Wyatt Funderburk - Fleeting and Finite

Wow. Fleeting and Finite, the long-awaited new EP from Wyatt Funderburk, has arrived from Jolly Ronnie Records, and it gives me shivers. While I've reviewed Funderburk's work numerous times as Kurt Baker's co-songwriter and band-mate, I have not had the pleasure of writing about one of his solo releases since November of 2013. Think about how much has changed in the world in those 11 years. Novel and Profane was a great album, but Funderburk has taken things to the proverbial next level. Fleeting and Finite, while comprised of only six tracks, has the feel of an epic guitar pop record. The label describes it as "A masterclass in the art of song writing and performance," and I could not have said it better myself. This, my friends, is beautiful, exquisitely-crafted pop music. Everything from the melodies to the lyrics to the vocals to the musicianship is near-perfect, and I love how this mini-album creates an intimate personal narrative. These songs weave together themes of love, time, and natural phenomena in such a deeply meaningful way. Records like this are why I love music — not only does Funderburk treat us to gorgeous melodies and stunning harmonies, but he also bares his soul for the world to witness. Todd Patton on drums is the only additional musician here. Everything else you hear on this record is Wyatt Funderburk. This guy has been one of the most underrated songwriters in the power pop world for a couple decades now, and Fleeting and Finite is his masterpiece. All these songs are great individually, but this EP really needs to be experienced as a whole. Ryan at Jolly Ronnie Records has done something amazing for the vinyl release. He's selling the 12-inch record (on gold vinyl!) for only $17 plus postage. That's a deal and a steal, so jump on this pre-order while supplies last!

-L.R.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML04TM6ziow&list=OLAK5uy_m85bk2PKl58I4xX7VX8EJXSzDvorxGkEY
https://open.spotify.com/album/4PD2WvdnzIXfRdVULgWg9Q
https://wyattfunderburk.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.instagram.com/funderburk/
https://jollyronnierecords.bigcartel.com/product/wyatt-funderburk-fleeting-and-finite-ep

Taxi Girls - Rainy

Now here's a record I've been waiting for all year: the second vinyl release from the mighty Taxi Girls! This band had my top-ranked EP of last year, and it's on track to have my top-ranked single of this year. That single is called "Rainy," and I can't talk about it without invoking the dreaded "double A-side" cliché. One song is a kick-ass rocker, and the other is an old school punk rock sing-along. They're equally great, so the determination of which one is the "hit" will come down to personal preference or your mood at the time. If you're looking at the cover art right now, you may have noticed that this Montreal-based trio is now a foursome. New member Gabrielle absolutely slays on lead guitar, and her playing definitely elevates Taxi Girls to another level. 

The title track brings to mind the punk rock side of '90s alternative rock, and it's a total monster. I love the big riffs, cool harmony vocals, red-hot leads, and overall rocking vibes. The lead vocals and lyrics are A+ as well. How many of us knew Jamie all those years without realizing she was a freaking rock star on the mic? If this song had come out in 1993, it would have been massive! "The Lion's Share" picks up the pace with more of an anthemic catchy punk rock style. It's a total toe-tapper, and again the lyrics rule so hard. I can't listen to this song without thrusting my fist in the air and shouting along. And how amazing do those guitars sound? Both of these songs are full of spirit and attitude, and they straight-up rock. The liner notes do a great job of explaining what these songs are about, so be sure to check them out. Let's just say that Taxi Girls understand that a song can be catchy and fun to listen to yet still full of substance. If I had to pick a favorite track here, I would go with "The Lion's Share," but that's like saying I like oxygen more than food. "Rainy" is available now from Dirt Cult Records in North America and Wild Honey Records in Europe.

-L.R.

https://taxigirls.bandcamp.com/album/rainy-2
https://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rainy
https://open.spotify.com/album/1aFmHnxCxxWPQ8Vmqi5dg9
https://www.instagram.com/taxigirlsmontreal/
https://www.facebook.com/taxigirlsband/

Gene Champagne - Let's Jet (Bonus Edition)

One of the coolest things in the power pop ballpark I've heard all year is Gene Champagne's Let's Jet EP. Champagne, drummer for '90s alternative rock/power pop band The Killjoys and later the legendary Teenage Head, has also fronted The Un-Teens. Let's Jet features four tracks he recorded in pure solo style — producing himself and playing all the instruments. Rum Bar Records has gone out and made a deluxe package out of this thing by adding four Un-Teens tracks. If power pop with the emphasis on the power is your thing, you can't go wrong with Let's Jet. The title track is an arena-sized rocker with soaring hooks — something along the lines of Red Kross meets AC/DC. "Back in My Arms" is textbook old school punk-pop that's as catchy as can be. "Rock 'n' Roll Boy" is power pop by way of the Ramones and one of the true smash hits of the year. "Shake Some More" finishes off a near-perfect EP with an infectious shot of power pop rock 'n' roll goodness. If you're not yet familiar with Champagne's work with The Un-Teens, the four bonus tracks will essentially double your pleasure. 

