Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin and The James Clark Institute - Split single

For the seventh time, Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin have released a digital split single that finds them swapping songs with another band or artist. If this just involved straight copies of the original songs (like you might hear at a live show), this series would have gotten stale by installment 2. But somehow Moss has turned the "Let's both cover one of each other's songs!" concept into a proper art form. I always look forward to these splits, and I'm always pleased by what I hear. Part of that is the musical diversity of the bands and artists Moss collaborates with. But an even bigger part of it is the approach.  

In this latest installment, Moss teams up with Toronto's The James Clark Institute. Moss notes that The James Clark Institute's cover of "A Donkey" (from Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin's album Now with More Rockets) is very, very different from the original. But he points out that's an entirely good thing. "That's what keeps me interested in doing this series of split singles, " he says. "The one rule is that no one does a note-for-note cover. But beyond that, there are no limits on how one goes about reinterpreting the other's song." You can really hear that no-limits philosophy coming to life on TJCI's version of "A Donkey." While the original is all fire, fury, and snarl, Clark reimagines it in his signature style of modern and slightly quirky guitar pop. It's fascinating to hear two very distinctive vocalists with extremely different styles put their stamps on the same song. Here the remake proves to be as powerful as the original but in an entirely different way. If you didn't know better, you'd think Clark wrote the song, part of which is because he made many changes to the lyrics. It would not sound out of place on any of his records. 

On their half of the split, Moss and Skin-Tight Skin cover "Bettie Page Rides A Donkey" from Clark's album Sideshow Unattraction. That's right: both songs on this release mention donkeys, which makes for a very cool connection. Moss, backed by Glenn Kowalski (from 7 Door Sedan) on lead guitar, Tom McNally on bass, and Steve Naff on drums, transforms Clark's stripped-down, melody-driven original into a deliberately paced and somewhat other-worldly glam-punk rocker. The significantly altered arrangement and Moss's cool, understated vocal delivery completely change the feel of the song. Moss and his band manage to honor the genius of Clark's original, but they don't hesitate to make it their own. This is what doing cover songs is all about! 

Out of all the split singles Moss has done since he launched this project in 2024, this particular one shows the highest degree of creative reinterpretation yet. If you appreciate someone else's song enough to want to record it yourself, you ought to appreciate it enough to want to make it your own. Both of these tracks here sound like almost completely new songs, and I love it! If you're a fan of Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, be on the lookout for another split (with TA-80) in September and a Moss solo single in October!

-L.R.

https://skin-tight-rock.bandcamp.com/album/split-single-bettie-page-rides-a-donkey-a-donkey
https://www.facebook.com/RobMossAndSkinTightSkin/
https://www.instagram.com/rob_moss_and_skin_tight_skin/
https://www.clarkinstitute.com/
https://thejamesclarkinstitute.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jamesclarkinstitute/
https://www.facebook.com/thejci/

Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin and Arthur Alexander - "Why Can't You Come" / "Red Beans and Gasoline"

Rob Moss is back doing another song swap with one of his musical friends, and again this is a split that needs to be heard. The concept is simple: Moss and his band Skin-Tight Skin join forces with another band or artist. They each record one of each other's songs and put out a digital split single. And the results are never pedestrian. This time Moss has hooked up with Arthur Alexander — yes, THE Arthur Alexander, a true god of American power pop best known for his bands Sorrows and The Poppees. For this project, Moss and his bandmates Tom McNally (bass) and Steve Naff (drums) brought in Billy Loosigian (Willie Alexander and The Boom Boom Band) to play lead guitar. They tackle Arthur Alexander's song "Why Can't You Come" from his solo album ...Steppin' Out! The original version is a top-quality rocker with a killer hook. Moss and company retain the song's hard edge, but they definitely punk it up: pushing the tempo as Moss brings his unique vocal touch. Alexander's track is a cover of one of Moss's best songs and one of the greatest modern tributes to rock 'n' roll: "Red Beans and Gasoline" off of 2022's NOW WITH MORE ROCKETS. Somehow Alexander manages to honor the original spirit of the song while completely re-working it and making it sound like something he could have written. 

What I love about this series of split singles Rob Moss is doing is that it's all about mutual respect and love for music. Moss isn't just friends with these other artists — he's also a huge fan. And that goes both ways, obviously. If this is your first encounter with "Why Can't You Come," that's likely to lead you to check out ...Steppin' Out!, which came out a couple years ago on Big Stir Records. And considering what a distinctive artist Moss is, I'm always fascinated to hear how other bands and artists interpret his material. I hope there is much more to come in this series!

-L.R.

https://skin-tight-rock.bandcamp.com/album/split-single-why-cant-you-come-red-beans-and-gasoline
https://www.instagram.com/rob_moss_and_skin_tight_skin/
https://arthuralexander.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ArthurAlexanderBand/

Split System/Les Lullies - split 7"

So Split System released one of the best punk rock singles of this year, and for whatever reason, I never got around to writing anything about it. So perhaps I should weigh in on the band's split single with France's Les Lullies before I blink and it's suddenly December. There are so many great punk bands in Australia right now, but I wouldn't fight you if you said Split System was the best of them all. This band just kills it time and time again, and its contribution to this split is no throwaway. "Chemicals" is another essential shot of ferocious, hard-hitting punk rock 'n' roll that socks you in the mouth. "A L'Etroit," Les Lullies' contribution to this split, is a ripper in its own right — bringing that catchy '77-style punk rock energy with speed and vigor. If this is your first time hearing Les Lullies, I highly recommended a deeper dive into the band's catalog. This is a nice pairing of bands who have musical styles that are somewhat different but also somewhat similar. They'll be out on the road together in Europe next month, so be sure to check their social media for more info. Their split is available on vinyl from Legless in Australia and Drunken Sailor Records in the UK.!

