYq1B
https://www.facebook.com/wearethehakan/
https://www.instagram.com/jarama_45rpm_recs/
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs

Outtacontroller - Just A Scratch

Back with its second 7" on the always great Jarama 45RPM Recs., Outtacontroller continues to set the bar for what poppy garage punk ought to be. Surprisingly, this is Outtacontroller's first all-new physical release in over three years. The band's digital album Come Alive was one of last year's most under-the-radar stellar releases in the punk world, and a couple of singles this year have hinted at more goodness to come. It's weird to talk about an Outtacontroller record being really good considering that all the band's releases are killer. But Just A Scratch is an especially strong showing from Halifax, Nova Scotia's finest. As always, Terry and James deliver immensely catchy tunes that bridge the gaps between garage punk, power pop, and old school punk rock. No band does it better, and these four songs really hit the mark. The earworm title track is the most "pop" of these tunes, while the scorching "I Wanna Be Bored" is the punkiest. "Less Is More" and "Hanging Over You" (which you'll recall from Come Alive) split the difference in vintage Outtacontroller fashion. This band is just pure class — when it releases new music, it's a no-brainer purchase. Only 300 copies of Just A Scratch were pressed, and less than 40 remain in stock. You know what to do!

-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/just-a-scratch
https://outtacontroller.bandcamp.com/album/just-a-scratch
https://open.spotify.com/album/0P3whtkSU4FPClqeqStrIi
https://www.instagram.com/outtacontroller/
https://www.facebook.com/outtacontrollr/
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/
https://www.instagram.com/jarama_45rpm_recs/

Randells - "Seven Inch"

My final record review of 2022 features both a band and a record label that will be well-known to readers of this blog. Madrid-based Jarama 45RPM Recs. has been releasing stellar 45s since 2016 with a roster that has featured some of the leading bands of the punk/power pop world. Its newest release fits right in: it's a single from Swedish sensations Randells, who've been playing a top-notch brand of Ramones inspired bubblegum punk for several years now. "Seven Inch" is the band's second seven inch release, and of course it's a tribute to everyone's favorite singles format (with a touch of sexual innuendo). In vintage Randells form, the song marries perfect pop to buzz-saw punk as it celebrates the time-honored tradition of dropping the needle on a 45 RPM record. Of course Jarama 45RPM Recs. had to be the label to put this record out! Vinyl is limited to only 300 copies with only 53 remaining at the time of this review. Randells are one of the best bands going in the pop-punk world. If you've enjoyed their previous output, you will not want to miss this single. Seven inch is just enough!

-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/seven-inch

https://randellstheband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs
https://www.facebook.com/randellstheband

Van Dammes - Finally There

Three years ago, I reviewed Van Dammes' wonderful EP Risky Business. I was immediately drawn to the Helsinki foursome's catchy, energetic, and super fun brand of garage punk. Last year, Van Dammes released a digital EP titled Finally There in tribute to Finland's national football team qualifying for its first-ever major championship (Euro 2020). This was a huge deal to the entire nation of Finland -- which had literally waited over 100 years for this moment. Clearly this event merited a proper celebration! And now Finally There is finally out on vinyl! It's the newest release from Madrid's ever-reliable Jarama 45RPM Recs. This label always knows good music, and Van Dammes make a perfect addition to the roster. Given that punk rock and sports are two of my favorite things ever, I am always delighted to come across a marriage of the two. In typical Van Dammes fashion, these songs bring the energy along with ample opportunities to sing along. While the anthemic title track specifically celebrates the achievement of Finland's national team, the lyrics have a universal sentiment. This is the sound of a nation rejoicing! Equally rousing is "(It's Time For) Rivelution," a song dedicated to Markku "Rive" Kanerva, manager of the Finnish national team. If I were Rive, I would be so pleased with this song! One final sing-along number, "Test the Best," rounds out this celebration in style. Even if you're not Finnish or have no interest in football, you'll have a hard time resisting these blistering garage-punk anthems from one of the coolest bands in Europe. Jarama 45RPM Recs. does it again!

