Sunday, April 21, 2024

The Amplifier Heads - Songs from They Came To Rock


Songs from They Came To Rock, the fifth album by The Amplifier Heads, is the most essential soundtrack album to be released in a good while. They Came To Rock, Norty Cohen's immersive rock opera about an alien invasion of the most unexpected kind, debuted in Nashville in 2021. Sal Baglio, who wrote many of the songs which appear in the theatrical production, recently got together with a whole bunch of his talented friends and made a proper rock and roll album out of They Came To Rock. The concept for the story is the stuff of genius: in 1947, the birth of rock and roll brought aliens to our planet in search of these wondrous sounds they were picking up on their radios. 

It makes complete sense if you think about it. Alien civilizations with the advanced technology and brain power required to defy what we believe to be the laws of physics would not likely have been impressed by our centuries of human achievements — but then they would have heard rock and roll, and that would have been a mind-blower. What extraterrestrial society wouldn't be seduced by this miraculous form of music  — which immediately ignites the soul of any sentient being and provokes a frenzy of dancing and singing and uninhibited joy? Of course the aliens would have wanted in on the action! They would have marveled at how these tiny-brained Earthlings could have created something so sublime. Combining alleged true events with pure fantasy, this collection of songs tells the story of what happened when those little green men from galaxies far away came here with one single motive: to rock! The album mixes in various audio "transmissions" to give context to the songs, and I can't help thinking that I would have totally freaked if I'd heard something like this when I was six years old and space-crazed. It's like War of the Worlds meets "Let There Be Rock," and I am here for it! 

In style and sprit, the songs from They Came To Rock resemble what extraterrestrials actually would have heard if they'd be tuned into Planet Earth's airwaves in the mid–20th century. You'll hear everything from rhythm & blues to country to first generation rock and roll to '60s beat and garage rock to out-of-this-world '70s glam. Part of Baglio's brilliance was in picking the right vocalist for each song. Any aliens hearing Barrence Whitfield belt out the title track will immediately be scheduling return trips to experience the thrill of Earthling rock and roll. The legendary Allen Estes gives "They Heard My Radio" classic country vibes. "Dead Star" sounds like a song that Dan Kopko was literally born to sing. "That Girl Betty" succeeds in recreating the Phil Spector wall of sound for a variety of reasons, but mostly because of the extraordinary vocal talents of Jen D'Angora and Samantha Goddess. I'm such a fan of Jen D'Angora as a songwriter and musician that I sometimes don't fully appreciate what a great singer she is. Her lead vocal on the old school rocker "Something Went Down" is something special. Baglio is no slouch on vocals either, breathing extraterrestrial cool into "Bienvenue" and perfectly mimicking Elvis Presley on "The Moon Rocks." "Space Cadette" brings to mind dancing aliens on spaceships jetting across the galaxy. 

For They Came To Rock to succeed, the songs were going to have to be convincing. The premise doesn't work if you don't hear these tunes and believe that aliens would hear this stuff and totally lose their minds. Thankfully —  as this Amplifier Heads' soundtrack album demonstrates — these songs totally deliver. Songs from They Came To Rock can stand alone as a great spacey garage rock album and companion piece to The Amplifier Heads' third album SaturnalienS. On another level, you might find yourself getting lost in the story and eagerly awaiting a revival of the theatrical production. Get the CD now from  Rum Bar Records, your intergalactic home of the hits!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Monday, April 15, 2024