-L.R.

https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-13
https://splitsystem.bandcamp.com/album/chemicals-a-letroit
https://open.spotify.com/album/03BhCUStYyYgobsbM9LH3A
https://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/products/867124-split-system-les-lullies-split-7-drunken-sailor-records
https://www.instagram.com/splitsystem666/
https://leslullies.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/leslullies/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100061677671529

The Dahlmanns/Tommy and The Rockets - Scandinavian Affair

It's always a great day when I can talk about The Dahlmanns! Scandinavian Affair, according to my most sophisticated calculations, is The Dahlmanns' 17th release. It's a split single that teams up Norway's favorite power (pop) couple with Tommy and the Rockets from Denmark. And it was co-released by a Swedish label! For this project both bands cover a song from the early '80s. The Dahlmanns contribute their version of "Party Girl" off of Rachel Sweet's third LP ...And Then He Kissed Me. On the flip, Tommy offers up his rendition of "You Don't Know What You've Got" from Joan Jett's 1980 debut album.

Superb choice in cover material has always been a strong suit for Andre and Line Dahlmann. They will often take a band and find a song of theirs that's just as great but not quite as known as the "big hits" (their version of Katrina and the Waves' "Do You Want Crying" is one of the most splendid things they've ever recorded!). And that's exactly what they've done here. "Party Girl" was by no means one of Rachel Sweet's highest charting singles, but in my book it's up there with her finest songs. The Dahlmanns manage to remain faithful to the girl group gone new wave style of the original without straight-up copying it. Line, as always, is remarkable on lead vocals. To pull off this song, you really have to convey a genuine tenderness and emotion. Line does just that - again showing that there's no better pure pop singer out there. The playing and production are exactly what you'd expect from a Dahlmanns recording: absolutely flawless. And if this track sends dozens of people in search of Rachel Sweet's old records, that will be a win for everyone (the uninitiated should start with this banger!). I have not checked in with Tommy and the Rockets in a number of years, but I've got to say that Tommy's version of "You Don't Know What You've Got" is really fantastic. He treats the song with his usual Beach Boys worship by way of the Ramones, and overall my impression of this track is that it fits perfectly in tandem with The Dahlmanns. In fact, this Scandinavian affair went so swimmingly that we all ought to demand a sequel! Get the 7" from Beluga Records and Ghost Highway Recordings!



-L.R.

https://belugarecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-dahlmanns-tommy-and-the-rockets-scandinavian-affair
https://tommyandtherockets.bandcamp.com/album/scandinavian-affair
https://www.facebook.com/thedahlmanns/
https://www.facebook.com/punkrecords.se/
https://www.facebook.com/GhostHighwayRecordings/

Parasites/Lone Wolf - Passport Split Series Vol​.​ 4

For a while now, Mom's Basement Records has been doing a series of splits featuring bands from all over the world. With Mom's Basement being one of the world's preeminent pop-punk labels, it's no surprise that previous volumes of the Passport series have featured heavyweights of the genre like The Windowsill, Neon Bone, Grim Deeds, and The Putz. Well for this fourth volume, John has really upped the ante and delivered new recordings from the legendary Parasites! Some of you oldtimers may recall that I was an obsessed Parasites fan circa the later '90s, and I would still put this band in any holy trinity of pop-punk I ever concocted. Here Parasites share space with Dutch punk rock supergroup Lone Wolf, and I must instantly declare this as the most essential installment yet in the Passport Split series!

So how do new songs from Parasites sound? Very much like old songs from Parasites! My god, "No Sleep Tonight" sounds like a missing track from Punch Lines! It's everything a pop-punk tune ought to be: full of catchy melodies, heartfelt vocals and lyrics, and guitars that pack a serious punch. Nobody writes 'em quite like Dave! "Nowhere Near Me" is faster-paced and punkier - yet still full of those vintage Dave Parasite airings of grievances that you'll surely relate to if you've ever had bitter feelings towards an ex. One thing that always drew me to Parasites was how Dave could write about completely miserable experiences yet still find twisted humor in them. Here he is still doing that in 2020. Listen to a master at work!

You'd get your money's worth on this split just from the Parasites tracks alone. But the Lone Wolf  side of this release turns out to be just as good if not better! Featuring members of The Apers, The Bat Bites, Accelerators, Giant Eagles, and The Windowsill, Lone Wolf belie their three-chord pop-punk pedigree with a sound that's a great mix of indie rock, power pop, and punk. The band just released a really great LP on Stardumb Records that I should have known about (I mean that literally - I just found the email from Stefan dated last August 13th!). Here Lone Wolf turns out two more fantastic tracks. "Meet Me In The Middle" is great upbeat pop-leaning punk with keyboards. Even though the lyrics are intensely emotional, this song possesses the kind of triumphant energy that can immediately turn your day around. And with what the world is going through now, a lot of us may need our days turned around on an hourly basis. "After Dark" is another emotion-packed number that really plays up the outstanding chemistry Merel and Ox have as co-vocalists. What a fine tandem! While still fitting perfectly within the Mom's Basement universe, Lone Wolf are a band you might dig even if you don't like pop-punk. I'm hearing traces of everything from the Marked Men to Dirt Bike Annie to melodic post-hardcore to '90s indie/alternative. 

Sometimes split records are where bands' shitty material goes to die. So I must commend John from Mom's Basement for securing top-notch tracks from two great bands. Here we've got perhaps the best Parasites songs I've heard in more than 20 years along a pair of top-tier tracks from one of the finest new punk groups out there. Of course I was pumped to hear new music from Parasites, and I was not disappointed. But I've come out of this split with a new band to love in Lone Wolf. Which band wins the split? I'll happily call it a tie!



