Showing posts with label Power Pop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Power Pop. Show all posts

Friday, October 02, 2026

Psychotic Youth - Ready Go


When it comes to power pop and garage rock, Psychotic Youth is at the head of the master class and aging like fine wine. Ready Go is the band's 18th album (and fifth since reforming in 2015). It sounds like...Psychotic Youth! This album is exactly what you'd expect it to be: a perfect blend of power pop, punk-pop, garage, and surf rock (all the best things in life!) that doesn't concern itself one bit with breaking new ground. There aren't a whole lot of bands that can get away with staying in the same lane forever. But when you practically invented this lane, and you can turn out records this good, why not keep doing what you do?! It's a beautiful thing to hear Psychotic Youth in vintage style and vintage form. Jörgen Red Westman remains in peak power as a songwriter, and the band still sounds like it's having a great time making this kind of music. 60 is the new 30! 

Ready Go is not just a passable effort from a classic band. It can stand toe-to-toe with the best of this band's albums. Not quite as lyrically bleak as the last album Happy Songs, this is a full-on return to form. Garage rippers like "Rat Race," "Breakdown," and the surfy "Predator" show that these guys can still rock and roll with the best of 'em. But power pop is the prevailing style here, and that's apparent from the opening strains of the upbeat and irresistibly catchy title track. Likewise, "Back To You," "Can't Get Enough of You," and the smash hit "Girls" are the sorts of songs that Psychotic Youth built its brand on. "Endless Summer" is a joyous callback to the heyday of beach-pop. The band's choices in cover songs (The Plimsouls' classic "Now" and Phil Seymour's "I Found a Love") tell you everything about the vibe and energy it was going for with this record. It's an album to play in the car with the windows down or put on at your next house party. Just push play, and it's summertime any day of the year.  

It's still hard to believe that we went without new music from Psychotic Youth throughout the 2000s and most of the 2010s. But here these guys are in 2026, sounding truly timeless. Is Ready Go a fan-pleasing kind of record? It absolutely is, and let's not make the mistake of thinking that's a bad thing. In this Year of Power Pop, you'll want to be sure to make some room for the OGs!

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Josephine Network - Little Spells


Two new albums in six months? It seems we might have entered a portal to 1981, but Little Spells is no contractual obligation from Josephine Network. It just shows that Josephine is on a creative roll, and we are all very fortunate to be able to enjoy it! 

If the last album Hooked was Josephine's lean into the louder, more arena-rocking side of power pop, Little Spells is more of a pure pop record — albeit one that isn't afraid to rock when it needs to. Recorded with Olive Faber from Sunflower Bean over the winter/spring of 2024-25, Little Spells is a charming little guitar pop record that deserves to be appreciated in its own right. Of course Hooked is a hard act to follow, but if you're a Josephine Network fan, Little Spells will not leave you wanting. I might, in fact, like this album a little more than Hooked since I'm such a geek for that '70s by way of the '60s classic power pop sound that looms large here. 

Josephine's knack for writing melodious two-minute pop songs with infectious hooks and clever lyrics is on display from start to finish. "Gotta Get Outta My Heart" is vintage Josephine and a perfect tone-setter. With its blend of sweet melody and playful sexual energy, "Bumpin' Into You" would not have sounded out of place on Hooked. "He's Not Mine" could almost be The Monkees, and I mean that as nothing less than a supreme compliment. "Music Turns Me Round" is giving Stones meet Big Star, and I've got no complaints. The album's middle section finds Josephine in her sweet spot of Beatles-influenced textbook power pop. If you listen to this record, be ready for the jangly "Put A Guitar In Her Hands" to be stuck in your head all week. "I Could Say No" kicks up some Raspberries-style harmonies via George Harrison pop majesty. "Little Spell" is gentle and sweet and simply makes my heart smile. The appropriately-titled "Magnificent" walks a delicate line between '60s pop and '70s AM radio/soft rock. Then to finish the record, we get some pleasing changes of pace with the thoughtful rocker "Tall Buildings" and the stripped-down, piano-driven "Sisters" — an anthem of love and affirmation. 

