Sunday, October 12, 2025

Ryan Allen - One Week Off

Ryan Allen has given us his own version of one of those "How I spent my summer vacation" essays. One Week Off, his second album of 2025, is the the fruit of an August staycation. In that one week, he literally made a record all by himself. He sat down with some songs he'd demoed in the past, found a whole bunch of them that worked as a single album, and created this gem of a power pop record. These songs are mostly from 2021-22. A few are from 2024, and one is brand new. But One Week Off doesn't come off like a collection of leftovers. This is genuinely one of Allen's best albums, and it's definitely the hardest he has ever rocked as a solo artist. 

What kind of talent do you have to have the luxury to write songs this good and then put them on the shelf? But it's not just about talent — it's also about work ethic. Ryan Allen writes a lot of songs. And when you're that prolific, you're bound to have some gems that you can save for a rainy day (or a week off from work). He intended this to be an "upbeat, no-frills, punch-you-in-the-face rock record," and that's precisely what it is. His last album, Livin’ On The Prayer On The Edge, was all over the place by design. One Week Off is a little more focused on that power pop by way of '90s indie rock with a touch melodic punk style that is Allen's forte. If you enjoyed his 2016 album Basement Punk, you're gonna be into this one as well. Allen played everything on this record and produced it at home on a Digital Audio Workstation. Then he had Paul Miner work his mixing and mastering magic and make it sound like a million bucks. It's crazy to think that songs like "Bloody Gums" and "Simple Pleasures" went unrecorded and unreleased for so long. If "Sick of Content," "Do It All Again," and "When Is Everybody Gonna Step?" aren't anthems for these times, I don't know what is. 

When I hear about an artist putting out two albums in a year, that means one of two things to me. Either you're contracted to a soulless major label in the late '70s, or you're making music for the sheer love of it. In the case of One Week Off, we know which one it is. Be sure not to miss Allen's recent contribution to the Is It Power Pop?! series over at Remember the Lightning

Brad Marino - "Voodoo"


It's no secret that Brad Marino is one of my favorite musical artists. I recently reviewed him for the 25th time, and it's not out of the question that I'll review him 25 more times (at least!). He's back with a new vinyl single out on the German label LIGHTHOUSE Punkrock. "Voodoo" is the first song from Marino's next album Agent of Chaos, which will be out next spring. Joining Marino on this track are the secret weapon Bobby Davis on bass, the great Gene Champagne on drums, and the legend Ron Mullens on keyboards. Now that's one heck of a band! This is one of the most straight-forward power pop songs that Marino has ever written, and of course it's a hit! Marino is always so good about writing about doomed romantic relationships, and on this track he employs some seasonally appropriate horror metaphors to emphasize the extent of the doom. This is a rockin' and super-catchy tune with wonderfully clever lyrics. Without ever straying too far from his signature musical style, Marino manages to never disappoint. That is certainly the case with "Voodoo." One listen to this song is all it takes to know that the album is gonna be hot! The B-side, exclusive to this single, is a cover of one of the best Jesus and Mary Chain songs, "Between Planets." It's in many ways faithful to the original, but for sure it has been Marino-fied. Come on, man: it's a new Brad Marino single! You know you need it!

Tuesday, October 07, 2025

Video Premiere: Moron's Morons - "Neon to Rust"


Warsaw's Moron's Morons are back with a brand-new single/video, and it is my pleasure to premiere it! With releases on labels like No Front Teeth, Slovenly, Wanda, Sweet Time, and Big Neck Records, this band has become a fixture in the modern day garage punk rock 'n' roll scene. The new song is called "Neon to Rust," and Tremendo Garaje is hosting the video on its world-famous YouTube channel. In the band's own words, "Neon to Rust" is "a punk anthem that tears into the hollow luxuries of privilege and the gradual deterioration of a risk-free existence." Well I can certainly get into that! You'll notice a new lead singer, but it's the same style of music you've come to expect from Moron's Morons: ferocious & filthy '70s-style punk with a dark, dangerous edge. The video is quite intriguing and seems to fit the music perfectly. Moron's Morons will soon be working on a new album and may have an EP in the works as well. For now, crush that play button and enjoy "Neon to Rust" in all its raging glory!

Saturday, October 04, 2025

The Vibeke Saugestad Band - The Sun Sessions


Well here it is! When The Vibeke Saugestad Band released its summertime smash "Hey Now Sunshine" a few months back, a full EP was promised for the fall. A co-release between Rum Bar Records and (from my neck of the woods) Red Chuck Records, The Sun Sessions marks Vibeke Saugestad's long-awaited return as a songwriter and recording artist. 

