Friday, April 03, 2026

Brad Marino - Agent of Chaos


Well look what we have here: the long-awaited fifth studio album from the man himself, Mr. Brad Marino! Out today on Spaghetty Town Records, Ghost Highway Recordings, and Beluga Records, Agent of Chaos will disappoint absolutely no one. If you're looking for a Brad Marino album that sounds like a Brad Marino album, this will hit the mark and then some. There's really nobody better at doing this sort of driving rock 'n' roll with a punk influence and pop hooks. Marino, backed by Gene Champagne, Bobby Davis, Zack Sprague, Ron Mullens, Dave Strong, James Cap Nunn, and Caity Marino, has delivered an album that may very well be his best yet. As always, his choruses are catchy, his guitar licks are tasty, and his lyrics are sneaky clever. Agent of Chaos comes through with a little something for everyone. From the classic '60s pop of "Dissin' and Dismissin'" to the straight Ramones energy of "Sick of You" to the country vibes of "Devil May Care" to the timeless rock 'n' roll of "I Don't Want You Anymore" to the Jesus and Mary Chain inspired dark-pop of "Murder and Violence" to the straight-forward power pop of "Voodoo" to the butt-kicking fury of "Calling Your Bluff" to the pure pop majesty of "Lost Without You" and "Make This Last," Marino hits all the sweet spots. The man sure can write a song, and he can always be counted on to sing and perform it with gusto. 

Given that it has been nearly two-and-half years since Grin and Bear It came out, fans have certainly been waiting a while for a new Brad Marino LP. And Agent of Chaos has turned out to be every bit worth the wait. It's hard to find a sub-par or even less-than-stellar track in the bunch. A Brad Marino LP is always a lock to be way up there on my end-of-the-year top albums list. Even in a year that's as insanely stacked as this one promises to be, Agent of Chaos will certainly end up near the top of the heap when I publish my final rankings. As consistent as Marino has been as a recording artist, it would be easy to overlook what a great run he's been on over the last several years. But that kind of dependability ought to be appreciated and enjoyed. Flavors of the month come and go, but tried-and-true, high-quality rock 'n' roll never goes out of style. Agent of Chaos is a monster of a record, and I can name three premier record labels that are literally vouching for that!

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Ricky Rochelle - "Beetles on High"


A lot of Ricky Rochelle's songs have been pretty intense lately, and I can totally roll with that. But I can also appreciate him lightening things up a little with his new single "Beetles on High." This track finds Ricky going back to a more straight-forward pop-punk style. On a surface level, the song pokes fun at The Beatles for taking an obscene amount of drugs in the later 1960s. But at a deeper level, the song expresses tremendous admiration for the remarkable music that The Fab Four created under the influence. "At a higher consciousness than they even understood," sings Ricky, "their worst songs were symphonic; even 'Blue Jay Way' was good." This song reminds me of this old bit Bill Hicks bit:

And if you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight. Take all your albums, all your tapes, and all your CDs and burn them. 'Cause you know what, the musicians that made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years were real fucking high on drugs. The Beatles were so fucking high they let Ringo sing a few tunes!

The fact that we're still talking and writing songs about the stoned Beatles 60 years later seems to reinforce the whole point of "Beetles on High." Yeah, those guys were really high, but their music was world-altering and next-level brilliant. There's always that one person with the hot take that The Beatles sucked after Help!, but that's just crazy talk. "Beetles on High" manages to be both hilarious and affectionate, and it's obvious it was written by someone who's a true music lover. It's streaming now at all the usual places!

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The Sideshows - "We're Such A Shame"/"This Could Be Everything"


And they're back! Rich Ragany, Simon Maxwell, and Sammi Yaffa are The Sideshows, who debuted last year with their extraordinary single "Brand New." Luckily for all of us, the instant magic these three captured in one session in Yaffa's home studio in the Spanish countryside has blossomed into a full-blown band, and now a full album awaits us. In advance of that, we get a little taste of what's to come. The band's new single "We're Such A Shame" will get you properly fired up for what promises to be one of 2026's finest albums. The title track is a powerful glam-punk influenced rocker and a total anthem. From the first notes, you know you're getting hit with something special. Guitars jangle while drums hit with authority, and Rags is in top form on lead vocals. There are so many times when Rags reminds me of a young John Easdale with his tone and phrasing, and that can never be a bad thing. I love how this song builds to a rousing chorus. This, my friends, is a hit! On the virtual flip side, "This Could Be Everything" is more in ballad territory — a perfect counterpart to the A-side. The tempo is more laid back, but the heart and soul of the song are undeniable. And once that chorus works its way into your head, it will be stuck there for weeks. These are two amazing songs that sound absolutely incredible. Rags' own review of this single is "you're gonna wanna blast these," and that's far more eloquent than I could ever be. The album releases in just one week, so be prepared to be fully rocked!

