Dangereens - Chic

After 25 years, Alien Snatch Records is going stronger than ever and continuing to show why it's one of the most important independent labels in the rock 'n' roll universe. I might even argue that the last few years of Alien Snatch have been its very best. Montreal's Dangereens have been a huge part of that. Their new album, Chic, arrives four years after their debut, Tough Luck. I was blown away by Tough Luck. It didn't really sound like anything else on Alien Snatch or anything else in modern music, for that matter. But from my very first listen, I knew it was something special. Chic follows it up in an impressive manner. It sounds like the best '70s rock 'n' roll record that never was — absorbing country, R &B, and  early rock 'n' roll influences into a warm-sounding mix of '70s glam, arena rock, and AM radio pop that somehow sounds current in 2024. On the album's press release, Daniel suggests that Dangereens are to rock 'n' roll what The Exbats are to pop, and that's really on the money. Somehow this band has developed a sound that's both classic and totally original, and its songwriting talents are absolutely extraordinary. Over the course of 13 tracks, Chic delivers a non-stop succession of radio-ready hooks, mighty guitar heroics, and irresistible rhythms. It's hard to put a finger on what separates great rock 'n' roll from not-so-great rock 'n' roll. But whatever "it" is, Dangereens have got it in abundance. Chic reminds us that we're still living in an era of great rock 'n' roll bands and great rock 'n' roll records. There are a lot of factors that have made Alien Snatch Records such an enduring institution of the garage/punk/rock 'n' roll underground, but Daniel's ear for exceptional music remains the stuff of legend. If Dangereens aren't one of your favorite bands, you probably haven't heard them yet.

-L.R.

https://aliensnatch.bandcamp.com/album/dangereens-chic
https://open.spotify.com/album/1JDklhnseqhSK9IGzp8M3r
https://www.facebook.com/dangereens
https://www.instagram.com/dangereens/
https://www.facebook.com/ALIEN.SNATCH.RECORDS
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9xsx0itzgn/

shiverlane - "Little English Pleasures"

Boston-based foursome shiverlane continues to be one of the most exciting up-and-coming bands in the musical universe that we broadly call power pop. In advance of its forthcoming album Sketches from the Departure Lounge (due in September), shiverlane has released the single "Little English Pleasures." This is probably the first power pop song ever to address the pleasure gardens of 18th century London. In typical shiverlane manner, the song dazzles with intoxicating melody and smart, memorable lyrics. It's playful while also hinting at some modern-day social commentary. Shiverlane is one of those bands that proves that exceptional musical talent does not necessarily detract from a band's ability to craft great pop songs. With its blend of humor, catchiness, and genuine educational value, "Little English Pleasures" is indicative of the unique charms that make shiverlane a must-hear band.  

-L.R.

https://shiverlane.bandcamp.com/track/little-english-pleasures
https://open.spotify.com/album/0URZfZK4O1Yoxa8NPfaOMh
https://www.facebook.com/shiverlanerock/

The Follow Ups - Know Who Your Friends Aren't

This is turning into the summer of pop-punk for me. Perhaps that's because there's so much music being released that just feels like the music that made me fall in love with punk rock in the first place. Know Who Your Friends Aren't is the second album (and first in five years) from Moncton, New Brunswick's The Follow Ups. It's out now on Faster and Louder Records in Canada and Mom's Basement Records in the U.S.A. In a totally good way, this album reminds me of the '90s. The Follow Ups take me back to a time when the lines between pop-punk and straight-up snotty punk rock were blurred. These guys play ballsy three-chord punk rock with snotty vocals and lyrics that are humorous in a wonderfully obnoxious way. Vocally, they give off Vindictives/Sloppy Seconds vibes. Musically, they seamlessly move between that Lookout! Records via the Ramones lane that is such a sweet spot for Mom's Basement and a faster, more aggressive '80s-influenced approach to punk rock. This is a really fun album. These guys never take themselves too seriously, but they are serious about playing high quality pop-punk. Their ability to write consistently good songs in varying styles is rare in this genre. Know Who Your Friends Aren't  is a super-solid record that doesn't try to break any new ground and doesn't need to. You might like this one even if pop-punk isn't always your thing!

-L.R.

https://fasterandlouder.bandcamp.com/album/know-whoyour-friends-arent
https://www.instagram.com/followupsband/
https://www.facebook.com/TheFollowUps
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdUZ29fO-TBnrcYibW1YJag
https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-follow-ups-know-who-your-friends-aren-t

Vista Blue - "No Baseball at the Summer Olympics"

I enjoy Vista Blue songs about baseball, and I enjoy Vista Blue songs about the Olympics. So of course a Vista Blue song about the 2024 Summer Olympics not including baseball is going to be totally up my alley. The band's new singe is called "No Baseball at the Summer Olympics," and the title pretty much says it all. Just in case you were not aware of this fact, Vista Blue is here to deliver the devastating news. The good news is that baseball will be back in the 2028 Summer Olympics, and the chances of Vista Blue releasing a triumphant sequel to this song in four years are very, very high. I also appreciate that "No Baseball at the Summer Olympics" is essentially a love song. Mike's lyrics are Gold Medal caliber, and he and Mark have turned out another punky pop earworm. Breaking even gets a shout-out! I can't think of another band that more consistently adds more fun to my life. "No Baseball at the Summer Olympics" is another smash from the VB hit factory. Enjoy the summer games, my friends! 

