Showing posts with label Pop-Punk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pop-Punk. Show all posts

Friday, November 06, 2026

Vista Blue - "Is It Time for Christmas Yet?"


Vista Blue releasing a song about Christmas creeping exactly at a time of year when many people rage indignantly against Christmas creeping is a true stroke of genius. There is, I'd say, a high degree of probability that you're looking at me reviewing a Christmas single on November 6th and thinking, "Oh, come on!" But the conversation can certainly be had. When is it too soon to put up the Christmas decorations, listen to Christmas music, watch Christmas movies, and indulge in seasonal foods and drinks? Hallmark started its Christmas movie schedule on October 16th. What higher authority could possibly exist? I was standing in front of a six-pack of Victory Brewing Merry Monkey last week and just didn't have the guts to pull the trigger. But then I went back this week and snagged it. So perhaps my personal cut-off is Halloween. I will say this: it's time for Christmas music when you believe it's time for Christmas music. And the stats do show that people are consuming Christmas music earlier in the year than they used to. So if you're ready, Vista Blue has launched its annual Christmas single earlier than expected — which means you have more time to enjoy it (or ignore it). 

Given that Vista Blue has been putting out Christmas songs every year for a decade, you'd think it would eventually get hard to write new ones. But Mike's creativity is an ever-flowing fountain. The concept of "Is It Time for Christmas Yet?" is a little deeper than just poking fun at Christmas creeping. It's a far more innocent perspective. The song is more about being excited about the Christmas season and wondering when it's finally okay to start partaking in festivities. One of the things that makes Mike one of my favorite songwriters is his ability to connect with his inner child. The first time I heard this song, I was thinking about how much I would have loved it when I was a kid who gleefully anticipated all that was merry and bright about the holiday season. You grow up, become a rational adult, and just accept that it's out of bounds to get into the holiday spirit before Thanksgiving because that's how things are "supposed to be." My God, when FDR used a presidential proclamation to move up Thanksgiving by a week and essentially lengthen official Christmas season, the masses kicked and screamed in protest. But I bet that none of the complainers were kids. "Is It Time for Christmas Yet?" is the anthem for any of you who are seeking permission to jump the gun on holiday mode. You've got it! Mike Patton and Scrooge's nephew have got your back!

On the virtual flip side of this single, the punky "Snowman's Curve" is an adorable takeoff on Jan and Dean's "Dead Man's Curve." Again, this is classic holiday fare. Songs about all the fun and merriment you can have in the snow are truly timeless. There's an obvious element of thrill and danger to this track — but again there's that kid-friendly innocence to it that is truly classic.  

For those of you who maintain that it's not time for Christmas yet, you can look forward to some more holiday songs from the Vista Blue Universe turning up later in the season. But if you're already in the spirit, it's time to update your playlist!

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Wednesday, October 28, 2026

J Prozac - Muckspout


So this is just about the coolest thing ever: J Prozac's new 7" record is the soundtrack to a comic book! Muckspout is inspired by the three stories in the 24-page Muckspout Comic Book Anthology — one of which, Blister Meets The Prozacs, is based on Jay's own lyrics. I love multimedia projects, and I believe that all art forms ought to have soundtracks. Even though it's billed as solo J Prozac, this feels more like a Prozacs record. The sound is old-school '90s pop-punk and melodic punk, and familiar names like Glenn Robinson, Angelo Quaglia, and Jed Dion are contributing players. You won't find anyone in the world who's a bigger believer in this kind of music than Jay, and that really comes through in the songs. This is pop-punk delivered with zero apologies and complete joy. It even starts with a Muckspot theme song. If there's anything I like even more than soundtracks, it would be theme songs! There's a song based on Eric Cockrell's story Feral Punk and another (a first class Screeching Weasel homage) based on John MacLeod's The Stardust Projector. "Emo Song" is high-speed, pure burning hatred and a whole lot of fun. For people like me who enjoy the poppier stuff, "Prom Night" is a revamped take on an golden oldie from the Prozacs' catalog. As you can imagine, the artwork is out of this world. Even though this EP was created as a companion to the comic book, you can still enjoy it as a killer pop-punk record from one of the best in the business. It comes in five variants, so act fast if you want one (or all!) of them.

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Monday, October 19, 2026

Vista Blue - "Here Comes the Rougarou"


Well, I suppose it is time for the Halloween music! Vista Blue has treated us to its annual spooky seasonal release, and this single is absolutely up my alley as it serves up a double shot of songs inspired by urban legends. I always love hearing about regional mythical creatures, and so now I receive my education on the Rougarou in southern Louisiana. It's half wolf and half man! "Here Comes the Rougarou" describes an encounter with this terrifying beast, and of course it's upbeat, lively fun. We have the Albatwitch here in the south of Pennsylvania — which is like a tiny Bigfoot that steals apples. Admittedly, that's not as creepy as the Rougarou, but you can bet I never enter the woods along the Susquehanna River unaccompanied. So I would not take any chances with the Rougarou. Urban legends are cool, aren't they? "Faster and Faster" is inspired by Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones and was recorded for Vista Blue's upcoming 50 Stories album. Living up to its title, it's over in a minute. If you have a Halloween playlist, both of these songs would make fine additions. 

