The Midnight Confessions - Introducing​.​.​.​The Midnight Confessions

Brooklyn's ​The Midnight Confessions have gifted us with one of those really excellent late-in-the-year album releases that sometimes people sleep on because they've got other things on their mind. As I started looking deeper into this band, I noticed familiar names from a couple of bands I really liked back in the 2010s: Party Lights and The Recordettes. So it's hardly a surprise that I would be into The Midnight Confessions. This band takes the best elements of the past 70 years of rock 'n' roll and creates something that still sounds vital and current as we sit on the doorstep of 2025. I can hear the influence of everything from early rock 'n' roll to '60s girl groups to power pop to glam rock to country to garage rock. Since the name of the album is Introducing...The Midnight Confessions, let's introduce The Midnight Confessions! They are Anna Blumenthal (guitar, vocals), Margot Bianca (keys), Sacha Chernoff (bass), Carl Porcaro (guitar), and Ryan Gordon (drums). They're into sequin, leather, harmonies, and big gooey hooks. Introducing​.​.​.​The Midnight Confessions leads off with the two pre-album singles: "When You Were Mine" and "Break My Bones." They're both great, of course, but there's plenty left in the tank after the auspicious start. "In My Dreams" is an elegant, heartfelt ballad. "Missteps and Misfires" is a quality rocker that will get the power pop lovers' juices flowing. The cool country rocker "You're Not the Man for Me (But I Don't Mind)" is a major highlight. "You Know What To Do" pours on the girl group magic. "The Same Old Way" is the grand, dramatic closer that every great rock album ought to have. You can feel the soul of New York in these songs, with hints of everyone from The Shangri-Las to The New York Dolls to Blondie. The songwriting is top-notch all the way through, and somehow this band combines arena-sized majesty with indie band intimacy. Don't miss this one!

-L.R.

https://themidnightconfessions.bandcamp.com/album/introducing-the-midnight-confessions
https://open.spotify.com/album/7CMoenaTaUikqiQLfgBojy
https://www.instagram.com/the_midnight_confessions/
https://www.facebook.com/themidnightconfessions

Brad Marino - "Not Fooling Me"

Check it out: we've got ourselves a new Brad Marino tune for Christmas! And it's a hot one! In advance of the new compilation album On The Brink: Rarities, Remixed & Unreleased (due out early next year on Rum Bar Records), Marino has leaked the song "Not Fooling Me." The track features Marino backed by a stellar supporting cast of Craig Sala, Dave Strong, and Bobby Davis. I dig this song because it's got that classic '60s pop sound. It reminds me of being a young punk rocker back in the '90s and refusing to listen to any radio station except the oldies station. If you like timeless melodies, stellar hooks, and really great rock 'n' roll guitar, this song is for you. Rum Bar is gonna be bringing the heat in 2025!

-L.R.

https://bradmarino.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7r7EhRqHAY6ztH25clqAQF
https://www.facebook.com/bradmarinomusic
https://www.instagram.com/brad_marino/

Miss Georgia Peach - "Shut Up And Drink Your Beer"

2024 isn't even over yet, and already one of my most highly-anticipated albums of 2025 is on my mind! Miss Georgia Peach's Aloha from Kentucky has been one of my favorite albums of the decade, and now a sequel is imminent! Class Out the Ass will be out in February on Rum Bar Records. Once again, MGP and Travis Ramin have collaborated with Ruyter Suys, Blaine Cartwright, Mark Hendricks, Earl Crimm, and Scott Luallen of Nine Pound Hammer & Nashville Pussy fame on a rockin' old school country record. The album's first single is a cover of Norman Wade's classic "Shut Up And Drink Your Beer." This is an inspired take on every dive bartender's personal anthem, and it certainly suggests that Class Out the Ass (produced by Ramin and recorded by Brian Pulito at his studio in Kentucky) will be every bit the killer its predecessor was. I can't wait! Head up to the bar and pre-order the album now! 

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/track/shut-up-and-drink-your-beer
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Ralphie's Red Ryders - "Black Bart"

America's favorite A Christmas Story themed pop-punk band is back with another digital single worthy of a major award. If you thought Ralphie's Red Ryders might soon run out of song ideas after five singles and a 12-song album, I'm here to assure you that they're just getting started! "Black Bart" is the catchiest and bounciest Christmas pop-punk song you could ever hope to hear. What's the point of owning a Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle if you can't pick off creeping marauders with murderous precision? This is a little bit of a different sound for RRR, who have expanded on their usual Vista Blue mimicry with some nods to early Lookout! Records punk (quite a feat for three kids from late '30s Indiana). Flick could have used some of that hot bass when his tongue was stuck to that flagpole! Did Ralphie track those vocals in the front seat of The Old Man's '37 Oldsmobile? This is another super fun release from a super fun band, and Conor's cover art is amazing! Blast this next week when you're pre-gaming for the marathon!

