Perfect Buzz - Happy Trails

From Portland, Oregon — one of the greatest music scenes in the universe — we are now introduced to the aptly named Perfect Buzz. Perfect Buzz are Petey, Luke, and Wes. Petey was in Pure Country Gold and the Suicide Notes, so the pedigree is undeniable. With Perfect Buzz, he has crafted a unique sound that fits nicely into the Pacific Midwest garage rock lane but also incorporates elements of first wave punk, power pop, post-punk, and the louder side of '90s alt-rock. Happy Trails, the trio's new EP, ought to appeal to readers of this publication without necessarily sounding like other bands I review. These tunes definitely put the rock in indie rock with heavy guitars, slamming drums, and aggressive but melodic vocals. Whatever's in the air in the Pacific Northwest is deeply embedded in this band's musical DNA. "Mess Around" and "You're Wrong" open this record with a formidable 1-2 punch of sonic thunder. "Here Come the Cowgirls" is excellent tuneful garage rock. The post-punk influence is more apparent on "Gonna Make You Sweat," but the song still rocks hard enough to peel the paint off the walls. In a good way, my reaction to hearing any of these songs would be, "Did this come out in 1993?" This is super-cool stuff that's well worth a listen. A physical release on 10-inch vinyl is coming early in the new year!

-L.R.

https://perfectbuzz.bandcamp.com/album/happy-trails
https://open.spotify.com/album/4WzOtcuwTH3BFYE5VPxAA9
https://www.instagram.com/perfectbuzzzz/

The Lemon Drop Gang - "My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own!" b/w "Wine Song"

There's nothing I like more than a nice surprise, and a brand-new single from the mighty Lemon Drop Gang seemingly released out of the blue on the one-and-only Rum Bar Records certainly qualifies as such! Since I've been so willing to die on the hill of The Lemon Drop Gang being perhaps the best band on the entire Rum Bar roster, I had to hope that Steph, Johnny, and friends weren't going to take a musical left turn and suddenly start sounding like Blues Traveler or something. So I'm thrilled to report that the new single, "My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own!" b/w "Wine Song" (or Mind and Wine for short) is 100% vintage Lemon Drop Gang. The band remains in its signature lane of punk-influenced, endearingly odd desert garage pop for hopeless romantics or the just plain hopeless. And as you'd expect from a band that has concentrated on releasing music in the singles format, the quality of the songs is as stellar as ever. 

"My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own!" is one of the band's most wildly rocking tunes: think early Kinks meets class of 1966 American garage rock with a pinch of that Lemon Drop Gang secret sauce. Who can't relate to the sentiment of this song? Sometimes we think we're controlling our brains, but really our brains are controlling us. Is this the stuff of science fiction or just an honest reflection of the human condition? You be the judge! This is an A-1, five-star Steph O'Halloran vocal performance as she manages to pull us all into the depths of madness. And the band is right there with her, kicking up a righteous racket that will have you dancing all the way to the edge and beyond. What an absolute stomper this song is! On the virtual B-side, "Wine Song" infuses the band's deliciously dark pop sound with old school music hall vibes. This is the band's most sincere love ballad to date — an ode to a glorious, venerable beverage and its numerous magical powers. Remember when singles were always two songs? The Lemon Drop Gang still abides by that. Remember when B-sides were usually filler? The Lemon Drop Gang does not subscribe to such nonsense. If they're going to go to the trouble to release a single, you better be emotionally prepared for two hits! 