-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/
https://vandammes.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs
https://www.instagram.com/jarama_45rpm_recs/
https://www.facebook.com/vandammesmusic

Neon Bone - I Wanted You To Know

Madrid's Jarama 45RPM Recs. continues to crank out the hits! Since 2016, there are certain things you can count on from Jarama 45RPM. You know you're always getting a 7" record spinning at 45 RPM, and you know you're always getting a top band from the punk/garage/power pop universe. The label's latest release is a perfect example of that. Germany's Neon Bone is one of the best (if not THE best) pop-punk bands going these days. Fresh off of last year's fantastic album Make It Last, Neon Bone returns with an equally good EP. I Wanted You To Know features four tracks of first-rate poppy punk in the band's usual style. With its buzz saw guitars and melodies redolent of '50s/'60s rock and roll, the title track represents everything I love about this band! It comes in just one tick over two minutes, and of course it's a love song! "Put It On A Rest" and "Why Did You Go Away" are in a similar vein -- hitting that just-right mix of punk and pop. The EP concludes with "Island of Dreams", a punked-up cover of a 1962 hit by the folk-pop trio The Springfields. While this is obviously a very different version of a classic song, it really illustrates how Gumbo's songwriting is influenced by the timelessly melodic music of many decades past. If you love pop-punk, you are already aware that Neon Bone is as good as it gets these days. And I Wanted You To Know does not disappoint. Vinyl is almost sold out, so hop to it while supplies last!

-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/i-wanted-you-to-know
https://neonbone.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/neonbone/
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/

Pavid Vermin - The Beach Boys Never Surfed!

The latest release from the ever-dependable Jarama 45rpm Recs. also happens to be the latest release from the equally dependable Pavid Vermin. Now there's a dream team! After four albums in less than two years, Pavid Vermin has established itself as one of the best pop-punk bands going. And by "band", I really just mean Glenn Robinson making records by himself in his basement. If this year in music has proven anything, it's that homemade recordings don't necessarily have to sound like homemade recordings. After much trial and error, Robinson/Pavid Vermin has really nailed down how to make home-recorded pop-punk music sound like a million bucks. The Beach Boys Never Surfed! features four tracks which are (to the best of my knowledge) exclusive to this 7". Of course the title track is the "hit" here. It might not be common knowledge that the Beach Boys (or least most of them) were not surfers. If hearing this news has you feeling bitterly disillusioned and questioning everything you ever thought you believed, then you will relate to this song well. And even if you're fully okay with some of our greatest American icons being total fakes, you can still appreciate what a kick-ass pop-punk tune this is. Along similar lines, "Take Me To Your Leader" is about being so disenchanted with the world that you're literally looking for a new planet to live on. Talk about an anthem for 2020! The aforementioned tracks are a little more on the pop side of the equation, and balanced nicely here by the faster-paced & punkier "Electric Blue Carpet" and "Give It A Rest". As always, Pavid Vermin is a great band to listen to if you wish more pop-punk bands were a little less into Screeching Weasel and a little more into The Descendents. Vinyl should be out at the end of the month. If you like what you hear, be sure to check out more from this band and record label on Bandcamp! 

-L.R.

https://pavidvermin.bandcamp.com/album/the-beach-boys-never-surfed

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/the-beach-boys-never-surfed

https://www.facebook.com/pavidvermin/

https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/

The Exbats - "I'm A Witch"

