Friday, October 23, 2026

The Daniel James Gang - Ghosts Of The Past


As a child of the '70s, I was fully indoctrinated into the urban legend that legions of nefarious individuals across the nation were conspiring to murder or maim children by handing out Halloween candy laced with razor blades. It was a preposterous idea. Somehow there were evil geniuses all over the place who had the time and skill to unwrap miniature pieces of candy, insert sharp, deadly objects while leaving the confectionary goodness fully in tact, and then re-wrap each item to a professional standard. Yet there we were year after year, heeding warnings that we all may have been holding a bite-sized death trap in our Halloween haul. And those fine folks who went to the trouble to hand out candy apples were now suspected villains. It was terrifying yet oddly thrilling. The only thing crazier than the insane things people believed before the internet are the insane things a large portion of society now believes because of the internet. 

As I listen to Ghosts Of The Past, the new EP from The Daniel James Gang, my mind goes back to that mythical razor blade–laced candy. Daniel writes songs that are like that: sweet and chewy yet sharp and dangerous beneath the surface. I can't think of another songwriter who has a better grasp of how big-hook power pop and raw, street-tough glam punk are meant to come together in thunderous, staggering harmony. Ghosts Of The Past is the first new music from The Daniel James Gang since January of last year, and it's a crackling affair. On this release, the DJG is a proper trio with Mary Joy on bass and Pauly Hollywood on drums. "(Breakin') What Hearts Are Made For," the fireball opener, is electrifying old school punk rock 'n' roll with a massive, soaring chorus. I always love hearing Daniel and friends rock out, and that's happening here with full force. DJ collaborated with Geoff Palmer and Jackie Lemaire on the lyrics, and they really bring an edge to the love song genre. If that chorus were any catchier, half the country would declare it a hoax. "Artificial Romance," which slides close to pure power pop territory, is Daniel's most topical song of the bunch — a reflection on how bizarre and dystopian it is that artificial intelligence has encroached into the most human spaces we have: art and music. The dark yet melodious "Insanity" is inhabited by the spirits Joey Ramone and Stiv Bators — another reminder that some of the best love songs are the ones that are not for the faint of heart. "Drunk Like Me" is a super-charming cover of an absolute classic by one of Daniel's all-time favorite bands, The Dogs D'Amour. The band puts its full heart and soul into this rendition, which fits in splendidly with the rest of the EP. It's not hard to imagine people going nuts for this song when the band plays it live.  

I just went into my draft of my best EPs of the year list and penciled in Ghosts Of The Past very near the top. It's a tremendous little record that anyone who visits this blog ought to be interested in. It's everything I love about punk rock, power pop, glam rock, and rock 'n' roll combined into one band. Who hears those raw, impassioned vocals without being immediately smitten? And when it comes to lead guitar playing that totally shreds while still retaining an ear for melody, Daniel is hard to beat. This set of tunes is totally killer, and this particular rhythm section is a bona fide powerhouse. How many times must I chant "Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho" to ensure the music gods hand us a Daniel James Gang full-length in 2027? 

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Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Nick Piunti - Under the Wire


Well here comes Mr. Dependable again! When it comes to Nick Piunti, the one thing you can always count on is quality. The new EP Under the Wire finds this master craftsman of guitar pop in prime form on a six-song set that feels a little different from his albums. This release is, for the lack of a better term, more "singer/songwriter-ish." 

Piunti often brings to mind Paul Westerberg with his flair for writing songs that are so sad and truthful that they hit you like a ton of bricks. That's the vibe here. Under the Wire favors ballads and laidback, melancholy numbers. While not fully a concept record, it does explore recurring themes of people who are plagued by despair and struggling to find their way out of the darkness — sometimes due to circumstance and sometimes by choice. These songs play to all of Piunti's strengths. He's not just a skilled crafter of melodies but also a fine singer and superb storyteller. These six songs come together like a collection of short stories or a movie made of vignettes. It takes a special kind of talent to make sad songs something you look forward to, but Piunti possesses that skill set in abundance. "Hope You Got High" opens the EP in particularly devastating fashion, and from there it's a veritable parade of stunning, gorgeously bittersweet gems. If you've heard a Nick Piunti record before, you know the kind of music to expect. But his act never wears thin, and every new song he turns out is a delight to behold. If you or people close to you are struggling or haunted by demons of various sorts, you will feel these songs deeply. 