-L.R.

https://momsbasementrecords.bandcamp.com/album/passport-split-series-vol-4-parasites-lone-wolf-split 
https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/product/passport-split-series-vol-4-parasites-lone-wolf-split 
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords/ 
https://theparasitesofficial.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialParasites 
https://wearelonewolf.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/wearelonewolf/ 

Wild Zeros/Proto Idiot - Jukebox Serie split 7"

It's hard to beat a split 7" when you really like both bands. Well today I've got a split featuring two bands I like a lot! Out on the new French label Permanent FREAK, this team-up between France's Wild Zeros and Manchester's Proto Idiot appears to be the first installment in a series called Jukebox Serie. Sometimes with splits, bands don't always put their best material out there. But I must say that that is not the case here. Both bands contribute a strong pair of all-new original songs. Wild Zeros turn out the tracks "Don't Want It, Still Get It" and "First Floor Freak". This is already the fourth Wild Zeros 7" release in less than a year, and this effort is very much in keeping with the previous three. Think '90s-style garage punk rock and roll with filthy guitars and a beat that's sure to get you shaking your hips. I'm especially partial to the blazing "First Floor Freak". Given the partnership with Wild Zeros here, it's fitting that "Tell Me What You Want" is Proto Idiot at its "punkiest" (yet still plenty quirky/oddball). If you're looking for a song to inspire you to suddenly start vigorously jumping up and down for no apparent reason other than it would be tremendous fun, this track ought to do it! What a jolt of energy! "New Ways of Seeing" slows the pace a tad, exploring that poppy side of new wave/post-punk/art-punk that these gentlemen are so well known to occupy. And if you're left wanting more, you're in luck since Proto Idiot just released a new LP!

I would imagine that if you're a fan of one of these bands, you're probably a fan of the other. And if not, maybe you will become one now! I hope this is just the first of many installments of Permanent FREAK's Jukebox Serie. It's limited to just 300 copies, so get cracking!



-L.R.

https://permanentfreak.bandcamp.com/album/wild-zeros-proto-idiot-jukebox-series-split 
https://wildzeros.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/permanent.freak/ 
https://www.facebook.com/protoidiot/ 
https://www.facebook.com/wildwildzeros/ 

Trampoline Team/MAMA - split 7"

So I have gone from a flurry of posts in July and August to very sparse activity in September. With school work again consuming most of my free time, the blog updates will likely be infrequent for a while. I do have a couple of album reviews (Role Models, The Safes) in the works, but they may take some time. With that in mind, I wanted to do a quick write-up on a release that a lot of you should be very interested in. Both MAMA and Trampoline Team are bands I've raved about recently. They've gotten together for a limited split 7" on Giveaway Records - a release that does not disappoint! I like that these two bands are very different yet still make an ideal pairing for a split. MAMA's two tracks are exactly what you'd expect: thundering '70s style arena rock with dual guitar leads and radio-worthy hooks. It's impossible for me to listen to "Double Trouble" and not imagine it blasting from the 8-track tape deck of a 1978 Camaro. Trampoline Team counters with a pair of tracks that are right up there with the songs from its recent 7" (the best punk rock single of the year, in my opinion). A title like "Headless Cock" sure promises a lot. And let me tell you, the song does not come up short! A la the band's previous hit "Drug Culture", this track comes on with exuberant dual vocals, great snotty lyrics, and an old school punk sound that's catchy yet totally ballsy. "Scrap Addiction" - reminiscent of the Ramones and Angry Samoans, is another infectious toe-tapper from this powerhouse New Orleans trio. 

Limited to just 100 copies, this split is available from MAMA's Bandcamp while supplies last. This will be the only vinyl appearance for MAMA's two contributions to the split. If you're just interested in the digital tracks, Giveaway Records has this split available as a free download at its Bandcamp. MAMA and Trampoline Team are two of the best bands out there right now. So I recommend you track down not just this split but also everything else both bands have released!



-L.R.

https://mamamamamama.bandcamp.com/album/mama-trampoline-team-split-7-ep 
https://giveawayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/trampoline-team-mama 
https://giveawayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mama-trampoline-team 
https://trampolineteam.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/trampolineteamm/ 
https://www.facebook.com/MAMAbandchicago/ 

MAMA/Private Interests split!

In some alternate universe where Faster & Louder is a glossy print magazine available at gas stations and drug stores everywhere, Private Interests would be gracing the cover decked in Cold War era attire - the photo positioned under the headline "Hottest New Bands of the Year!". I've been psyched to hear more music from this Minneapolis foursome since its outstanding debut EP arrived this past fall. And as luck would have it, I did not have to wait very long. Private Interests has teamed up with Chicago's MAMA to give us a split 7" EP uniting two of our greatest Midwestern cities under the banner of power pop worshiping at the twin-guitar altar of Thin Lizzy.

MAMA's two contributions to the split were taken from the band's short-run Eye in the Sky cassette, and they were fine choices to be preserved on the vinyl format. "Lazer Lover" is the "hit" here - a full-on '70s arena rock rager that would not sound out of a place on a playlist sandwiched between Nazareth and The Nuge. You've got two guitars taking it straight over the top and a singer who can really belt it. I can't help imagining myself in a darkened arena in 1978, and suddenly the lights come on and this is the song that ignites a triumphant night of rock. BAM! The terrific "Girls Next Door" slides nicely into the Big Star/Raspberries corner of power pop, but with clear nods to Cheap Trick and Lizzy as well. This is a best-case scenario for a split: I was drawn in by the presence of one particular band and ended up liking the other one just as much. I will definitely be checking out the rest of MAMA's releases!

On its half of the split, Private Interests continues to show why it's one of the most promising up-and-coming bands out there. "Livin' In The City" is a really pleasant surprise: the band's first foray into straight-up classic power pop a la The Nerves and 20/20. The verse rides a wave of melancholy on the strength of Cameron's vocal, and then that chorus punches hard. I love the amazing lead guitar work and the satisfying thump of the drums! The equally good "Finest Hour" bears all of the trademarks of a Johnny Eggerman song: more of a mid-tempo vibe with a plaintive vocal and dual guitar lines intersecting in perfect harmony. Coming from a town where Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins exemplify the complementary forces of power and finesse, this pair of songs could not be any more satisfying. Private Interests is quickly zooming up my list of current favorite bands!

I wanted to post on this EP as early as possible due to the extremely limited nature of this vinyl release. Just 300 copies were pressed, and only 30 of those were made available for Piñata Records to sell to the public. The remaining copies went straight to the bands to sell at shows. So if you're nowhere near these bands and want a vinyl copy, you better move fast! This record is a perfect representation of all of the great rockin' pop that's currently emerging from the American Midwest. Get on it!