For the past four years, Madrid's Jarama 45RPM Recs. has made a name for itself as one of the most dependable labels on the planet. Bernardo only releases 7" records, and he sure knows how to pick the hits! His latest release features Arizona trio The Exbats, who have been standouts on the Burger Records roster since 2016. If you live outside the U.S.A., Exbats releases might be hard to come by. That changes with the arrival of "I'm A Witch" - the band's first European release. For this project, Jarama 45RPM selected a couple of essential tracks from The Exbats' 2018 cassette I Got The Hots For Charlie Watts along with a brand new song called "Doorman". If you're already a fan, "Doorman" alone makes this a worthy purchase. If this is your first exposure to The Exbats, these songs will have you wanting to hear everything the band has ever released! This is a band that perfectly fits the general vibe of Jarama 45RPM - playing fun three-chord punk rock inspired by the songwriting structures of '60s pop and bubblegum. Drummer/vocalist Inez McLain has the attitude, charisma, and genuine personality that puts her in the top class of punk singers. She's been honing The Exbats sound for several years with her dad, guitarist Ken McLain. A-side cut "I'm A Witch" leans to the jangling and (appropriately) spooky side of '60s garage rock, with bad-ass lyrics about hexing some dude who surely deserved it. "2027" is both a righteous party punk anthem and an insightful political statement. "Doorman" is one minute and twelve seconds of pissed-off punk goodness: an exuberant sing-along that surely gets a rousing response at live shows (although maybe not from the doorman!). This release is limited to 300 copies from Jarama 45RPM, and it's available from the label's Bandcamp. Look for a new Exbats album next year!



-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/im-a-witch 
https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats 
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/ 

Autogramm - "Bad Day"

Here we have a release that combines three of my favorite things in music: Canada, new wave, and Jarama 45RPM Recs! Autogramm is a band comprised of well-known players from the Vancouver music scene. Jiffy Marx (Hard Drugs, Blood Meridian) is on guitar. CC Voltage (Dysnea Boys, Loyalties, Black Halos, Spitfires) is on bass. The Silo (Black Mountain, Lightning Dust, Destroyer) is on drums. And yet Autogramm is completely unlike the aforementioned bands. This trio plays a brand of new wave pop that's most definitely informed by early '80s radio (The Cars, Gary Numan, Devo) but also "modern" enough sounding to not be dismissed as a mere nostalgia trip. With Autogramm drawing equally from synth-pop, power pop, and new wave rock influences, it's no surprise that new single "Bad Day" sounds like a radio hit that time forgot. Of course it reminds me of an era in popular music that I very fondly recall. But even without the synths, this would have been a well-crafted and immensely catchy pop song. Those hooks are legit! And at a deeper level, I really respect that Jiffy's lyrics are intensely personal and explore the very serious topic of depression. By confronting such dark subject matter in such a musically uplifting way, this song has the effect of reaching out to those in need. I always love it when music connects people in truly meaningful ways. On the flip, "Quiero Estar Sedad" is a cover of a well-known classic song that just about everyone reading this surely loves. I was just talking with someone recently about the topic of Ramones covers that are genuinely good, as opposed to just being second rate copies. Well this one definitely falls into the category of genuinely good! When it comes to ways to transform a song, altering the musical style and the language of the lyrics are pretty effective options. This is so fun! What a wonderful single - and another smash from the Jarama 45RPM hit factory! I also recommend checking out Autogramm's excellent album from last year titled What R U Waiting 4?!



-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/bad-day 
https://autogramm.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/autogrammband/ 
https://www.autogramm.band/ 
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/ 

honeychain - "Go Away"

Imagine my thrill when Bernardo from Jarama 45RPM Recs. asked me to give a listen to his latest release and it turned out to be....honeychain! God, I love this band so much! And I love this label so much! Talk about a marriage made in heaven! This is already the 8th single to be released by Jarama 45RPM. And believe it or not, this is honeychain's first-ever 7" record! I am still baffled as to why this LA alt-rock/power pop trio is not totally massive and selling gazillions of records. I can't think of anybody alive who's better than Hillary Burton at writing radio-worthy pop hits about heartbreak and the devastation of love gone bad. honeychain's full-length album Crushed is one of the best power pop albums of recent memory. If you don't own it yet, I highly encourage you to rectify that immediately! Now with "Go Away", the band has delivered another song that would be all over the radio in a better world. Compared to past releases, the sound is a little less slick with a bit more edge to the guitars. It's got a Buzzcocks meets Go-Go's vibe to it, with wonderfully bitter lyrics and a perfect sing-along hook. I love the energy of this song. If you're gonna tell off the one who tore out your heart, you might as well do it with glee! On the flip is the band's cover of Material Issue's "Goin' Through Your Purse". With this being my favorite song by one of my three favorite bands of all-time, I knew there was the great possibility of disappointment. There are only a handful of bands on earth that should have even dared to touch this song. Luckily, honeychain are one of them. They manage to honor the original version while still putting their own touch on it. And Hillary Burton, to me, is a true kindred spirit to the late, great Jim Ellison. Covering this song was a win-win: I think it will cause some Material Issue fans to discover honeychain and some honeychain fans to discover Material Issue.

