Randells - Peel Eat Repeat

Back with their first full-length album in more than three years, Sweden's Randells remind us why they're one of the world's premiere bubblegum pop-punk rock 'n roll bands. Peel Eat Repeat brings non-stop hooks and endless summer vibes, and it's the type of pop-punk record that begs to be played at the loudest possible volume. Over the course of 11 tracks, the band gives us a satisfying mix of fun sing-along punk tunes, straight-up love songs, and cranked-to-eleven rockers. Lyrically, the band covers a lot of ground, touching on everything from existential boredom to chubby chasers to Paul Stanley to fatal shark attacks to smoking hot zombies to an ex's hair band. What's not to love? These guys are masters at crafting rockin', ultra-catchy pop songs that sound great in the car with the windows down. The slick production, which might dull the edge of some other pop-punk bands, is absolutely perfect for these songs. The band has definitely dialed up the rock for this release, and I am all about it. It's always a party when a Randells record is playing! As we approach the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, Peel Eat Repeat can still give us instant summer whenever we crave it.

-L.R.

https://randellstheband.bandcamp.com/album/peel-eat-repeat
https://open.spotify.com/album/2vvS3TkxdwOql6XwhgVceX
https://www.instagram.com/randellstheband
https://www.facebook.com/randellstheband
https://www.youtube.com/@randellstheband/featured

Psychotic Youth - Happy Songs

On its latest album, Sweden's legendary Psychotic Youth puts on a master class in power pop. Released 38 years after the band's formation, Happy Songs is a reminder that Psychotic Youth still sounds like...Psychotic Youth! There are no concessions to new trends or conscious attempts to demonstrate maturity. Happy Songs is the kind of record this band has been dependably producing for decades, and in terms of quality, it's up there with the best of the group's full-length releases. By now you know the recipe: high-energy, punk-influenced power pop that marries catchy, feelgood tunes to lyrics full of "bitter thoughts of love, hope and despair." What could be better than that? On board for this release is a classic Psychotic Youth lineup featuring original members Jorgen Red Westman, Gunnar Frick, Kent Sjoholm, and Anders Nordstrand along with long-time member Ulf Abrahamsson. These guys have turned out a vintage Psychotic Youth record that puts the power in the pop and delivers hooks for days. Westman on vocals sounds ageless, and his songwriting adheres to the maxim of not fixing what isn't broken. From the opening notes of "A New Plan," it's clear that you're listening to the mighty Psychotic Youth. The way those punchy guitars lock in with Sjoholm's propulsive drums and Frick's spirited organ is truly unmistakable. From start to finish, it's pretty much wall-to-wall hits. The likes of "She's Gonna Do You In," "Out of This World," and "I Don't Wanna Go Now" would slot in perfectly on literally any Psychotic Youth album. There are also a couple of really excellent covers in the Real Kids' deep cut "Can't Talk to That Girl" and The ClockWatchers' "Drop in the Bucket." Not merely a vital influence on today's powerpop/punk scene, Psychotic Youth remains one of its standout acts. School is in session!

-L.R.

https://psychoticyouth1.bandcamp.com/album/happy-songs
https://open.spotify.com/album/5SHLXsCMldzsLujvJAZYhE
https://www.redwestproduction.com/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Psychotic-Youth-100061948034959/

Psychotic Youth - Can This Be the One

The legends are back! 38 years into its career, Sweden's Psychotic Youth is poised to release its 16th album, Happy Songs, this fall. In advance of the LP, the band has just released a teaser single called "Can This Be the One." Psychotic Youth has covered a lot of ground over the decades — from power pop to garage rock to pop-punk to surf. "Can This Be the One" is power pop all the way and in particular an homage to the sound of 1979. Jorgen Red Westman remains in top form as a songwriter on this energetic and catchy track. If you fondly recall purchasing the first Beat album and Elvis Costello's Armed Forces back in '79 (or wish you could have!), this song will be very much to your liking. Psychotic Youth has still got it! Happy Songs will release October 27th on vinyl and compact disc. 

-L.R.

https://psychoticyouth1.bandcamp.com/track/can-this-be-the-one
https://www.redwestproduction.com/
https://open.spotify.com/album/21d7kno32AXb2SmXkzJ0PT
https://www.facebook.com/p/Psychotic-Youth-100061948034959/

Randells - "Seven Inch"

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

-L.R.