The queen of Norwegian power pop, Saugestad was in the band Weld back in the mid '90s and had several solo releases in the early 2000s. She also spent time in The Twistaroos and The Yum Yums. After marrying Ken Fox (The Fleshtones) and moving to the States, she eventually put together a new band and began performing her old solo songs. Fortunately for all of us, she was soon inspired to start writing again. So here we are with her first original songs in well over a decade. Ably backed by her terrific band (Fox on bass, Adam Napell on drums, Josh Stark on guitar, and Mark Westin on guitar), Saugestad makes pop magic on this four-song EP. Her voice has never sounded more beautiful, and her maturity as a songwriter is undeniable. Of course "Hey Now Sunshine" was too great of a song to not own on vinyl or CD. This track is majestically bittersweet power pop by way of later '60s Kinks, and it's a perfect opener for this decidedly autumnal EP. "Another Light" is a cover of The Lisa Marr Experiment's classic; Saugestad truly makes it her own with an absolutely stunning vocal. "2nd Ave" is equal parts country twang & pop jangle — a testament to Saugestad's ability to write a song that's simultaneously sprightly and melancholy. The wistful ballad "Last Days of Summer" brings to mind '60s folk rock and sunshine pop. It's a gorgeous little song that will wash over you like a warm October breeze. 

This is quite the auspicious debut for a band that's sure to be a force to be reckoned within the indie pop scene going forward. The playing and production are exquisite, and there's just no questioning that Vibeke Saugestad is an incredible singer and formidable songwriter. We are blessed to have her back in the game. I expect this EP to be frequently mentioned when all the power pop sites start publishing their 2025 best-of lists. It will surely be high on my list!

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Unicorn Dogs - "Sad Adult"/"Replaceable"

Could Unicorn Dogs be any more on fire right now? Their fantastic debut album Age Typical Junk Behavior just got a vinyl release on the illustrious Jolly Ronnie Records. They will be playing Mom's Basement Fest this weekend. And they have another album called Closer to Death on the way! In advance of the album, they've released a teaser single. And once again, this band does not disappoint! "Sad Adult" is vintage Unicorn Dogs — an anthemic, passionate shot of pop-punk for grown-ups. This song is about coping with mid-life angst. You know that feeling that you're a shell of the person you used to be and are running out of time (literally)? Well that's what these guys are singing about here. I love that this is a song about being a sad adult but not wanting to be a sad adult. I can appreciate the distinction, and I admire the frank self-awareness of these lyrics. And when that chorus hits with all that power, you feel like not all hope is lost. If there's not a way out of this middle-aged depression, there's at least the catharsis of venting at the top of your lungs. And when you consider that the B-side, "Replaceable," is about how AI is going to take all our jobs and leave us destitute and useless, "Sad Adult" seems almost optimistic in comparison. That album title is really starting to make sense, eh? I love this band so much!

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Hormones - Hot For Hormones


Boom! One of my most highly-anticipated albums of this year is finally out, and it's every bit the non-stop sing-along extravaganza I was expecting. Melbourne-based Hormones, aka the hottest band in the world, burst on the scene earlier this year with the irresistible punk-pop single "Out of the House, Out of the Closet." I instantly knew I loved this band, and subsequent singles were no letdown. And now we have Hot For Hormones, which dishes out 14 songs of Ramones-inspired punk rock which examine life and love from a trans woman's point of view. As a songwriter, Betty combines heart, humor, honesty, and introspection in a way that's both endearing and powerful. Singer Joseph Ling gives her words a literal voice, oozing vulnerability and an unassuming charm. Betty effectively tells her story through these songs, reflecting on what it's like to navigate romance, personal relationships, and everyday life as a recently transitioned trans woman. 

From start to finish, this is a truly perfect pop-punk album. Even when the songs get serious ("You Don't Have A Son" and "When I Was A Boy{I Was Really A Girl}" in particular are intensely personal and deeply moving), this remains a super-fun and thoroughly delightful album to listen to. The approach is simple yet masterfully executed — the band powers through one song after another of buzzsaw three-chord punk with candy-sweet pop hooks. No song goes past three minutes, and most go barely past two. Really, this is the way an album should be. Some songs will make you laugh; others might make you cry; almost all of them will be stuck in your head for weeks on end. Of course the singles are all included here, but some of the previously unreleased songs ("Birthday Dress," "Poppers & Ritalin," "Got My Head Straight {The Rest of Me Got Gay}") would have been great singles in their own right. I can't wait to hear what my music reviewer brother and fellow Hormones fan King Ralph thinks of "Birthday Dress"! 

Hormones are a band that are putting love and positivity into the universe, and that's exactly the kind of energy the world needs right now. It is my hope that a great many people will hear this album and feel less alone and more comfortable in their own skin. If Hormones turn out to be someone else's Hayley Smith, that will be a beautiful thing. One anthem at a time, Hot For Hormones affirms trans rights and trans wrongs. And at a broader level, this album will be relatable to anyone who has ever struggled to find love and acceptance in this often cruel world. As expected, this is one of my favorite albums of 2025.

Saturday, September 27, 2025

The Overjoyed - "Don't Listen!"


Hot track alert! Arthur tipped me off to a great new single from The Overjoyed, a power pop/punk band based in Athens, Greece. This band has been releasing music since the early 2010s and has several releases available on Bandcamp. "Don't Listen!" could not be any more up my alley. It's a fast and infectious blast of high-spirited poppy punk with surprisingly heavy lyrics about confronting your personal demons. Clocking in well under two minutes, this high energy earworm definitely leaves me wanting more. I'm feeling early Green Day vibes, and I've got no complaints about that at all. A new album is in the works, and I will be looking forward to it!