The Reflectors - Going Out Of Fashion


Well if you know, you know: most of you don't need me to tell you that The Reflectors are one of the greatest power pop bands currently in existence. When a band of this caliber releases a new record, you buy first and ask questions later. That said, I think The Reflectors' third album Going Out Of Fashion (out now on Neon Nile) will surprise you a little. At the very least, it surprised me. With power pop bands, a sophomore jinx is rare. On the other hand, that third LP can be problematic. If your third album sounds too similar to the first two, people get bored. But if your third album sounds too different from the first two, people are disappointed. On Going Out of Fashion, The Reflectors have navigated this situation marvelously. Far from succumbing to the junior jinx, they've made their best album yet. They've accomplished this by going back to their punk rock roots but also progressing to a more mature style of songwriting. That almost sounds like a contradiction, but trust me, it's not. Going Out Of Fashion is by far the band's punkiest record, and as a result, its sound has been highly energized. This is a "Play loud or else!" type of record. You can hear the influence of classic first generation punk-pop coupled with the modern power pop sound that The Reflectors have helped define. At the same time, you can hear that the band's songwriting has not stagnated. Several of these tunes are more lyrically and musically sophisticated than anything these guys could have written a few years back. And I love the variety of this record. Vintage Reflectors songs like "All the Way Down," "I Gotta Run," and "Living in a Dream" will be crowd-pleasers in power pop circles. But just as good are more "grown-up" pop songs like "I Don't Know Anymore" and the extraordinary "Time Is All I Have." In the other direction, punk-influenced songs like "Limitation" and the stone-cold banger of a title track bring a much harder edge to The Reflectors. "Losing My Mind" is pure punk rock that will just about melt your face off! 

Resisting the temptation to just make Faster Action, part 2, The Reflectors have really stepped it up with Going Out Of Fashion. This is a fantastic album in every sense: the songs, vocals, production, and musicianship all knock it out of the park. This is still essentially a Reflectors album, but it's far from a copy of the band's previous efforts. In a world where melody, stellar hooks, and great songs are timeless, the title of this album certainly does not describe this truly excellent band. 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Cola Cubes - "Bold Street Beach" b/w "Dream Come True"


Well here's another release that will have most of you going nuts! Cola Cubes are a trio from Liverpool, and their debut single sounds like an unearthed treasure from 1980. "Bold Street Beach" lives at the intersection of power pop, punk, and surf, and it's a stone cold smash. It's catchy, rocking, and totally fun. This track is sure to get your heart racing if Nikki and the Corvettes and early Go-Go's are your jam. Backing "Bold Street Beach" is a really great cover of Dolly Mixture's classic "Dream Come True." What a way to make a first impression! Cola Cubes refer to themselves as "your new favourite band," and I can't say they're wrong! A physical release of "Bold Street Beach" on cassette tape is up for pre-order now.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

The Yum Yums - Poppin' Up Again


When I first heard The Yum Yums' new album Poppin' Up Again, I was blown away — not because it was anything unexpected, but because it was everything I had expected yet somehow far more than I had expected. The Yum Yums are one of those rare bands that can get away with making the same kind of album over and over — it would, in fact, be a tremendous disappointment if they didn't! If Morten Henriksen ever began playing jazz riffs or started writing seven-minute songs about late stage capitalism and the inevitability of death, the world would be a far bleaker place. So Poppin' Up Again basically sounds like a Yum Yums album, and of course that's a good thing. But what's remarkable after thirty years plus of this band is that there hasn't been even the slightest decline in quality. 2020's For Those About To Pop! was arguably the best album the band had ever released. For Morten to come back with another batch of songs that's every bit as good is pretty incredible. This is an all-time-great power pop band doing its thing as well as it has ever done it. If you like sugary melodies, crunching guitars, earworm hooks, and timeless lyrics about sweet girls, falling in love, and falling in love with sweet girls, Poppin' Up Again will take you to auditory heaven. How many bands wish they could write 14 songs this good in their entire career? If you want a master class on bubblegum power pop punk rock 'n' roll, school is in session, and your professor is Morten Henriksen! 

The Yum Yums' first album Sweet As Candy was a game-changer for me. It was my gateway from the Ramones to the Raspberries and Paul Collins Beat, and ever since then, power pop and pop-punk have lived in my mind as twin siblings with slightly different fashion aesthetics. Little has changed with The Yum Yums in the ensuing 27 years. If anything, this band is an even better version of what it once was — aging like the sweetest fine wine. Poppin' Up Again is a perfect power pop record, and we would expect nothing more or less from the mighty Yum Yums.