As someone who fondly recalls those days in the '90s when some bands blurred the lines between power pop, alternative rock, and pop-punk, I have to say Let's Jet really hits a sweet spot for me. Champagne really has a feel for what a great power pop song ought to sound like, and he knows how to write a catchy tune. The ability to cross over from drumming to fronting a band to being a one-man band is not something everyone has, but Champagne has that gift — and, of course, a great ear for hook-laden three-chord rock 'n' roll. If you listen all the way through, you'll her "Rock 'n' Roll Boy" twice. I don't think anyone will be complaining.

-L.R

.
https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lets-jet-bonus-edition
https://genechampagne1.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/album/2ZGyhCBqmBih4wry7NCYfU
https://www.instagram.com/genechampagne_official/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

brom bones - Give up the Ghost

Here on the western edge of southeastern Pennsylvania, brom bones are bona fide punk rock legends. I find it inspiring and exciting that they're still going strong after 35 years — releasing music that rivals or even surpasses their 1990s output. Give up the Ghost, their new album, is in many ways a vintage brom bones release. The influence of '80s melodic punk/post-hardcore/whatever you wanna call it on their songwriting and musical style is still palpable. Yet a few of these songs are not exactly what you'd expect from a brom bones album. That mixture of dependable and surprising is a winning formula, and Give up the Ghost is not an album I need to grade on a curve. It's not just a terrific album for a veteran punk band  — it's a terrific album, period. 

Thirty seconds into "Rooftop Guerilla," I found myself ready to jump in the pit. Likewise, on songs like "Pop Rocks" and "Up to You," I'm reminded of a time when punk rock could be melodic and anthemic without necessarily being segregated into the realm of "pop-punk." "EVP" is the anthem for every Gen Xer who swears that spirits live among us. Elsewhere, this album treats us to a creative instrumental ("Theme"), a power ballad ("Chicago'), a proper ballad ("Give Up the Ghost"), a great power pop song ("Orange Crush"), and even a humorous ode to Glenn Danzig. There's a little bit of comedy and a whole lot of seriousness in the mix, and it's all pulled off with definitive class. If this ends up being the last brom bones album, it could write the book on how to go out on a high note. Jason, Chris, Dustin, and Matt put a lot of work into this record, and they've ended up with something they are rightfully proud of. Imagine forming a punk band as a teenager and being able to say the band stayed true to its original spirit for decades — while still evolving and maturing in a totally natural way. Give up the Ghost is out now on limited Coke bottle green vinyl via Bandcamp!

-L.R.

https://brombones.bandcamp.com/album/give-up-the-ghost
https://www.facebook.com/brombonespa
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5AHka1bZalyF3bUwNCr9RM

The Lemon Drop Gang - "Leave The World Behind"

The Lemon Drop Gang has been quickly rising up my list of favorite bands on the Rum Bar label —  and favorite bands, period! This band has it all: a talented & charismatic lead singer, a unique sound, serious musical chops, and incredible songs. Steph and Johnny O'Halloran, along with Danny Walker and Matt Rendon, really have something special going with their new single, "Leave The World Behind." It follows a couple of fantastic singles released last year. In typical Lemon Drop Gang fashion, both songs on this single manage to be both dark and totally intoxicating at the same time. That's the sweet spot (or perhaps bittersweet spot) for much of what I find appealing in this world. The title track adds some surf rock tones to the band's desert-tinged '60s garage vibes. It captures the angst and hopelessness of modern times and streamlines it all into a minute-and-a-half of perfect garage pop with a punk rock attitude. Steph turns in a great vocal, and Rendon's drumming makes it feel believable that the band just stepped out of a time machine from 1966. Johnny's guitar work, as always, is nothing short of mesmerizing. Could any song in 2024 be more relatable than this one? On the B-side, "Let the World Stay!" is punkier and delightfully bleak, propelled by Steph's urgent & inspired lead vocal. Both of these songs get the job done without any messing around — satisfying completely yet still leaving you wanting more. It goes without saying that this is one of the top singles of the year. And how amazing is that art work?