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

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

Real Tears - Whipped Dreams

Look who's back! Real Tears have been longtime favorites of this blog. On their third album Whipped Dreams, these Swedes stick to a winning recipe with 12 songs of upbeat, catchy power pop punk in just under 23 minutes. If you're into fast-paced poppy punk and this band is not already on your radar, Whipped Dreams will be a real treat for your ears. Songs like "You're Mine" and "Satisfy You" could not be any catchier without requiring a government warning. Tunes such as "Sloppy Sleeper" and "Fat Thighs and High Sighs" continue Real Tears' tradition of writing better Dickies songs than The Dickies have written in decades. But there are also signs that the band is broadening its influences just enough to keep us all happy. I dig the rockin' edge of "Cleaning Up the City," while "Ballentine" and the title track are pretty much pure power pop. And what kind of lousy human wouldn't love a song called "Grillin' with Grandpa"? The power pop/punk style has long been a go-to genre for me, and Real Tears continue to execute it to perfection. Whipped Dreams is available now from Spain's Family Spree Recordings!

-L.R.

https://familyspreerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/fsr127-real-tears-whipped-dreams-lp
https://www.facebook.com/familyspreerecordings
https://realtearsua.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/realtearsua/

MOM - Fun 'N Games

Now here's a match made in power pop heaven: Malmö, Sweden's MOM, premiere pop hitmakers of the modern day, are putting out an EP on the illustrious Snap!! Records next month. Titled Fun 'N Games, the new EP will be available soon on 7" vinyl. It's available for digital purchase now through Bandcamp. These four tunes feature the classic MOM sound: mega-catchy bubblegum pop with a new wave edge. One of these tracks, "To the Beat," was released as a free digital single earlier this year. The other three are all-new and most definitely of the style and quality we've come to expect from Donny, Luke, Frank, and Spike. In particular, "Dreaming" and "Now Until Forever" are new high marks of the MOM hit parade. This is infectious, feelgood music full of melodies and choruses you'll be humming and singing all day long. When it comes to writing a great hook and laying down sugar-sweet harmonies, MOM just can't be beat. Any of these songs could pass for a forgotten pop hit from the '70s or early '80s, yet there's something about this band's energy that makes them feel new. MOM makes music for teenage romantics — and their cool parents. In what kind of sick world is "Now and Forever" not all over the radio? You know you're doing something right when Snap!! Records comes calling. The 7", limited to 300 copies, will be available October 14th!

-L.R.

https://mommusic.bandcamp.com/album/fun-n-games
https://snaprecordsspain.bandcamp.com/album/mom-funngames-fun-7071
https://www.facebook.com/musicbymom

MOM - "To The Beat"​/"​Scary Mary"

Look who's back! Donny, Luke, Frank and Spike, collectively known as MOM, return with another digital slab of bubblegum power pop gold! In the same vein as previous singles "Tonight" and "Don't Leave With My Heart," new single "To The Beat" will have all the kids dancing into the night while their moms sing along. These Swedish sensations sure know how to turn out an irresistible hook. If this song were any catchier, all of Europe would be back in lockdown. The virtual B-side, "Scary Mary," is another total earworm. Is this song actually scary, or is it a love song? Like all the best love songs, it seems to be a little bit of both. Good luck shaking that chorus! In some alternate universe where it's eternally 1976, this song will be blasting poolside from transistor radios all summer. All bow to the pop royalty that is MOM!

-L.R.

https://mommusic.bandcamp.com/album/to-the-beat-scary-mary
https://www.facebook.com/musicbymom/
https://www.instagram.com/musicbymom/

MOM - Pulls A Fast One

Swedish bubblegum pop sensations MOM have literally pulled a fast one! Donny, Luke, Frank, and Spike got together in July and banged out a surprise new EP in just a couple of weekends. Pulls A Fast One includes six cover songs performed in MOM's signature style. Some of these songs (especially ABBA's 1974 European chart smash "Honey Honey" and Marshall Crenshaw's 1982 hit "There She Goes Again") acknowledge obvious influences. Others are wonderful surprises. The early Whitney Houston hit "How Will I Know" is brilliantly transformed into bubblegum gold. The Prince classic "When You Were Mine" could probably pass for a MOM original if you didn't know any better! What a fun little EP from an always fun band! It's a free download via Bandcamp. If you still haven't picked up MOM's instant classic long player Pleasure Island, it's now available on both vinyl and CD. Who doesn't love MOM?!