-L.R.

https://pinatarecords.bandcamp.com/album/mama-and-private-interests-split-7
https://www.facebook.com/privateinterests/
https://www.facebook.com/MAMAbandchicago/

Mandates + Mother's Children = YEAH!

When I heard that Mandates and Mother's Children were doing a record together, I absolutely couldn't wait for it to come out! A Mandates/Mother's Children split struck me as an incredibly great idea. Here you've got two of the best bands out there - friends, tour mates, and leading players in a Canadian punk/powerpop scene that's been setting the world on fire the last few years. Really, the only way this collaboration could have failed would have been if the bands had contributed sub-par material. But come on: did you really think Taken By Surprise Records was going to sign off on a release that wasn't absolutely killer?! On the heels of a recently completed Mandates/Mother's Children European tour, TBSR presents a vinyl team-up of these two superb bands. Each group contributes an A-side caliber slice of power poppin' rock n' roll goodness. If you're a fan of one or both of these bands, you will not be disappointed. And if for some reason you're not familiar with these fine Canadian outfits, this split serves as a perfect introduction to what they're all about. Warning: this is highly addictive music. Be prepared to go buy everything that Mandates and Mother's Children have ever recorded!

This split is a power pop lover's dream. Both songs come in well under three minutes. Mandates are up first with "Sycophantic Romantic" - which mixes the bigger, tighter sound of the band's new album with a revved-up rock n' roll style that's pure thrills. This number is vintage Mandates - with guitars punched up all the way and hooks at every turn. Right on! Mother's Children follow with "No Rules", which could easily pass for some long-lost power pop rocker from the late '70s. With its hot leads, snappy beat, and infectious chorus, this song fully captures the spirit of adolescent fun. It'll make you wanna get in a car with a bunch of your friends and drive way too fast with the music cranked!

Having waited a full year to hear a new recording from one of my favorite bands, I'm 100 percent delighted with "No Rules". What an awesome song! I can't quite say that Mother's Children "won" this split, but that's only because the Mandates' half is equally great. Let's just call it a tie and proclaim the fans the true winners!



-L.R.

https://takenbysurpriserecords.bandcamp.com/album/mndts-mthrschldrn-split-7
https://mandates.bandcamp.com/
https://motherschildren.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mandates/197923143559474
https://www.facebook.com/motherschildren
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TAKEN-BY-SURPRISE-RECORDS/171760112965

Iron Chic V. Low Culture

I've always had a love/hate relationship with splits. I love them when both bands are equally good and hate them when one of the bands kinda blows. But one of the best things about about splits is that they often turn me on to cool bands that I might not have otherwise checked out. A case in point is the new split 7" featuring Iron Chic and Low Culture. This is not just a split between two bands. It's also a split between two labels: Dirt Cult Records (run by Chris from Low Culture) and Dead Broke Rekerds (run by Mike from Iron Chic). It's like a double secret split! Anyway, I'm a big fan of Low Culture. So I was going to be into this release no matter what. But this was my first time hearing Iron Chic, and I was so impressed that I've started to go back and check out the band's prior recordings.

This split had me won over from Iron Chic's opening number "L'esprit de L'escalier". The melodic punk/post-hardcore with gruff vocals thing is a little outside my area of expertise, but I know quality music when I hear it. This track is a straight-up anthem, and it sounds like the drummer might have collapsed from exhaustion if the song had gone any longer. I can't help envisioning how this tune must come off live - with people jumping around like crazy and singing along at the top of their lungs. The energy, as they say, is palpable. When it comes to this style of music, I'd say this is absolutely top of the line. "Subhumanoid Meltdown" is in a similar vein. It starts slow and then builds to a rousing, anthem type feel. You're held in suspense waiting for the chorus to kick in. And when it does, BAM! I love those "whoa oh" backing vocals. 

Low Culture, as expected, brings two quality tracks of its own to this split. I thought the band's contributions to its split with Needles//Pins were its best songs yet, and the hot streak stays alive here with the snappy "Not A Machine" and super catchy "Oh Jazelle". The band continues to combine garage, punk, and power pop influences in a distinctive and wonderfully appealing way. "Not A Machine" would fit perfectly between Marked Men and The Figgs on an epic mixed tape. "Oh Jazelle" is pure upbeat energy - the kind of song you can't wait to crank in your car with the windows down! Low Culture, within today's garage/punk scene, strikes me as a very underrated band. But if these guys keep turning out music this good, that might very well change. 

All in all, this is a perfect example of what a split should be. Iron Chic and Low Culture have very different sounds, but they clearly have enough in common that it makes sense for them to be together on the same record. I got to hear excellent new material from a band I always enjoy, and I discovered a new band that I really like. It's a win all the way!



-L.R.

http://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-4
http://deadbrokerekerds.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-ep-2
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Low-Culture/292105234150979
https://www.facebook.com/ironchicband

Low Culture V. Needles//Pins!

In today's underground punk world, there aren't as many split releases as there used to be. But I still enjoy a good split from time to time, and Dirtnap Records is one label that really seems to "get" this format. If there's a down side to splits, it's that sometimes the one band is awesome while the other completely blows. Or sometimes bands will be paired together when they have absolutely nothing in common in a musical sense. So I really appreciate the thought that Ken puts into his split projects - and his history of winning pairings such as Something Fierce/Occult Detective Club and Mean Jeans/Big Eyes. Dirtnap doesn't get involved with splits very often. But when it does, it gets it right! A case in point is a brand-new one featuring Low Culture and Needles//Pins. Low Culture - with its poppy garage sound and direct Marked Men connection - is pretty much the quintessential Dirtnap band. And when it comes to Needles//Pins, a lot of us have been wondering why in the heck they weren't already on the Dirtnap roster!