-L.R.  

https://wearevistablue.bandcamp.com/track/no-baseball-at-the-summer-olympics
https://www.facebook.com/wearevistablue/

Hayley and the Crushers - Blood and Treasure

One thing I love that Hayley and the Crushers have been doing in recent years is releasing a lot of singles. Of course albums and EPs are great, but there's just something special about a single where the focus is on one song that you listen to over and over and really get to know. Today's streaming technology has really brought back the idea of great singles bands, and the Crushers are one of those for sure. "Blood and Treasure" is the third single they've released in advance of Unsubscribe from the Underground, their forthcoming EP on Kitten Robot Records. You could hear the band digging back into its punk roots on the previous two. "Blood and Treasure," on the other hand, is pure pop. And it's glorious! Hayley Cain wrote this tune about her relationship with her husband Reid — whom you all know and love as Dr. Cain ESQ. The song celebrates the couple's "irreplaceable love," and I have to say it gives me chills. Sometimes the most important things in life can be the hardest things to write about well since mere words might not be able to do them justice. But here Hayley writes beautifully about the most important thing of all. Her lyrics are heartfelt and vivid, and she sings the hell out of this song. Musically, "Blood and Treasure" brings to mind '60s Brill Building pop and girl groups with a hint of country. It's the sort of song you can't listen to just once, and it's surely an AM radio smash in some alternate universe where perfect pop songs dominate the charts. The full EP releases in September, but now is the time to enjoy "Blood and Treasure" in all its romantic glory.

-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/track/blood-and-treasure
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://kittenrobot.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kittenrobotrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords

The Sleeveens - "UFOs”/"Bernadette"

The Sleeveens are indeed the "hottest band in the land." Within the first 30 seconds of the Nashville/Dublin–based outfit's debut single, I knew I had just met the next great band in the punk rock 'n' roll universe. Many others felt the same way, and word on the street is that the band's live shows blow away its studio recordings. The second Sleeveens single is out on I-94 Recordings, and something tells me it's gonna sell out in the blink of an eye. "UFOs" is #13 in I-94's Detroit covers 7" series. The title track is a slow-burning rocker with a spacey feel and clever lyrics about alien forces taking control of our lives. Now that's truly a song for our times! If The Sleeveens' album proved that their first single was no fluke, now "UFOs" proves that the album was no fluke. This is another phenomenal tune from one of the most exciting bands to come down the pike in a long time. On the B-side, The Sleeveens tear into The Four Tops' 1967 chart smash "Bernadette." This is a classic case of a band honoring the original version of a beloved tune but also making it its own. The Sleeveens definitely punk up "Bernadette," but they also add some interesting twists en route to remaking the song. Don't sleep on this one, my friends. This is the freaking Sleeveens! Head on over to the I-94 web site and order your copy (or copies!) while supplies last! 

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thesleeveens/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091638910253
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4qpMX0LPITLrni8fPCNC1w
https://www.facebook.com/people/I-94-Recordings/100062967923575/

https://thesleeveens.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@thesleeveens

Real Rejects - Not Allowed

Well here you go, kids: the garage-trash budget punk rock 'n' roll ear-melting, face-smashing, world-wrecking degenerate masterpiece you've been awaiting with bated breath can now be yours courtesy of the legendary Alien Snatch Records.

A couple weeks back, I proclaimed Real Rejects the "next big thing" in the garage punk universe. This was not just a personal whim but rather the result of meticulous research and consultation with my spiritual advisors. Or maybe I just knew that if Alien Snatch was in on the action, everyone with impeccable taste in music was going to want a Real Rejects tattoo by year's end. Real Rejects are TJ Cabot (Phone Jerks, Nerve Button) on vocals & guitar, Jesse Leblanc (Feral Trash, Outtacontroller) on guitar, Claude Doiron (Nerve Button, Bad Luck #13) on bass, Sonic Hz on keyboards, and Cam Murphy (Thee Requiems, Ghostown Belle) on drums. It was by complete accident that the band name brings to mind two of the greatest garage punk bands of the post-2000 years, The Real Losers and Teenage Rejects (who both, by the way, had releases on Alien Snatch). Yet the shared musical DNA is undeniable. You may or may not consider Not Allowed a full-length album depending on which side of the 10-inch record debate you fall on. But at nine tracks and an 18-minute running time, it makes the full-length cut in my book. I'm no longer a collector of vinyl recordings, but when I was, I thought 10-inchers were the coolest. They have the versatility to be albums or EPs or singles, which is very cool in my book. And I've never been able to understand why anyone would ever prefer 7 inches if they could have ten. Good on Alien Snatch for believing in this format! 