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Friday, April 05, 2024

Kate Clover - The Apocalypse Dream


You've probably been hearing a lot about Kate Clover's new album The Apocalypse Dream. Believe what you're hearing: this thing is an absolute treat for anyone who loves first wave punk rock, powerful pop, modern garage rock, or all of the above! If you enjoyed Clover's last LP Bleed Your Heart Out, you can count on The Apocalypse Dream being everything that album was and much more. Any reader of this blog will find Clover's musical approach still hitting their sweet spot, but with this release her songwriting rises to another level. It's quite a task to channel classic punk & new wave in a way that feels genuinely current in 2024, but Clover manages to do exactly that. She oozes cool without even trying (which is really the only way to ooze cool!), and her songs offer just as much in lyrical substance as they do in intoxicating hooks. Of course the pre-album singles have been amazing, but there are plenty more gems on the record — such as the pandemic-inspired title track, the perfect punk-pop tune "You'll Be the Death of Me," and the anthemic new wave throwback "L.A. Prayer." No doubt this album will have you flipping out if grew up on Blondie and the Buzzcocks. But your Gen Z relations are gonna love it too!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Monday, April 01, 2024

CB Kiddo - "Running to You"


A couple weeks back, I tipped you off to the arrival of your new favorite band. Anyone reading this who hasn't already downloaded CB Kiddo's first demo and mailed in their fan club application is either a robot or a Red Hot Chili Peppers fan. Emily could have retired from music right then and there and still had the coolest single of 2024. But luckily she has not retired from music, and she quickly got to work on topping the lo-fi punk-pop magnificence of her debut. No less of an authority than Mick Fletcher has proclaimed that CB Kiddo graduates from the halls of the very good and enters the realm of greatness on this new single titled "Running To You." Perhaps I'm being influenced by the cover of the Forgotten Rebels' "Tell Me You Love Me" on the virtual B-side, but there's just something about these recordings that is quintessentially Canadian. Clearly there's something in the air or the water or the pizza dough up North that couldn't be replicated elsewhere. If someone pressed these tunes onto a 45 and claimed they were recorded during a Maritime blizzard in 1980, no one would have any reason to suspect that was a lie. "Running to You" is a scruffy powerpop/punk earworm that will have you pounding that repeat button until half your day is shot. And the cover of "Tell Me You Love Me" is outrageously good. If you didn't already know the song was a classic, you will now. Emily Williston has been one of the best punk vocalists going for a number of years, and now her songwriting talents are really getting the chance to shine with CB Kiddo. If you're into glammy, garagey, old school pop-punk, you should be running in direction of "Running to You."


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

The Bacarrudas - "You Can Have My Love If You Want It, OK?"


Wow: The Bacarrudas sure knew how to pick the perfect debut single! Excuse me while I go pick my jaw off the floor. Notice I said The Bacarrudas, not  The Barracudas or Barreracudas. The Bacarrudas are a '60s-style frat rock band from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. As fellow citizens of this commonwealth, they are entitled to free admission to any music fests I will someday arrange along with complementary Faster and Louder varsity jackets. Technically, their debut single was a Christmas release which came out at the end of last year. But for their first proper single, The Bacarrudas treat us to a preview of Pool Party, their forthcoming debut album on Mom's Basement Records. Now this is no ordinary garage rock band. This is a garage rock band featuring the god-like singing and songwriting talents of Mr. Adam Rabuck.  "You Can Have My Love If You Want It, OK?" has more energy than a 1980s exercise video, and it is sure to promote the burning of even more calories. If the song were any catchier, your school nurse would have warned you about it. Push play and get dancing! The full album drops May 3rd!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs - Call the Dogs/Crazy Operator



Well it's April 1st, but I'm not fooling around. Today I've got not one two new EPs for you from one of the best rock 'n' roll bands out there. With these two new releases, The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs pick up right where they left off on 2021's killer long player One More Drink. Call the Dogs is a ten-inch record out on Warsaw's Heavy Medication Records. Crazy Operator is a 7" out on Madrid's Ghost Highway Recordings and limited to 250 copies. Both of these releases were timed to coincide with the Cheetahs' tour of Europe — which is still ongoing with several gigs in Spain over the next few days. Altogether, this is eight tracks of the Cheetahs doing what they do best: high energy rock 'n' roll in the classic punk style with hooks for days. Call the Dogs kicks off with a title track that's vintage Cheetahs. Channeling the primoradial ooze of punk music, this rocker is every bit the ass-kicker the title suggests. The band's recent digital single "Victim of the Service Industry" is next, making its vinyl debut. It's truly an anthem for these times. "'80s Baby" is a total ripper for fans of blood and guts '77-style punk. "Long Haul" closes things out on a slightly poppier note with hints of classic Bowie. Crazy Operator comes roaring out of the gates with the scorching title track, followed by the hooky glam rock 'n' roll of "Wake Up" and a wonderfully creative arrangement of Pete Shelley's synth-pop hit "Homosapien." "Let's Dance," an old Cheetahs' favorite, is pure fire and a perfect closer for this EP.  Needless to say, you need both of these records if you're a Streetwalkin' Cheetahs fan. Closing in on three decades as a band, the Cheetahs have never sounded better. They are the definition of aging like fine wine. They've got some hot tunes for us here — with many more to come in the near future! 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, March 29, 2024