Given the creative roll he's been on now for a decade plus, getting two releases from Nick Piunti in a single year feels like a gift. He epitomizes class in the indie pop-rock universe, and Under the Wire captures him at his absolute best.

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Monday, October 19, 2026

Vista Blue - "Here Comes the Rougarou"


Well, I suppose it is time for the Halloween music! Vista Blue has treated us to its annual spooky seasonal release, and this single is absolutely up my alley as it serves up a double shot of songs inspired by urban legends. I always love hearing about regional mythical creatures, and so now I receive my education on the Rougarou in southern Louisiana. It's half wolf and half man! "Here Comes the Rougarou" describes an encounter with this terrifying beast, and of course it's upbeat, lively fun. We have the Albatwitch here in the south of Pennsylvania — which is like a tiny Bigfoot that steals apples. Admittedly, that's not as creepy as the Rougarou, but you can bet I never enter the woods along the Susquehanna River unaccompanied. So I would not take any chances with the Rougarou. Urban legends are cool, aren't they? "Faster and Faster" is inspired by Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones and was recorded for Vista Blue's upcoming 50 Stories album. Living up to its title, it's over in a minute. If you have a Halloween playlist, both of these songs would make fine additions. 

In 12 days, it will be Halloween. So I'll enjoy what's left of candy/pumpkin/monster season and prepare myself for the quick switch to Christmas mania. Something tells me that Vista Blue will have Christmas songs for us a little earlier than usual this year!

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Sunday, October 18, 2026

Blondie - "Spectral Eyes"


The chance to write a Blondie review in 2026 is giving me all the feels. Parallel Lines was my first-ever purchased album, and that was so long ago that it was an 8-track tape. I can't think of many bands that have been more important than Blondie in influencing the general style of music that this blog centers itself around. Due out in February, High Noon will be the first new Blondie album in a decade. It will also be the last Blondie recording to feature the late, great Clem Burke on drums. "Spectral Eyes," the advance single, is an instant fan-pleaser. Although the song was written by Johnny Marr (who also plays guitar on the track), it sounds uniquely like Blondie. There's no question about what band you're listening to, and you're just grateful to live in a world that still has Blondie in it. Glen Matlock guest stars on bass, so this track is truly star-studded. But it's the ageless Debbie Harry who shines the brightest. My friends, she has still got it. What a glorious four minutes of music we have here! I can't wait to hear the whole record!

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Self-Cut Bangs - Growth Spurts


One thing that always brings me joy is being able to follow a band from the very start — to hear that initial promise and experience the group's progression and growth in real time. I swear it feels like it was just a couple years ago that Self-Cut Bangs emerged as one couple's pandemic home recording project and one of the most pleasant surprises of 2020. But no, that was six years ago (yeah, really!). And the project was such a smashing success that Self-Cut Bangs became a bona fide, permanent band. And now another four years have passed since the band released its second and most recent album, Circle Around The Free. So what have Self-Cut Bangs been up to since 2022? Quite a lot, actually! Two pairs of band members got married. One of them had their first baby. And so the title of the new album, Growth Spurts, makes perfect sense. The band says the record is "inspired by and about the rapid musical, romantic and familial growth within the band." What's not to love about that?

To recap: Self-Cut Bangs feature two married couples in Cayley and Shawn Petsche and Nicola and Dillon Cavanagh-Whitfield along with Joel Nye. They describe themselves as "like Fleetwood Mac, but replacing the drama and drugs with more guitar solos." Sign me up for that, please! I notoriously love family bands, and I notoriously like Canadian bands. And on this third long player, SCB has fully realized a sound that's super appealing to me, one that lives at the intersection of the power pop/indie rock/arena rock Venn diagram. On this release, the band noticeably expands its repertoire but doesn't stray from its love for simple, hooky rock songs that are just the right mix of thunder and sugar. A band that's equal parts Redd Kross, Blondie, New Pornographers, and April Wine is either going to be an absolute mess or just about the best thing ever, and this evolved, more adult-oriented version Self-Cut Bangs is truly firing on all cylinders. Of course more power pop-ish tunes like "Stonewalled" and "Be My Shelter" have become fast favorites, but I'm just as keen on pure rockers such as "Witness" and "Baby Blues." Elsewhere, the likes of "Ouroboros," "One Day," and "Hot for Me" acknowledge post-punk, glam, and butt-kicking garage rock influences that have become defining pieces of the modern-day indie/punk underground. 