In 12 days, it will be Halloween. So I'll enjoy what's left of candy/pumpkin/monster season and prepare myself for the quick switch to Christmas mania. Something tells me that Vista Blue will have Christmas songs for us a little earlier than usual this year!

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Friday, October 16, 2026

Hayley and The Crushers - "Crash"


I can't decide if reviewing a cover song is the easiest thing I've ever done on this blog — or the hardest. It would be simple enough to say, "Hayley and The Crushers have covered one of the greatest pop songs ever written and made it their own," direct you to the music video, and point in myself in the mirror in appreciation of a job well done. But what fun would that be? We're talking about Hayley and the freaking Crushers — who are on my Mt. Rushmore of present-day bands. I can't phone this one in! 

So let's start with the obvious: covering the utter perfection that is The Primitives' 1988 single "Crash" is a gutsy move, but would you expect anything less from a band that has previously had at The Ramones' "Teenage Lobotomy" and X's "Los Angeles"? There is no fear in the Crusherverse. You can acknowledge a song is unfuckwithable and still put your signature on it. The band points out that it has always loved "songs that feel like candy with a switchblade tucked inside," so "Crash" was a perfect candidate to be properly Crusher-ized. This cover has the original's spirit, but it's a little louder, a little punchier, a little more glittery, and a lot punkier. Of course you're starting with majestic material. But the band's own DNA is all over this track. This is music that energizes and uplifts, music that has you shouting "Yeah!" as soon as the song starts. In a world full of "meh" music, we need a lot more "Yeah!" And the music video has me in stitches. I can't say much more without spoiling it, but man, I just about choked on my Cheerios. You want bands with humor and personality? Well here you go. Dr. Cain deserves an Oscar!  

With a new album releasing on Kitten Robot Records in 2027, Hayley and The Crushers have been nice enough to give us a little taste of what's to come with the singles "Jewel Case" and "Cringeworthy," both of which are gold-certified bangers. And now "Crash" amps up the excitement even more. I've made so much about how great this year has been for new music, but who says next year can't be even better? Drive safely, kids! 

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Wisconsin Anger Team - True Spleen


Bands like Wisconsin Anger Team are the reason why I never lose the fire for writing about music. In a world where (perhaps by necessity) many bands have to put as much effort into self-promotion and a social media presence as they put into their music, Wisconsin Anger Team lets its music speak for itself. It doesn't do social media. It's not all over the streaming sites. In very old school fashion, the band communicates with fans and friends via email. The focus is on making really great albums and releasing them without fanfare via Bandcamp. 

True Spleen is the band's sixth full-length album in six years. Like the previous five, it's extraordinary. It contains 14 powerful tracks in a style reminiscent of the melodic punk, pop-punk, and louder indie rock of the '80s and '90s. Yet this is not just punk rock — this is art. Every song is essentially a poem, short story, or the first page of a novel you'd never want to put down. I'm blown away by the amount of time and effort that must have been invested into bringing every one of these songs to life. And the fact that the band includes the lyrics on Bandcamp tells you how much they mean. Every word was carefully considered. Every song title was an artistic decision. But those lyrics aren't there to overshadow the music. They're part of the music. You push play, and you can feel the energy, heart, and guts of what Wisconsin Anger Team has captured on tape. And then you start reading the lyrics and get the deeper meaning of each song. At a time in which so much music being released into the ether is just "content" meant to go in one ear and out the other, this band is making records that demand your time and attention. This is music, visual art, and literature all in one package. This is an album that you ought to experience the way you'd experience a movie or a book. How can you not appreciate a band that oil-paints a digital album cover on a canvas board? Yet there's nothing even slightly pretentious about this album. As smart and literate as it is, above all else, this is music full of feeling and life. 

In some better, alternate version of the universe, True Spleen would be a vinyl release and be selling like hotcakes. It almost seems too good to be true: How is music this good available for a free download? But if you feel that guilty about getting it for free, you can pay whatever you like. Most importantly, Wisconsin Anger Team has puts its heart and soul into making a record, and it deserves to be heard. We live in an odd time where the "cost" of listening to new music is often just the opportunity cost of not doing something else. You have podcasts to listen to and Reels to watch and reality shows to stream. I get it. So here I am, week after week, year after year, pounding the table for bands I think are more than worth your time. If you are a regular viewer of this blog, you most likely gravitate to a certain type of music. Wisconsin Anger Team plays that certain type of music at an exceptionally high level of quality. Again I pound the table. One of these days I might make my knuckles bleed. It will be a reasonable sacrifice for the cause.

