Thee Evil Twin/The Missile Studs - 10 Piece Feed

In this shit year 2020, there's nothing better than a little traveling back in time. Aussie bands Thee Evil Twin and The Missile Studs have teamed up to unleash 10 Piece Feed - a ripping punk rock record that takes me back to 1997 via 1977. I've written about Sydney trio Thee Evil Twin before. The band is fronted by Adam Caine (Radio Reelers, Trust Fund Babies, The Shrinks, etc.), so you ought to know what to expect. Thee Evil Twin's five cuts on this release are by far its most killer songs to date. If these tracks had come out 20 years ago, they would have been released on Rip Off Records and had you all going bonkers. This is how you do garage punk rock and roll, man: tons of energy, rockin' tunes, and funny/tongue-in-cheek lyrics. If you dig The Rip Offs and Devil Dogs, this ought to be your new favorite band! The other half of this release proves to be just as good, as Adelaide's The Missile Studs tear into five tracks of snotty '77 punk that'll have you pogoing all day long. In sound and attitude, these songs bring to mind everyone from the Sex Pistols to Eater to Menace to Slaughter and the Dogs. I don't hear many bands with that type of sound these days, so I'm really getting a jolt out of songs like "Missile Studs Theme" and "Doomsday Girl".

I know a lot has been made about how many great punk bands are coming out of Australia these days. In my book, these two groups need to be part of that conversation. I'll go as far as to say that 10 Piece Feed is the best Aussie punk album of 2020 so far. Thee Evil Twin and The Missile Studs each have their own thing going on, but they complement each other perfectly on record. If you love your punk music loud, dumb, and fun, these ten tracks will bring you 21 minutes of total enjoyment. Get 10 Piece Feed from No Front Teeth Records, Dirtyflair Record Company, and Evil Tone Records!



-L.R.

https://dirtyflairrecordcompany.bandcamp.com/album/10-piece-feed
https://theeeviltwin.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theeeviltwinsydney
https://www.facebook.com/missilestuds/
https://www.facebook.com/dirtyflairrecordcompany/
https://www.facebook.com/No-Front-Teeth-Records-117591658310943/
https://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/Eviltonerecords/

Indonesian Junk - A Life of Crimes (singles and rarities 2009​-​2018)

Well here's the compilation you were dying for! Indonesian Junk has been one of planet Earth's top punk rock rock and roll bands for several years now, releasing a trio of fantastic albums in Indonesian Junk (2015), Stars In The Night (2017), and Spiderbites (2019) on the always fabulous Rum Bar Records. The precursor to Indonesian Junk was the Daniel James Gang, who released two singles back in 2009-2010. In case you desired a one-stop shop for all of Indonesian Junk's non-album recordings as well as the super rare Daniel James Gang tracks, Rum Bar Records proudly presents the decade-spanning collection A Life of Crimes. This essentially functions as a fourth Indonesian Junk album. Like the other three, it's a killer mashup of street tough '70s punk, glam-inspired hard rock, and big hooky power pop with an additional touch of darkness and gloom. No other band gives you all of that at once!

The material on Life of Crimes spans the years 2009-2018. It features the entirety of the Daniel James Gang singles "Nothin' I Can Do and "In This City", Indonesian Junk's 2015 7" "Crimes", the KISS cover "C'mon and Love Me" from 2018's Darkness Calling EP, and four previously unreleased tracks. As is often the case with these kinds of collections, the cover songs are feature attractions. If your introduction to Indonesian Junk turns out to be a KISS cover, well that's kind of awesome! Daniel and company cut a great version of The Joneses' classic "Pill Box" back in 2017 which somehow was never released. Well now you finally get to hear it! There are also covers of "Situations" by Slaughter and the Dogs and "Outfit" by Starz. The fact that one band would cover KISS, The Joneses, Slaughter and the Dogs, and Starz tells you a lot about Daniel's musical vision! But don't sleep on the originals. "Crimes" is one of Indonesian Junk's signature songs. "Now That It's Over" blurs the lines between heartbreak and a complete mental breakdown. "Nothin' I Can Do" and "I'm So Bored" hold up as well as anything from the 2010 punk/power pop/rock and roll universe. If you're already a fan of this Milwaukee trio, A Life of Crimes is an essential purchase to complete your collection. And if you've yet to be inducted into the Junk Army, your next move should be to head on over to Bandcamp and explore the band's full criminal history!



-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/a-life-of-crimes-singles-and-rarities-2009-2018
https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

The Yum Yums - For Those About To Pop! (Rum Bar Records issue!)