I'll be honest - I had a preconceived notion that I was going to like the Needles//Pins side of this split way better than the Low Culture side. That's no knock on Low Culture - just a reflection on Needles//Pins being one of my favorite bands. But, you know, if I had to pick a "winner" of this split, I might give it to Low Culture by a hair. "Reservations" and "Don't Tell Me" are the best songs I've heard to date from this band. To me, these tracks are a perfect example of how a band can keep a lo-fi garage spirit in its music even when it records in a professional studio. With Joe and Chris so well-known for their work in Marked Men and Shang-A-Lang, it's no surprise that Low Culture combines qualities of both bands. That was true of the band's LP, but it's far more noticeable here with the better production. This is definitely a poppier sound than I was expecting - but in an adventurously off-kilter way. "Reservations" in particular indulges in a bit of what you might call "slacker jamming". I'm reminded a little of the classic days of alternative rock - when loose, fuzzy pop ruled college radio. I love the energy, and those melodies have really been working their way into my brain. If you fondly recall a time when "indie" rock didn't suck or are into newer bands like Tenement, I think you will dig. Now I'm stoked for the next album!

Both of Needles//Pins' contributions to this split are from the same sessions that produced the terrific Shamebirds LP. In case that album didn't leave you with your fill of bad breakups, broken hearts, and toxic relationships, "Hateful" picks right up where Shamebirds left off. I can't get over how good Adam is at writing this type of song. For his sake, I hope he doesn't write entirely from personal experience. But considering the brutal honesty and sheer intensity of his lyrics, it seems unlikely that he's just making this shit up! "Bored" is a song that people will relate to immediately - an anthem for all of us who know that one person who just needs to shut the hell up. What I love about Needles//Pins is that their songs speak to the universal human experience. But when it comes to the things that are genre specific about their music, there's no questioning why they're so beloved by powerpop/garage/punk fans. The lead guitar in "Hateful" is just so catchy, and "Bored" delivers a hook to die for. Sometimes the "leftovers" from bands' album sessions are best left unheard, but both of these songs are quite good. And now all feels right in the world since Needles//Pins and Dirtnap have finally worked together. I would say that this is not the last time you'll hear this band on this label.

Did I say that Low Culture "won" this split? I lied. It's a tie. And when a split is done right, that's just how it should be.



-L.R.

http://dirtnaprecords.bandcamp.com/album/low-culture-needles-pins-split-7
www.dirtnaprecs.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/NEEDLESPINS/126242374075791
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Low-Culture/292105234150979

Ladykillers v. Los Pepes!

No Front Teeth Records has delivered another great record. In other news, the sky is blue and The Pope is Catholic. This particular release is a split 7" featuring two of the many brilliant English punk bands of the moment: Ladykillers and Los Pepes. Given NFT's impeccable track record, you hardly need me to tell you that this split is hot. But I'll say it anyway: this split is hot! Ladykillers play high energy garage rock n' roll that's catchy as hell and sure to get you shaking. "Repeat" is up there with the best stuff currently coming out of Portland, Ottawa, northern Texas, or any other hotbed of garage punk. Los Pepes are billed as "the loudest powerpop band on earth" and cite the likes of the Testors, Nervous Eaters, and Boys as inspirations. All those influences are indeed palpable in their music. Their tracks "Head On" and "Dressed Down" combine pop sensibilities with a huge dose of ROCK that will knock your head off. They are definitely everything you would expect from a band that's "inspired by the forgotten wax of obscure punk 'no hit wonder' singles from the 1970s and touched by the melody of the girl groups of the 1960s". Sounds like the kind of band I ought to love, right? Exactly!

If you haven't already, check out the Ladykillers' album from last year. It's a great blend of old school garage rock and more contemporary garage punk. Meanwhile, Los Pepes have a new 7" coming out on Wanda Records that will not disappoint! I'll have much more to say about that in a few weeks. For now, I recommend hurrying on over to No Front Teeth Records and snagging yourself a copy of this split while you still can! As always seems to be the case with NFT releases, this bad boy is about to be sold out. Get on it!



-L.R.

http://theladykillers.bandcamp.com/album/ladykillers-los-pepes-7-vinyl-split-nft-records-2014
http://lospepes.bandcamp.com/album/los-pepes-ladykillers-split-7
http://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/

Stitches v. Miscalculations!

Talk about a clash of the titans! I can't think of two bands in the world that are better suited to collaborate on a split than The Stitches and Miscalculations. Musically speaking, they are true kindred spirits. When I heard that they'd done a split, I thought that had to be the best idea since the deep-fried Oreo. So, then...does the actual product (out on No Front Teeth Records) live up to expectations? Of course it does! The concept is that both bands take a signature song of theirs and do it two different ways. There's a "punk" side and an "electro" side to this split - each featuring both bands. And what blows my mind is that I don't necessarily prefer the punk side!

The Stitches' contribution to the punk side is a previously unreleased version of "Automatic" mixed by Pete Dee from The Adicts. Miscalculations answer with "Factory Life" - a great track in an early Buzzcocks meets Warsaw vein. Even if those had been the only two songs on the record, I would have been totally happy. I love this alternate mix of "Automatic", and "Factory Life" is one of Miscalculations' best songs to date. But the electro side pushes this split from good to truly great. Both tunes from the punk side are reinterpreted in a synth-punk/new wave fashion, and it's like they're entirely different songs! The Jet Set electro version of "Automatic" is the closest thing I've heard to The Screamers in a long time, featuring one of Mike's snottiest vocals ever and utilizing synthesizer with the seeming intention of ripping open your eardrums. Brilliance! Meanwhile, "Factory Life" gets an icy Gary Numan style makeover. In art, film, and music alike, I've always been a huge fan of 1970s visions of the future. That's what this version of "Factory Life" reminds me of, especially combined with the stark minimalism of the packaging and artwork. I'm struggling mightily to determine which of the two versions I prefer. Five years ago, I would have picked the punk version just on principle. Today, I'm calling it a tie. Good on Miscalculations for constructing a song that works equally well in both modes!

As you might expect, vinyl copies of this highly collectable split are going fast. So get on it now it if you still need a copy. Having received word that Miscalculations have already completed a second LP, I am understandably psyched! Hopefully we'll be hearing that in a few months. In the meantime, be sure check out their first one if you haven't already!



-L.R.

http://miscalculations.bandcamp.com/album/7-split-with-the-stitches 
http://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/

Thee Mighty Fevers V. The Morebeats!