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Wednesday, April 01, 2026

The Peppermint Kicks - "Shaking Underground"


When I first heard that The Peppermint Kicks were releasing a new single on April Fool's Day, I got a little suspicious. Anything having to do with April 1st always has me on high alert. Who in the heck releases new music on a Wednesday? Was this going to be an elaborate prank? Would April 1st come and there'd be no single but maybe a triple album with all lyrics in Russian? Would it be branded as Peppermint Kicks but actually be some sort of Metal Machine Music type project? Would the new single just be a video recording announcing that the band is retiring from music to prepare for a mission to Mars? Well here we are, and it all seems legit. 

Out on the one-and-only Rum Bar Records, "Shaking Underground" not only sounds like The Peppermint Kicks, but it might also be the biggest smash hit that Dan Kopko and Sal Baglio have ever crafted together in their secret headquarters. Of course it's a power poppin' garage rock 'n' roll stomper, but this is no ordinary radio hit for an alternate universe. This, my friends, is a full-blown ANTHEM and a rousing call to action. It's an unflinching commentary on technology addiction and content oversaturation — and the hapless masses who find themselves manipulated, enslaved, and zombie-fied by all those sinister little devices. The irony that this song is largely being transmitted through devices is probably not lost on the band, but sometimes you've got to wage war with the weapons you've got. "Shaking Underground" is not all gloom and doom. It's a wake-up call, and it proposes a way out of this nightmare. No more fooling around! Joined by dynamo drummer Chuck Ferreira, Kopko and Baglio are in top form on this track. Sometimes it takes an irresistible tune to ensure that the message hits hard, and no doubt "Shaking Underground" will have you shaking and grooving with all you've got. What a freaking tune! Sometimes when all else fails, rock 'n' roll is the answer. There is another way. Let's give 'em hell to pay! 

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Saturday, March 28, 2026

Sick Shooters - Super Sonic Rock Saga


Holy 2005, Batman! On their debut long player, Utrecht, Netherlands–based Sick Shooters take me back to the heyday of garage punk/power pop mash-ups. The perfectly tiled Super Sonic Rock Saga blasts through 11 tracks of blistering punk rock 'n' roll with relentless power pop hooks in 28 thrilling minutes. This is an all-killer, no-filler affair from start to finish. Think first generation punk-pop (Buzzcocks, Undertones, Boys) if you gave it a '90s garage punk kick in the pants and and then injected it with a modern-day youthful exuberance. If I made a playlist of the stuff I was listening to two decades ago (Kidnappers, Manikins, The Heartattacks, Marked Men, etc.), any of these songs would fit right in. Yet the sound of this record is totally fresh and exciting  — proving the timelessness of this type of music when it's done right. There aren't really many new bands like this these days — especially not ones made up of folks in their early 20s. 

What a breath of fresh air this album is! It delivers a perfect mix of scorching punk rock 'n' roll tracks ("Evacuation," "Gambling Girl," "Never Comin Home"), more power pop leaning numbers ("Daisy," "Sweet Telephone," "Holding On"), and a few that split the difference ("Heartbreaker Soulshaker," "Supersonic Lovin," "In Between"). A couple of my influential friends have already weighed in with ringing endorsements, and I will happily add my voice to the chorus of acclaim. 2026 is stacking up to be perhaps the most loaded year for new music in decades, but Super Sonic Rock Saga will absolutely have a spot near the top of my year-end albums list. When it comes to just about everything I love in music, this record hits the target dead-center. Get it from Wap Shoo Wap Records in Amsterdam. Is it just me, or is The Netherlands turning into the epicenter for everything that's awesome? 

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Vista Blue - Batting Around


Baseball season is never officially underway until Vista Blue properly opens it with a baseball-themed release. But we didn't have long to wait this year, as Vista Blue released Batting Around the day after the real Opening Day (one game on Netflix doesn't count) — and on Mike's birthday to boot. Mike got an early present in the form of a Pete Crow-Armstrong contract extension with the Cubs, and now he and Mark have gifted us four new Vista Blue tracks that no ABS system will ever be able to deny. 

