Monday, March 18, 2024

CB Kiddo - "Feeling Fine"/"So It Goes"


Wasn't I just talking about how I knew the demise of Phone Jerks would have a silver lining because former members' new projects would ultimately multiply the awesomeness? The awesomeness continues to multiply! CB Kiddo is Emily's home-recorded pandemic project. And while there is much controversy and debate surrounding various aspects of Phone Jerks (What was their best record? Which band did they rip off the most? Which song should they have covered? Which song should they not have covered? Who had the best hair?), I think fans would unanimously proclaim Emily as their favorite Phone Jerks singer. So the idea of Emily singing on another project was going to be warmly-received even if she just sang hockey scores over top of jazz flute. But far better than that, CB Kiddo turns out to be a lo-fi rockin' poppy punk thing that's gonna have you all going nuts. Its worldwide debut features a pair of unmastered demo tracks that you'll love even if you're too bougie to like Phone Jerks. Both of these songs — "Feeling Fine" and "So It Goes" — are stone cold bangers with killer hooks and freaking awesome lyrics. Seriously: "Feeling Fine" could be an A-side right now. Holy cannoli, what a debut! And it's a free download, so you've got no excuses for sleeping on it! 

Saturday, March 16, 2024

White Wires - Singles and Rarities


One thing I regret about my nearly four-year sabbatical from music reviewing that pre-dated this blog is that I missed most of an incredible run by The White Wires. I caught the tail end of that run and loved the album WWIII. But when I went back and listened to their early singles and first two albums, I was floored. There's no doubt about it: had I been reviewing music circa 2008-2010, The White Wires would have been one of my most highly touted bands. So I relish the opportunity to be able to review this Ottawa-based trio one more time. Singles and Rarities is exactly what it sounds like: a collection of the band's singles and compilation cuts which essentially forms a fourth White Wires album. There's even a previously-unreleased track included! If you want to hear one of past decade's greatest punky power pop garage bands in top form, Singles and Rarities is a must-listen. 7" sides like "Crazy Crazy" and "Pogo 'til I Puke Tonight" are up there with the best of the band's songs, and covers of The Nerves ("Letter to G") and Poppees ("I Need Your Love") are totally aces. The unreleased track, "Spy," is quite good and will be a real treat for fans. You can stream this compilation now and look forward to a vinyl release from It's Alive Records!



Pleasants - Rocanrol In Mono


Here come the Aussies again exerting world domination over modern-day punk rock! Pleasants hail from Perth and have released several notable singles over the last couple of years. Out now on Under the Gun Records, Rocanrol In Mono is the band's long-awaited full-length debut. This whole record was written, performed, recorded, and mixed by one individual, Mr. Al Uminium. Blending the raw energy of Aussie garage punk with egg punk-ish elements and a classic punk approach to songwriting, this nifty long player more than lives up to the promise of the singles. These songs are catchy as hell, odd in the best possible sense, and just really damn good. Rocanrol In Mono joins a rapidly-growing list of great punk albums released so far this year. When it comes to budget punk (or is it budget rocanrol?), Pleasants are here to show us how it's done! 

My Ten Favorite Pop-Punk Albums of the 20th Century



Here, as promised, is the companion piece to my list of my ten favorite pop-punk albums of the 21st century. Today I'm tackling the 20th century — which most people would consider the glory days of pop-punk. Putting together this list was a challenging task. For one thing, how does one define when pop-punk became a genre onto itself? If I had included first wave punk bands in this discussion, my entire list would have been the Ramones, Buzzcocks, Undertones, and Dickies. I also struggled with how to define pop-punk. Ultimately, I decided to define it fairly broadly. That may not sit well with the pop-punk purists or gatekeepers. But I'm not here to argue about what is or is not pop-punk. With a couple of these albums, I felt like it was questionable to include them — but that it would have been worse to not include them. I will reiterate that this is a list of my ten favorite pop-punk albums of the 20th century — not the ten best or ten most influential or ten most important. It's interesting that all these albums came out in my 20s, and four of them came out in the same calendar year. So clearly my selections were influenced by nostalgia. I'd like to thank Mark for inspiring me to take this trip down memory lane so I could be reminded of how much I love this music. On with it! 

10. Moral Crux - I Was a Teenage Teenager (1994) 
Moral Crux, like Boris the Sprinkler, was a crucial influence in my evolution from pop-punk kid to '77-style punk rock fanatic. All of this band's albums are great, so be sure to explore the full catalog over at Bandcamp if you're unfamiliar with Moral Crux. 

9. Screeching Weasel - Anthem for a New Tomorrow (1993)
Screeching Weasel has several albums that were instrumental in my pop-punk education. That whole run from My Brain Hurts through How To Make Enemies And Irritate People is bulletproof. Anthem for a New Tomorrow is the one I've listened to the most — by far.

8. Boris the Sprinkler - Saucer to Saturn (1995)
Any time I reflect on punk rock and the '90s, I think about how underrated Boris the Sprinkler's catalog is. The spectacle of this band's live show and the geek chic cleverness of its lyrics might have gotten all of the attention, but musically BtS epitomized everything that was great about poppy classic punk. Saucer to Saturn was the band's finest hour.