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/leave-the-world-behind
https://www.facebook.com/lemondropgang/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

Kurt Baker - "Inner Demons"

Back swiftly with a follow-up to his previous single, "Delusional," Kurt Baker again throws it back to his pop-punk roots on the new release "Inner Demons." Originally conceived as a possible song for the Australian power pop band The Stanleys, "Inner Demons" was first written during the dark times of the pandemic. The song, originally called "Keep Wishing," was eventually re-worked with bandmates Wyatt Funderburk and Geoff Palmer. If you're a fan of Palmer's, you will be happy to hear his influence all over "Inner Demons." Like "Delusional," "Inner Demons" is a very introspective song. But it's basically the other side of the coin. While "Delusional" is about confronting the possibility that you're fooling yourself when you think everything is going great, "Inner Demons" is about letting go of negative thoughts and embracing the positive — in essence, sending your inner demons "back to Hell." I'm really loving this direction Baker has been taking lately — where his lyrics have been thoughtful and self-reflective but the music draws from the pure energy and perfect simplicity of '90s/2000s punk rock. Looking at the matching artwork for "Delusional" and "Inner Demons," I can't help wondering if these two digital singles are destined to be combined into one vinyl single in the near future. Or maybe they're the first two installments in a trilogy! All I know is that Kurt Baker is on a roll, and I can't wait to hear what he does next!

-L.R.

https://kurtbaker.bandcamp.com/track/inner-demons
https://open.spotify.com/album/6eZ7txap9ldO2B468AysjB
https://www.instagram.com/kurtmiltonbaker/
https://www.facebook.com/KurtBakerMusic/

The Circulators - Insufficient Fun

It was nearly two years ago that San Francisco's The Circulators seemingly came out of nowhere to melt the faces off of garage geeks and old school punks across the globe with their smash hit debut cassette release. Total Punk Records took notice and now proudly presents The Circulators' proper debut album, Insufficient Fun. On this ripping long player, the band tears through 14 tracks of '77-style punk rock 'n' roll that spews attitude and hooks in equal abundance. This, my friends, is pure, unadulterated, no-bullshit punk fucking rock. If you like your punk snotty, rockin', and catchy as hell, this record is going to be in heavy rotation in your bedroom, garage, basement, party pad, beer garden, sex dungeon, or wherever else your turntable might reside. Only one track exceeds three minutes, and the majority don't go far past two. When it comes to this style of music, Insufficient Fun is about as good as it gets. Play this fucker loud and remind yourself why you fell in love with punk rock in the first place.

-L.R.

https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/insufficient-fun-2
https://thecirculators.bandcamp.com/album/insufficient-fun
https://www.instagram.com/thecirculators/
https://totalpunkrecords.com/

Lùlù - "Lùlù"

Oh boy, you all are gonna love this one! Lùlù is a French power pop band based in Lyon and Marseille. The band, in its own words, plays "love songs for the anxious and glam rock nuggets for the dreamers." Now that speaks to my soul! Lùlù's lyrics are in French and Italian, but you don't need to be bilingual to appreciate the greatness of its debut single, "Lùlù" (I always love a band with its own theme song!). This tune is chock full of hooks, and it exudes feelgood vibes all day. When I think of the term "power pop," this is exactly the kind of song that comes to mind. It touches on themes of heartbreak but channels it all into positive energy. I want to brush up on my French so I can sing along properly! My god, this song is a banger. The video is really fun too. Something tells me this is going to be a totally huge band in power pop circles, so you might as well get in on the ground floor. "Lùlù" is out now on Howlin' Banana Records. A full-length album is coming next year!

-L.R.

https://allocestlulu.bandcamp.com/track/l-l
https://howlinbananarecords.bandcamp.com/track/l-l
https://www.facebook.com/allocestlulu
https://www.facebook.com/Howlinbanana
https://www.instagram.com/allocestlulu/

Night Court - $hit Machine

The mighty Night Court, already on its fourth full-length album, continues to stand out as one of the most unique and exciting groups in contemporary punk music. Out now on the venerable Recess Records, $hit Machine finds Emilor, Jiffy, and Dave-O growing more creative and ambitious than ever without the slightest diminishment in songwriting quality. Depending on which track you landed on, you might peg Night Court as garage punk, indie rock, post-punk, pop-punk, new wave, or hardcore punk. Of course Night Court manage to be all those things and none of them at the same time. They just sound like themselves, and this is a great example of a band where every member is crucial to the group as a whole. Night Court would not be Night Court if it weren't these exact three individuals working in harmony, and it's their collective talent and worldview that sets this band apart. 

As always, these three prove to be masters of writing with efficiency. $hit Machine squeezes 17 songs into less than 27 minutes (that's a minute and a half per song). Yet all these songs sound complete and fully realized in spite of their brevity. From start to finish, it's nothing but awesome tunes. There are not a whole lot of 27-minute albums that feel this epic and sprawling. So you get the auditory experience of an hour-long sonic adventure in half that time — which is ideal considering how precious time has become in a world where the amount of things we can choose to consume it are virtually limitless. The skeptical person might wonder why this band finds it necessary to release such a large volume of music. But $hit Machine, like its predecessors, is devoid of anything close to filler. If these folks did write a couple sub-par tunes for this album, they left them on the cutting room floor. And speaking from my own experience of struggling with inspiration, I must commend this band for striking while the iron is hot. If the songs keep coming to you, you ought to keep recording them and keep releasing them. It's better for you as an artist to get your creations out there while they still reflect your recent experience, and it's better for the world to not have to wait additional years to hear such great music. Don't bother questioning the roll Night Court is on —just enjoy it! All the band's albums have been great, but $hit Machine is without doubt the best of the lot. The vinyl is limited to 300 copies, so act now if you want this bad boy in your record collection! 