A little less than a year ago, I posted for the first time on Thee Mighty Fevers - the latest in a long line of incredible garage punk bands from Japan. Well, the boys from Kobe are back! And they have found kindred spirits in Italy's Morbeats. The two bands have teamed up for a split 7" out on the Italian label One Chord Wonder, and of course it will blow your head off! If you find yourself longing for the mid-'90s glory days of raw and wild garage punk, Weird Affairs And Teengeneration Accidents ought to have you jumping for joy and howling in delight. Both bands tear into some fast and frenzied lo-fi rock n' roll that literally explodes from your speakers and headphones. Thee Mighty Fevers build on the momentum of their fantastic debut album with the fuzzed-out and ferocious "Emotion Fire". It sounds like they're trying to obliterate any obstacle in sight just through the sheer force of their music! I always love a band that sounds like it might have collapsed from exhuastion if the song had run one second longer. Marty can scream with the best of 'em, and Tommy's guitar soloing is glorious, earsplitting filth. The band also whips through a blistering rendition of "That's Alright Mama" - Elvis Presley's first single! This was arguably the first rock n' roll single ever, and 60 years later we still have bands like Thee Mighty Fevers keeping that original spirit alive while taking it to extremes that would have been unfathomable in 1954. Not since the Registrators circa Terminal Boredom have we heard a band quite like this. If you have yet to experience the sonic firestorm that is Thee Mighty Fevers, go stream their album and crank the volume until the windows shake! If you are unmoved by such savage racket, surely your soul has died.

Turning to The Morbeats' side of the record, there's not much of a drop-off. They power through an original number called "Little Robota", which rips a la Teengenerate or a super lo-fi Devil Dogs. I love the rawness and pure rock n' roll energy. The drummer sounds like he's banging on trash cans! If songs about girls are cool and songs about robots are cooler, then songs about girl robots are the coolest. "Sex Cow" is a cover of one of Teengenerate's best singles, and it ain't bad! I definitely wanna hear more from these guys.

A time machine trip back to the heyday of Rip Off and Crypt Records would cost you a fortune. Weird Affairs And Teengeneration Accidents is just as fun - and will get you there at a fraction of the price! Dig in!


-L.R.

http://theemightyfevers.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theemightyfevers
http://morbeats.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Morbeats

Lipstick Homicide v. The Turkletons!

 Ah, pop-punk! Don't you just love it? Actually, you might not. But I sure do. It was '90s pop-punk that first inspired me to start writing about music all those years ago. And I still love all that stuff. Today we don't have the sheer quantity of pop-punk bands that we used to, but the quality has gone way up in my opinion. A case in point is We're Gonna Need A Bigger Coat... - a new split 7" on It's Alive Records featuring Midwestern up-and-comers Lipstick Homicide and The Turkletons. My goodness! If I'd heard this record in 1995, I probably would have erected a monument in its honor and issued a 50-page press release extolling the virtues of both bands. It really reminds me of why I fell in love with this kind of music in the first place. Most pop-punk can be classified as either good or bad. But there's an additional category of great - and that's where both of these bands belong!

I think what I love best about Lipstick Homicide and The Turkletons is that they fully embrace everything that pop-punk should be about. If you're gonna do pop-punk music, you can't be halfhearted about it. These groups write catchy three-chord songs about love & relationships and whatnot, and perform them with energy and enthusiasm. They're about having fun and creating music that puts a smile on your face. Why are so many people against that? Given my "the poppier, the better" philosophy regarding pop-punk, it's no surprise that these are two of my favorite bands of the moment.

In particular, I'm a huge fan of Iowa's Lipstick Homicide. I do have a well-publicized fondness for pop-punk bands with female vocals, but there's something particularly special about this trio. Both of the band's tracks here are high-spirited and totally infectious, driven by gutsy vocals and hooky guitar leads. Think classic Lookout! Records meets Josie and the Pussycats (Yeah, I know!). You'll swear that that's Mike Dirnt on bass! "Not That Easy" is pretty much the perfect pop song. Oh, and they've got a new album out. Expect a full report soon!

The Turkletons, out of Minneapolis, make a perfect pairing with Lipstick Homicide. Again, we're talking old school pop-punk that doesn't apologize for drenching you with melody and harmonies. Yet it's still rough around the edges in a totally good way. Imagine early Teen Idols with boy/girl vocals. The guitar hooks are so catchy, and the likability of the vocals/lyrics is off the charts. It's impressive that The Turkletons keep doing splits with phenomenal bands (first Masked Intruder, and now Lipstick Homicide) and have no problem holding their own.

Few would argue with the contention that It's Alive is one of the greatest pop-punk labels of all-time. Just look at the bands on its roster! And without a doubt, I'd say this is one of the best records the label has ever put out. This is pop-punk for people who love pop-punk - made by people who love pop-punk. What could be better?



-L.R.

http://itsaliverecords.bandcamp.com/album/were-gonna-need-a-bigger-coat
https://www.facebook.com/lipstickhomicide
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Turkletons/129345953742092

Hit split!

Wow, is this turning out to be the year of epic splits, or what?! Hot on the heels of last week's post on the Big Eyes/Mean Jeans split, I am delighted to report on another five-star team-up! And this one is HUGE! I'm talking two of my favorite bands! Ever since I first heard The Cry!, I knew they were destined to work with The Connection in some capacity. I envisioned a joint world tour and perhaps a feature film. But for now, a split 7" is a great start to this titanic alliance. The record officially comes out on Valentine's Day, which seems appropriate since these are two bands that really make the ladies swoon.