Way back in mid-June, I did an advance review of The Yum Yums' new album For Those About To Pop! While the album was released on vinyl by Screaming Apple Records on July 1st, only a few tracks had been available for streaming on Bandcamp. Well that changes today! For Those About To Pop! has been officially released in the U.S.A. on Rum Bar Records, and you can go listen to the whole darn thing now via Rum Bar's Bandcamp! In my book, this is the best record that Morten and The Yum Yums have ever made. It's the best of power pop and punk and glam rock and bubblegum blended into a non-stop parade of oughta-be hits. It's one of the most "pop" albums ever made and the ultimate summertime record. So hop over to Bandcamp, treat your ears to a pop explosion, and buy yourself a CD or digital copy for your permanent enjoyment. Do we really live in a world where "Baby Baby" isn't a multi-million selling radio smash?



-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/for-those-about-to-pop
https://www.facebook.com/ilovetheyumyums/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

The New Brutarians - "Living In Isolation"

Some of you may have had your fill of topical songs this summer. But I still can't get enough. To me, one of the major points of art is that you can create something of value inspired by our shared human experience. And right now, humans are sharing an unprecedented experience. The New Brutarians, America's favorite new glam rock pop art proto-punk duo, have just released the ultimate 2020 anthem in their new track "Living In Isolation". Produced by Gino Bambino at SunWray Studios, "Living In Isolation" just might be the best New Brutarians song to date. There's something just a little "off" about the fidelity of the recording that gives this song a surrealistic feel. And that's totally perfect for a song about the present state of the world. I love the complexity of what this song is. One one hand, it's dark and apocalyptic. On the other hand, it's really catchy and upbeat enough to get you tapping your toes. Adams's lyrics are remarkable. He's written about a pandemic-stricken world with honesty and bleak realism, but with a glimmer of hope still flickering. The lines "Every song I hear tonight/Sounds like shite/The words real trite/But I'll spin it again tomorrow when the sun is shining" absolutely blow me away.

In addition to "Living In Isolation", The New Brutarians also recently released "The Warrior Song" from their quarantine recording sessions with Gino Gambino. This track has a rawer, fiercer sound than most of the band's existing tracks. For the lack of a better term, I'll say it's the band's "punkiest" song yet. It reminds me a little of Adam's old band The Beatings. Again, the lyrics are totally fantastic and well worth your inspection. Both "Living In Isolation" and "The Warrior Song" can be streamed from The New Brutarians' Bandcamp and SoundCloud pages. And be sure to check out the music video the band just made for its killer 7" track "A Little Hit of You"!



-L.R.

https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/track/living-in-isolation
https://soundcloud.com/adam-turkel-836476637
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians/

Juniper - self titled

In the midst of all the bleakness of 2020, the debut album from Juniper brings the world some much-needed sunshine. Juniper is the 15-year-old daughter of singer/songwriter, WFMU radio personality, and pop true believer Michael Shelley. In collaboration with her dad (who produced the album and wrote most of the songs), Juniper has created the rarest of things: an album in the style of '60s and '70s pop that sounds genuinely current in the year 2020.

A list of Juniper's primary musical inspirations (Beatles, Beach Boys, Zombies, Muffs, Fountains of Wayne) tells you a whole lot about the kind of record she has set out to make. Yet at the same time, she cites Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez as big influences on her vocal style. It's that mix of the old and new that makes her such an appealing artist. Regardless of whether the term "pop" makes you think of the timeless hits of the '60s, home-recorded indie tunes, or contemporary radio hits, this is a debut album that ought to delight you to no end. As a singer, Juniper possesses a mixture of charm, sincerity, and immense likeability that ought to make her a star. And while Michael Shelley wrote most of the lyrics, Juniper was given full veto power in the event that any word did not ring true. These are timeless sounding songs from the perspective of melody and production. Yet they feel so "now" because Juniper is singing about what it's like to be a teenage girl in the modern world.

Song topics on Juniper's debut album cover everything from magical days at the shore with boys to secret crushes to real teenage heartbreak to neighborhood garage bands to best friends trying to move in on your boyfriend. In this age when it often feels like romance is dead, many of these songs come off as refreshingly old-fashioned...but not in a way that feels dated. The Brian Wilson inspired ballad "Girls Just Want A Boy To Rest Their Head On" is an absolute thing of beauty - and a reminder that young hearts still dream of love that goes way beyond surface attraction. "Sticking With My Henry" celebrates those nice, reliable guys who are so often overlooked. Michael Shelley and Juniper really excel at combining their talents to tell really great stories. "Kids On My Corner" condenses an entire short story into two minutes of pure joy (The line "The other kids in the cul-de-sac/Wouldn't like The Beatles if they came back" is priceless!). "Everybody's Got A Crush On Chad", about a boy who captivates everyone for no easily identifiable reason, just feels like real life. Haven't we all known our own version of Chad?