The Cynz - Little Miss Lost


The Cynz, a New Jersey/New York–based rock 'n' roll band, release their fifth album today — and their first with the illustrious JEM Records. The Cynz are probably best known for their electrifying live performances which revolve around the chemistry and charisma of lead singer Cyndi Dawson and guitarist Henry Seiz. It may have been a slight surprise when this '70s punk–influenced, full-throttle rock band signed to JEM. But anyone who hears Little Miss Lost is sure to conclude that The Cynz fit in perfectly on the JEM roster. This is the kind of record that is timeless to me — a big, hooky rock album packed with songs that would be radio hits if they still played real rock 'n' roll on the radio. It has a distinct '80s feel yet still sounds modern, and it highlights the tremendous songwriting talents of Dawson and Seiz. 

While not fully a concept album, Little Miss Lost is semi-autobiographical. It finds Dawson revisiting a difficult time in her life — when she struck out on her own at 17 and had to make her way in New York City. In addition to crafting rocking and immensely catchy tunes, Dawson and Seiz really poured their hearts and souls into these songs. What results is an album that delights from start to finish. At a time when so many bands attach themselves to narrowly defined musical styles, it's a breath of fresh air to hear a band that just wants to make a great rock album. "Crow-Haired Boys," Dawson's reminiscence of frequenting New York clubs as a teen, is so anthemic that it sounds like it could be the grand opening number in a rock musical. The title track is pure hard rock without irony. "When We Were In Love" is the definition of pop bliss — featuring a chorus that straight-up gives me chills. "Just a Boy" and "Narrow Hips" demonstrate that The Cynz can do power pop as well as anyone on the JEM roster. "The Only One" is classic '60s pop with raga rock touches. "Fall Away," the album's emphatic closer, is a punky, kick-ass rocker. Covers of Holly & The Italians' "Tell That Girl To Shut Up" and The Smithereens' "Room Without a View" do justice to the originals but infuse plenty of that distinct Cynz style. 

The press release for Little Miss Lost talks about how these songs "might" be Dawson and Seiz's strongest material to date. Well that's the understatement of the year! I can't imagine any fan of the label not enjoying this album. It brings to mind the "cooler" side of '80s AOR without sounding dated. And while The Cynz are certainly inspired by many greats of the past, their music is more the product of their two songwriters' unique talents and personalities than it is of any specific influences. Little Miss Lost is an absolutely fantastic album and one of JEM's very best releases in recent years.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Tambourine Girlfriend - Tambourine Girlfriend's Easter Parade


Wait! Has Tambourine Girlfriend gone and covered all of Irving Berlin's songs from the classic musical film Easter Parade? Not quite. Instead they've taken all the song titles and turned them into original songs — in essence creating an Easter-themed indie pop album. Is this one of the most ridiculous concepts for an album I've ever come across? No doubt. But do I totally love it? Abso-freaking-lutely! Tambourine Girlfriend are Mike and Rusty from the wonderful holiday podcast Snow in Southtown. Tambourine Girlfriend's Easter Parade was conceived as a joke on the show, and then it became a real thing. It was originally created as bonus content for the show's short-lived Patreon. Now the album is available for the listening enjoyment of the whole wide world. 