This 2026 is turning into one for the history books for fans of power pop & indie pop, and my attitude is that we should take the time to appreciate the embarrassment of riches that the music gods have blessed us with. "Too much" good music is an absolutely wonderful problem to have. I may have not set any records for speed in getting this review of Little Spells into public view, but the silver lining is that I had a few weeks to simply enjoy the record before I had to start thinking about what I wanted to say about it. If one new album from Josephine Network this year was a cause for celebration, two is even better! There are a few things in life that I literally never get tired of, and a well-written pop song with hummable melodies and an earworm chorus is certainly one of them. And I appreciate how Josephine wears her love for recording and performing on her sleeve. A great pop-rock record ought to be something that you can turn to when you want to feel good, and Little Spells definitely falls into that category. What a gem! 

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Friday, September 25, 2026

Dany Laj And The Looks - If Looks Could Kill


This should have been a really simple review. If the only vital question about If Looks Could Kill, the new album from Dany Laj And The Looks (out today on Having Fun Records), is whether it moves me, the answer is a big old yes. End of story. Review over. Go buy the record. Time for me to grab a beer. 

Just kidding. 

If you're a longtime Dany Laj And The Looks fan, as I am, you'll sense that there's something a little different about this album — in an entirely good way. I'm not really talking about the style of the music. I'm talking more about the tone of the album. Broadly, this is still a high-energy power pop/rock 'n' roll record (always this band's bread and butter). But — perhaps because it was first conceived as solo album — it feels a little more "singer/songwriter-ish." It's more song-driven and less style-driven, and it seems particularly inspired by the state of the world we're currently living in. Certainly the album has its lighter moments, but overall, Dany had a lot of serious things on his mind while he was writing it. You can really hear him working through all that anger, sadness, confusion, self-doubt, and uncertainty. Of course I dig the super-fun, straight-forward power pop bangers like "Thanks for Ringing Us Up" and "Rock 'N Roll Figurines." But I'm especially drawn to the surprises. "Shelved" starts out a certain way and then takes a very sharp and unexpected turn (I knew The Looks were secretly a jam band!). "You Will Find Love" is a rootsy ballad that's very pretty and poignant. Likewise, "Breaking Down" shows a softer, more directly emotional side to this band. "Tell It To You" is an on-point takedown of a society that no longer values the truth. The epic closing track "Till the End" channels all that empathy for people who are struggling in these tough times into a resounding message of love and gratitude.  

And so, five years later, we finally get a new album from Dany Laj And The Looks. I will never say a band has topped its prior output unless I really believe it. This time, I can say it and mean it: If Looks Could Kill is the best album Dany and Jeanette have made together. I'm feeling it the way Brad Marchand felt P.K. Subban's check in 2010. It will remind you why you came to love rock 'n' roll in the first place. Every single song is a keeper. These tunes have heart, soul, and hooks galore. This may have started out as a solo project, but it came to life when Jeanette and David stepped in to help. And then the magic happened. I know I'm always trying to lure you into spending more money on records, but I promise this one is worth it. It's a power pop album. It's not a power pop album. And I love it.

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Saturday, September 19, 2026

The Goods - Goodbye Summertime


There may be a long list of reasons why it sucks to be a human in the year 2026, but a lack of good music is certainly not one of them. The quality of the releases coming out this year continues to blow me away, and it has been an especially notable year for guitar pop. Goodbye Summertime, the second album from Oakland-based The Goods, is up there with the best of 2026's many long-playing power pop-ish treasures. Largely a solo endeavor from Rob Good, Goodbye Summertime is a stunning work suitable for anyone who loves melody and great songwriting. It pulls from a wide array of influences (Beatles, Brian Wilson, '60s psych and baroque pop, '70s AM radio, '80s/'90s indie pop) that all fall under the umbrella of timeless pop music. It adds all sorts of layers to the band's core sound while still keeping the hooks at the forefront. The album's release in the midst of the transition from summer to fall was surely no coincidence. This is the ultimate fall record: a gentle, melancholy set of songs that seems tailor-made for cozy rainy day lounging and solitary walks with just a touch of chill in the air.  

Much of the magic of Goodbye Summertime lies in its inspiration. Rob Good didn't just write this record; he lived it. "My whole life turned upside down one summer, " he says. "The long-term relationship I was in collapsed, and in the wake of that, I found new love. I was sorting through the grief and failure of my previous relationship and the bliss and anxiety of my new one all at once—all while basically living at my recording studio—and I found myself in an intensely creative state." I love it when songwriters tell their stories, and this story in particular is one I'm feeling deeply. 