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Sunday, October 11, 2026

Gene Champagne - Too Pop For Punk...Too Punk To Care

Drummer extraordinaire and punk/power pop solo artist Gene Champagne is back with a new mini-album (or maxi-EP) titled Too Pop For Punk...Too Punk To Care. The title sums up what this guy is all about. Punk rockers writing pop songs has always been a sweet spot for me, and these tunes hit the mark just right. Half the record is comprised of previously released digital singles (the double A-side wham-bam of "Gimme Ammunition" and "She's an Atom Bomb" along with covers of The Barracudas' "I Can't Pretend" and The Ohio Express's "Yummy Yummy"). Too Pop For Punk... adds four new tracks for a proper long extended play experience. The best of the new tunes, "Friends Like These," is vintage Gene Champagne: punchy, crunchy punk-pop that serves up hooks a plenty and hits with authority. "Sweet Little Lies" is a mid-tempo number that puts the power in power pop. "Beach Boy Wannabe" has great fun living up to its title. "I'm Disconnected" caps things off in a decidedly different direction with some tough & gritty '70s-style punk fury. All in all, this is a terrific little album from the Teenage Head/Killjoys/Black Halos drummer, and it's available on white vinyl while supplies last!

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Pocket - self-titled


On its self-titled debut album, Bristol-based Pocket tears through eight songs of raw, energetic, and totally excellent pop-punk. This one-sided 12" is an absolute thriller for anyone who enjoys pop-punk that leans to the punk side but doesn't skimp on hooks. Thom Weeks, Kathryn Woods, Andrew Horne, and Brian Scally are all established players in the UK indie/punk scene. As Pocket, they come together to deliver a perfect mix of melody and aggression. All these tunes hit hard and are carried off with urgency and feeling. Even when the band ventures into noisy indie rock territory, the songs are still crackling and brimming with energy. And at a lean eight tracks, this is the quintessential all-killer, no-filler affair. This is a record that you can't help but crank super-loudly as you shout along and pump your fist. From start to finish, you can truly feel the passion that went into these songs. Since this is technically half of a vinyl record, I don't know whether to call it an LP or an EP. But it's one of the most exciting records I've heard this year, and you know I've heard a lot. Get it from Specialist Subject Records!

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Friday, October 09, 2026

The Brickabrats - "Fun Night


 "Fun Night" is the debut single from The Brickabrats out of Portland, Oregon — a foursome that reminds me of all the bands that made me fall in love with punk rock back in the '90s. The band likens itself to "Screeching Weasel making out behind a 7-Eleven with The Queers while Sloppy Seconds steals beer from the gas station next door," and I am here for that! Sometimes I want to hear pop-punk that has found a way to grow up a little. But other times, I just want pop-punk to be simple, stupid, and (above all else) pure fun. The Brickabrats aren't trying to be original or practice rocket science. They aren't hiding their influences. They want to write the catchiest possible songs and blast them with maximum enthusiasm. It's a simple approach that a million other bands have tried. But they pull it off so well that you wouldn't want it any other way. 

"Fun Night" is about getting ready to party, but they're talking about the sort of party I would have actually gone to — where people chow down on junk food and listen to cool records. Getting into pop-punk in the '90s wasn't just about discovering music that seemed like it was made for me. It was about bonding with all the other misfits and weirdos who loved the same stuff. That spirit is baked into "Fun Night," a song that is literally all about anticipating good times and putting everything else to the side. You know there will be shenanigans, but there's an undeniable innocence at play as well. 

"Fun Night" is the first taste of The Brickabats' debut EP THWACK! (as far as I'm concerned, there can never be enough onomatopoeia in record titles), which releases January 22nd. I have to respect that level of planning ahead when I haven't even figured out what I'm having for breakfast 40 minutes from now. If you're not a pop-punk person, "Fun Night" won't turn you to the dark side. But something tells me that The Brickabrats don't make music for people who dislike pop-punk. If you do like pop-punk, this is a band to watch!

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Tuesday, October 06, 2026

Parasites - self-titled EP


How wild is that I've now been reviewing Parasites records over a period of thirty+ years? If you had told me, when I was a 24-year-old kid, that I'd be writing about a new Parasites EP in 2026, I would have declared you insane. But Dave is still going strong three decades later, and I still haven't found a more appealing hobby than dancing about architecture. So here we are! Out on Something To Do Records, Parasites' new self-titled EP is the band's first release since 2023's EP​-​Onymous and its first standalone EP comprised of new recordings since 1997! So yeah, this is kind of a big deal. In my admittedly biased opinion, Parasites are an all-time top ten pop-punk band, and the A-side of this release is totally in line with what you'd expect from a band that helped define the sound of '90s pop-punk. If you could somehow go back in time and slip "Until You Go" and "The Day You're Gonna Break My Heart" onto Punch Lines or Rat Ass Pie, no one would have been the wiser. When it comes to writing these gut-punch earworm love songs, Dave remains a master of his craft. 1996 me would have eaten these songs up. 

So we're talking vintage Parasites, right? Yes and no! Flip the record over, and you are in for some real surprises. "Drown" is the first time Dave has ever done a proper ballad (replete with strings and piano), and it's all raw emotion and heartfelt sentiment without any heavy guitars or speedy tempos to lean on. I have to admit I heard those opening strains of acoustic guitars and thought Dave was about to go full-on Goo Goo Dolls. But you know what? Lyrically, this is pretty par for the course for a Parasites song. It's genuinely moving and more than a little devastating. It should never be a stretch for a really good pop band to be able to pull off a song like this, and so the Parasites as legitimate balladeers is unexpected but perfectly logical. Dave's vocal definitely has me feeling the song, and that melody has been slowly but surely lodging itself inside my brain. To finish the EP, "What Am I Gonna Do With You" finds the band further entering orchestral pop territory with a cover of an old Gerry Goffin/Russ Titelman composition. The song is most closely associated with The Chiffons, who recorded it first. But Dave's inspiration here was Lesley Gore's version from 1965. Those are some big shoes to fill! At the very least, I applaud the ambition  