I've been known to review Christmas, Halloween, and even Thanksgiving-themed releases before, but this is certainly my first time writing about an Easter album. If you can get past the absurdity of the concept, you will discover in Tambourine Girlfriend's Easter Parade a delightful and legit-good pop record. The album may have started out as a goof, but Mike and Rusty put tremendous love and care into these songs. As they do on the air, Mike and Rusty complement each other really well. Rusty's whimsical, endearingly geeky indie rock numbers alternate with Mike's melody-driven pop earworms, creating a flow that's enjoyable to the ears. In some of these cases, the songs turn out even better than their Easter Parade counterparts (I'm not above a little blasphemy during Holy Week). Of course I've reviewed Mike's band Vista Blue three or four times, and a few of these tracks could pass for Vista Blue songs. "I Want To Get Back To Michigan" is like a bonus Vista Blue single, and "The Girl on the Magazine Cover" actually appears on an official VB release. But Mike breaks from the pop-punk style on a lot of his contributions to this album — showing sides of himself we don't often hear on Vista Blue releases. He channels Oasis on "We're a Couple of Swells," one of the best tunes he's ever written. "It Only Happens When I Dance With You" is a dandy little baroque/indie pop gem. "Better Luck Next Time" makes it clear that a Mike Patton acoustic album would be a must-buy. Rusty's songs are equally good. "Happy Easter" immediately rises to the level of a holiday standard. "Beautiful Faces Need Beautiful Clothes" sounds like the best song Bobby Wratten never wrote. "Drum Crazy" is truly beautiful and sure to touch the heart of any music lover. 

As a writer, I find the whole premise of taking existing song titles and turning them into new songs an utterly fascinating exercise. Sometimes a funny idea can open the door to true inspiration. Don't let these jokers fool you: they are way more talented than they'd ever let on. Even if you have little interest in baskets of chocolate, giant bunnies, or the salvation of humanity, Tambourine Girlfriend's Easter Parade has plenty to offer you. And if you're a fan of holidays, pop culture, and holiday pop culture, I highly recommend adding Snow In Southtown to your podcast rotation. Happy Easter!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Unicorn Dogs - "Dumb Stuff"/"Screwed Together"


Unicorn Dogs are totally a breath of fresh air in the pop-punk scene. The Baltimore-based trio has released two singles in advance of its forthcoming album Age Typical Junk Behavior, and I just can't stop listening to these tracks! Two-thirds of Unicorn Dogs were two-thirds of Charlie Brown Gets a Valentine, so you probably have some idea of what to expect. But while Unicorn Dogs share certain characteristics with CBGaV, this is a different band with a different vibe. These guys are still doing gritty pop-punk, but they're writing shorter and catchier songs with lyrics that are freaking amazing. These two singles tackle serious subject matter like marriage, parenthood, and other heavy adult stuff. They approach these topics with honesty, a sense of humor, and a remarkable relatability. Check out "You Would Have Known Better" for an example of how powerful songwriting doesn't have to be complicated songwriting. I'm not crying — you're crying! We've already had a couple of A+ pop-punk albums in 2024, and now another seems imminent. 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Itchy & the Nits - Worst Of


Itchy & the Nits' demo tape was one of the most exciting debut releases of last year, and thankfully we did not have to wait long for more music from this Sydney-based garage punk trio. Total Punk Records has compiled the seven demo tracks with five brand-new cuts to form a proper debut album for Itchy & the Nits called Worst Of. This, my friends, is an instant classic in the garage punk world — sounding like something that might have come out on Radio X in 1996. These ladies understand what great rock 'n' roll is all about, and the simplicity of their musical approach is the stuff of genius. If you like your budget punk raw, primitive, catchy, and fun, Worst Of will hit you just the way you like it. Give credit to Total Punk for realizing that the demo tracks were already perfect and needed to exist on a record. The five new songs fit right in. None of these songs come close to hitting the two-minute mark, and the whole album clocks in at under 17 minutes. Itchy & the Nits know how to get in, get out, and leave you wanting more! If this is your first exposure to Itchy & the Nits, smash hits like "Goner," "Crabs," and "Beat It Bozo!" are sure to be stuck in your head for weeks. New cuts like "Dreamboat" and a fab cover of The Gizmos' "Tie Me Up" justify the purchase price even if you already own the demo tape. Mick Fletcher has already certified this album gold, and who's gonna argue with him? Sadly, the vinyl is already sold out, but I know you resourceful types will find a way to score a copy!
Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels: ,

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! 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

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!



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

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! 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

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.