Growth Spurts is the work of five talented individuals who have grown as both musicians and people since we last heard from them. I love the idea that you can become more serious and self-reflective in your songwriting without abandoning that fundamental mission to make the kind of music you wish they still played on the radio. This is an album that's simple and satisfying and at the same time deeply relatable on a human level. Somehow these songs pull from the past and still manage to sound like the present and future of rock 'n' roll. File this under "well worth the wait"!

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Guerrilla Teens - Sympathy for the Decibel


Here's a review that I almost don't need to write! You see there's a new EP out from Guerrilla Teens, and you already know it's going to be great. This is my eighth time writing about this Portland, Oregon–based rock 'n' roll powerhouse, and I never tire of further spreading the gospel. There's just some kind of magic that happens when Scott "Deluxe" Drake and Jeff Fieldhouse write songs together. That's a history that goes back decades. And with Saul Koll, Tim Connolly, and Anna Andersen lining up with them, they continue to rip it up relentlessly. You can still hear those familiar influences running from '50s rock 'n' roll through the Stones, garage rock, and early punk. But this isn't The Humpers. This isn't Lovesores. It's Guerrilla fucking Teens, and they're cooking up the real-deal rock 'n' roll of today. These folks have the fire and the fury, the chops, and the tunes. At a lean five tracks, Sympathy for the Decibel is a quick-hitting, all-action affair. The title track is the fist-pumping, shout-along anthem you hoped it would be. Songs like "Ghost of New Orleans" and "You're Looking Good" tear into the old school punk rock 'n' roll style with a vigor and a venom that decades-younger bands would hope to emulate. "Spider Bouquet" has that darker garage rock edge that has been a signature for Guerrilla Teens. 

Sympathy for the Decibel delivers the goods just as you knew it would. Last year's Monkey's Paw was probably a new high point for Guerrilla Teens, and this follow-up keeps the momentum going. It's amazing to think that a band that came into existence as a pandemic project has blossomed into one of the defining bands of modern-day punk rock 'n' roll — a reminder that this kind of music is still very much alive and kicking all kinds of ass. If you're balking at the steep price for a Bandcamp download, there's a reason for that. This thing is coming out very soon on 10" clear pink vinyl on Sonic Jett Records, and that's the purchase you ought to be waiting for. Stay tuned for the ordering details!

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Friday, October 16, 2026

Hayley and The Crushers - "Crash"


I can't decide if reviewing a cover song is the easiest thing I've ever done on this blog — or the hardest. It would be simple enough to say, "Hayley and The Crushers have covered one of the greatest pop songs ever written and made it their own," direct you to the music video, and point in myself in the mirror in appreciation of a job well done. But what fun would that be? We're talking about Hayley and the freaking Crushers — who are on my Mt. Rushmore of present-day bands. I can't phone this one in! 

So let's start with the obvious: covering the utter perfection that is The Primitives' 1988 single "Crash" is a gutsy move, but would you expect anything less from a band that has previously had at The Ramones' "Teenage Lobotomy" and X's "Los Angeles"? There is no fear in the Crusherverse. You can acknowledge a song is unfuckwithable and still put your signature on it. The band points out that it has always loved "songs that feel like candy with a switchblade tucked inside," so "Crash" was a perfect candidate to be properly Crusher-ized. This cover has the original's spirit, but it's a little louder, a little punchier, a little more glittery, and a lot punkier. Of course you're starting with majestic material. But the band's own DNA is all over this track. This is music that energizes and uplifts, music that has you shouting "Yeah!" as soon as the song starts. In a world full of "meh" music, we need a lot more "Yeah!" And the music video has me in stitches. I can't say much more without spoiling it, but man, I just about choked on my Cheerios. You want bands with humor and personality? Well here you go. Dr. Cain deserves an Oscar!  

With a new album releasing on Kitten Robot Records in 2027, Hayley and The Crushers have been nice enough to give us a little taste of what's to come with the singles "Jewel Case" and "Cringeworthy," both of which are gold-certified bangers. And now "Crash" amps up the excitement even more. I've made so much about how great this year has been for new music, but who says next year can't be even better? Drive safely, kids! 

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