Whether it's an album or a mini-album or a super-sized EP,  Not Allowed is an absolute scorcher of a record. After all those years of solo home recording, Tyler has really hit the jackpot with this merry band of Moncton punk greats. These guys rock l.a.m.f. and take the Rejects' sound to the next level. These nine tracks fully realize the potential of all those really awesome TJ Cabot releases of years past. Think Stooges meet DMZ meets Pagans meet ? and the Mysterians meet Angry Samoans meet Rip Off Records —  or something like that. I'm not saying that the Summer of Spite digital single wasn't full-blown killer. But the thing about Daniel at Alien Snatch is that he has an ear for greatness, and of course the stuff on Not Allowed is the top shelf Real Rejects. I love the blend of high energy, organ-driven '60s garage rock; filthy, attitude-laden '70s/early '80s punk; and quintessential '90s/2000s budget trash. The tunes are great; the lyrics are hilarious and wonderfully spiteful; and the energy level is off the charts. This is the perfect album length for me: it still leaves you wanting more, but it won't leave you feeling short-changed. Is this really an album? Of course it's an album, and it's one of the year's best! 

Jay Castro and I taped a new episode of our Born Too Late podcast last night in which we listed our all-time favorite releases from Alien Snatch Records. As I prepared my list, I was really awed by the sheer volume of amazing records that have come out (and continue to come out) on this label. Without a doubt, this is one of the greatest punk rock record labels to ever exist, and it's incredible that Daniel has kept it going strong for 25 years and counting. So when you head on over to Bandcamp to purchase Not Allowed (come on: you know you're going to!), be sure to take a deeper dive into the Alien Snatch catalog. I know it's terribly irresponsible of me to be compelling you to spend money during inflationary times, but I can't think of a record label or roster of bands that's more worthy of some of your hard-earned dollars. What good is life without music? 

-L.R.

https://aliensnatch.bandcamp.com/album/real-rejects-not-allowed
https://open.spotify.com/album/0hSPHQTzdEYN5cINsflyPl
https://tjcabot.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ALIEN.SNATCH.RECORDS

Fastbacks - "Come On"

There's not much I can say about this one besides "Holy crap!" The mighty Fastbacks, one of the greatest bands to ever exist, are in vintage form on their new single "Come On." This song arrives in advance of the band's forthcoming album For WHAT Reason! — due out next month on No Threes Records. That's right, folks. We're getting a new Fastbacks studio album for the first time in a quarter century! And if "Come On" is a fair taste of what to expect from the full album, you all ought to be VERY excited. This is literally one of the bands that invented the whole punk-pop thing, and they're still showing everyone how it ought to be done. As long as the Fastbacks are around, there is joy in this world. More videos are forthcoming, so stay tuned!

-L.R.

https://fastbacks.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2mlDM1k4J5XijZKXALxhDT
https://www.facebook.com/thefastbacks/
https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCVG56VPt8DGuv_k8JMWk2vQ
https://www.facebook.com/nothreesrecords/

Vista Blue - Help Me, Ron

When it comes to maintaining that Vista Blue is not a baseball-themed band, I will gladly die on that hill. Don't the numbers show that Vista Blue has significantly more holiday-themed releases than baseball-themed releases? Aren't three-quarters of the band's releases completely devoid of baseball songs? I would prefer to call Vista Blue a band that enjoys themes of all sorts — baseball being one of their favorites. With the release today of Help Me, Ron, the band has extended its streak of consecutive years putting out songs about baseball to ten. That's an impressive feat, and perhaps I'm doing a terrible job of proving that Vista Blue is not a baseball band. But as far as baseball-themed pop-punk releases go, Help Me, Ron is about as good as it gets. It takes a back-to-basics musical approach which really suits this particular release. Fans have been clamoring for Vista Blue baseball tracks since Opening Day. Now we finally get them for All Star Week, and they come with a sense of urgency. The title track, which features backing vocals from the great Perry Leenhouts, is a lovely reminder of the opportunities for redemption that the great game of baseball affords. A fielder is the bane of a pitcher's existence — until he's not! "Travinski's Got a Pencil Bat" is an ode to the (fingers crossed!) soon-to-be-drafted LSU star Hayden Travinski. And yes, he really has a bat that looks like a pencil. "Our Catcher's Back" gives me the feels as I count the days until J.T. Realmuto returns to the field. "Put the Tarp On" is about as timeless as a baseball song can be. "Faster and Louder" is the theme song I never asked for but got anyway — a tune about power pitchers coming out of the bullpen and thrilling crowds with their eye-popping velocity. The song also references pitching phenom Paul Skenes, who's set to start one of the most highly anticipated MLB All-Star Games of recent memory. The Phillies just lost by 15 runs to a team whose ownership ought to be relegated to AAA. But hey: I got a new theme song! Let's cheer for another decade of Vista Blue songs about baseball (and many, many other topics)!

