Vicious Dreams - Turn Off My Brain

I'm rather pissed at myself. It's a great feeling to hear a band you touted when they were just starting out grow into something truly great. But it's not such a great feeling when you realize you missed an entire album (which totally kicked ass) from this band years ago. Where in the heck was I when Vicious Dreams released their self-titled LP four years ago? How in the hell did I not know about that record? So now with the release of the new long player Turn Off My Brain, I'm basically discovering two Vicious Dreams albums that are new to me. And they're both great! With its power pop–influenced old school punk style, this Orlando-based trio could not be any more up my alley. A split release between Brassneck Records, GC Records, Swamp Cabbage Records, and Dirt Cult Records, Turn Off My Brain is a super-good album with something very meaningful to say. A lot of these songs articulate what it's like to cope with a crazy, confusing world while dealing with anxiety and ADHD. Those are immensely relatable themes in today's world, and I applaud the band for writing honest and urgent songs about mental health struggles. A lot of you are gonna be feeling these songs in a major way. Everything about this record hits the spot. The songs are thoughtful, catchy, and powerful, and the production allows the band to sound polished yet still plenty tough. I love the way Amanda and James share vocal duties — often taking turns singing lead but sometimes singing together. That mix of personalities is part of what makes this band so appealing. 

Short and sweet at just nine tracks, Turn Off My Brain doesn't waste a single second. This is a terrific set of songs, and it's great to hear some straight-forward catchy punk rock that hearkens back to the late '70s and early '80s without copying any bands in particular. I have to admit I was skeptical about hearing yet another band take on Pointed Sticks' "Out of Luck," but I've got to tell you that Vicious Dreams have totally nailed that song and most definitely put their signature on it. Amanda has one of the best singing voices in punk rock, and I'm a bit perplexed as to why more people don't talk about this band. If you, like me, have slept through the last eight years of Vicious Dreams, head on over to Spotify or Bandcamp and get acquainted with their catalog. And the rest of you are probably wondering why I'm so late to the party! Note to self: follow Vicious Dreams on social media! 

-L.R.

https://viciousdreams.bandcamp.com/album/turn-off-my-brain
https://open.spotify.com/album/6UtYGXqd9NDOi0Y5CefCZx
https://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/turn-off-my-brain
https://www.facebook.com/ViciousDreams77
https://www.instagram.com/vicious__dreams/

Dany Laj and the Looks - "Meet Me On The Floor"

It has been a minute since we last heard from the always delightful Dany Laj and the Looks. Their last single came out in November of 2022, and their last studio album was released three years ago. Most distressingly for a band that lives to play in front of live humans, they have not had the chance to tour since 2019. That will change this fall as Laj and the Looks hit the road and finally get to tour in support of their terrific 2021 album Ten Easy Pieces. To celebrate, the band has cooked up the brand-new party anthem "Meet Me On The Floor." This new single sets a tone for the upcoming live dates, and its accompanying music video (the splendid creation of Courtney O'Hearn) gives you a little taste of what to expect. It's just a great rock 'n' roll song — a feelgood hit about setting aside your worries, hitting the club floor, and dancing until you drop. You know stuff like this gets me even more fired up than the Flyers' penalty kill! "Meet Me On The Floor," which draws equally from power pop, garage rock, and soul music, is all about infectious energy and good vibes. It could not be any catchier. How nuts are the crowds gonna go for this song on tour?! Joining Laj and his partner Jeanette Dowling on this release are David Laplante on guitar and Alex Pauzé on drums. Stacey Case (Tijuana Bibles, Weirdies) guest stars on tambourine. There can never be too much tambourine in rock 'n' roll! I've missed Dany Laj and the Looks, and their return is truly triumphant. They'll be touring all across Canada in late September and early October and then hitting the USA for some dates in the Midwest and New York — then returning to Canada with Paul Collins' Beat! Click here for further tour info!

-L.R.

https://danylaj.bandcamp.com/track/meet-me-on-the-floor
https://open.spotify.com/album/2zVZ2DiJYAbcbG50PzYzJH
https://danylajandthelooks.com/
instagram.com/danylajandthelooks/
https://www.facebook.com/danylaj/

Fastbacks - For WHAT Reason!