I was pumped to hear that "Go Away" was coming out, and I sure wasn't let down! This is punky power pop at its finest! The record officially releases tomorrow. Hit up the Jarama 45RPM Bandcamp for ordering information!



-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/go-away 
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/ 
https://www.facebook.com/honeychainmusic/ 
https://honeychain.bandcamp.com/ 

Ditches - "The Taste"

I first reviewed Ditches less than a year ago after the release of their first 7" 1000 Elephants. Now the Stockholm foursome is back with a second 7" - out on the always dependable Spanish imprint Jarama 45RPM Recs. While the previous EP alternated between super fast-paced garage punk and mid-tempo power pop, here "The Taste" and "Tired Eyes" both favor the modern-day powerpop punk model of Radioactivity or later Marked Men. That's hardly a surprise with Jeff Burke on board to mix and master this release. The aforementioned tracks burn fast at barely over a minute each, and they cram a whole lot of melody into those brief running times. What I like about Ditches is that they manage to inject a contemporary Scandinavian punk feel into a sound that people largely associate with 2000s USA. "The Taste" and "Tired Eyes" both have the darkly melodic appeal of bands like Masshysteri, but with more than enough punch to satisfy punk purists. A cover of The Go-Go's' "We Don't Get Along" (exclusive to the vinyl) is almost completely transformed from the original. It's snappy and tuneful, but with an air of melancholy that brings to mind fellow Swedes Rotten Mind. For me, this song is the highlight of the record. I guess you'll need to track down the vinyl!

When I first started this blog, this sort of melodic punk with garage grit was all the rage. Now there are not as many bands making this kind of music, and it's exciting to hear a band like Ditches that pulls it off well. One of the best new punk groups in Europe!



-L.R.

https://ditches.bandcamp.com/album/the-taste 
https://www.facebook.com/ditchesband 
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/ 
https://www.discogs.com/Ditches-The-Taste/master/1516779 

Outtacontroller - No Echo

Quick: name the best present-day band I've never reviewed on this blog. I'm sure you could come up with a few, but prior to today my own pick would have been Outtacontroller. It seems almost ridiculous that a blog like mine wouldn't have already featured Outtacontroller numerous times. This band out of Halifax, Nova Scotia could not be any more up my alley. It does that late '70s buzzsaw powerpop/punk thing I like so well with just enough garage grit to identify it as contemporary. After a couple of albums and a single on P. Trash Records, No Echo arrives as the fourth-ever release on Jarama 45RPM Recs out of Madrid. You know I'm a big fan of that label, and this EP fits right in with all of its previous releases. It's crammed full of poppy punk goodness - with four smokin' cuts spinning, of course, at 45 RPM. From the opening note, I was in toe-tapping, head-bobbing heaven. The "hit", "Cheap Leather Jacket", is a perfect example of how to go way to the pop side of things without having to sacrifice any punch. And any fan of Ramones/Dickies inspired punk pop will go crazy for all four of these tunes. Depending on how you determine the release date, this is either the final great record of 2017 or the first great record of 2018. Either way, I am pumped to kick off the new year with something this killer. If you're not already into Outacontroller, go buy everything they've done! 