-L.R.

https://mommusic.bandcamp.com/album/pulls-a-fast-one
https://www.facebook.com/musicbymom

Randells - Kicks

It seems appropriate that The Randells would release an album just in time for the summer. This trio from the south of Sweden creates an eternal summer with its music. Even if it's below freezing outside, a Randells record always transports you to a world of warm weather, abundant sunshine, picturesque beaches, and pretty girls. Following a great run of singles in 2020, The Randells have hooked up with the labels Monster Zero, Waterslide Records, and Memorable But Not Honorable to release a dynamite full-length album called Kicks. Over the course of 12 tracks, The Randells execute their patented mix of pop-punk, bubblegum, and surf to ear-pleasing perfection. You know what you're in for: buzzing guitars, sticky-sweet melodies, and lyrics ranging from sentimental to silly. The legendary Perry Leenhauts mixed and mastered the album, so of course it sounds like a million bucks! 

When I think about my longtime fondness for European pop-punk, bands that immediately come to mind are Travoltas, The Yum Yums, and The Hawaiians. I'd put Randells in the same category. The influence of the Ramones and Beach Boys is obvious, but this band offers its own fresh take on that storied musical tradition. Kicks really is a perfect pop-punk album -- satisfying on both the pop and punk sides of the equation. It's on the bubblegum side of pop-punk, but for sure it absolutely rocks! Play it now as you soak up the summer. And when the temperatures turn cold and the sky grows dismal, this album will take you back to the beach in spirit.

-L.R.

https://monsterzerorecords.bandcamp.com/album/kicks
https://www.facebook.com/randellstheband
https://randellstheband.bandcamp.com/album/kicks-2
https://www.facebook.com/MonsterZeroPunkrock

Randells - "Karen"

The calendar and the weather tell me it's still February. But it's always summertime when a Randells song is playing! The Swedish trio was considerate enough to drop a pair of digital singles to warm our souls in the middle of this winter. The latest, "Karen", is a classic blast of surf-tinged bubblegum punk rock that falls right in line with fellow Scandinavians Psychotic Youth and The Yum Yums. "Karen", featuring a guest appearance on vocals by Valentina De Rosa, is a tearjerker punk-pop tune for hopeless romantics and teenage delinquents alike. It arrives fast on the heels of "Gum In My Hair", a high-energy jolt of big hooks and buzzing guitars. In a perfect world, you'd hear these songs on the car radio while you were driving to the beach with your friends. This pair of tracks will chase away the winter blahs in a hurry. And yay! A new Randells album is due out this spring on Monster Zero!

-L.R.

https://randellstheband.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/randellstheband

Psychotic Youth - Forever and Never

After 35 years, Psychotic Youth still sounds like....Psychotic Youth! The legendary Swedish band has just released its 14th album Forever and Never. In the same vein as the band's 2017 comeback album The Voice of Summer and last year's superb 21, Forever and Never has all the hallmarks of a vintage Psychotic Youth record. It features 15 tracks of classic power pop with touches of punk, surf, and garage rock. Again working with Norwegian super producer Christian Jacobsen (The Yum Yums, The Dahlmanns), singer/guitarist Jörgen Westman has put on another master display on how to write three-minute pop songs that would top the charts in a better world. Also on board are longtime band members Ulf Abrahamsson (guitar), Anders Nordstrand (bass), Gunnar Frick (organ), and Kent Sjöholm (drums). Four of these five have been with the band going back to the very beginning in 1985. Yet after three and a half decades, these guys remain as faithful as ever to their original punky pop blueprint. And the eternal teenager Westman has never stopped writing perfect little songs about the highs and lows of romantic love. 

From the snappy power pop of "Come On (And Give Me Something)" to the garage rockin' "Takes You Down" to the '50s inspired "Goodbye Summer" to the sweet & sentimental "Before You" to the ripping punker "Detention", Forever and Never has something for just about everyone. Along the way, the band treats you to some textbook Psychotic Youth numbers ("Don't Be Like That", "Sucker for a Bliss") and a couple of dandy covers (Secret Service's "Ten O'Clock Postman" and The Messengers' "That's the Way a Woman Is"). Not just due to Jacobsen's production touches, Forever and Never ought to appeal to anyone who loves the most recent Yum Yums album. Behold the sweet spot where power pop and bubblegum punk converge. Now as always, Psychotic Youth is the gold standard!