-L.R.

https://wearevistablue.bandcamp.com/album/help-me-ron
https://open.spotify.com/album/4A7gfvNnRfRfcY8zlwCK2s
https://www.facebook.com/wearevistablue/

Pack Rat - Life's A Trap

Pack Rat's first album, released in December of 2021, was the solo pandemic project of Patrick McEachnie (Chain Whip, Corner Boys, Hosehead Records). It was a stellar collection of snotty, frantic punk tunes with budget synthesizers. Like a lot of the pandemic projects that came out around that time, Pack Rat was way too promising to simply scrap once lockdown days were over. Not only did McEachnie keep this project going, but he turned it into a full-fledged band. Bella Bebe (vocals and guitar), Ripley McEachnie (bass and vocals), and Tony Dallas (drums and vocals) now round out the lineup. An EP called Bite My Tongue was released last summer, and it quickly sold out. 

Out today on Drunken Sailor Records, Life's A Trap is Pack Rat's second LP and first as a proper band. And while the nervous speed and snotty vocal edge have been retained from that first LP, Pack Rat's sound has definitely evolved. Most notably, this album is influenced by the pop-leaning side of '70s punk and the classic punk sounds of the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver. I have to cite the description from the band bio because it's totally on the nose: "Like if a Canadian Johnny Rotten fronted Vancouver's very own Buzzcocks. If the Briefs and the Hives had a love child that looked just a little like Jay Reatard." Of course that sounds like something I'd be into, and just about anyone reading this will have similar feelings! Life's A Trap sounds genuinely like a modern punk album, yet it has those undeniable classic influences. It's full of bouncy punk tunes with nervous energy and killer hooks. From the hyper fun of "Heart Beat" to the power pop jolt of "Sleepless" to the garagey frenzy of "Ask a Punk" to the infectious blitzkrieg of "Two Makes One" to the new wavey goodness of "Rat Trap," this album features a tremendous variety of standout tracks. And from a vibe perspective, this is the perfect summertime punk record. When I first started this blog 13 years ago, this was exactly the kind of band I envisioned writing about. If you think you'd dig classic Vancouver-style punk with a contemporary freshness, you need to jump on this second album from Pack Rat. The vinyl is limited to 500 copies, so act fast!

-L.R.

https://packratpunk.bandcamp.com/album/lifes-a-trap
https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lifes-a-trap-lp
https://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk/products/813259-pack-rat-lifes-a-trap-lp-drunken-sailor-records-drunkensailor-177
https://www.instagram.com/packrat_band/
https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenSailorRecords

Boris the Sprinkler - Gets A Clue

A punk rock EP based on the board game Clue sounds like a totally ridiculous idea, so of course I love it. Out on Rum Bar Records, Gets A Clue is, to the best of my knowledge, Boris the Sprinkler's first release in the EP format in two decades. There are at most five bands in the world that could properly pull off a Clue-themed mini album, and BtS is one of them. This is the band's first new music to be released in five years, so I will welcome any concept. A tribute to Don Majkowski? A rock opera about Taco Bell sauce packets? A Metal Machine Music cover album using only kazoos and toy drums? If Boris is putting it out, I'm buying it. In my book, Boris the Sprinkler is certainly the most underrated and no doubt one of the very best of all those '70s-style punk bands that formed in the '90s. As the world pauses to reflect with awe on the 30th anniversary of the release of Boris's debut album 8-Testicled Pogo Machine, I can't think of another band that was more important in informing my musical tastes and opening the gateway to so many staples of my record collection. And if the best record label on the planet saw fit to release this group's Clue-themed EP on compact disc, you should be ordering now and asking questions later. 

You may wonder who in the world would want to hear Boris the Sprinkler playing songs about characters from Clue. Well, the target demographic is simple. It's 99 percent Boris fans and 1 percent people who take the game of Clue more seriously than life itself. And of course the people who love the band and the game (which I'm guessing is the majority of Boris fans) will be going nuts for this thing. Musically, this is vintage BtS goofball '77 punk-pop. The band's classic lineup is on board and sounding totally hot. If you're a Boris fan, these songs will remind you why you got into the band in the first place. Tracks like "I Wanna Dance Like Professor Plum" and "No One Loves Mr. Green" are totally giving me Saucer to Saturn/Mega Anal vibes. I must say the execution of the concept is top-notch. This is a fun and wildly entertaining collection of songs that I keep on listening to over and over. Of course there's no other lyricist in the universe like Norb, and here his creativity in writing about the iconic Clue characters is the stuff of delight. This is probably the first BtS release that's appropriate for children, so full family listening parties are not out of the question. Paul #1 never gets enough credit for being one of the true guitar superstars of modern-day pop-punk. Once you solve the mystery of who offed Mr. Boddy, you can get busy trying to figure out if any theft of classic punk riffs has occurred. Ric Six and Paul #2, the unsung heroes of Boris the Sprinkler, are in fine form as well. 