It's no big secret that The Cry! is one of my favorite bands of the moment. These guys do that '77 punk meets power pop thing that I've always loved, and somehow they've found a way to contemporarize it for a new generation. And while bands of this style always get points for fine musical taste, what really separates The Cry! from the pack is their exceptional talent. New jam "Discotheque" is just the latest in a long line of instant classic pop songs from these Portland lads, and it really shows an affinity for that early '70s Chapman/Chinn glam rock sound. The harmonies, as always, are on-point. And Brian's lead guitar work is hot! No doubt these guys could have gotten away with writing another ten songs just like "Modern Cinderella" or "Think I'm In Love". But as a fan, it's nice to be surprised by something a little different yet equally awesome. And if "Discotheque" sounds like the best song The Boys never wrote, it's only appropriate that the band also tackles a song The Boys did write: "T.C.P." As far as I'm concerned, there can never be enough Boys covers. And this one is really great: faithful to the original but by no means a straight-up copy. It seems The Cry! is gravitating towards power pop with a more rock n' roll edge, and I'm really stoked about that. They're right in the thick of the "best band in the world" conversation! 

The Connection had to come strong to pull their weight here, but of course they've delivered as always. This band is just total class all the way. New England's newest hit makers never disappoint. "Don't Let Me Sleep Too Long" is a spot-on cover of the Myddle Class/Blues Project garage standard from 1966, while "She's Gonna Leave You" is another perfect shot of post British Invasion power pop a la LP gems "All You Gotta Do" and "I Want You". I think it's neat that these cuts show both sides of The Connection: the high energy garage rock side and the tuneful '60s pop side. These fellas always take it back to the days when rock n' roll made the girls scream and had all the kids dancing. And a la The Cry!, what makes them stand out in a somewhat crowded throwback rock n' roll field is their A-grade songwriting. I've been a fan of this band for a couple years, and "She's Gonna Leave You" is my favorite song of theirs yet!

Alright, kids! Although not officially released until Thursday, this split is limited to 500 copies and selling fast! Hop on over to Mooster Records and get in on the action! 

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-L.R.

http://www.facebook.com/thecrypdx
http://www.facebook.com/theconnectionRnR

Big Eyes v. Mean Jeans!

 Ahh! There's nothing better than a split that makes perfect sense. For one thing, Big Eyes and Mean Jeans are both from the Pacific Northwest. And they also happen to be two of the best bands out there when it comes to today's punk/power pop scene. I haven't actually sat down and figured out who my top ten fave current bands are. But if I did, both of these bands would be very much in the conversation. Needless to say, I was pretty psyched when I found out they were joining forces for a split on Dirtnap! What a treat!

The format for this split is one I like a lot. Both bands contribute an all-new track, and then they each cover one of the other's songs. In the battle of the original tunes, I'd say it's too close to call a clear winner. Mean Jeans come strong with "I Miss Outerspace", a song in their signature pop-punk style. If you liked the band's last album, this is very much in the same vein: catchy, Ramones-inspired tuneage with a sci-fi angle and a tinge of longing in the vocals. Big Eyes veer off their usual power pop course and deliver "Losing Touch" - a muscular mid-tempo number with a throwback garage feel. It's sneaky good. I love how the guitar riff lodges itself into my brain and refuses to let go. And Kate's vocal totally rocks!

The exchange of covers is great fun as well. Mean Jeans take on Big Eyes' "Since You Left" and make it sound like a Mean Jeans song. Big Eyes take on Mean Jeans' "2 Twisted 2 Love You" and make it sound like a Big Eyes song. Isn't that precisely the sort of thing you want from a split?!

It seems likely that if you're already a fan of one of these bands, you're a fan of the other as well. Big Eyes and Mean Jeans go together like peanut butter and jelly. No wonder they toured together! If you're somehow unfamiliar with these two acts, this probably is not the place to start. Go stream Mean Jeans' On Mars and Big Eyes' Hard Life if you've yet to be initiated into the ways of these two tremendous bands. Then you too will be super stoked about this split. Red vinyl sold out, black vinyl going fast!



-L.R. 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dirtnap-Records-Official/167234489965225
http://dirtnaprecords.bandcamp.com/album/mean-jeans-big-eyes-split-7

Let's split (again)!

You know how I feel about splits. I like both sides to have some sort of common thread. I'm not saying that the two bands should sound exactly the same, but I like there to be some similarity or commonality that will make the listener want to flip the record over. Otherwise you just end up wishing that it was the same band on both sides. On that note, a couple of up-and-coming hardcore bands from Brooklyn have just stepped up and demonstrated exactly how a split should be done!

Low Fat Getting High (love the band name!) have a classic post-hardcore sound on their track "Lacoste". They've got the epic tempo shifts, pounding drums, thick bass, and metallic guitars you'd expect. And it's all carried off with a strong sense of melody and a nicely polished crunch. Lyrics and vocals are intensely personal and packed with sincere emotion. The noise factor is there but doesn't get in the way of the music. In a good way, I'd describe this as post-hardcore with modern rock crossover potential - like maybe if Foo Fighters sounded more like, uh, early Nirvana? I'm hella impressed!



The Black Black are in a similar vein but more groove-happy. Their track, "One Blunt Death Party", is definitely in the Fugazi by way of Gang of Four mold of post-punk. These guys are probably not as "metal" as LFGH. But in their own way, they're equally as good. They're incredibly talented from a musical standpoint, and they've got the chemistry to make it all sizzle. Their style is pretty dissonant but still really catchy due to melodic guitar leads and that punching, grooving bass. I'm not usually a big post-punk guy, but this song has sunk its hooks into me for sure.  


All in all, this is an exemplary split. I like that both bands are of an equal high quality. And rather than pad this release with filler, they both picked one standout track that really shows what they can do. When a split is good, it's like getting two bands for the price of one. And this one is definitely good. If you're at all into the post-punk/post-hardcore thing, you will not want to miss out!

 -L.R. 

http://www.facebook.com/lowfatgettinghigh
http://www.facebook.com/theblackblack.nyc

It came from Ohio...