By my count, Mind and Wine is The Lemon Drop Gang's fifth single in the last three years, and the band's hot streak remains very much in tact. With this latest offering, the band is kicking on all cylinders, and both tracks are out of this world. To say I'm not disappointed would be an understatement. I was expecting a ten out of ten, and they found a way to take it to eleven. If a better way to spend $2 exists, I sure haven't heard of it!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mind-and-wine
https://www.facebook.com/lemondropgang/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords/
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

Dimmicks - self-titled EP

Dimmicks from Toulouse, France are here with a debut release that practically defines perfect pop-punk music. There's little else that needs to be said about this EP. This is the way this type of music ought to be played. These songs are catchy as hell yet hit plenty hard, and they're the epitome of high-spirited sing-along fun. If three-chord tunes chock full of peppy harmonies, cool pop culture references (these folks really like Quentin Tarantino movies!), stick-in-your-head melodies, and super-tasty guitar hooks sound like your cup of tea, Dimmicks are absolutely the band for you. I just love this band's energy, and all six of these tracks are stone-cold earworms. Anyone looking for some infectious pop-punk that totally rocks will want to turn their attention to southern France!

-L.R.

https://dimmicks.bandcamp.com/album/dimmicks
https://open.spotify.com/album/67yemEvDyhZDBcxXg9G4wK
https://www.facebook.com/thedimmicks
https://www.instagram.com/thedimmicks/#

Lesser Creatures - "People Suck!"

"People Suck!", the feelgood new hit from Lesser Creatures, is not quite the bitter pill you might be expecting. If you were thinking this was going to be Nick ranting maniacally for 100 seconds about how awful and unendurable humans are, well, that's not quite what we have here. The song is more about the wisdom of accepting that people suck and not allowing yourself to get too worked up about it. Expect people to be jerks and go on with your day (as the faux-Latin phrase says, Nolite te bastardes carborundorum). It's hard not be reminded of Wiggle/My Brain Hurts era thinking man's Screeching Weasel with a spicy side of The Vindictives. That description would have had 23-year-old me sprinting to the record store. Maybe some of you will be sprinting to the streaming sites. The icing on the cake is that Amy and Jamin from the very awesome TA-80 appear on backing vocals and bring their usual "turn everything into a party" energy. The fact sheet tells me that I have not reviewed Lesser Creatures in a year-and-a-half, so this is kind of a big deal. People may suck, but this song certainly doesn't.

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0vEa0ZBaKisAVbilEZuq9B
https://www.facebook.com/lessercreatures/
https://www.instagram.com/lessercreatures/#

Friends of Cesar Romero - Cars, Guitars, Girls

I was just thinking how this has been a great year for singles and albums, but I could go for a couple more ace EPs before we close the door on 2025. Right on cue, we get a new EP from one of my favorites, Friends of Cesar Romero. J. Waylon Porcupine is one of the greatest songwriters in the contemporary underground/indie/whatever-you-wanna-call-it music universe. And every time he releases something new from FOCR, it's always a bit of surprise. He can pull off everything from garage rock to power pop to punk rock to classic pop rock 'n' roll to pop-punk to low-fi indie stuff, and he does it all equally well. And ultimately, it always sounds like him. We are blessed to be living in the time of Friends of Cesar Romero, and the Doomed Babe Series ought to go down as a milestone in music history. 

Cars, Guitars, Girls is installment #47.5 in the series, and it ought to be received warmly by regular readers of this blog. J. Waylon was definitely in a power pop state of mind when he made this EP, and I'm sure not complaining. "Pro Yearner" is big crunchy power pop with typically fantastic lyrics. Perhaps this babe isn't doomed, but any fella who falls under her spell certainly will be! "Nine Pound Hamer®" falls in that sweet spot where the line between power pop and pop-punk is blurred, and again the theme is heartbreak with a side of despair. "Just another fur coat suicide in a Cadillac" is certainly one of the best lines of the year. "Headlight Queen" is 73 seconds of perfect power pop with lyrics that twist the usual moral of the story in FOCR song. Our protagonist knows it can never end well with the object of his desire, so he's freeing her to go torture some other poor sap. My god, this guy is a genius. 47 1/2 installments into singing about doomed romance, and he's not even beginning to run out of inspiration! 

As is typically the case with Friends of Cesar Romero releases, Cars, Guitars, Girls is a free download for a limited time only. And if you like what you hear, the purchase of the complete discography on Bandcamp is the best $100 you'll spend all year!

