Sunday, July 13, 2025

The Scunthorpe Yobs - Kick It 'Til It Breaks


Mick Bladder's mighty punk/Oi! super-group The Scunthorpe Yobs are back with album #2, which does not mess around with a winning recipe. Also featuring members of bands such as Oil!, The Generators, The Randumbs, and Smogtown, The Scunthorpe Yobs are based in Southern California but sound like they just stepped out of the U.K. circa 1979-82. If you dig classic Oi! a la Cockney Rejects, Angelic Upstarts, and Sham 69 along with tougher first wave U.K. punk (Menace, UK Subs) and early '80s British street punk (Anti-Nowhere League, Blitz), The Scunthorpe Yobs will be right up your alley. Having already nailed this sound perfectly on 2023's We Are The Yobs, the band was going to be challenged to top itself. But I must say that Kick It 'Til It Breaks is even stronger than its predecessor, pounding out ten tracks of beer-swilling, first-pumping, teeth-kicking punk rock that mixes serious social commentary with boorish humor and a fuck-off attitude. Of course songs like "Hey Wanker," "Lager Frenzy," and "Two Finger Salute" live up to the promise of their titles. But "Council Estates," "Class War," and "Sing Through the Pain" prove that these self-proclaimed yobs are far more thoughtful and sophisticated than they let on. When it comes to old school street punk, this album checks all the boxes. These songs are powerful and aggressive yet also tuneful, anthemic, and fun to sing along with (preferably with a pint in your hand). If you didn't think music like this was still being made, well, you're wrong! Kick It 'Til It Breaks will be best enjoyed if played loud enough to piss off your neighbors, co-workers, or family members. It's available now from the iconic No Front Teeth Records!

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Saturday, July 12, 2025

Friends of Cesar Romero - "Empress of the South Pole"/"Florencia"


Man, I'm doing a really bad job at being a Friends of Cesar Romero super-fan! I last reviewed the band on June 14th and was apparently asleep when it released new music on two occasions later in the month. And then in came another single while I was on vacation this week. So let's catch up. The digital single "Florencia" is #46 in the Doomed Babe Series, and it's a loud and tremendously catchy power pop rocker with amazing lyrics that say more in two minutes than some novels do in hundreds of pages. J. Waylon writes songs like this so well that you might be tempted to take it for granted. But please don't! If you need Exhibit A to demonstrate why Friends of Cesar Romero is one of the best bands out there, crank "Florencia" at full blast and marvel at some masters' class power pop! "Empress of the South Pole," released earlier this week, is a two-track digital single and #47 in the Doomed Babe Series. Lead track "Like Extracting Teeth From The Jaws Of Death" is a kick-ass garage rocker that digs deep into the pain of loving someone who just can't stop jerking you around. Man, you can really feel the pain in this one. It lives up to its title for sure. On the digital flipside, the title track is a jangly pop song exploring a situation where the heartbreak is mutual but there's hope of starting over. The optimist in me believes that perhaps this particular babe isn't so doomed. Then again, in the Friends of Cesar Romero universe, happy endings are rare. And guess what? "Empress of the South Pole" and "Florencia" were actually preceded by All Goodbyes Aren't Bad Cause This Goodbye Is For Good, which was # 45 1/2 in the Doomed Babe Series. Three of the songs on the EP were previously released on Bandcamp but not on the streaming sites. They've been remastered and bundled with a new song called "Finish Him," which cleverly uses the brutality of Mortal Combat as a metaphor for the devastation of heartbreak. The "new old" songs on the EP are "Summer Boyfriend," "Longing Heart Condition," and "Rebound Baby." If you're not familiar with these tunes (or even if you are), I highly recommend adding this EP to your FOCR collection. And if you don't already have a FOCR collection, what in the world are you waiting for?! 


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Hormones - "If I Was Your Girl"/"Hayley Smith"


The "world's hottest band" returns with single #2, and it's another stone-cold banger! Betty, Stuey, Jim Jim, and Joseph, collectively known as Hormones, are here to stand up for "trans rights and trans wrongs." I am here for it! These delightful humans play absolutely perfect old school pop-punk that's as endearing as it is catchy. Last month's "Out of the House, Out of the Closet" b/w "I Wanna Be Your Herfriend" was such a formidable debut that even a slightly lesser follow-up would have been more than satisfactory. But Hormones are here to show us that that first single was no fluke! "If I Was Your Girl," in fact, might be the best track the band has released so far. It finds the foursome dialing back the tempo just a tad but still living in that world where the Ramones are everything and the only thing. I'm always a sucker for a good love song, and this one is very heartfelt and sweet. Why should straight dudes have a monopoly on writing songs about girls? "Hayley Smith" is a bit faster and punkier, and it's a loving shout-out to a life-changing transgender role model. Sometimes in life, there's nothing more important than meeting someone who is like you or like the person you know you want to become. I love the way Hormones are able to use simple pop songs to reflect on something as serious as life and love from a trans woman's perspective — and to present it in a way that's both very vulnerable and fun to listen to. I love this band and can't wait to hear more!