Great albums have been written about painful breakups. Great albums have been written about of the thrills and joy of finding new love. But what happens when both things happen concurrently? It's hard to imagine the range of emotions you'd go through and how complicated it would be to process all of that and still be able to function. With this record, though, you don't have to imagine. You experience it vicariously through these remarkable songs. It was as if all that upheaval in Good's life gave him creative superpowers. These songs are absolutely gorgeous, and the bittersweet vibe feels like real life. There's sadness and regret, but there's also optimism and the embracement of what's new. Good doesn't overdramatize anything. He just plays and sings from the heart. And his talent is truly formidable. It's not just the songwriting but also the production and musicianship that shine. Good's guitar work, in particular, is extraordinary. And his longtime collaborators Cherron Arens, Yea-Ming Chen, and Ian McBrayer lend their talents to several songs. Across 14 tracks, there are no subpar moments or unrealized ideas. Every tune is a gem. And it never hurts to have a legend like Bart Thurber mixing and mastering a record! 

Goodbye Summertime is such a relatable album because we can all remember a time when one door closed for us, and then another one opened. Rob Good has taken his own story and practically written a novel in songs. Beyond the personal narrative, the album really does capture that end-of-the-summer feeling where you're wistfully looking back at what has gone and turning a corner to what's coming next. At this very moment, I'm contemplating how yet another summer has passed me by while I was too busy to notice. Change is an unavoidable part of life, and even when it's good change, it takes some getting used to. That's why this record hits so hard. It builds off the broader style of power pop and pushes the boundaries of what it can be without losing sight of why we all love this kind of music. Someday, we're going to look back at 2026 and marvel that Music City's Welcome To Music City, Mod Lang's Borrowed Time, and The Lemon Twigs' Look For Your Mind! all came out in the same year. Goodbye Summertime needs to be on that list as well. This is a marvelous, masterful guitar pop record. It's available now on vinyl and CD from Dandy Boy Records.

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Saturday, September 12, 2026

The Speedways - "Angela Sincerely"



Well how was this not going to be great? "Angela Sincerely" is the new single from The Speedways. Matt Julian co-wrote the song with the legendary Paul Collins, who also contributes some vocals. Collins was a big admirer of Julian's solo song "Sarah I Dare Ya" and inquired about the two of them working on a song together. Imagine what an honor it must be when the King of Power Pop comes calling about collaborating. I will say this: Paul Collins has good taste! Julian had recorded a rough demo (just a verse, chorus, and guitar solo) of "Angela Sincerely" onto his phone last Christmas. Earlier this year, Collins arranged the song and added some bridge parts. And here we are with a Speedways song featuring Paul freaking Collins! This is one of the most Beatlesque songs The Speedways have ever put on tape — a timeless two-and-a-half-minute pop song with magnificent guitar hooks, an instantly memorable chorus, clever lyrics, and a melody you'll be whistling all week. The song will not appear on The Speedways' new album. It's an exclusive B-side to the band's vinyl release of "All Bets Are Off," which will be out this coming Friday. So yeah, if you're a Speedways fan, the new 7" is gonna be a must-have!

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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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Sunday, September 06, 2026

Loose Lips - Love You


The Loose Lips train just keeps on rolling! One year after Josh, Nadine, and Ethan clobbered us with their great album Last Laugh, they return with a new EP that smashes together all the best parts of garage punk, power pop, Aussie punk, and kick-ass rock 'n' roll. Out on DIG! Records, the four-songer Love You is exactly what you were hoping it would be: 10 minutes of pure electricity crammed with infectious hooks. Loose Lips have found such a natural and distinctive sound as a trio that I sometimes forget that they're a super-group. They've got the main band energy going strong on this EP. 