-L.R.

https://nightcourtpunk.bandcamp.com/album/hit-machine
https://recessrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hit-machine
https://open.spotify.com/album/3lJW6bMryIRJLShALqyqhi
https://www.instagram.com/nightcourtpunk/
https://www.facebook.com/nightcourtpunk

Boogadas! - Heartbeats and Heartbreaks

2024 has been an excellent year for pop-punk. The hits just keep on coming. That continues with Heartbeats and Heartbreaks, the debut album from Brazilian foursome Boogadas! Agnes, Jennifer, Priscila, and Renata demonstrate what I've long believed about pop-punk: that you don't need to break new ground to excel at this kind of music, and that perhaps, it's better if you don't. Heartbeats and Heartbreaks is pop-punk the way it ought to be, rooted in simple yet undeniably catchy songwriting with strong melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Essentially, this is pop-punk for pop-punk fans. So it's no surprise that one of the biggest pop-punk fans out there, John from Mom's Basement Records, heard this band and quickly signed them to his label. John knows good pop-punk, and he has found us an absolute gem in Boogadas! I mean, come on: How great is "Punching Above Your Weight"? And that's not the only ace song in the bunch. At just eight tracks, Heartbeats and Heartbreaks is filler-free and certain to leave you wanting more if '90s/early 2000s era pop-punk is your jam. Look for a physical release from Mom's Basement in the near future.

-L.R.

https://boogadas.bandcamp.com/album/heartbeats-and-heartbreaks
https://open.spotify.com/album/2TKqcygf25GMn0sjxqfXyH
https://www.instagram.com/boogadas

shiverlane - Sketches from the Departure Lounge

A debut album from Boston foursome shiverlane was on my musical wish list for 2024. And now that it has arrived, I must say it's as good as expected. Shiverlane is one of those bands you talk about and keep saying over and over, "They're such great songwriters!" Maybe that's just stating the obvious. Are there really any great bands out there that don't write great songs? But perhaps you get what I mean. Of course these guys know how to write quality tunes full of earworm melodies. But beyond that, they are storytellers, philosophers, and wordsmiths of the highest order. They are veritable bards of power pop! 

Shiverlane's ability to write highly intellectual pop songs without coming off as pretentious is rare in the music scene, and Sketches from the Departure Lounge is a splendid little debut album. Influences run the gamut from jangly '60s pop to quirky '90s indie/alternative to the late '70s/early '80s heyday of new wave pop. While 37 1/2 percent of Sketches from the Departure Lounge is comprised of standout singles previously released by shiverlane, the other 62 1/2 percent of the album is absolutely at the same level. And while the singles ("I Get Nervous," "Aeroplane Driver," and "Little English Pleasures") worked wonderfully as standalone releases, they are even more enjoyable as pieces in a beautifully conceived series of musical vignettes. Likewise, "Bella Bereaver" and "Hippie Bottom Bell" would have been worthy singles in their own right. Add in a couple of choice deep cuts in the near-epic "Beat Skipper Wings" and grand closer "The King's List," and you've got an album that feels complete and satisfying in spite of its brevity (eight tracks running less than 25 minutes). If you like smart, well-crafted, and undeniably catchy guitar pop, shiverlane needs to be on your radar.

-L.R.

https://shiverlane.bandcamp.com/album/sketches-from-the-departure-lounge
https://open.spotify.com/album/5breDtqeKhWDt2TkrfSX1a
https://www.instagram.com/shiverlanerock/
https://www.facebook.com/shiverlanerock/

Tiikeri - Tee se itse E​.​P.

 

Tiikeri, a band from Turku, Finland, really hits my sweet spot with its Tee se itse E​.​P. This band plays '77-style punk rock with a pop influence, and it does it well. The formula is simple: three chords, two-minute songs, and lots of energy and enthusiasm. The production is minimalist and DIY but not necessarily lo-fi. If you had told me this EP was recorded in 1977 or '78, I would have totally believed you! Catchy, bouncy numbers like "Punkkari oon" and the title track reaffirm my belief that punk rock is still the greatest form of music ever created by humans. Physical copies of the EP are out there if you can manage to track one down. Otherwise it will be well worth your time to check out this free download from Bandcamp!

-L.R.

https://tiikeri.bandcamp.com/album/tee-se-itse-e-p