-L.R.

https://psychoticyouth1.bandcamp.com/

https://www.redwest.se/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician-Band/Psychotic-Youth-298457281060996/

MOM - Pleasure Island

I always love it when I can start off a month in style! Donny, Frank, and Luke - collectively known as MOM - released two of the year's best pure pop singles over the course of the summer. I've had quite a few people comment to me privately about much they enjoyed those singles ("Tonight" and "Don't Leave With My Heart"). Mike from Vista Blue even gave "Don't Leave With My Heart" a spin on his excellent radio show The Radiant Radish. MOM has spent much of this year recording its debut album Pleasure Island with good friend Harry Log "somewhere in the Swedish wilderness". The album was officially released last week via Bandcamp and Spotify. 

It goes without saying that Pleasure Island is a treat for pop fans and eternal teenagers everywhere. On this 11-track release, MOM combines the best elements of 1970s bubblegum, glam, and power pop along with a touch of early '80s new wave. Both singles are included along with brand-new hits like "Better Than You" and "Ordinary Girl". The band also includes some really strong ballads and deep cuts ("Hurt By You", "Talk To Me") that give the album a well-rounded feel. MOM has a somewhat unusual approach to making music, as Frank and Donny share guitar, drum, and synthesizer duties while Luke plays bass and some occasional cowbell. Donny is the primary songwriter, and he doesn't hold back on the sugar sweet melodies and radio hit hooks. This album is as pop as pop gets! If your record collection includes the likes of The Bay City Rollers, Nick Gilder, The Sweet, The Records, Milk 'N' Cookies, Racey, Mud, and Kidda Band, you will most definitely conclude that Pleasure Island is accurately titled. Look for a vinyl version sometime in the near future! 

-L.R.

https://mommusic.bandcamp.com/album/pleasure-island

https://www.facebook.com/musicbymom

https://www.instagram.com/musicbymom/?hl=sv

MOM - "Don't Leave With My Heart"

Yeah! MOM is back! Back in June, the Swedish trio absolutely blew me away with a debut single that was as pop as pop can be. In advance of a debut album titled Pleasure Island releasing on September 22nd, MOM proudly presents its second single. "Don't Leave With My Heart" is a more than satisfying follow-up to the pop smash "Tonight". Again MOM occupies the power pop territory that runs through '70s glam and bubblegum. This mid-tempo rocker delivers sugary sweet melodies and a chorus that is bound to be stuck in your head all day. On the flip, "Cry No More Tears" is a little snappier and more in the vein of new wave pop. This is an excellent pair of songs from one of the best new bands out there. If you're a fan of Racey, Nick Gilder, Milk 'N' Cookies, The Arrows, etc., you ought to be excited for the arrival of Pleasure Island in a few weeks' time. I'll keep you posted!

-L.R.

https://mommusic.bandcamp.com/album/dont-leave-with-my-heart-cry-no-more-tears

https://www.instagram.com/musicbymom/?hl=sv

MOM - "Tonight"

So I got an email the other day with the subject line The best single you haven't heard...yet! I have to admit I was suspicious. I get some really weird submissions sometimes - stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with the kind of music I review. But let me tell you: MOM's debut record is exactly the kind of thing I like. And it was indeed the best single I had not yet heard! MOM are Donny, Luke, and Frank. They hail from Malmö, Sweden and play awesome power pop with a '70s bubblegum glam feel. "Tonight" is the first of two singles MOM is releasing in advance of a debut album expected out this fall. The title track is a stone cold smash. It's upbeat, hooky, and a whole lot of fun. I'm talking Pop with a capital P! This song sounds like something that would pop up on a playlist in between Nick Gilder, Milk 'N' Cookies, and the Bay City Rollers! The B-side is a cool poppy version of The Miracles' classic "The Tracks of My Tears". I am digging this record and can't wait to hear more from MOM! Download is available for just a dollar. Teenage rock and roll forever! 



-L.R.

https://mommusic.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.instagram.com/musicbymom/?hl=sv

Ditches - self titled

I have reviewed the Stockholm-based band Ditches on two previous occasions - once last year and once the year before. Writing about this band is beginning to feel like an annual event in my life, and I will be more than happy if the tradition continues for years to come. Ditches have perfected that garage punk by way of power pop sound that was a real sweet spot for me when I started this blog nine years ago. And while there used to be more bands of this style than you could possibly keep up with, the herd has thinned considerably over the last several years. In the light of 2020, it's satisfying to still hear a band wearing a Marked Men influence on its sleeve.