I imagine the second side of this EP will be highly divisive. Some longtime fans may be thrown for a loop and perhaps even feel ripped-off. Others might actually like Side 2 better! Certainly no songwriter should ever have to be limited to one musical style for life. Even Dave Parasite can only write so many textbook pop-punk songs before he gets a little tired of it. Whether this is a one-off thing or the start of his Brian Wilson phase remains to be seen. I will certainly be interested in hearing what people think of this departure from Parasites-as-usual. For now, I'll say this: I don't hate it. 

Hit up Something To Do Records if you want to order this EP on 12" vinyl or CD. First vinyl pressing is limited to 150 copies on glow-in-the-dark green vinyl and 150 on black vinyl. You can also order the vinyl and CDs from the Parasite's Facebook page, Dave's Facebook page, and the Waterslide Records web site. Dave is also selling t-shirts and his back catalog items from his Facebook page and the Parasites' Facebook page. You can find all the links below! 

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Pavid Vermin - The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore


Back with an addendum to last year's dandy full-length The Life of a Showgirl, Glenn Robinson delivers a new EP of snappy, crackling, poppy punk rock from his stellar one-man project Pavid Vermin. You know what to expect: crisp, hard-hitting pop-punk tunes with killer hooks and lyrics that are sure to make you chuckle. And this release, with lyrics inspired by Robinson's pals Joey Herbz and Ryan Minter, is particularly well-suited for those with limited attention spans or limited time. With four songs in four minutes, he's not fooling around! You've got songs about barfing up a co-worker's contribution to the company potluck, the city of Cleveland, the dangers of inhaling iodine vapors, and a '90s porn flick called Babylon. Yes, it's clear that Glenn Robinson can write a catchy tune about any topic under the sun! He literally wrote and recorded this EP in just a little over two hours last Thursday morning. I hate to overuse the term "genius," but sometimes it's apropos.

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Sunday, September 20, 2026

Jagger Holly - Wet Hot European Summer


So who's the best pop-punk band of the last ten years? Jagger Holly has to be in the conversation — if  not dominating it. On its fifth album, Wet Hot European Summer, Jagger Holly is back doing Jagger Holly things. Jay Dee is a hall-of-fame caliber singer/songwriter in this genre, and he's in prime form on this release. Matt DeeCrack contributes a few ace tunes as he can always be counted on to do, and I wouldn't argue with anyone who says that this is as good as any album in the band's catalog. So yeah, if you want to hear pop-punk done the way pop-punk ought to be done, Wet Hot European Summer will hit the spot. These songs balance just the right amount of pop with just the right amount of punk. Some tracks lean a little more to the former ("Wish I Could See It," "It's Summer Somewhere," "This Kinda Love"), and others lean a little more to the latter ("Everything From You," "Already In Love"). But all in all, this is pop-punk by the book executed to perfection. Jay Dee has a rare talent for writing three-chord punk songs that are impossibly catchy and also hit you straight in the heart. This isn't rocket science, but there's a real science to it. And whatever magic is required to write songs this simple that don't just sound like bad copies of a million songs you've already heard, Jay Dee and Matt sure do possess it. Unlike some pop-punk bands that make their influences ultra-obvious, what we can say about a Jagger Holly record is that it just sounds like Jagger Holly. How perfect of a song is "Anybody Out There"? Who wasn't stoked about the co-ed duet "Won't Catch Me Crying"? 

Getting to its fifth album, Jagger Holly could have gone in a lot of different directions. This could have been a more "mature" Jagger Holly record or an attempted expansion of the band's sound. But if you can stick to what works and still make albums this great, why mess with a winning recipe? While this vintage summer album did not arrive in time for your summer enjoyment this year, you can put it on now and let summer live a little longer in your heart. Get it now from Monster Zero Records in Europe and OUTLOUD and Hey Pizza! Records here in the States!

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Monday, September 07, 2026

Weak Hands - We Can’t!


The best thing about the underground music scene right now is that there's so much great music out there. That can also be one of the greatest challenges of the underground music scene right now. How do you stay on top of all these bands and releases? Where do you find the time to even listen to everything? The answer, of course, is that you can't listen to everything. And I certainly can't write about everything. But if I hear something that knocks my socks off and leaves me utterly wowed, that's going to be prioritized. A couple of my influential friends have pointed me in the direction of Weak Hands' new album We Can't!, and I could not be more grateful. Had this release evaded my detection, as so many great albums do, it would have been a tremendous shame. 