Gets A Clue is available now from Rum Bar Records. Next week, Boris the Sprinkler hits the road with Egghead. and The Ergs! to play tour dates in Somerville, Brooklyn, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. That, my friends, is the holy trinity of geek punk all in one place. History shall be made!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/gets-a-clue
https://open.spotify.com/album/4YBd59oWZ6IE3KJNCOkqJ6
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_koaytURElJh7fwb8DRlbt7PMBNkwpjuHA
https://boristhesprinkler.com/
https://www.facebook.com/boristhesprinkler/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

Zatopeks - Loitering and Sauntering

On their fourth LP and first in over a decade, London's Zatopeks have unleashed an anthemic punk rock album that would sound great in any era. No less of an authority than Mick Fletcher has identified Loitering and Sauntering as his favorite album of the year so far, and you know that got my attention! I do recall positively reviewing this band many years ago, but I don't remember Zatopeks blowing me away like they have on this new record. 

Loitering and Sauntering is that rarest of things: a passionately politically-minded punk rock LP that will inspire you to go out and fight the powers that be but also make you want to jump up down, dance like a fiend, sing along loudly, and joyfully hoist a pint of beer skyward. If melodic '77-style punk with a poet's eloquence and the soul of folk and protest music sounds like something you'd be into, you should proceed directly to the Stardumb Records web site and get your order in! This album is fantastic from start to finish. I love how it's rooted in a classic punk style but stretches out from there in a totally natural way. Songs like "Kings of the Hotel Mile," "Stranded in the City," and "The Hairstyles of Mieczys​ł​aw Rakowski" are pure punk rock bangers that could not be any more up my alley. I'm equally fond of songs like the folk ballad "Blueprints for an Unlived Life," "Jarama Valley" (an adaptation of the traditional number "Red River Valley"), and epic album closer "Angel of the Old Town." If you looked up "anthem" in the dictionary, you ought to be directed to listen to "Ghosts in the System." Much has been made of the thoughtfulness, humanity, and sheer brilliance of Will DeNiro's lyrics, and I concur wholeheartedly. Beyond that, this band's flair for timeless melodies and memorable choruses ensures that its music is never secondary to the message. 

Zatopeks have been a band since 2001 and have been releasing music since 2003. Now in 2024, they've absolutely shattered the myth that punk rock bands go sour after their first couple of albums. I know it's an over-the-top thing for me to throw out a phrase like "instant classic," but I just can't help myself. I knew from my first listen that this album was something special. Either Zatopeks have become a far greater band over the last couple decades, or I've just gotten smarter. Either way, Loitering and Sauntering is one of the best punk albums of this year or any other.

-L.R.

https://zatopeks.bandcamp.com/album/loitering-and-sauntering
https://open.spotify.com/album/16ZDcvom5nGSKDC5MgKa4M
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/collections/stardumb-records/products/zatopeks-loitering-sauntering-lp
https://www.themachineshoprocks.com/Zatopeks_Loitering_Sauntering_LP_p/zato1.htm
https://www.instagram.com/zatopeksband/
https://www.facebook.com/zatopeksband
https://www.instagram.com/stardumbrecords/

The Ergs! - dorkrockcorkrod (20th Anniversary Remix)

Wow! The Ergs!' dorkrockcorkrod, one of the greatest pop-punk albums ever made, is now twenty years old! To celebrate this anniversary, the Ergs! just released a double LP re-issue package on Don Giovanni Records. This 20th anniversary edition of dorkrockcorkrod, which included the original album remastered by Justin Perkins, a remix by Steve Albini overseen by Mike Yannich, and an Ergs! oral history compiled by Mike Faloon, quickly sold out. If you snoozed, you lost. However, the Albini remix is available from all the major digital platforms and is well worth checking out if you love The Ergs! or pop-punk in general. 

 

To get myself in the correct head space for this review, I vowed not to listen to any teaser tracks or even listen to The Ergs! at all over the last few months. I wanted to hear dorkrockcorkrod with somewhat fresh ears. I wanted to discover if 53-year-old me would love this album the way 33-year-old-me did. I wanted to make sure I still thought this was a great record and not something best left in the early 2000s dustbin of history along side flip phones, reality tv, Mozilla Firefox, and Pepsi Blue. I wanted to make sure I still found The Ergs! to be worthy of a spot on my New Jersey musical Mount Rushmore next to Springsteen, The Shirelles, and Dramarama. I suppose the first sentence of this review spoils the suspense. Having gotten reacquainted with dorkrockcorkrod, I'm pretty blown away by how well it holds up. I can totally understand why this was one of my favorite bands of the 2000s — perhaps even my most favorite band of the 20000s. It would have been hard for me twenty years ago to separate my notion of what The Ergs! were based on meeting them and seeing them play from my notion of what they were based purely on their music. I've wondered: Did me relating to these guys as kindred spirit music nerds cause me to overvalue their actual records? Thankfully, I can answer that in the negative. Everything that made me love this band is right there for the listening on dokrockcorkrod: the encyclopedic knowledge of popular music, the infusion of '80s hardcore and indie rock influences into the pop-punk style, the devastating & fully authentic "brokenhearted love songs," the catchiest melodies you could ever hope to hear, the unpretentious yet undeniable musical chops, and that perfect mixture of dorky humor and lovelorn vulnerability. You just won't hear a better pop-punk album ever. At the time of this album's release, The Ergs! had already released two demos, a 7", and a CD EP. They were far from novices. But this was the album where everything finally came together —where all that talent and all those silly ideas blossomed into something truly great. 