Reviewing the Fastbacks would be like reviewing oxygen, freedom, cats, or sunshine. No one needs to be told what any of these things are. You simply thank the universe that they exist and ponder the dreariness or impossibility of life without them. For WHAT Reason! is the first Fastbacks album in 25 years. My intention is not to review it but rather to celebrate its existence. If you're a regular reader of this blog, it's likely that the Fastbacks are one of your favorite bands of all-time. And it's guaranteed that this band has directly or indirectly influenced almost all your current favorite bands. For WHAT Reason! sounds like a Fastbacks record, and that's truly a beautiful thing. As the world changes rapidly and radically, and so many of the things that used to bring us happiness have disappeared from the face of the Earth, what a joy it is to hear the Fastbacks still in vintage form, still making us feel thrilled to be alive. Kim, Lulu, Kurt, and Muzz poured their hearts into this album. Here we have true OGs of pop-punk or punk-pop or whatever you wanna call it, and they're once again showing us how it ought to be done. Push play, crank up the volume, and bask in the greatness. For WHAT Reason! is one of the best albums of the year, but of course you knew that already.

-L.R.

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

The Putz - Too Little Too Late

Duuuuuuuude! The Putz, who've long been a band I would place in the top tier of present-day pop-punk, have unleashed what could very well be their best album yet! Out now on Mom's Basement Records, Too Little Too Late is their fifth album and first in four years. At first, this may come off as something a little different for The Putz. It leans more to the the snottier, more aggressive side of pop-punk and less to the "pop" side of pop-punk. But when I look back over The Putz's body of work, I realize that this band has always excelled at snarky three-chord punk blasters. The ratio of hate songs to love songs may be a little higher on this release, but essentially this is a vintage Putz effort. When it comes to pulling off a fuck-off attitude yet keeping the songs totally fun, no band can top The Putz. Billy started writing this album during peak lockdown times, so of course his lyrics reflect a great deal of frustration and dissatisfaction. But this is by no means a "dark" album. Billy, Dougie, and Pat are operating at a master class level in the fine art of channeling intense negativity into triumphant songs that will have you bobbing your head, tapping your toes, and shouting along until all your troubles melt away. Songs rage against everything from your asshole boss to douchers named Chad to people who never shut their mouths to haters of punk rock to chowder heads to whiners to pharmaceuticals to your scumbag friends to a refrigerator devoid of beer. Mixed in are some Ramones-based rockers like "Teenage Hand Grenade" (reminding me of superstar label mates the SUCK) and a couple of absolutely perfect pop-punk love songs, including the masterpiece "I Hope You Stick Around" (featuring Leah Putz on lead vocals). Put it all together, and you've got everything you could want from a pop-punk record. You know Mom's Basement Records ain't messing around! 

Of course there are a whole lot of bands out there that worship at the altar of The Queers in their early to mid '90s peak years. Most of them are enjoyable to some degree but come off like obvious copyists. The Putz, on the other hand, remind me of why I loved all those Queers records but don't sound like they're trying to be The Queers. A lot of that has to do with Billy's unique, authentic appeal as a vocalist. With every word that comes out of his mouth, there's no doubt you're buying what he's selling. And of course you won't find three other musicians in the world who are more perfectly suited to playing this kind of music. This band includes my favorite living drummer and a guitarist who recently released the best pop-punk album in a decade. But much love is also warranted for the author of these songs. It takes an incredible amount of smarts to write great songs this dumb, and it's high time that the genius of Billy Putz be acknowledged.

-L.R.

https://theputz.bandcamp.com/album/too-little-too-late
https://momsbasementrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-putz-too-little-too-late
https://open.spotify.com/album/0BS6XHVdTngrEJHevdiIpn
https://www.facebook.com/theputzrock
https://www.instagram.com/the.putz/
https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/
https://www.instagram.com/momsbasementrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords
https://www.tiktok.com/@momsbasementrecords