Although this Toronto-based band has been existence since 2017, this is its debut record. And it's extraordinary. Seriously: I'm living for this album! Broadly, I could call this a pop-punk record. But I could just as easily describe it as indie rock. It manages to co-inhabit those two worlds with complete success. Both literally and figuratively, singer/songwriter Nat Manzocco has a powerful and unique voice. From the instant she sings the album's opening line "I count one two three four twenty-one floors," she commands your attention. The way she manages to dissect a painful breakup and how its connects to her sense of self and her growth as a human is simultaneously deeply personal and highly relatable. I wish I could have been this wise and self-aware in my 30s. I'm not even sure I'm there yet at 55! Musically, this record is both unassuming and epic. The songs are thoughtful and reflective yet don't shy away from bright melodies and big, soaring choruses. As devastating as some of these lyrics would be if you just read them on paper, they hit significantly harder due to the anthemic quality of the music. Back when "emo" still meant what it used to, that term would have nailed the essence of this record. Music doesn't get any more visceral than than this. If "I Miss the Dress That I Wore the First Time You Took Me Dancing" doesn't tear your heart out, you might not be human. Ditto for "Summer Sometimes." 

And so the great albums of 2026 continue to pile up, and that can be nothing but a good thing. My top 20 list of albums from this year is already 40 titles deep (ha ha), but We Can't! is a lock for one of those spots. And the shorter length (only 8 songs) works in its favor. Nat Manzocco didn't allow anything resembling a sub-par track to make the final cut. She lived these songs, and with the help of her bandmates, forged them into something remarkable. Her ability to tell her story in a way that makes us feel like it could also be our story shows what a formidable songwriting talent she is. This is an album I'll listen to many times and experience like it were a favorite movie or book. What an assured & masterful debut!

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Saturday, September 05, 2026

Patton - "The Best of My Love"


Well here's something really amazing! Patton is a musical project formed by, of course, the Pattons, to celebrate their parents' 50th wedding anniversary. You know I love family bands! This single has been in the works for quite some time, but it was kept a super top secret until today. Given that more than a few Vista Blue fans frequent this site, I can say with great confidence that a lot of you are going to love this Vista Blue–related project. Mike is on guitar. Todd is on bass. Brett, I believe for the first time since The Loblaws days, is singing lead! Mike's kids Nolan and Alana both play drums. Mike's wife Donna sings some harmony vocals. Beyond me saying that I hope a full Patton album will one day happen, I'm just so moved by this digital single (a Bandcamp exclusive). Imagine if you possessed musical talent and used it to create something this beautiful for your parents/grandparents/in-laws on the date of their 50th anniversary. That's a sweet and special thing. 

The A-side is a punched-up cover of The Eagles' classic "The Best of My Love." While my 25-year-old self would have been deeply ashamed that I'd ever refer to any Eagles song as a "classic," 55-year-old me is a total sucker for '70s soft rock. So I was pretty stoked by the song choice. If you are familiar with the bittersweet lyrics and are wondering why this song is appropriate for an occasion like this, well, this was the song that the happy couple danced to at their wedding 50 years ago! So of course it had to be the lead track. Man, Brett totally smashed that vocal! 

On the B-side, "Apartment C" is an ode to the old Patton family residence in Chalmette, Louisiana. It's an upbeat, poppy original that's lovingly sentimental without being sappy. Writing a song for your parents' 50th anniversary has to be a daunting task. You don't want to screw it up. You don't want to lay it on too thick. What we have here with "Apartment C" is simply perfect. If this song doesn't have you a little misty-eyed, you might be a robot or something monstrous like a Crimson Tide fan (I kid). And how about a shout-out to Chris for that guitar solo! 

A lesser family band might have claimed its name was inspired by Van Halen, but Patton will tell you that they are emulating Nelson. Since I've been willing to die on the hill of Nelson being a good band for 35 years, I fully endorse the choice. 50 years ago, a couple of teenagers fell in love, got married, and formed a family. This single is a celebration of all of that. Think of all these amazing people playing on this record who would never have existed if these two people had not believed in each other and taken a leap of faith together! I'm grateful that this single, which was created for a private family celebration, has been made available to the world at large. I think people will be moved by it. I think people will tap into the joy it exudes. If you could somehow quantify the amount of love that went into these two songs, Rate Your Music would have to adjust its algorithms and allow six-star reviews. Happy anniversary, Cindy and Mike!

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Saturday, August 29, 2026

Geoff Palmer - "Where Did His Hair Go?"


Geoff Palmer is back doing what he does best: writing some of the most impossibly catchy pop-punk songs you'll ever hear. "Where Did His Hair Go?" is the second time he has given us a nod to The Dickies in his songwriting, but this is no cover song. It's a vintage Palmer-style pop-punk earworm about Billy Corgan and the mystery of the sudden disappearance of his hair in 1995. As someone who has also been bald since the mid-'90s, I can tell you that hair loss is usually something that everyone can see coming. When you finally go full bald, no one is surprised. But somehow old Billy hid it from all of us. What I love about this song is that you can enjoy it regardless of whether you are or (as in  my case) are not a Smashing Pumpkins fan. While it's a really funny song, it's not particularly nasty. It's just searching for answers and pondering possibilities. And I'm always up for some '90s nostalgia! This is classic Geoff Palmer. He and his bandmates Tyler Spatz, Paul Kennedy, and Daniel James sound like they're having a great time powering through this brilliantly stupid song, and I'm having a great time listening to it. Billy Corgan himself would have a hard time denying that this tune is a stone cold banger!