7. The Lillingtons - Shit Out of Luck (1997) 
Certainly The Lillingtons became a more original and interesting band as they matured. But for me, nothing beats their early, more classically pop-punk stuff. Sing it with me: "LI! LL! ING! TON!"

6. Beatnik Termites - Taste the Sand (1995) 
I've always had a soft spot for pop-punk of the bubblegum variety. Throw in some surf and oldies radio influences, and you've got yourself a classic in Taste the Sand.


5. Green Day - Dookie (1994)
You may have heard of this band. 

4. The Automatics (USA) - self titled (1996) 
Now here was a band that was ahead of its time. Today, the idea of fast, snotty, yet really poppy punk rock with bargain basement production is nothing new. But there was nothing else like The Automatics in the mid-'90s. These guys played fast and raw, yet their songs were brilliantly-crafted and laden with harmonies. The Automatics remain the greatest '90s punk band that nobody talks about.

3. The Queers - Love Songs for the Retarded  (1993) 
This album did not invent pop-punk, but it perfected the formula to the point where it could never be topped — not even by the band that made it.

2. Parasites - Punch Lines (1993) 
For so many years, I swore that Pair was the better Parasites album. Then I grew up, cleaned out my ears, and recognized a masterpiece. "Crazy" is one of the best songs ever written, and "Letdown" is an album closer of legendary proportions.

1. The Muffs - self titled (1993) 
When it comes to records that were life-changing for me, I put this one up there with the first three Ramones albums. I know this is a favorites list and not a "most influential" list. But I can't even begin to calculate how much great music now exists because someone heard The Muffs. The greatest scream in rock 'n' roll! 

Honorable Mentions 
Mr. T. Experience - every single album! 
BUM - Wanna Smash Sensation (1993)
Sicko - You Can Feel the Love in This Room (1994)
Buck - self titled (1998) 
The Queers - Don't Back Down (1996)
Decendents - I Don't Want To Grow Up (1985) 
Chixdiggit - self titled (1996) 
Dirt Bike Annie - Hit the Rock! (1999) 

So tell me: What are your favorite pop-punk albums of the 20th century? 

-L.R.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

The Goodyear Wimps - Songs for Adult Children With Distortion


The Goodyear Wimps is a pretty hilarious band name, and Songs for Adult Children With Distortion (misplaced modifier intended?) is a pretty hilarious album title. This band from Boise plays super-catchy pop-punk that sometimes leans towards power pop. You may know the singer Brent V from his other band The Brents. Over these six tracks, Brent V shows a terrific sense of humor. But even though he doesn't take himself too seriously, he's an excellent songwriter with a real flair for tuneful melodies and earworm hooks. A lot of these lyrics made me laugh out loud, but it's the quality of the songwriting that keeps bringing me back for more. "Sunday Morning" sounds like what would happen if Weezer played pop-punk, and I am here for it! If this is what "hacksaw power pop" sounds like, count me in. A very promising debut from the mighty Mountain West! 

Bart and the Brats - Can't Think Straight


Perhaps the only thing in life as dependable as death & taxes are Bart and the Brats, who return with another superb release of '77-style punk rock stripped to its bare bones. Still fresh off a third LP and a killer split with Battlebeats, Bart hit the studio with Lo' Spider in Toulouse this past fall and knocked out Can't Think Straight — out now on 7" record on the labels Juvenile Delinquent and Take The City Records. Bart isn't messing with the recipe one bit, and why would he? These two-minute, three-chord bangers bring to mind the Ramones in first album form and UK counterparts such as The Lurkers and Vibrators. Bart's vocal style is immediately recognizable, and his ability to churn out simple, thumping punk tunes of the highest quality is hard to beat. Put any of these songs on a compilation of 1977 punk tracks, and they won't sound out of place! 

Saturday, March 09, 2024

Hoaxxers - "Thought That You Should Know"


Here's some more excitement in the Mom's Basement Records department: Hoaxxers are releasing their (sort of) debut 7" on the label very soon. I say "sort of" because Hoaxxers look and sound suspiciously like Charlie, Kye, and Tron from Joe Jitsu, a really terrific pop-punk band from the 2000s. I had to look up when I first reviewed Joe Jitsu, and it was twenty years ago! Man, does time fly! But this is a new band for a new time, with a sound that's maybe a little more, uh, punkier? In advance of the 7", the band has released one of the tracks, "Thought That You Should Know," as a digital single. The punkier sensibility manifests itself mostly in a peppier tempo, but otherwise this is not far removed at all from Joe Jitsu. And that's a good thing. Charlie's voice is as smooth as silk, and the song bursts with energy and melody in that old school '90s style. For not having played together for a while, these three sound tight as heck! "Thought That You Should Know" is a free download from Bandcamp, so be sure to grab it if you're a fan of Joe Jitsu or good pop-punk in general. If Mom's Basement is putting it out, you know it's gotta be good!