Golden Shitters - Love Blows

I can't decide if Golden Shitters is the worst band name I've ever heard or the absolute best. But I can tell you that this trio from Hamilton, Ontario is my kind of band. Golden Shitters are Matt Ellis (Anxious Pleasers, The Vapids) on vocals, guitar, and bass; Dave Tyson (Sam Coffey and the Iron Lungs) on vocals, guitar, and bass; and Kyle Fisher (the Dirty Nil) on vocals and drums. These guys play old school punk rock "with bad taste and a B-movie bathroom budget." What's not to love about that? On their new EP Love Blows, they tear through four catchy, totally killer tracks in just over five minutes. There's nothing fancy going on here —just three-chord punk rock as the music gods intended. Lyrics address relatable topics like wanting to leave this planet, being underpaid and unappreciated at work, and despairing over matters of the heart. Somehow I missed an absolutely fantastic album released by Golden Shitters last year, so I'll be catching up with that while I continue to enjoy Love Blows. Tell your friends, foes, families, and neighbors: Golden Shitters are the shit!  

-L.R.

https://goldenshitters.bandcamp.com/album/love-blows
https://www.instagram.com/goldenshitters

Culture Trap - self titled

Helsinki-based Culture Trap has followed a few promising singles with a terrific debut album. If you dig bands that blur the lines between garage punk and power pop while still creating a contemporary sound, this ten-track platter will be right up your alley. These songs are punchy and melody-driven and were produced with the perfect blend of polish and grit. Style-wise, the band nicely mixes up faster, punkier tunes with some more outside-the-box, modern-sounding pop numbers ("Rose," "Offline"). This is a really, really solid debut full-length. There are no sub-par tracks, and the album flies by in less than 21 minutes. If you're into bands like Outtacontroller or own a whole bunch of Dirtnap Records releases, Culture Trap is a band that ought to be on your radar.

-L.R.

https://culturetrap.bandcamp.com/album/culture-trap
https://open.spotify.com/album/1SnG9RLYbfJNPtFaqn5zhy
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr4mGRpLwbROTvV0LlIEsrg

Strange Neighbors - "Crush"

Strange Neighbors out of New York are a terrific band I've reviewed before. I've done a lousy job of keeping up with their recent output, but, hey, I suppose it's never too late to correct that. I still have a draft of a review for the Party of None EP that was never completed for reasons I honestly cannot identify. What I appreciate about Strange Neighbors is that they are, broadly speaking, a power pop band but don't necessarily subscribe to one single genre or approach to making music. They craft tuneful pop songs with likeable, relatable lyrics, and they draw from a wide range of indie/alternative influences both new and old. The band describes new single "Crush" as a song that "captures the exhilarating chaos and uncertainty of a new romantic infatuation." Who can't relate to that? I love how the song's lyrics are both clever and vulnerable, and this tune really does capture the emotional rollercoaster that is infatuation. I can't think of a more universal theme for a pop song, and the band does a wonderful job of using both music and lyrics to evoke the emotional chaos of a crush. From Aidan's lead vocal to that big hook chorus to the melody of the song, everything about "Crush" hits the mark. And just when I thought I couldn't like this song any more, I read in the liner notes that it was inspired by Chappell Roan. Honestly some days I don't feel like listening to punk rock or power pop and just want to listen to Chappell Roan on repeat. With "Crush," Strange Neighbors have given me the best of both worlds. Now excuse me while I go listen to "Casual" and have a good cry. 

-L.R.

https://strangeneighbors.bandcamp.com/track/crush
https://open.spotify.com/album/3yjBptOvaPgxnaKOyCTB5d
https://www.instagram.com/strangeneighborsmusic
https://www.facebook.com/strangeneighborsmusic/

Hasty - self titled

Hasty's debut EP is a delightful little slab of poppy punk goodness that's about to get quite a few of you bouncing off the walls! This Brooklyn-based trio is comprised of Michelle Shirelle, Danny Zajackowski, and Mikey Erg. Now that's quite the lineup! Hasty's debut EP is out on Bloated Kat Records and will be available soon on hot pink cassette tape. I'm not sure what to say about this EP beyond that it's the embodiment of charming, fun, and completely infectious pop-punk. Michelle's lyrics are amazing. If these songs were any catchier, the government would be raiding the band's practice space immediately. I love how these tunes are punk as fuck yet still wear the influence of oldies rock and roll and pop. Dude, this EP is so good! What was I just saying about bands that put pictures of cats on their record covers?