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Friday, August 28, 2026

TA-80 - 25


After releasing three albums in four years, Arizona's mega-awesome pop-punk rock 'n' roll power quintet TA-80 came into 2026 with a clear plan: play a bunch of shows, record a bunch of singles and EPs, and start writing the best album of 2027. Why stop when you're on a roll? 

This is a particularly significant year for the band since it marks the 25th anniversary of its formation. To celebrate its 26th year as a band (yeah, that's how the math works), TA-80 has dusted off four songs from its early years and re-recorded them for 25, a brand-new EP that is out now on Allegedly Records. You can find TA-80's digital catalog online tracing back to 2010. But there's also an early catalog of titles you can only hear if you own the original CD-Rs, cassettes, compilation albums, reel-to-reel tapes, VHS videos, floppy discs, voice mails, etc. The band would be the first to tell you that they hadn't fully found their sound when they wrote and recorded a lot of that stuff. But for this release, the band chose four songs from its early 2000s period that it found worthy of revisiting and re-recording. So they dug out their iPods, guzzled lots of SoBe Lizard Fuel, frosted their tips, and transported themselves back in time. Exactly 26 copies of a CD release were pressed — one representing each year that this planet has had the pleasure of existing with TA-80 in it. Each copy is unique and comes with caringly hand-drawn art representing a particular year in the storied life of TA-80. If you didn't know these were old songs, you might think it was just a cool new EP from one of your favorite bands. These tracks are legit good, and certainly they benefit from the "We know now what we didn't know then" perspective that the band brought to this project.   

"Radio Beehive" (which originally appeared on TA-80s's 2001 album '80-'83) pulls no punches. It's almost straight-up '80s metal. Check that: it is straight-up '80s metal, and it totally kicks ass. It's fun, loud, and sure to rock your face off. These folks always knows how to get the party started, and here they do just that! You think I won't have the intestinal fortitude to choose this track for embedding? Try me! "No Call No Show," originally a 2005 demo for the band's mid-2000s lost album, 40 oz. Rose, takes the EP in a very different direction. It has more of a laidback, fuzzed-out '90s alternative rock/power pop vibe to it, and it shows that TA-80 can do pure pop with the best of 'em. "Super Slob," from the 2003 album TA-80 Are Go!, is vintage 2000s-style pop-punk that's catchy as hell but still packs a punch. "This City Night," also written for the ill-fated 40 oz. Rose, closes things out with anthemic rock energy. TA-80 might not play stadiums, but it sure makes music that could fill them. I love that this release embraces the band's past yet aligns wonderfully with its present vibe. And it's neat to hear four different members of TA-80 on lead vocals (Russ sings "Super Slob," and Jens duets with Amy on "This City Night"). Bandcamp and CD versions come with bonus tracks culled from a couple of split singles the band has done recently with The Femurs and Rob Moss and Skintight Skin (more on that one in a couple days!). 

When I say a release is limited, that usually means 100 copies. But with only 26 copies of 25 made and a few already spoken for, you best not dilly-dally if you want to get your hands on that sweet polycarbonate plastic! Tonight I will drink to the first 25 years of TA-80 and hope I'm still around to review 50 when it comes out. By then, we'll be nostalgic for the good old days before the robots fully took over! 

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Vista Blue - "Championship of Love"


Just in time for Week Zero of College Football season 2026, we get Vista Blue's first-ever football-themed (or as Mick Fletcher will insist, American football–themed) single! And once again, I'm reminded of why this is one of my favorite bands. Day 1 of college football season is practically a holiday for me. I'm decorating the house, stocking up on snacks, studying the two-deeps, and canceling all my prior commitments. And I'll be pre-gaming with "Championship of Love"! 

The energetic & very poppy title track is the kind of song Mike is so very good at writing: a song ostensibly about an aging football player hoping for one last shot at a ring that is really a love song (about a dude hoping for, uh, one last shot at a ring). The song is loaded with classic football references (contract incentives, playbooks, the trenches, plays under review, telegraphing moves, franchise tags, hail Mary passes) which contribute to the larger metaphor. It's tough enough to find love when you're young and at your peak. But what happens when you've lost a step and your game is in decline? There's nothing worse than wanting something so badly and feeling in your gut that it's out of reach. But still, you never give up. And that's what this song celebrates. Even with me having won the championship of love a number of years ago, there was a long period of time when I wondered if I ever would. Twentysomething me is really feeling this song. 

On the digital flip side, the punkier (at least two reviewers will call it Ramones-ish) "She's My Taysom Hill" at first appears to be another song using football as a metaphor for romantic relationships. But upon further inspection, I'm sensing a flipped script! This sure seems to be a love song that's really about a football player. What happens when that dependable & versatile quarterback/tight end/fullback/receiver/special teamer who has always been #1 in your heart parts ways with your favorite team? It's a tough pill to swallow, especially when you have to think about him possibly going to the Broncos and finally winning a ring. Sports breakups can be brutal (I refuse to face the fact that Kyle Schwarber will someday not be a Phillie), and sometimes music is all we have to make them bearable. This is one of the sweetest dumb songs you'll ever hear. And it pairs so perfectly with the A-side! 