Anyone who loved dorkrockcorkrod the first time around will get a kick out of hearing these recordings as mixed by the great Steve Albini. The remix sounds absolutely amazing. And if you weren't around when this album first came out or for whatever reason just never got into The Ergs!, here's your chance to discover one of the truly definitive albums of modern-day pop-punk — and likely THE definitive album of the "dork rock" genre. The Ergs! have been prolific enough to justify not one but two compilations of their non-album material, so my list of their best songs would be a lengthy one. But a whole bunch of songs off of dorkrockcorkrod would make that list. In particular, "Pray for Rain," "Most Violent Rap Group," "Saturday Night Crap-O-Rama," "Vampire Party," "A Very Pretty Song For A Very Special Young Lady, Part 2," and "Everything Falls Apart (And More)" are locks for any Ergs! best-of playlist. Unless I concede that I've had zero emotional and intellectual progression in the past 20 years, I have to conclude that dorkrockcorkrod has withstood the test of time in a major way. Of course I've been known to get carried away in touting a band, and surely I'd find my own hyperbole cringe-worthy if I re-read my original review. But you know what? I wasn't wrong! I'll be sure to re-evaluate this album again in ten years when it's reissued on brain-implantable computer chip. 

-L.R.

https://theergs.bandcamp.com/album/dorkrorkcorkrod-steve-albini-remix
https://open.spotify.com/album/64tpAkZq3Lmc3PAHAMdxAS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY6tN6dBedM&list=OLAK5uy_kDqsqot9NMsjQqHY5ywk5RnJ3YAJlj5Zg
https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Ergs-100063796026629/

Dave Strong - "I Wanna Know"

Dave Strong is back with another excellent single. "I Wanna Know" essentially combines everything I like about his songwriting into one killer tune. It sounds like power pop by way of '50s rock 'n' roll and the Beach Boys with a pinch of the Ramones. I dig the beat; I dig the hook; and I dig the guitars. If this track doesn't get your toes tapping, I don't know what will. If you're into the New England Mafia or just great hooky rock 'n' roll in general, this tune ought to be up your alley. "I Wanna Know" will be on Dave's forthcoming 7" release, "I Hate Joe King's Roommate," which features an A-side that sounds like the best song Joe King never wrote. Order the vinyl here!

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/2LNCH3pbIgzHGPnu2hPWZZ
https://www.instagram.com/butchermandave2020/
https://www.facebook.com/davestrongmusic.me/

Real Rejects - Summer of Spite

After four years of making joke references to Thee Artificial Rejects as if they were real musicians causing chaos in TJ Cabot's life, I can now introduce the Real Rejects: TJ Cabot (Phone Jerks, Nerve Button) on vocals & guitar, Jesse Leblanc (Feral Trash, Outtacontroller) on guitar, Claude Doiron (Nerve Button, Bad Luck #13) on bass, Sonic Hz on keyboards, and Cam Murphy (Thee Requiems, Ghostown Belle) on drums. This is the next big thing in garage punk rock 'n' roll, and today you can get into the fan club on the ground floor before the rates go up. 

After all those years of solo recording in his home studio, Tyler needed a band to play with live. And so very quickly, TJ Cabot and Thee Artificial Rejects simply became the Real Rejects. You know you're on fire when you sort of stumble into one of the best band names in years. Seriously: if you saw a record, and the band name was the Real Rejects, you would instinctively know it was cool. The band's debut digital single is called Summer of Spite, and it features two songs written about one particular day in 2023. Summer of Spite is a great title for this single. Tyler sounds really pissed off — as if you told him that there's no such thing as good pizza in the Maritimes and now he's determined to make you pay. "Eighty Five (On the Inside)" is a raw, riff-driven garage rocker featuring a wonderfully nasty vocal. "Crossed in the Supermarket" is in more familiar TJ Cabot territory of a fast & frenzied punk rock 'n' roll punch in the face. While the former track is based on  real events, the fact that Tyler didn't have to release this single from prison suggests that certain artistic liberties may have been taken with some of the outcomes. The latter track is about shopping for alcohol while inebriated, and it may be the first great "post-pandemic" anthem I've encountered. I can't say I've ever heard a garage punk single before where I thought both songs were practically short stories. Perhaps when it's all said and done, Summer of Spite will be worthy of a full-length movie! If you prefer your summertime jams on the spiteful side or simply love garage punk, the Real Rejects are the band for you.

-L.R.

https://realrejects.bandcamp.com/album/summer-of-spite-digital-single-2024

Scrapped Plans - Buddy Buddy Belgium

So I always love a good supergroup, and more often than not, I love pop-punk. If you deduced, then, that I was going to be into the Scrapped Plans album, you'd be very right! Half of you reading this right now already know who all these people are, and half of half of you already own a copy of Buddy Buddy Belgium. That means I'm ultimately writing this review to entertain existing Scrapped Plans devotees and to intrigue those of you enjoy pop-punk but aren't necessarily super-fans. 