If I said that "Beehive Teardrop" could easily be an Unknowns song, that's hardly a dismissal. My thirst for catchy old school punk rock with a garage edge is never-ending, and this tune really hits the spot. It's fun, simple, and guaranteed to leave you wanting more. Josh is so good at writing songs like this. If you like poppy punk rock that definitely isn't "pop-punk," well this is a tune that will get your heart racing. Nadine is on lead vocals on "Looking For," a song totally in that late '70s/early '80s new wave power pop pocket. Ethan channels Graham Maby with his bass lines, and no one will be complaining! Yes, my friends, you have entered power pop heaven. "Remember We Love You" is a mid-tempo rocker that brings to mind '70s punk with thunderous, Aussie-sized riffs. What a banger! Finally, "Tired of Toein' the Line" is a fabulous cover of Rocky Burnette's 1979-80 hit — one of my favorite under-the-radar radio songs from my childhood. I love how Loose Lips take a quintessentially American roots rock 'n' roll number and make it sound like something they could have written! That goes to show you that great pop songs are great pop songs. 

All in all, Love You is a perfect continuation of the glorious racket that Loose Lips have been kicking up in recent years. If you like your music raw, catchy, and full of spirit, it doesn't get much better than this. You love this band, and for sure it loves you back. Vinyl is coming in less than two weeks, so get your orders in!

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Saturday, September 05, 2026

Perilous - "Overwhelmed By Reality"


Buffalo, New York's Perilous, a foursome I consider one of the best old school punk rock 'n' roll bands currently operating, has just unleashed an absolute anthem for these times on its new digital single. A title like "Overwhelmed By Reality" pretty well summarizes the zeitgeist of 2026, doesn't it? At a moment when there are so many things at the personal and worldly levels to make us anxious, fearful, or just plain depressed, coping with reality really can be an overwhelming, emotionally draining thing. It's as if the one thing that actually unites us all is the acknowledgement that everything sucks. In true Perilous fashion, this song pairs this dark, highly topical subject matter with upbeat, hook-laden power pop punk rock that throws it back to the classic music you grew up on. Pauline really pours her heart into that lead vocal, and this song is as rocking as it is relevant. Perilous just keeps on bringing the hits! On the B-side, "Rock & Roll Runaway," Bob Cat takes on lead vocals and really leans into his love for the Ramones and the timeless '60s sounds that inspired them. It's a fun, simple punk rock song that contrasts nicely with the A-side.  

Whether you call this type of music old school punk, classic punk, or just plain rock 'n' roll, Perilous are one of the bands keeping it alive. And they are doing it with joy, passion, and enthusiasm. Anything they put out is in the must-buy category, and of course that's true of "Overwhelmed By Reality"! $2.99 won't even get you a gallon of gas these days, but it will get you this thumper of a digital 45!

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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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Thursday, September 03, 2026

Radio Days - Off The Record


It sometimes feels like I've been writing about Radio Days forever, but my first review was back in 2013. So that's not quite forever. Still, a 13-year relationship between Radio Days and Faster and Louder is certainly considerable. This band is one of the surest things in modern music. Every record they put out is a timeless & beautifully crafted work of traditional power pop. If I had to list my favorite 25 power pop bands of all-time, there's a very good chance Radio Days would make the cut. 

Off The Record, the band's new album (out tomorrow on Wild Honey Records and Ammonia Records), isn't particularly surprising in terms of musical style or approach. But why would you want it to be? When it comes to Radio Days, I just want great pop songs. I never tire of the band's approach because they do it so remarkably well. And their sound is so fresh because they infuse modern power pop influences into their classic, '60s and '70's–inspired songwriting foundation. In 2016, I named their long player Back in the Day my album of the year, and I'd do it again if I had to re-evaluate the LPs that came out that year. Off The Record might be every bit as good. Radio Days as a band have definitely matured and refined their talents over the years, but they've never lost sight of those things that matter the most: memorable melodies, silky-smooth harmonies, perfect choruses, and timeless love songs. As a craftsman of melody, Dario Persi is criminally underrated. He's also a wonderful singer. The band's lyrics, written by Paco Orsi and Mattia Baretta, will remind you why you first came to love pop music and why you keep going back to it. 

It seems almost unnecessary to say that Off The Record is a classic power pop record since that's the only kind of record that Radio Days bother to make. But I will say that while many power pop bands kind of grow tiresome if they don't change up their approach over time, Radio Days are on album #5 of pure power pop classicism and are only getting better. With each new album, I keep thinking, "This is finally the one they won't be able to top." And then the next one comes out, and I say the same thing. I'm done doubting these guys. 99.9% of bands would wish for a greatest-hits compilation as good as Off the Record. From the punchy and melodious "I Won't Give Up" to the all-the-feels majesty of "One Heart One Love" to the sun-kissed '70s splendor of "Paralyzed" to the pure pop bliss of "She's My Girl" to the laidback, Weezer-ish stunner "I've Got a Song" and all points in between, this album is all killer and no filler. And it certainly didn't hurt to have Bruno Barcella, one of the finest music producers in the business, recording and mixing these songs. 