Alright! Vista Blue, as always, could not be any more on-point with its timing. Everybody loves football! Who's ready for Week Zero? I was so pumped that I wanted to go back to the school paper for the fifth year I never had, but the Big Ten says it won't take any former pros. I bet Lane Kiffin would hook me up. For the next 19 Saturdays, I will not be very productive. Something tells me my reviews will be getting a lot shorter. I don't think anyone will be complaining. 

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Saturday, August 22, 2026

The Batter Ups - "Cailee"


One thing I'll never tire of is well-executed bubblegum pop-punk. Denmark's Thomas Stubgaard, whom you may remember from Tommy and the Rockets, has a new band called The Batter Ups going that could not be any more up my alley. This one-man operation combines a distinctly European (meaning very pop-leaning) style of pop-punk with a heavy dose of comic book and sci-fi fandom. Before I'd even heard a note of the music, the band slogan "Fast songs; Catchy hooks; Awkward crushes; Questionable decisions" had me won over! Mixed and mastered by the great Perry Leenhouts, new single "Cailee" is a love letter to the actress Cailee Spaeny. What a catchy tune! It's a perfect pop-punk song that wears its sci-fi geek heart on its sleeve. The song is taken from the forthcoming album Interstellar Crush, and you can bet I'm stoked to hear it! If you like "Cailee," be sure to check out the other tracks already posted on The Batter Ups' Bandcamp — one of which is a Green Day cover!

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Sunday, August 02, 2026

Vista Blue - So Much Music!


I've noticed, and I am sure you have too: the sheer amount of music that's out there and available to listen to these days is vast, overwhelming, and growing exponentially. But leave it to Vista Blue to remind us that that's not necessarily a bad thing. On its new single "So Much Music!", the band reflects on this world we now live in. There really is so much music out there that no one could ever keep up with everything. We will all die without hearing hundreds of records we may have loved. You've got new bands and artists popping up every day. You've got reissues of old stuff you love and old stuff you may have never heard but would like to hear. Heck, The Glow Bots broke up in '98 while recording "Genie in the Amp," and their label just released the unmastered tracks on Bandcamp. But you know what? It's all OK! 

This song manages to poke fun at the deluge of music that's literally at our fingertips yet still frame it in an ultimately positive light. And the cover art is a tribute to all of you out there who love music too much to ever worry about there being too much of it. You can say that the worst thing about music today is that anyone can release a song. But isn't that also the best thing about music today? Aren't we better off without corporate suits dictating which music the world gets to hear? That would be like allowing one franchise to dominate Major League Baseball (oh, wait). Sure, with all the options people have for "consuming content," it's harder for bands to get anyone to listen or care. But still, you eventually find your niche and connect with your people. "So Much Music!" is a vintage Vista Blue song. It's upbeat pop-punk that mixes humor with a genuine spirit of love for music. In a way, it's like a sequel to  "Somebody's Favorite Band." You've got a lot of things going on in life and may never actually check out that new Chromadome EP. But someone out there knows every song by heart. 

On the virtual B-side, the faster, punkier "She Only Listens To Blue" is another love letter to music geekery. It's a simple concept, as it's about a girl who believes that the blue album is the only good Weezer record. I could probably start a war if I stated an opinion on this topic, so I'll just say a lot of you will have your own strong opinions one way or another. And isn't that the sort of thing that makes it so much fun to be a rock nerd? You may know someone who only listens to blue. You may be that person. But you probably don't have to travel far to find someone who is willing to die on the hill of Hurley having a couple of good songs. I like that the narrator in the song is a good sport about all of this. If two people with very different opinions about Weezer can maintain a functioning relationship, there has to be hope for this world. 

I know what you're thinking: What's Vista Blue doing releasing music on any day other than Friday? Well, you know there's so much music out there. Sundays are lighter traffic for new releases. And now you've got all week to find four minutes to listen to this gem of a single. Hey, all you bands out there putting music into the world: I salute you!

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Saturday, July 25, 2026

Unicorn Dogs - Closer To Death


Two years ago, Unicorn Dogs released Age Typical Junk Behavior, one of the best pop-punk debut albums of whatever you want to call this nightmare of an era we're currently attempting to survive. It was a debut that was going to be almost impossible to top. I say almost because here we are on the 25th of July in the year 2026, and Closer To Death (brought into the world by those twin institutions of musical excellence, Jolly Ronnie Records and Mom's Basement Records) has indeed topped its mighty predecessor. If Age Typical Junk Behavior was the album that solidified modern-day pop-punk as the soundtrack to everyone's midlife crisis, Closer To Death takes things to the logical next level. It's an album about how much it sucks to get old — especially in a bizarro world where the robots are taking over and 2 + 2 can equal 5 depending on whom you vote for. If you're looking for a record that will make you optimistic about the world or offer lighthearted escapist entertainment, this is most certainly not it. But if you want to pump your fist in the air and shout along at the top of your lungs to impassioned, anthemic pop-punk songs that will feed the fire of righteous indignation raging inside you, this record is not to be missed. 