Supporting Juniper and her dad in the creation of this debut album was a star-studded cast of indie/power pop musicians. Marshall Crenshaw, Dennis Diken (Smithereens), Chris Geddes (Belle & Sebastian), Jay Gonzalez (Drive By Truckers), Steve Goulding (Mekons, Nick Lowe, etc.), Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne), Mark Spencer (Son Volt), and Greg Townson (Los Straitjackets) all appear on this record. There are also songwriting contributions by Tommy Dunbar (Rubinoos) & Kyle Vincent, Kim Shattuck & Lisa Marr, and Francis Macdonald (Teenage Fanclub). If that sounds like a pop lover's dream, well that's how I would describe this album in the first place. Musically it references everything from '60s girl groups to '70s bubblegum to kitchen sink indie pop to modern-day punky pop. It's pure pop music for fans of all ages and musical interests. God, I love this record! It's not easy to feel upbeat at the present moment. But I don't think it's possible to listen to Juniper's debut album and not smile. If you're dying to go to a happy place right now, let this take you there.



-L.R.

https://juniperssongs.bandcamp.com/album/juniper
http://www.michaelshelley.net/juniper/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcH6AJQhTwB-Dcxgr9etQ0dO6D5tmX-Rt
https://www.facebook.com/juniperalbum

Muck and the Mires - "Take Me Back To Planet Earth"

In a summer that's been full of topical songs, Muck and the Mires have given us perhaps the ultimate commentary on the craziness of life in 2020. "Take Me Back To Planet Earth" is the brand-new single from these Boston garage rock legends. It arrives in advance of a six-song EP of the same name, which will be releasing this fall on Rum Bar Records. The EP was written under the influence of COVID isolation. And while it might not fully qualify as a concept album, several tracks address the unusual existence we've had to adjust to in recent months. "Take Me Back To Planet Earth" is a vintage Muck and the Mires upbeat garage rocker that will immediately get you moving and shaking. Yet there's some real substance and cleverness to the lyrics. The song is really about feeling alienated from modern life in general, but its themes are all the more poignant at this moment that requires us to live much of our lives "virtually". If you've felt like you've been living in an alternate reality or perhaps even on another planet in recent months or years, this will be your new favorite song. The rest of the EP is currently being mixed and mastered by Jim Diamond. You can pre-order the whole thing today, or you can  download the title track by itself for $1.50.

Muck and the Mires, who live to tour and get crowds dancing, are surely daydreaming about a time when they get to play these songs live. And I'm sure their fans can't wait to hear these songs live! In the meantime, "Take Me Back To Planet Earth" is perfect for your solo, small group, or socially distant dance parties. Play it loud, move around a little, and get yourself pumped for all the fun things you'll do when this shit is behind us!



-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/take-me-back-to-planet-earth
https://muckandthemires.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.facebook.com/muckandthemires
http://www.muckandthemires.com/

Cocktails - Catastrophic Entertainment

Who's in the mood for a really good power pop album? You know I always am, and the third LP by San Francisco's Cocktails definitely hits the mark. A co-release between Alien Snatch and Wizards + Potions Records, Catastrophic Entertainment is a perfect summertime pop record. Cocktails find that sweet spot where '70s power pop, early '80s new wave, and '90s indie/alternative become one. They're all about melody, hooks, and crafting great songs. That seems like such a simple concept, but rarely do you hear a band that pulls it off this well. Catastrophic Entertainment is full of the kinds of songs you wish they still played on the radio. Tracks like "Nobody's Going To The Movies" and "Love Is Gone" are pure power pop. In other spots, the band touches on everything from pub rock ("Washoe County") to glam ("Janeland") to Weezer worship ("Take It Back") to the Teenage Fanclub/Fountains of Wayne strain of indie rock ("Never Be Alone"). All the way through, the songs are gold and the hooks reign supreme. This is timeless stuff! Much of what you usually do in the summertime is off limits this year. But you can still get in your car and crank the tunes as you soak in the summer sun and relive all your triumphs and losses in love. Catastrophic Entertainment is an album to play while you do just that.



-L.R.

https://aliensnatch.bandcamp.com/album/cocktails-catastrophic-entertainment
https://cocktails.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/cocktails.the.band
http://www.aliensnatch.de/
https://www.facebook.com/ALIEN.SNATCH.RECORDS
https://www.wizardsandpotions.com/