-L.R.

https://bloatedkatrecords.bandcamp.com/album/e-p
https://hasty-band-nyc.bandcamp.com/album/e-p
https://www.instagram.com/hastybandbrooklyn

Intrusive Thoughts (with Terminal Gagger) - "Obsessive"

Oh boy! Intrusive Thoughts, who melted my face with their debut single back in May, have followed up with a must-hear cover of "Obsessive" by The Vicious. Intrusive Thoughts, an intercontinental punk rock super-group featuring Greg Lonesome (Recoils, Lonesome Kings) on vocals and Oli W (Trenchkoat) on guitar, brought in the big guns for this track. The legendary Terminal Gagger guest stars on vocals. Of course the dual vocals sound bad-ass, and what impresses me is how both singers deliver the lyrics so convincingly. You can sense what this song means to these guys, and they really put their hearts and guts into doing it justice. We are talking about one of the greatest punk rock songs of the 2000s — a bona fide modern classic. Taking on a song this untouchable was a tall order, but I have to say that Intrusive Thoughts have fucking nailed it. In terms of style, theme, and vibe, this track really fits nicely alongside the band's previous single, "Daytime Drama." If you like bands that walk that thin line between '70s punk and early hardcore, you need to check out Intrusive Thoughts. More tunes from this band are in the works!

-L.R.

https://intrusivethoughtspunkrock.bandcamp.com/track/obsessive-w-terminal-gagger

TA-80 - Turn It Up!

One of the best things about doing a music blog is that I'm constantly receiving an education. It seems like the more I learn, the less I know about this massive universe of underground music. Arizona's TA-80 has been around long enough to have contributed to that Queers tribute album that came out on Asian Man Records 17 years ago. They've got a catalog of releases dating back to 2010. Yet I am just now becoming hip to this delightful punk rock band from the American Southwest. TA-80's new album is called Turn It Up! It is available on cassette and compact disc from Snubbed by Allegedly Records (a collaboration between Pennsylvania record label Allegedly Records and Maryland label Snubbed Records). Now of course the fastest way to my heart is to put a cat on your album cover. But in all seriousness, I dug this record from the moment I first hit the play button. This band plays raw & energetic poppy punk with hints of new wave and straight-up rock. I love the mix of melody and grit. When it comes to showing enthusiasm and having fun in a totally palpable way, TA-80 really hits the mark. This is the kind of band I would have loved when I was first getting into punk. It understands how to write quality tunes while still keeping some of that roughness around the edges. I really dig the dual vocals, and there's something special about a band that can go from a raging hardcore song straight into a five-minute anthem that sounds like it could fill up an arena. This album makes me wanna jump up and down and shout nonsensical interjections for the sheer joy of it. Turn it up indeed!

-L.R.

https://ta80.bandcamp.com/album/turn-it-up
https://open.spotify.com/album/1tuWo5oqQyLdQ3lhjg9u4s
https://www.instagram.com/ta80band/
https://www.facebook.com/ta80band
https://www.allegedlyrecords.com/snubbedbyallegedly

Joy Buzzers - Shake On It!

Here's one from a couple months ago that I slept on for reasons I cannot possibly explain. Joy Buzzers (not to be confused with the band Joy Buzzer) hail from the Chicago suburbs and play really excellent punky power pop that's brimming with energy and catchy as hell. The band's album Shake On It! has a later '80s/early '90s college radio spirit to it with musical influences going back to classic power pop and '70s pop/punk. There's not a lot of fooling around here: these guys power through song after song with a ton of punch and hooks a plenty. A few tracks stretch things into '90s indie/alternative territory and demonstrate that songwriter Bud Young is far from one-dimensional. But all in all, this album is an absolute treat for anyone whose sweet spot falls somewhere in between pop-punk and power pop. If I didn't know these guys were from Chicago, I might have guessed it anyway. This is exactly what I'd expect a band called Joy Buzzers to sound like!

-L.R.

https://joybuzzers.bandcamp.com/album/shake-on-it
https://open.spotify.com/album/0SH9aqNRI3g5YTqgcjmdtk
https://www.instagram.com/joybuzzers/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092990174231