Ditches' self-titled debut album, out on Drunken Sailor Records, will certainly have its moments of familiarity to Marked Men and Radioactivity fans. And with Jeff Burke sitting in the producer's chair, it's not like the band is trying to run from this influence. But Ditches are by no means retreads, and they've put their own signature on modern-day garage power pop. Throughout this album, there's a subtle, almost inherently Scandinavian undercurrent of gloom that runs in contrast to the melody and speed of these catchy punk/pop songs. Sometimes these guys just let loose and rip it. "Don't Care" is chugging garage punk in the finest early 2000s tradition, and "Stitch Me Up" is high energy power pop rooted in '70s punk and pub rock. But I must admit that I probably like the more melancholy songs the most. Ditches really excel when they work in that bittersweet territory. "Did We Try" and "Falling" find the band sounding like graduates of a master class taught by Pete Shelley. "In Disguise" is gloomy pop done pretty close to perfection. "When It's Over" just might tear your heart out. As always, there's enough back and forth in mood to keep things interesting. This album is not afraid to take you to some dark places, but it's got more than enough of the bright melodies and jolting energy that make powerpop/punk such a pleasing musical form. All in all, this is a splendid debut album from Ditches!



-L.R.

https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/st-lp-10
https://ditches.bandcamp.com/album/ditches
https://www.facebook.com/ditchesband
https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenSailorRecords

Real Tears - Hay Fever

What a 2019 it's been for Alien Snatch Records! The legendary label, celebrating its 20th anniversary, has been responsible for a whole bunch of my favorite releases of the year (Pale Lips, Phone Jerks, TV Crime..I could go on and on). One I have not yet mentioned is the terrific second album from Sweden's Real Tears. I was a big fan of the band's first album, which I reviewed back in 2016. The follow-up Hay Fever is every bit as good. On this 13-song long player, Real Tears sound like they're intent on making the best Dickies album in decades. These guys play super fast punk rock with pop hooks, as songs alternate between mega-hyper ("These Unwashable Hands of Mine", "Dumsterdivin'") and just plain hyper ("Crooner Steel", "Little Things"). Only one track exceeds two minutes, so there's no waiting around for any of these songs to get to the good part. As a big fan of poppy punk rock, I've gotta say this album hits me in all the right spots. The tunes are catchy, the playing is tight, and the energy level is infectious. Real Tears basically formed out of the ashes of Impo and the Tents, and you can certainly hear the similarities between the two bands. Real Tears are probably a little punkier, but still with hooks out the wazoo. If you're burned out on Ramonescore, maybe it's time to give Dickies-core a try!



-L.R.

https://aliensnatch.bandcamp.com/album/real-tears-hay-fever 
https://realtearsua.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/realtearsua/ 
http://www.aliensnatch.de/ 
https://www.facebook.com/ALIEN.SNATCH.RECORDS 

The Manikins - Bad Times

Hey, look who it is! I presumed The Manikins were long broken up, but apparently they were just "taking a break"...for nine years! I will always associate this band with the heyday of mid-2000s garage punk and power pop. They released three albums and several singles on the late, great P. Trash Records and also worked with everyone from Ken Rock to Rockin' Bones to Plastic Idol to FDH Records. Well here they are in 2019 with their first new music in a decade, and it's like they never left. New album Bad Times has been co-released by FDH, Secret Identity, No Front Teeth, and Resurrection records. As expected, this sounds like a Manikins record!

The Manikins explore a number of musical styles on this release, so there's definitely evidence of the growth you'd expect from guys who are now a decade older. "Make A Run For It", one of the album's strongest tracks, is on the soulful end of garage rock a la Reigning Sound. "It's A Drag (Isn't It?)" is old school blues rock right down the Stones/Animals/Pretty Things lane. The title track flirts with the darker melodic punk sound that is so closely associated with the band's native Sweden. There's even an old western influence on closing track "Bank Robbery". But as you would hope from a Manikins record, this thing is chock full of garage punk rippers, power pop hits, and a few songs that are a little bit of both. "Worse Than I" and "It's Not Gonna Be Ok" are classic Manikins all the way. "On The Hanger To Dry" is a straight-up punk smasher that has me feeling like the 2000s never ended. "Everything Is Shit (Without You)" and "Can't Hold On" are great straight-ahead punk rock and roll songs that sound just as good today as they would have 15 years ago. I can hear a little King Louie/Exploding Hearts influence in "Keep On Waitin'" - a wonderfully bittersweet number that builds to a killer chorus.