First let's have a roll call. Grath Madden (House Boat) and Michelle Shirelle were half of The Steinways, and they're on guitar and vocals. Fraser Murderburger is also on guitar and vocals. Kieron Jordan (Don Blake) is on bass and vocals. Mikey freaking Erg is on drums and vocals. Even by supergroup standards, that's an impressive lineup. Scrapped Plans are like the Traveling Wilburys of pop-punk. These cool cats met up in rural Belgium last fall and recorded this album in a barn in just two days. The album is exactly what you'd expect it to be: a top-notch pop-punk record that has the feel of a bunch of friends getting together to have fun. I might argue that Grath Madden is the single most underrated figure of the post 2000 pop-punk scene (I lost much sleep over my decision to relegate The Steinways' Missed the Boat to an honorable mention on my list of my top ten favorite 21st century pop-punk albums). Anything with him on it is going to be good, but of course he's just 20% of the equation here. It's super cool that all five band members get to sing lead and bring something unique to the table. Clocking in at a little under 16 minutes, Buddy Buddy Belgium will appeal to fans of efficient songwriting and music geek inside jokes (such as the album title and cover art — a true stroke of genius). Sometimes a band like this could end up with too many cooks in the kitchen, but all this talent comes together nicely. As a collection of songs, Buddy Buddy Belgium is cohesive and satisfying. There's a nice mixture of humor in sincerity in the lyrics, and of course these tunes are soundly-crafted and destined to get stuck in your head. I don't know if 2024 is shaping to be a special year for pop-punk or if I just wasn't paying close enough attention to what was coming out in previous years. But I feel like I'm more into pop-punk right now than I've been in a long time, and Scrapped Plans have contributed to that feeling.

-L.R.

https://bloatedkatrecords.bandcamp.com/album/buddy-buddy-belgium
https://grathmadden.bandcamp.com/album/buddy-buddy-belgium-2
https://worstidea.bandcamp.com/album/buddy-buddy-belgium

The Yum Yums - Poppin' Up Again (Deluxe CD Edition)

Poppin' Up Again is the sixth full-length album by The Yum Yums, and of course it's power pop perfection. I know what you're thinking: Didn't I already review this album? I did indeed. But that was like three months ago. The world has changed so much since then. We are all wiser and more discouraged by a planet in turmoil and in a greater need of life-affirming pop music. And now my fellow Americans can buy this album at a domestic price without having to surrender an arm or a leg. Tacking on the contents of the band's "Shoog Shoog (Sugar Baby)" 7" as bonus tracks, Rum Bar Records' CD deluxe edition of Poppin' Up Again extends the album to a whopping 17 tracks. And more of The Yum Yums can only be a good thing! 

You might ask if anyone needs to own more than one Yum Yums album given that the band's musical approach has not changed or progressed in any discernible way in thirty years. That would be a fair question, and my answer would be that The Yum Yums are one of the handful of bands in the history of rock 'n' roll that would be immensely disserved by artistic progression. The Yum Yums were born to spread joy into the world through sugar-sweet, mega-catchy power pop punk songs. The music gods, dismayed that no band had ever properly married '60s bubblegum and '70s glam rock to the Ramones, tapped Morten Henriksen to be the new king of power pop. One of the hardest things to do in all of music is to stick to a songwriting style this simple yet continually produce great songs. Morten's gift is a seemingly inexhaustible supply of perfect pop songs. His brain should be studied by scientists. Morten hasn't progressed to writing about politics or existential angst. He hasn't bothered to learn a fourth chord or infuse his music with jazz influences. He has never deigned to writing a seven-minute song about dragons. Again and again and again, he writes upbeat, catchy songs about love and romance. Conventional wisdom would predict diminishing returns, but Morten just keeps on getting better at his craft. 2020's For Those About To Pop! sounded like a greatest hits collection, and for a moment I wondered if finally The Yum Yums had made the album they could never top. Clearly I underestimated their musical powers. Poppin' Up Again is everything that you could ever want a Yum Yums album to be, and again, 99% of bands out there will hear this and wish they could produce this many great songs in a lifetime. Do you like harmonies? Do you like earworm hooks? Do you like sweet melodies wrapped up in crunchy guitars? Do you like songs that invoke the word "baby"? Then you are, as they say, in for a treat. This CD release of Poppin' Up Again is perfectly timed for summer fun, so step up to the bar and order yourself some top shelf pop!  

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/track/baby-oh-baby
https://open.spotify.com/album/1YbjJM65qjLguOWUcVgPZi
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.facebook.com/ilovetheyumyums

CB Kiddo - Heavy Is the Head (two​-​song demo)

If CB Kiddo eventually compiles all their singles from this year, they're going to have one of the best albums of the year. I'm saving a top ten spot on my list already. Emily is back with Heavy Is the Head, her fourth digital single of 2024, and she continues to construct a universe where garage punk and power pop are quarreling siblings and The Muffs are a veritable religion. "Never Been Wrong" is another catchy blast of low budget poppy punk goodness. "Choking on Your Insides" is a brilliant rendition of all an all-time great MOTO song that suddenly feels more relevant than ever. If you don't love this, you're a jerk. 