The title track starts things off with some snappy, toe-tapping punk rock that celebrates one of the most formidable achievements a baseball lineup could ever hope to attain (and no, Meta AI, "batting around" does not refer to casually hitting the ball in a relaxed or informal setting). "Good Reputation" takes things in a more pop direction. It's a song about the one guy who's on the roster because he's respected in the clubhouse and contributes to the team in ways that are never apparent on the stat sheet. "What's Your Favorite Lockout?" is one of my favorite types of VB songs — a 30-second speed-burner that makes The Queers sound like Emerson, Lake & Palmer. And I'm absolutely on board with '94 being the gold standard for MLB lockouts. "I Don't Wanna Be DFA'd" is in classic VB territory. Paired with "Good Reputation," this song finds Mike and Mark speaking up for the guys who aren't big stars with massive contracts. A lot of players have to fight for roster spots and hope the axe doesn't fall on them when it's time to designate someone for assignment. I'll be pouring one out for Garrett Stubbs, a Phillie with a good reputation who has sadly been DFA'd. 

From that first chord of "Batting Around," I knew I was in for another first rate Vista Blue release. I'm always open to interpreting this band's sports songs on a metaphorical level, so let's hope that this is a year where all of you clear the bases in your life and put some crooked numbers on the board.

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Thursday, March 26, 2026

Sparrowhawk - Sunflowers in the Moonlight


On its second full-length album, Minneapolis-based foursome Sparrowhawk continues on its mission to make super-awesome rock music. I'm not one to judge an album by its cover, but it would be hard to look at Lucas Gluesenkamp's bad-ass cover art for Sunflowers in the Moonlight at not assume that the music would totally kick ass. Luckily, there's no assumption necessary in the era of streaming. But even in digital times, some albums ought to be experienced on vinyl based on how they look and sound. This is one of them! 

Sparrowhawk is by no means the only indie/punk band embracing '70s arena rock, but you won't find anyone else doing it better. Following their excellent 2023 debut, Johnny Eggerman, Zach McCormick, Damien Tank, and Marty Mueller have doubled down on their love for classic rock. I was amused that the promotional email I received in the advance of the album release was sent by "Phil Lynott." If Philo was going to come back from the dead to do some publicity work, it was certainly going to be for a record like this one. This is an arena-sized rock 'n' roll long player with a punk rock heart. On this release, the band has added a touch of Allman Brothers/Molly Hatchet influence and expanded its repertoire to include ballads and rustic folk rock. Your dad or granddad would love this record, and that's not a knock. Sparrowhawk truly throws it back to a time when there was no shame in crafting a rock radio hit. 

Sunflowers in the Moonlight builds on the sound and style of its predecessor. It's everything that was great about the last album and much more. The melodic rockers "Underneath the Moonlight," "Still Talk About It Now," and "Power and the Glory" will please anyone who loved the band's debut. "Blackberry Brandy" is full-on Southern rock and totally freaking excellent. "Lonesome Operator" is a splendid power ballad in the proper sense of the term. "Down the Line" is giving Stones/Faces energy, and I'm sure not complaining. The title track is earnest Americana with all kinds of scrappy charm. And what other band would think to close an album with a Western-themed eleven-minute multipart finale? That's pure genius! 

Of course Sunflowers in the Moonlight rocks hard. Those harmonized lead guitars remain front and center, and these tunes will have you air-drumming like a maniac in short order. But the Midwestern soul in this music should not be sold short. The album's lyrics are heavy on storytelling and character sketches, so this is like listening to a record with the substance of a movie or short story collection. The band reunited with Andy Mathison, whose recording and mixing favors a sound that's massive but never too slick. Imagine what a king you would be if you were walking around with the Sparrowhawk logo emblazoned on the back of your denim jacket. People would see you and immediately want to hear the band that had the vision to pick such an unfuckwithable name. And one guy would be like, "I heard those guys! They did that song 'Take a Bow'!" And you'd be like, "Dude! Wait until you hear this new album!" 

How do you top a big, hooky rock record? You make an even bigger, hookier rock record! The vinyl, limited to 200 copies, was pressed in Minneapolis by Outta Wax and released on the Twin Cities' own Piñata Records. In the process of bringing this album into existence, the band really showed some love to its own community. And that tells you a lot about Sparrowhawk. Grab a copy of this monster while you can!

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