-L.R.

https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/album/cars-guitars-girls
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7CrOv6bc5kcFWEEF54dGQa
https://www.instagram.com/focr/
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofCesarR/

Beatnik Termites/The Putz - split 12"

A limited-edition split 12" involving Midwestern powerhouses the Beatnik Termites and The Putz certainly grabbed my attention in a very big way. The Putz is one of my favorite current-day pop-punk bands. The Beatnik Termites are legends in their own right and certainly one of the biggest influences on the "oldies-core" sub-genre of pop-punk that I am quite fond of. This split, out on Mom's Basement Records and the Italian label I Buy Records, is, in fact, an oldies-core fan's dream. The two bands team up to cover some of their favorite songs from the golden age of rock 'n' roll — mostly from that post-'50s, pre–Beatlemania period of the early 1960s. This record goes for a very particular vibe. Think soda shops, drive-ins, jukeboxes, hot rods, leather jackets, and pretty girls in poodle skirts. And musically, this is a great tribute to the harmony-laden radio hits that were so foundational for pop-punk music. 

On this record, the Beatnik Termites and The Putz transport you back to the time of Brill Building pop, teen idols, surf rock, Motown, and the early British Invasion. The Beatnik Termites tackle Neil Sedaka's classic "Next Door to an Angel" (1962), The Who's "I Can't Explain" (1964), and the Beach Boys' "Surfer Girl" (1963). The Putz covers The Contours' "Do You Love Me?" (1962), Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy" (1964), and Buddy Holly's "Rave On" (oddly enough, the only song on this '50s-themed record that came out in the '50s!). You pretty much know what this record is going to be. Both bands give these songs a little bit of a pop-punk twist, but they don't stray too far from the original versions. Both bands play to their strengths. The Beatnik Termites are all about the harmonies and the perfect execution of timeless rock 'n' roll. The Putz put a little bit more attitude and oomph into their tracks while still keeping that golden oldies appeal. For anyone who misses what oldies stations used to be (before they tarnished the format with songs from the '80s, ha ha!), this album will hit all the right retro notes. It's a super-inspired throwback to a glorious time in music and culture. You'd have to be in your 80s to have actually lived through these times as a teen. But I defy anyone of any age to listen to The Putz's version of "Do You Love Me?" or "Rave On" and not immediately start to dance like a maniac. Grab this record, fix yourself a malted milkshake, and have yourself a party by the turntable. The Fonz would absolutely give this split a resounding "Ayyyy!"

-L.R.

https://ibuyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ibr042-split
https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/product/beatnik-termitesthe-putz-split-12-ep
https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/beatnik-termites-the-putz-split-ep
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock/
https://www.instagram.com/the.putz/
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords/
https://www.instagram.com/momsbasementrecords/#

Soda Pops - Sweet Nothing

I don't often quote band bios in full, but get a load of this one from Helsinki duo Soda Pops:
"Bubbling with bright riffs and bittersweet vibes, Soda Pops bring a sugar-coated chaos with their garage pop tunes with distorted guitars, tongue-in-cheek lyrics about serious issues like substance abuse & mental health problems, sing-along hooks, and enough sweet nothings to keep your heart warm while it breaks."

Hot damn! Where do I sign up? Leave it to Finland to bless the world with a band this delightful. On the four-song EP Sweet Nothing, Cherry Twist and Candy Crash deliver four tracks of exuberant budget garage punk by way of '60s girl groups with pop hooks galore. What's not to love? I always enjoy a band that can write songs about serious topics in a way that's fun to listen to. All four of these tunes are legit, and producer Ville Valavuo does an excellent job of preserving this band's raw edges without downplaying its undeniable pop charm. This is a band that's gonna be pretty special, so stay tuned, kids!

-L.R.

https://sodapopsgogo.bandcamp.com/album/sweet-nothing
https://www.instagram.com/sodapopsgogo/#