If you dig garage punk and power pop (yeah, I know: that's basically everyone who follows this blog!), Bad Times is a record you'll want to own. For those of you who were Manikins fans back in the day, you'll find this to be as good as any of their albums. And if this is your introduction to The Manikins, you've got a lot of great music to get caught up with! The band's songwriting chops have never been sharper, and the group sounds like it's come back from hiatus with a renewed energy. There's more than enough musical variety here to keep things interesting. Ultimately, though, this is still the garage punk power pop party record you would have hoped for. This is how you come back!



-L.R.

https://themanikinsofficial.bandcamp.com/album/bad-times 
https://fdhrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bad-times 
https://resurrectionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bad-times 
https://www.facebook.com/Themanikins/ 
https://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/ 

Ditches - "The Taste"

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

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



-L.R.

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

Psychotic Youth - 21

Well this blog definitely lived up to its name with the stuff I reviewed this past week! And perhaps that's the way it ought to be. But fear not: I have by no means turned my back on the poppier stuff. And when it comes to poppier stuff, does it get any better than Psychotic Youth? Jörgen and company are still going strong after 34 years, and new album 21 absolutely sounds like vintage Psychotic Youth! For real: this is one of the greatest power pop bands of all-time still operating at the peak of its craft.

After an 18-year gap between the band's classic LP Stereoids and the triumphant comeback The Voice of Summer, we only had to wait two years for 21. And this album is everything you would expect from Psychotic Youth. It's a whole lot of power pop, a little bit of garage, a little bit of punk, and a little bit of surf. The harmonies are to die for, and as always Jörgen absolutely excels at writing about matters of the heart. He will devastate you with his songs about loss, longing, and relationships gone sour - and then turn around and write something like "You're The One" that reminds us of why we bother to endure all of that heartbreak in the first place. I always have to chuckle when people criticize pop-punk or power pop bands for writing love songs and not tackling more "important" topics. Seriously? The quest for love has defined our species and its art for thousands of years. What could be more important than that?! I think we become even more aware of this as we get older, which explains why Jörgen is writing some of his most powerful material in his 50s.

21 is the work of a songwriter and band that are aging like fine wine (I know: a terrible music reviewer cliche, but still undeniably true!). I would honestly put this album up there with anything Psychotic Youth has ever done. It has everything from snappy punky pop ("Nr 1 In My Heart") to Ramones inspired goodness ("Wither Up and Die") to tear-out-your-heart balladry ("If Not For You") to vintage Psychotic Youth wall of guitar power pop ("Dreams"). Jörgen Westman belongs to the masters class of power pop songwriting, and it is a treat to hear him still at the top of his game. Do not miss the CD bonus track cover of Marshall Crenshaw's "Cynical Girl" - a tip of the cap to an obvious influence!



-L.R.

https://watersliderecords.bandcamp.com/album/21 
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/psychoticyouth4 
https://www.facebook.com/Psychotic-Youth-298457281060996/ 

The Dahlmanns - American Heartbeat

Well this is just about the best idea ever! Take two of the all-time greats in Swedish rock n' roll in Bjôrne Frôberg (The Nomads) and Chips Kiesby (Sator). Have them write a mini-album together. And then get the almighty Dahlmanns to record it! That's essentially the story behind American Heartbeat. In name, it's a Dahlmanns record. In essence, it's the collaborative effort of a power pop dream team. I suppose that sets a very high bar for American Heartbeat, but of course it lives up to those expectations and then some!

Given that we usually get new music from The Dahlmanns in very small doses, six new songs at once feels like a tremendous gift. Frôberg and Kiesby have written a cohesive set of songs about the pain of lost love, and Line Dahlmann sure is the perfect person to sing them! She can inject a tune with the purest melancholy, and then she can turn around and and make a bummer love song sound totally upbeat. The result is a great mix of tender tearjerkers ("I Know You Want Me Back") and straight-up rockers ("Get It Right"). And then there's the title track, which is nothing short of power pop perfection. Of course the songwriting shines here, but the guitar work, arrangements, and production are equally majestic.

As always, The Dahlmanns leave us wanting more. But with a little help from their friends, they've given us a little more to chew on this time. Whether you're a fan of The Dahlmanns, Nomads, Sator, or (most likely) all of the above, American Heartbeat will fill you with delight. Get the vinyl from Beluga Records!



 -L.R.

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