-L.R.

https://ralphiesredryders.bandcamp.com/track/black-bart
https://open.spotify.com/album/7ezWKoizPT00fTlkgGflWa
https://www.facebook.com/ralphiesredryders/

Unicorn Dogs - Chaotic Neutral

Spoiler alert: I'm working on my "Best of 2024" mega-post, and Unicorn Dogs are going to be mentioned in the top albums list. It seems I may need to make some space in my top EPs list as well! As much as I like pop-punk, I seldom show pop-punk bands much love on my year-end lists. But to me, Unicorn Dogs are a pop-punk band who transcend genre. They're just a great band, period. They write meaningful, anthemic songs about the things that matter in life, and they play them with heart, guts, and passion. They've also released some really cool concept records like a single devoted to the roleplaying game Against the Gloom and the autumn-themed double A-sider Harvest Moon. Their new EP Chaotic Neutral is also based on a theme: all four of these songs are about fantasy games of various types. 

You have to appreciate a punk band that puts the same level of care and urgency into a song about role-playing games as it does into one of its regular songs. These songs are full of all of Unicorn Dogs' usual signatures: efficient songwriting, massive sing-along choruses, impassioned vocals, clever lyrics, and melodies to die for. What I love about this EP is that it celebrates nerdom in the most joyful way. What fun would life be if we didn't have things to geek out over? I say this as a man who writes hundreds of record reviews every year, circles seasonal craft beer releases on the calendar, and obsesses over fantasy football. So I was delighted to discover that fantasy football was one of the topics covered on Chaotic Neutral. "My Little Football Guys" is so hilarious and dead-on that I might feel attacked if I didn't think the song was written from a place of love. I also like that "Core Earth" is ostensibly about the role-playing game Torg but most likely has a political subtext. I'm always a sucker for an extended metaphor. Whether you're into fantasy games or not, this EP is highly recommended to any fan of Unicorn Dogs or great pop-punk in general. All proceeds will go towards a vinyl release for the band's most excellent album Age Typical Junk Behavior!

-L.R.

https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/chaotic-neutral

Vista Blue - We Don't Know, Margo

I had to admit that I was starting to get a little worried. We were getting well into December, and there was still no Christmas music from Vista Blue. A Christmas without Christmas music from Vista Blue would not have felt like Christmas. I wondered if Heat Miser was up to something. But all is well in the holiday universe — yesterday Vista Blue gifted the world its tenth annual Christmas release in ten years as a band. I feel honored to have now written about nine of them. 

You might have glanced at the EP title We Don't Know, Margo and asked yourself, "Did Vista Blue actually write a sequel to their beloved seasonal smash hit 'Why Is the Carpet All Wet, Todd?'?" The answer is yes they did! And this is one of those rare sequel songs that's even better than the original. Nowhere will you hear a more perfect 99 seconds of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation–themed pop-punk. Man, this thing is an earworm! The more idiotic this song seems, the greater it becomes. Bookending this gem are an ultra-peppy cover of Connie Francis's 1962 hit "I'm Going To Be Warm This Winter" and the Rusty Spell–penned "When the Christmas Tree is All Aglow." The latter is one of those downer Christmas songs that isn't really a downer because it's so musically alluring. Credit goes to Spell for writing an amazing song and to the band for achieving a tricky blend of upbeat and melancholy. As delighted and amused as I am by "I Don't Know, Margo," I would still say that "When the Christmas Tree is All Aglow" is the real "hit" of the EP. If I didn't know any better, I might have believed this was some forgotten standard from decades ago. "I'm Going To Be Warm This Winter" supports my theory that many of the best Christmas songs are actually winter songs which should not be taken out of anyone's rotation until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Hats off to the band for realizing that this tune would work brilliantly as a pop-punk song! 

Vista Blue's tenth Christmas release is one of its best yet. Now it feels like Christmas. Bring on the Christmas ale and NFL games on Netflix! 

-L.R.

https://wearevistablue.bandcamp.com/album/we-dont-know-margo
https://open.spotify.com/album/4hjVU3mf0UZvzgccZ8iXS9
https://www.facebook.com/wearevistablue/

Coming Soon: 2024 F & L Reader Top Tens

I've decided to revive an old tradition this year. Since I'm only one person who can only hear a fraction of the great music that's out there, I'm going to be inviting you, dear reader, to contribute your own top ten lists of your favorite music of 2024. I want to discover which music you have enjoyed the most in 2024. I will compile all your lists and publish them on December 30th as part of our end-of-the-year festivities. There are no strict rules here. You can list your top ten favorite albums, your top ten favorite releases, or even separate lists for albums, singles, and EPs. You can put your lists in a particular order or no particular order. The easiest way to send me your lists is by email, but you can also post them in the comments area below if you prefer that. I'm stoked to see what you all come up with! I'll probably learn something! 

-L.R.