-L.R.

https://kiddo27.bandcamp.com/album/heavy-is-the-head-two-song-demo

Neon Bone - Eager To Please

Pop-punk as a musical genre is having a year, and it only gets better with a new album from Neon Bone. Eager To Please, the band's eighth(?) album, is out on Monster Zero, and its catchiness ought to be a grave concern to public help officials. Gumbo and his mates continue to represent everything I love about pop-punk. Eager To Please is chock full of simple three-chord songs influenced by classic pop and rock 'n' roll and delivered with a satisfying punk rock punch. This is a band that understands the timelessness of both melody and love songs, and there has never been much of a need to radically change its approach to music. You know what you're getting with a Neon Bone record, and it's hard to think of any band that does this sort of thing better. These guys manage to emphasize the pop without skimping on the punk, and they also manage to be pop-punk classicists without ripping off any particular band. More so now than ever, you can really hear the band embracing pop-punk's roots in doo wop, early rock 'n' roll, and '60s bubblegum. But some more modern influences turn up as well. Am I the only one who hears a little Nirvana in "But When You're Alone"? "Told You So?" is more than a little Weezer-ish. "Cold City Embrace" is very Depeche Mode/New Order, and I am here for it! Ultimately, you can't accuse Neon Bone of making the exact same album over and over. But they are perfectly comfortable in their lane, and Eager To Please is another five star pop-punk album.

-L.R.

https://monsterzerorecords.bandcamp.com/album/eager-to-please
https://neonbone.bandcamp.com/album/eager-to-please
https://open.spotify.com/album/4mnLnQrQGm2IeSgBxe1AHr
https://monsterzerorecords.com/products/neon-bone-eager-to-please-lp
https://www.facebook.com/neonbone/
https://www.facebook.com/MonsterZeroPunkrock

Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders - Senator's Daughter

It's always a good day when I-94 Recordings releases another installment in its Detroit covers singles series. Senator's Daughter is the 12th installment in the series and the second one from Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders. Obviously, we're talking about one of the best rock 'n' roll bands going. And a lot of people forget that Pat Todd was born in the raised in the Midwest. So even though this is a West Coast band, it definitely has that Midwestern soul that characterizes so much of the I-94 roster. "Down at the End of Your Rope" is an original song and a tremendous one at that. It's a rootsy rocker with killer hooks and heartfelt lyrics & vocals. If you want to hear a great songwriter backed by a great band doing it right, this track won't let you down. For its Detroit cover, the band takes it way back to the '50s. Rankoutsider guitarist Kevin Keller recently discovered that Jimmy Boyer of Jimmy Boyer and the Royal Newports was his cousin. So the band decided to have a go at "Little Miss Heartbreak." The Rankoutsiders put their signature on this golden nugget of rockabilly — which I imagine will be most people's first exposure to this song. You can never go wrong with Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders, and you can never go wrong with I-94 Recordings. Put them together, and you've got yourself an absolute must-buy. Vinyl is available now in 13 color variants. Hop to it — that pissy yellow isn't going to last long! 

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/pat-todd-the-rankoutsiders-down-at-the-end-of-your-rope-7-vinyl-single-i-94-024-2024
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062967923575
https://www.facebook.com/pattoddrankoutsiders

The Plane Crash - Nostalgia For The Gutter

The Plane Crash, hailing from Portland, Oregon, is the type of band I used to write about frequently back in the day. This is a no bullshit, down and dirty, blood & guts punk rock 'n' roll band that worships at the altar of Johnny Thunders, Chuck Berry, and The Stooges. This group wears its influences on its sleeve and sticks to the business of playing three-chord rock 'n' roll with force and feeling. Mark Death (The Hot Lz's, The Halfways) is on vocals and lead guitar. He's joined by Harry Gadd on bass guitar and backing vocals, Rich Peterson on lead guitar, and Erik Haines on drums and lead vocals. The band's LP Nostalgia For The Gutter makes me nostalgic for all those 1990s American punk rock 'n' roll bands that pumped new life into the OG punk rock of Detroit, New York, and Ohio. Lean and mean at just nine tracks in 23 minutes, this album is chock full of raw energy, ripping guitar solos, and fuck-off attitude. There was a time in my life when I would come across a record like this three or four times a month. Now I'm lucky if that's three or four times in a year! So it's great to hear The Plane Crash pull off this style so well. Any band with Mark Death in it is going to be awesome, and he has found himself some kindred spirits with serious chops. Nostalgia For The Gutter is full of killer tunes and well worth exploring if real deal punk rock 'n' roll gets your heart racing.

-L.R.

https://theplanecrash.bandcamp.com/album/nostalgia-for-the-gutter
https://open.spotify.com/album/1tU5orD0KKO0QQQpzHVtkH
https://www.facebook.com/theplanecrash