What makes great pop-punk great pop-punk? There are a lot of ways to answer that question, but there's something about simple, two-minute-ish songs with punchy guitars and earworm hooks that I never, ever tire of. I could live to be a thousand years old and hear records in a thousand different genres, and I'd still steadfastly maintain that the Ramones were every bit as important as Beethoven. Of course the caveat is that the style has to be done well, and that's the main thing Lucas and Jon bring to the table. They're not trying to be original or innovative. But they're just so freaking good at writing simple pop-punk songs. They play a tried-and-true style of music, but they make it current and fresh by writing about things that matter to them. If you could measure the passion and urgency that goes into music, these guys would be a ten out of ten every time. 

And so here we have Closer To Death, and as usual, the songs rip hard and really have something to say. If you're going to write songs about living out your miserable decline in a word where everything sucks, you better have a sense of humor about it. And that's the magic of Unicorn Dogs. They can be (and often are) quite serious a lot of the time, but they also know how to make an art form out of self-deprecating humor. A lyric like "More than half my life is over with/Not sure I made the most of it/I don't have a bucket list/Just a lot of things I wanna quit" makes me laugh so hard precisely because it speaks a truth I can relate to. These guys aren't playing the brand of pop-punk where middle-aged men pretend they're still teenagers. They're playing the brand of pop-punk where middle-aged men begin reckoning with the sneakily rapid of encroachment of Father Time. If you relate to that description, this record has got plenty for you to chew on. Here we have anthems for people who have managed to get older without getting wiser and who feel like time has made them worse versions of themselves. This band writes profoundly about failure, regret, and just being plain tired of being beaten down by life. That's really heavy stuff, but it's also honest and real. The social commentary side of Unicorn Dogs ("Hallucination Free," "One Disaster Away," "Replaceable") is perhaps an even more bitter pill to swallow, but again, it's not like these guys are wrong about anything. There's even a hint of optimism in "Fix Your Heart Or Die" ("We don't fight because we'll win/We fight because there are things worth fighting for/And we gotta try"). The song is a reminder of why protest music (and protest in general) are so vital in this moment. And at a time when simply being a kind, empathetic human is an act of rebellion, Unicorn Dogs are here to show us the way. 

In spite of its title, Closer To Death is by no means a bummer of a record. Lucas and Jon (joined by Jon's son Oliver, who kills it on drums) might write from the perspective of disillusioned, over-the-hill folk who feel like life has passed them by. But the truth is that as musicians and songwriters, they've never been better than they are right now. You don't get the backing of two of the best pop-punk record labels ever by accident. Closer To Death is the best record they've ever made. It's packed with smart, super-catchy punk songs that mix their candidly dark musings with an undeniably upbeat energy. If these lyrics were about dominating in pickleball, cooking the perfect lentil soup, and the thrill of stargazing, this would still be quality pop-punk. But it wouldn't quite hit the same, would it? If you take these songs too seriously, it's like spending 27 minutes with Debbie Downer. But I don't listen to these songs and hear complete resignation. Amidst all that frustration, disappointment, and self-effacing humor, I hear a fighting spirit that won't stop pushing. I still don't feel my age, but the cold, hard math of me being as close to 70 as I am far from 40 really fucks me up sometimes. A little more urgency in my life would not be a bad idea. We're all getting a little closer to death every day. But that leads to an obvious question: What are we gonna do about it?

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Saturday, July 11, 2026

Vista Blue - "50 Years"


There are few things I enjoy more in life than a happy love song. And if it's coming from one of my favorite bands, I'm going to be doubly delighted. On its new single "50 Years," Vista Blue has brought us the ultimate happy love song. The song celebrates the 50th wedding anniversary of the band's good friends Kent and Barbie Duffy. Kent co-wrote the lyrics with Mike, and then Mike and Mark recorded the song. Kent and Barbie gave their blessing for the song to be released for streaming, and now we all get to share in the celebration!  

First of all, congratulations to Kent and Barbie! 50 years of marriage is an amazing, beautiful thing, and I wish you many more anniversaries to come! Secondly, I'm really blown away by what a genuinely fantastic song this is. To be able to write a song like this that's heartfelt, beautiful, and sentimental without being cheesy is an amazing achievement. The song takes a matter-of-fact approach that is touching and relatable. I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up the first two to seven times I read the lyrics. The line "I closed my eyes and opened them/And now it's been 50 years" absolutely gives me goosebumps (I'm feeling the exact same way today about 17 years!). I love the way the song looks back at all the things that have happened in those 50 years — the places Kent and Barbie have lived, the children they've raised, the songs on the radio that have come and gone. And here they still are. The last verse incorporates a passion for music into their love story and reflects on memorable shows they've seen together. And of course, Mike and Mark perform the song joyfully and splendidly. 

There's so much darkness and despair in this world right now, so a song as sweet and uplifting as this was exactly what I needed. I don't think Mike ever gets enough credit for being an excellent singer (honestly, it was the first thing I noticed about Vista Blue back in the day), and here he takes on the tall task of having to give voice to the words that came from another person's heart. But that plays to his natural sincerity as a singer. What an inspired performance, and what a wonderful anniversary gift to give to dear friends! Much is made of Vista Blue being lyrically unconventional for a pop-punk band, but isn't that exactly what makes this band so endearing? Even when they're not doing love songs, the love is always coming through since every song means something to them. Here, they are doing a love song, and it couldn't be more perfect.

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