Posted by at 4 comments:
Labels:

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! 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

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! 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

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! 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Tidal Bores - demo


I know a lot of us have been waiting for this one for a while, and here it is: the first publicly-released recordings from Moncton's newest garage punk sensations the Tidal Bores! I did my best not to break down and cry when Phone Jerks split — figuring that some former Phone Jerks would start new projects and that the awesomeness would ultimately be multiplied. It's looking like I called that right with all the amazing TJ Cabot releases I've enjoyed in recent years. And now the world can be introduced to the Tidal Bores — a group featuring members of Phone Jerks, Impulse Items, Whore Gasms, Small Package, Adhesives, and Valentine Killers. Brian LaManna is on lead vocals. If you know his musical influences, you will have a good idea of what to expect from the Tidal Bores. What I like about this demo from Tidal Bores is that it really is a demo. These tracks are live off the floor. The band isn't throwing the songs online and calling it an EP. This is the kind of thing that used to come out on cassette tape back in the day: a band's raw first recordings that hint at its potential but aren't necessarily meant to represent a finished product. And now thanks to the magic of technology, a demo tape can be digital — which means more people can hear it, and less money is spent on postage. With this little taste of Tidal Bores, we get a feel for what the band is all about. These songs rip hard, walking the fine line between 1981 hardcore and Pagans-style OG budget punk. "Zero Hour" is the only original track. "Civilization's Dying" is a cover of the Zero Boys classic. "Methanol" is a re-working of a song Brian co-wrote when he was in the Valentine Killers back in the late 20th century. Put together, these songs sure fit the tenor of the times. If someone had handed me a tape like this back in the day, and I had gone home and pressed play, I would have gone nuts. And now here we all are, getting in on the ground floor with the Tidal Bores together. I'm looking forward to a proper EP!


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

The Reflectors - "All the Way Down"


Now this was a killer surprise! I was scrolling through social media last night and discovered that one of my favorite bands had just dropped a brand-new single that I didn't even know was coming out. And it's a teaser for a full-length album releasing next month! The Reflectors are, in my book, one of the two or three best power pop bands going. They've released two totally fantastic albums, and a third LP called Going Out of Fashion is soon forthcoming on Neon Nile. In advance of the album, the new single "All the Way Down" gives us a little taste of what's to come. This is the first new music from The Reflectors in two-and-a-half years, and it does not disappoint. This, my friends, is a little piece of power pop bliss. I can't stop playing this tune, and I bet you won't be able to either. Enjoy and stay tuned!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, March 08, 2024

Classic Pat - Won't Back Down


I am not a believer in diminishing the value of art by assigning it a numerical rating. But if I were, I would award Classic Pat's new album Won't Back Down a ten out of ten. If you love pop-punk, you will love this album and should run through a brick wall if necessary to acquire it. That should be the end of this review, but it would be out of character for me to be that succinct.  

Almost anyone who has bothered to read this far will be familiar with Classic Pat and the many great bands he has played in. With Won't Back Down (out today on Mom's Basement Records), he has delivered a royal treat for eternal fans of Lookout! Records inspired pop-punk. This is a particular genre with which I have a very complicated relationship. 70% of the time, I'm pretty "Meh!" about it. But the rest of the time, there's no music in the world I'd rather listen to. Won't Back Down is obviously in the latter category. On the first day of this year, I described "Sadie Hawkins Dance" as "one of the greatest pop-punk songs ever written." You may have suspected that I wrote those words under the influence of recency bias, temporary insanity, or a bad hangover, but now it's nine weeks later, and my opinion hasn't changed. When I reflect on why some pop-punk hits the spot for me and some of it doesn't, I can identify several qualities that tend to win me over:
  • I enjoy a likeable singer and funny, relatable lyrics. 
  • I like to hear the influence of classic pop and rock 'n' roll.
  • I prefer a little variety over the course of an album. 
  • The poppier the better!
  • I'll take catchy songs over new ideas any day of the week.