-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/ 
https://outtacontroller.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/outtacontrollr/ 

Basketball Shorts - "This Summer"

Earlier this year, I promised that "many" reviews of Jarama 45RPM Recs releases were forthcoming. It seems we are well on our way! The Madrid label's third release also marks its third appearance on this blog. Again Jarama 45RPM stays true to its mission to release strictly hit singles on 7" vinyl. Basketball Shorts' "This Summer" absolutely fits the bill - a true punk rock smash in my book. You may already know Basketball Shorts as Austin, Texas's finest "party punk" band. Call it party punk, pop-punk, pizza punk, slacker rock, or whatever else you desire. The point is that "This Summer" is just a wonderful song. It's probably not what you're expecting from this band. It's less of a party song and more of a "morning after the party" song - what you might be listening to in calm solitude as you nurse your hangover and reflect on how fleeting good times can be. This wistful number tugs at the heartstrings so effectively that it ought to be playing over the closing credits of a bittersweet cinematic love story. The inclusion of "Hot and Ready" (easily one of the greatest pop-punk songs of the present decade) on this EP is a master stroke of track selection given how nicely it complements "This Summer". There are times to be reflective, and then there are times to just crank it to 11 and have some fun! "Home", a perfect middle ground between the two aforementioned tracks, is a song that's exclusive to this release. Being a huge pop-punk fan going all the way back to the early '90s, I'm stoked to still hear bands like Basketball Shorts that remind me why I fell in love with this type of music in the first place. One thing you've gotta say about Bernando from Jarama 45RPM: he sure knows how to spot the hits!



-L.R.

https://basketballshortsatx.bandcamp.com/album/this-summer-ep 
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/ 
https://www.facebook.com/basketballshortsatx/ 
 

Rockatanskys single from Jarama 45RPM Recs!

Last month, I reported for the first time on a great new label out of Madrid called Jarama 45RPM Recs. As the name suggests, this is a label fully dedicated to 45RPM 7" releases from excellent punk bands all over the world. That Sugar & Tiger 45 is a must-own, and so is the blistering three-songer from Halifax, Nova Scotia's Rockatanskys. The label likens Rockatanskys to Canadian national treasures such as Teenage Head, the Modernettes, and Pointed Sticks. Who am I to argue? It's always a pleasure to hear a modern band take that back-to-the-basics Ramones inspired style of punk music and prove that there's plenty of life left in it. "Smash TV" is a certified smash hit - with a fun little sing-along hook that's impossible to resist. It's just so catchy, and the song is over before you know what hit you! It's backed with "Wasted" and "Come Swim With Me"- a couple of thumpers in the vein of the first two Ramones LPs. All in all, this 45 is total fun and a fine example of why the singles format is so well-suited to punk music. If you haven't already liked the Jarama 45RPM Facebook page, I implore you to do so immediately. Look for more music coming soon!



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/
https://rockatanskys.bandcamp.com/releases

New single from Sugar & Tiger!

Welcome to the first of what should be many reviews of releases from Jarama 45RPM Recs! A new label out of Madrid, Jarama 45RPM has a clear and simple mission: "strictly 7" vinyl, strictly 45 rpm records,
and strictly hit singles". The world of punk/garage/power pop, being so well suited to the singles format, needs more labels like this! For my first post on Jarama 45RPM, I turn my attention to a terrific band out of Paris called Sugar & Tiger. Isn't that pretty much the best name ever for a poppy punk rock band?! Florence Vicha (lead vocals) is Sugar, and Didier Wampas (guitar) is Tiger. The sound is just what I like: the best elements of punk and pop mixed together thoroughly and let loose with maximum enthusiasm. True to the label's promise, "(God Save) Linda Ramone" is a stone cold hit. You'd have to be a miserable human to not love this! And the fact that the lyrics are sung in French only make it cooler! On the flip, "La Perruque Rose" is another great track that reminds me quite a bit of early Muffs. I am thrilled to discover this band, and you will be too if you're a fan of The Ramones, Dahlmanns, etc.! I highly recommend heading on over to Facebook and liking the Jarama 45RPM Recs. page. This is a label you're going to want to follow closely!



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/sugarandtiger/
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/