Northeastern Ohio, with its fantastically flat highways and long lineage of great Americans (Clark Gable, Ed O'Neill, Thurman Munson), holds a special place in my heart. Where else in the world can you buy Bertman Ballpark Mustard at a turnpike stop? And while the region is frequently noted for its significance in the ancient history of punk/indie/alternative/whatever-you-call-it music, two of its own are among the best new bands going now. They've teamed up on a split EP - the first vinyl release from Lion's Care Recordings. This is not the first time I've commended the efforts of the some of the principal players involved. David Bay Leaf singer/bassist Robert Glen Ledyard III was in Radar Secret Service, a band I raved about a decade ago (God, time flies!). And Batt Lion singer/guitarist Kenny Halbert (Cheatin' Hussies, Kill The Hippies, Cock Spaniels, Menudo, Village People) has been a longtime favorite of mine. But like Mark McGwire, I'm not here to talk about the past. We are moving boldly forward. Northern Ohioans do not rest on their laurels. They are innovators. They are visionaries. They defend the Lake from northern invaders. And while I'm going a little outside my normal range of musical expertise, I have to say that David Bay Leaf and Batt Lion are two of the most impressive underground bands I've heard in a long time.

Out of Akron/Kent, David Bay Leaf  are somewhat of an area super group. Gabe Schray from Houseguest is on baritone guitar, and Scott Davidson from Sexual Tension is on drums. They join the exceptionally talented Ledyard to form a different kind of power trio. Think vaguely gothy post-punk meets the good kind of indie rock. The hauntingly pretty "Open To Experience" is poppy in a pleasingly oddball way, while "Boring Grotto" is an eerie slow burn of tribal beats and entrancing bass lines. Schray's guitar work is incredibly beautiful, and it works in perfect harmony with Ledyard's robot man vocals and the generally dark atmosphere of the music. And although there's a lot going on instrumentally, there's a classic simplicity to the hooks. These songs invade your brain and stick around all day. Memorable lyrics like "I'd be open to experience/If I was ever in the mood/But I'm rarely ever in that kind of mood" and "You can assume somewhere/Someone's up to no good" add an extra dimension of awesome. You've won me over, fellas. I'm ready to hear more!



Youngstown's Batt Lion are like no band I've heard before. Lots of groups talk of mixing multiple genres into a unprecedented aural hodgepodge, but these guys actually went and did it. If grunge meets psychedelic garage meets noise-core meets '70s metal meets surf meets folkie soft rock meets back-in-the-day Ohio punk sounds like something you've heard before, you're probably lying! "Part Earth" opens with jangly guitars and treads softly until Kenny's vocals usher in a tidal wave of weird. It whets the appetite. The main course is "Witch's Wheel", which comes on with some sludgy Stooges via Sabbath guitar heaviness, opening slow but quickly kicking into another gear or two with lots of power riffing and epic wanking. You can definitely tell that these guys are inspired by the thundering guitar rock of yesteryear, but that's merely a starting point. This ain't your dad's stoner rock. Or your brother's. More like an alien's. And you know the aliens have better drugs and exponentially superior technology.

In the wake of my recent statements about why splits frequently disappoint, I've got to say this one is top-notch. Go ahead and shell out those five bucks. Do it for Ohio. Ohio would do it for you.



-L.R.

http://lionscarerecordings.wordpress.com/
http://www.facebook.com/DavidBayLeaf
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Batt-Lion/277914765589407

Time to split!

Aw, man: splits. They seem like such a fantastic idea on paper. Two bands for the price of one! How can it possibly lose? But in a lot of cases, splits end up disappointing. Usually it's because you like the one band way more than the other and wish they had contributed all of the songs instead of just half. And another common problem with splits is that the two bands just don't "go" together. How many times have you heard a split where there was just no logical reason for the two bands to be on the same record besides the fact that they were friends with each other? I hate when that happens! But leave it to Dirtnap Records to show the world how to do a split! Out now is a limited edition split 10-inch featuring Dirtnap's own Something Fierce and fellow Texans Occult Detective Club (only 1,000 copies pressed!). Not only does the split commemorate the bands' 2012 joint tour (which hits Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver this weekend), but it also makes a great pairing from a musical standpoint. These two go together like peanut butter and jelly! Or is it chocolate and peanut butter? It's no big secret that Something Fierce is my favorite present-day band. And having finally heard Occult Detective Club, I have to ask - How did I not already know about these guys?! They're totally up my alley and have two albums out. I get a big fat "F" for missing the boat. Oh well. I guess these things happen when you "retire" for three-and-a-half years.

Something Fierce's half of the split consists of three brand-new tracks, which pick up where Don't Be So Cruel left off and advance the ball even further down the field. What I love about this band is that they've reached the point where they only sound like themselves. You hear any of these three songs, and right away you know it's Something Fierce. They've retained the pop sensibility they've always been known for yet have genuinely managed to "progress" as artists. And that is not an easy thing to do! The musical synergy between Steven Garcia on guitar and Niki Sevven on bass, such an enjoyable aspect of Don't Be So Cruel, has been taken to another level. I mean, how often in punk music do you find yourself actually looking forward to the instrumental parts of a song? When it comes to Something Fierce, it's actually what I look forward to the most! The cliche about power trios is that they're supposed to be "tight". Something Fierce, with outstanding drummer Andrew Keith holding the beats, are as tight as it gets. They've been saddled with Clash comparisons all these years, but at this point they're more like a poppy Gang of Four or a post-modern Ruts, demonstrating that you can be really good at playing your instruments and still be "punk". And God, those hooks! We can throw around buzz words like "post-punk" and "new wave" if we want, but too often those terms suggest a formulaic type sound. Something Fierce are doing their own thing entirely, based on their distinct talents. If songs like "Get On Or Get Off" are any indication, their next album will be their best one yet!

Denton's Occult Detective Club contribute four tracks to the split. And I must admit that I like their half of the record just as much as the Something Fierce half. They play an aggressive style of melodic punk with gruff vocals and catchy guitar leads. The songs are short and simple but come off with great power and heart. Killer stuff! Think '70s punk meets early Husker Du with a modern twist. I fucking love these guys! A little four song taste of O.D.C. makes me want to hear a lot more. You can be assured I'm going to check out both of their albums pronto! And in the end, isn't discovering new bands one of the best things about splits? Damn right! Texas delivers again!



-L.R. 

http://somethingfierce.bandcamp.com/album/split-10
http://www.facebook.com/somethingfiercehouston
http://www.facebook.com/occultdetectiveclub?ref=ts