While Off the Record will certainly appeal to folks who love their classic power pop, I don't think a word like "retro" correctly captures the vibe. Radio Days aren't trying to bring back power pop — they're simply one of many bands keeping the legacy alive. As 2026 continues to establish itself as an extraordinary year for guitar pop albums, I hope people will realize that one of the very best of the lot has come from Milan, Italy.

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Saturday, August 29, 2026

The Speedways - "All Bets Are Off"


If The Speedways keep releasing new singles, I'm going to keep writing about them! "All Bets Are Off" is the third new track the band has released this year in advance of its forthcoming album The Magic Comes & The Magic Goes. It's a perfect little pop song that really leans into a late '70s/early '80s UK new wave style. It pairs an upbeat musical energy and soaring chorus with thoughtful, self-aware lyrics about trying to be a better person. If you slotted this song between "Back of My Hand" and "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" on a "best of 1979!" playlist, a lot of people would be none the wiser. The music video is quite delightful, and I got a real kick out of the Michael Jackson "Thriller" allusion at the beginning. As a band, it's so hard to have perspective on your own music. But hearing the members of The Speedways talk about this soon-to-be-released LP, it's obvious that they are pumped out of their minds to put these songs into the universe. They know they have something special cooking. All these advance singles (including last year's "Visiting Hours") have been smash hits. If we end up with the best Speedways album yet, I will not be surprised. Look for a new 7" next month!

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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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Sunday, August 16, 2026

Candybar - First Bite


Well here's something the world absolutely needed! Say hello to Candybar from Brooklyn, New York! Big Eyes were one of the shining lights of punk-influenced power pop in the 2010s. They released four albums between 2011 and 2019, establishing Kait Eldridge as one of the finest songwriters of her generation. And just like that, they were gone. Candybar reunites Eldridge with her Big Eyes band-mate Jeff Ridenour. They're joined by Lily Gist (Frida Kill) on bass and Dante Fotino (Born Sinner, Puddle Splasher) on drums. There was very little advance hype about Candybar, but it's not going to take long for the excitement to spread given the quality of the foursome's debut EP. It's called First Bite, and it delivers three truly excellent tracks. Candybar is not necessarily Big Eyes, part 2. But if you've always loved the way Eldridge blends punk, power pop, and rock influences in her own signature style, you will not be disappointed in First Bite. All three of these tracks rock hard and are crammed full of hooks. The catchy, crunching "Queen of Sunday" is an ode to the coziest day of the week and the joy of lying around the house doing whatever you feel like. "Love Comes and Goes" (which has a bit of a glam rock vibe to it) and the pure pop gem "Wash the Salt" are heartfelt, deeply relatable love songs. As the title reflects, this is just a small first taste of what Candybar has in store for us. This is a band that people are going to be talking about, and so many of us have taken that first bite and are left craving much more. Stay tuned!

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Saturday, August 15, 2026

Kurt Baker - Got It Covered (vinyl reissue)


Out now on vinyl for the first time ever, Kurt Baker's Got It Covered was one of the most important power pop releases of the 2010s. It was Baker's first solo record, released at a time when his band The Leftovers were coming to an end. The choice of songs made the mission completely clear. Baker set out to cover a bunch of his favorite new wave and power pop songs from the late '70s and early '80s. This was his way of paying tribute to the songs and artists that would ultimately shape his own direction as a lead artist. This is where it all started. Before there was Brand New Beat, Play It Cool, and After Party, there was Got It Covered. The track list ("Let Me Out" by The Knack, "Hanging on the Telephone" by The Nerves, "Pump It Up" by Elvis Costello, "I've Done Everything for You" by Sammy Hagar {and reinterpreted by Rick Springfield)}, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" by Joe Jackson, "Cruel to Be Kind" by Nick Lowe, and "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors) is absolutely bulletproof. Those are some of my favorite songs ever! Any place with those songs on a jukebox would be my idea of a slice of heaven. In marrying those influences with '90s/2000s pop-punk, Baker would write a new chapter in the history of power pop. 16 years later, I can really appreciate the way he injected these classic tunes with new energy. For this release, Justin Perkins has remastered the original recordings. And there's new cover art that definitely nails the vibe Baker was going for on this release. Got It Covered will be an essential addition to your vinyl collection if you're a Baker fan or a fan of power pop in general. The first 90 copies were personally signed by Baker. Get it from Oglio Records!