Let me tell you: if that's my rubric, Won't Back Down checks off every single box! Emulating the old school Lookout! sound without coming off like a cheap knockoff is a tricky task, but Classic Pat totally pulls it off. And the secret is that there's really no secret. It's all about writing perfect three-chord punk songs with earworm hooks. If "Seeing Triple" were any catchier, the CDC would be raiding the Mom's Basement headquarters at this very moment. "She Don't Care" is basically the best Screeching Weasel song in decades. "The Next In Line" is bubblegum perfection a la The Queers circa Don't Back Down. "No Telling At All" (featuring Canaan from Barbariettes on lead vocals) hits the pure pop side of the Ramones bang-on. Clearly Pat is transparent about his biggest influences. But rather than making me wish I were listening to the Ramones, Queers, or Screeching Weasel instead, Won't Back Down has reignited my love for pop-punk. And these songs are just so much fun. Over the course of the album, Pat reflects on the strain that responsible adulthood can place on friendships, waxes poetic on girlfriends who are awful and sometimes outright scary, romanticizes the golden age of rock 'n' roll, pays tribute to the cinematic classic Mallrats, and recounts an obviously true story about having to choose between dancing with a pretty girl and making it to the opening night screening of Demolition Man with some best buds. Now that's what I call relatable music! 

With song styles ranging from snotty ("Creeped Out") to super-poppy ("Trend Setter") to oldies-influenced ("Do You Remember," "Goin' Nowhere") to classically pop-punk ("He's a Daddy Now"), Won't Back Down has something for every fan of pop-punk. Sometimes with a really good pop-punk album, I talk about how I would have totally flipped out if I'd heard it when I was 25. But Won't Back Down has me flipping out now. CDs are limited to 100 copies and available now from the Mom's Basement webstore. While you're over there, you can pre-order the vinyl for the new Yum Yums album (which is freaking awesome!) coming out next month on Screaming Apple Records! 


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friends of Cesar Romero - "More Like Norman Fucking Mailer"


"More Like Norman Fucking Mailer" is the first 2024 release (of likely many) from Friends of Cesar Romero. J. Waylon is that rare songwriter who can manage to be both prolific and consistent. There is no such thing as a sub-par Friends of Cesar Romero release. If you're into punky power pop, you need to smash that "Follow" button on Bandcamp so you never miss a new release from FOCR. That said, "More Like Norman Fucking Mailer," in my book, is one of the best songs J. Waylon has ever written. The title alone (which I assume to be a sly Lana Del Rey reference) is a work of brilliance, and thankfully the song lives up to it. On this release, J. Waylon leans towards power pop as much as he ever has. "More Like Norman Fucking Mailer" seems like a happy love song on its surface, but keep in mind that this is #41 in the Doomed Babe Series. Dig a little deeper, and you'll find signs of doom. This is a perfect power pop song, and little else needs to be said. On the virtual B-side, "I Believe In Her Science" is another top-notch power pop tune that's destined to become stuck in your head. This single is a tremendous showing from J. Waylon. His songwriting has never been stronger, and the sound quality he has elicited from a basement recording is beyond impressive. It's almost criminal that you can download something this good for free, but you will find many opportunities to wisely spend your money if you peruse the FOCR Bandcamp page!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

The Shang Hi Los - "Op-Operator"


Hey kids, are you ready for some perfect pop? The Shang Hi Los have been favorites of mine since releasing their first single in the fall of 2020. Last year's full-length release Aces Eights & Heartbreaks was one of my favorite albums of 2023 and could have passed for a greatest hits collection. It has been well over a year since we've heard new material from The Shang Hi Los, but the band is back with the first in a series of new singles on Rum Bar Records. Just in time for Daylight Saving, "Op-Operator" will spring you out of your winter blahs with its upbeat melodies and earworm chorus. There's just no denying that Dan Kopko and Jen D'Angora as songwriting collaborators and co-lead singers have something special going on. And the band, having added Chad Raleigh (The Rationales, Emily Grogan Band, etc.) on guitar, has never sounded better. "Op-Operator," with its blend of new wave synths and classic pop sensibilities, is a vintage Shang Hi Los number and a surefire indie smash hit. The song puts a clever twist on the "boy meets girl" theme. I've often pondered how vital communications can be when it comes to relationships, and this single's retro cover art drives that point home pretty well. The technology may have changed, but the significance of landing those digits has not. Now what happens after you land those digits is never fully certain! A music video directed by Joan Hathaway will premiere in a couple weeks and illustrate this song's story in quite an amusing way. For now, you can listen to "Op-Operator" and draw your own conclusions! More singles are in the works, and I'll drink to that. The Shang Hi Los: now with more guitars!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)