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Friday, July 11, 2025

Golden Richards - "Jenny on the Run"


It never really feels like summer without a Golden Richards hit in rotation on all the cool indie radio shows. And so here we go with Golden Richards' 2025 summer smash! "Jenny on the Run" is pretty much what you'd expect from this long-running Chicago-based duo: a power pop anthem with bigtime '90s vibes. But what's cool about this band is that it always brings interesting concepts for songs. "Jenny on the Run" might sound like modern power pop via crunching '90s alt-rock, but its lyrical inspiration goes back to the '60s. The song is somewhat inspired by the movie Woodstock and the young people in the film who talked about leaving their homes because they just had to be at Woodstock for the music. More generally, the song is about kids (or anyone) escaping their boring everyday routines through music. Who can't relate to that? The titular Jenny leaves it all behind to dance and rock out at Woodstock, feeling more alive than she ever has. But what I love about this song is that it's more universal than that. The idea of live music being this spiritually thrilling thing where you connect with like-minded souls and escape your shitty reality transcends time. Jenny may have been on an odyssey to experience Jimi Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone live, but the same story could be set in any year with any other artists. The song is vintage Golden Richards: rocking, tuneful, and chock full of hooks. It's got majestic vocals, all sorts of guitar heroics, and a bridge to die for. This, my friends, is rock 'n' roll! Crank this tune loudly in the car with the windows down and let the music take you far away from whatever might bum you out. 

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Sunday, July 06, 2025

The Flashcubes (with Mike Gent) - "Reminisce"


Well, this is kind of a big deal! Out on Big Stir Records, "Reminisce" is the first new original song in decades from the legendary Flashcubes. It's actually the first of three new singles from these power pop greats coming out this summer. Written and mostly sung by Paul Armstrong, "Reminisce" actually dates back to over 30 years ago. After he wrote the song, Armstrong ending up shelving it because he didn't feel it fit his vocal range at the time. Finally he has resurrected it as a love letter to the band's fans, friends, and peers. And for sure, this song finds The Flashcubes in vintage form! The song celebrates the band's past and all those good times that were had when the group was helping to define power pop music as we know it. It also demonstrates that The Flashcubes are a vital part of power pop's present day. Guest-starring on this release is the one-and-only Mike Gent from the almighty Figgs! Crank up this track if you too want to reminisce about the old times but also appreciate that we're in the midst of a new glory period for power pop! Stay tuned for the rest of the singles in this trilogy, and be on the lookout for a very special Flashcubes-related project coming from Big Stir in September!

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Perilous - "Revolution Calling"


Back with the third installment in its summer of singles, Perilous gets political on the rocker "Revolution Calling." Raging against corruption, lies, and "devil politics making us all sick," this song isn't a piece of commentary so much as it as an urgent call to action. "Are you ready?" asks the band, and you know exactly what they're talking about. I always measure politically-themed songs the same way: Would it be a killer tune even if they were singing about something else? And in the case of "Revolution Calling," that's an affirmative. This is a fiery and exciting shot of old school punk rock. Rather than being secondary to the message, the music powers the message. Somehow I was so busy that I completely slept on Perilous also releasing another track last month —  which turns out to be the band's very own theme song! This is one of the best bands out there playing real deal punk rock 'n' roll. If you're not yet following its summer of singles, now is the time to get on board!

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Friday, July 04, 2025

TA-80 - "Roller Rink Days"


On its new single, Arizona's TA-80 is hitting all my sweet spots. Not only does "Roller Rink Days" mix up the perfect cocktail of punk, pop, and rock, but it also pays homage to the culture of roller rinks. Man, when I was a kid, there was literally no place better to be than the roller rink. You had skating, killer tunes, arcade games, snacks, and quality time with your friends under the glow of ultraviolet light. So yeah,  "Roller Rink Days" is giving me all the feels. It's fun and anthemic like any TA-80 song, and the music video is an absolute hoot. The band's new album Open Late will be out next month, so make sure you are ready to rock. Y'all can loiter by the Space Invaders machine all day as far as I'm concerned!

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