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Friday, August 07, 2026

Loose Lips - "Beehive"


Still riding the momentum of their excellent debut album Last Laugh, Melbourne's power poppin' punk rock and rollers extraordinaire Loose Lips are back with a hot new single off a new EP that will release next month. You always know what you're going to get from Josh, Nadine, and Ethan, and "Beehive" is very much in that lane. It's a fun, high-energy rocker with an unbeatable hook. It takes just a little over two minutes to get the job done, and then you're ready for another go-around. While the full EP doesn't come out until September 4th, you can pre-order it now and check out another track, "Remember We Love You." With 2026 being one of the hottest years for new music in recent memory, I'm pumped to have Loose Lips be part of it! 

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MOM - "Miss U Madly"


Check it out! After a long wait, we finally get new music from MOM! "Miss U Madly" is the brand-new single from Malmö, Sweden's greatest power pop band, and of course it's a smash! Not counting Christmas releases or live albums, this is the first new track we've heard from MOM in four years. It does not disappoint. This song is vintage MOM — a sticky wad of bubblegum rock 'n' roll full of melody, handclaps, and radio-sized hooks. Barely topping the two-and-a-half minute mark, this tune will leaving you wanting more. So then you just play it again! Yeah, man: this is pop! Stay tuned for much more of MOM!

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Sunday, August 02, 2026

Dany Laj And The Looks - "Tell It To You"


Oh boy! We've got another new track from Dany Laj And The Looks! And it's a dandy! "Tell It To You" is the second single off the band's album If Looks Could Kill, which will be out September 18th on Toronto's Having Fun Records. I like this track because it adds some really cool layers to the usual pop-rock approach. It starts off a little laidback before really hitting its stride in the chorus. Dany has some really interesting things going on with his guitar tone on this record. I love the way his guitar and Jeanette's bass bob and weave around each other in such a striking way. The song comments on one of the worst aspects of modern life — the way public discourse is dominated by supposed truths that are anything but. A lesser songwriter may have been too heavy-handed with the topic. But this song takes a more subtle and human approach, holding off on the snark until the final verse, and even then its comes off as perfectly good-natured. How is it that we're knee-deep in the Information Age and people are more prone than ever to believing the dumbest things? The "three chords and the truth" approach to music has never been vital, and "Tell It To You" is exactly what the doctor ordered. When that chorus hits, it hits hard. Based on the singles that have been released so far, I can't help but be excited about If Looks Could Kill coming out next month — one day before NHL preseason starts! Let's go!

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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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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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The Speed Dials - SD Demos


My first reaction to The Speed Dials' demo was "Wow!" I'm always excited to hear straight-forward power pop carried off with tremendous energy and perfect simplicity. And it didn't take me long to recognize a familiar voice on lead vocals. The Speed Dials are a little bit of a Philadelphia indie-pop supergroup. The band is made up of Brendan from Log Flume on guitar/vocals, Dale from Civil Rats/Dummest Records on bass, and Ryan from Mango Safari on drums. That's an impressive lineup, and the songs live up to the pedigree. You can hear elements of these guys' other bands, but The Speed Dials are a royal treat for fans of classic power pop. In this age of streaming, the line between a proper demo and a self-released home-recorded EP has been blurred. So I like that The Speed Dials are calling this a demo. It suggests that this is just the start of something much bigger. The band just played its first show on July 15th, and it is set to record a debut album in the fall. These four songs are just a little taste of what the album will be, and it's immediately obvious that these guys have got something special going. All these songs are really good, but the band was wise to lead with "Ordinary" —a bona fide hit in any era. And looking at the band's logo, I can't help but feel a little twinge of nostalgia for the age of landline phones! Remember when you had to physically pick up a phone to call your girlfriend or boyfriend? Power pop fans, you'll want to get in on the ground floor floor with The Speed Dials!

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