Saturday, November 15, 2025

Adult Learners - Demo 2025

Wow! I don't have a whole lot of information about Adult Learners, but I can tell you that the Boston trio's new demo is an absolute delight. Demo 2025 delivers five tracks of upbeat, punk-influenced garage pop. Bands like this have always been in Boston's musical DNA, and Adult Learners sure seem to have the makings of something special. These are fun, catchy tunes, and you can immediately sense that this band would be a hoot to witness live. I think we'll be hearing a lot more from these folks in the very near future. Stay tuned!

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The Rip Taylors - Negativity Bias


It seems I'm on quite the Mom's Basement Records kick right now, and why shouldn't I be? My roots in this whole underground punk rock universe are in pop-punk, and I just keep going back to this stuff. It's feeling like 1995 up in here! The Rip Taylors have one of the greatest band names of all-time, and their music is pretty dang good to boot. This Nashville-based trio plays snotty, ballsy pop-punk that isn't afraid to wear its love for Screeching Weasel and The Queers on its sleeve. I'm also reminded quite a bit of the heyday of Mutant Pop Records, and that's surely a positive checkmark in my book. Mikey Livid is on vocals and guitar, and he's backed by just about the most star-studded rhythm section you could imagine: Ryan Sweeney from Sweet Time Records is on drums, and the mighty Classic Pat is on bass. Lyrically, this is traditional pop-punk fare pulled off with a wink and a nod. Song titles like "I'm Not Stupid," "I Don't Know How to Be a Decent Person," "I Gotta Bad Attitude," and "I Don't Wanna Be Alone With You" make it clear that The Rip Taylors are not attempting rocket science. Every song title on the album begins with the pronoun "I," so it's not wrong to call this a concept album. And as Niek wrote, the sheer catchiness of these songs is at an A+ level. It takes some real smarts to make songs this dumb so utterly irresistible. 

When it comes to pop-punk, it's not the style that makes or breaks a band. It's the execution. And The Rip Taylors execute this style with energy, enthusiasm, and earworm hooks for days. Why let negativity get you down when you can harness it in such a satisfying way?

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Dropped Out - Always Trust Your Dog


Back with its second long player, the long-running Austin, Texas–based trio Dropped Out really hits the mark on Always Trust Your Dog. Out on Mom's Basement Records, this album takes me back to the '90s heyday of pop-punk and melodic punk without coming off as dated or overly derivative. You can always count on Dropped Out to deliver strong melodies, smooth vocals, and snappy, relatable tunes about love and life. Truly, I'd say this is one of the most under-appreciated bands in the modern-day pop-punk scene. If pop-punk leaning to the pop side is your cup of tea (as it is mine), you'll find lots to like on Always Trust Your Dog. As a fan of self-deprecating humor and self-deprecation in general, I really get a kick out of the lyrics on this record. 2022's Get Lost! was a really good album, but Always Trust Your Dog is even better. There's not a single dud track to be found. How can you not appreciate a band that can write a song called "A Nail in My Anus" and have it be one of the most likeable tunes you'll hear all year? 

The thing about Dropped Out is that it doesn't try to re-invent the wheel. This band executes the pop-punk style brilliantly and writes damn good songs. Those are things that never go out of style. And how many rave reviews of records that Tron Carter played on have I written over the years? That can't be a coincidence. Jennie Cotterill's cover art alone justifies the purchase of Always Trust Your Dog, but the music will keep you coming back! 

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Sunday, November 09, 2025

Mala Vista - Snub Nose .38


Back with its first release since March 2024's criminally overlooked Fun Time LP, New York's Mala Vista brings the heat on the electrifying four-songer Snub Nose .38. The EP, released in Europe by Ghost Highway Recordings and here in the States by the illustrious Spaghetty Town Records, finds Myke, Manny, Erik, and Ben leaning more than ever into their love of class of 1977 punk rock. While Fun Time showed a more melodic side of Mala Vista in many spots, Snub Nose .38 is a more focused attack of fast-paced, down and dirty, punch-you-in-the-mouth street rock 'n' roll. '77-style punk has always been my thing, but you just don't hear enough bands doing it right anymore. Mala Vista pulls off the tricky task of making contemporary old school punk sound timeless rather than retro. Influence-wise, you can hear everything from Teenage Head to The Boys to The Vibrators to Eater to Slaughter and the Dogs to the Dead Boys. But again, there's often a fine line between inspiration and imitation, and Mala Vista doesn't cross it. This kind of music is part of the DNA of New York, and Mala Vista does the city proud. Snub Nose .38 is a kick-ass EP from perhaps the best '77-style punk band out there. Don't miss out!

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Saturday, November 08, 2025

The Sideshows - "Brand New"/"The Start"


It's no secret that Rich Ragany is one of my favorite songwriters. I've had the pleasure of reviewing his music on ten occasions and interviewing him a couple times. He has made seven appearances on my top ten albums lists over the years (I'm pretty sure that's a record). A year without ole Rags in the F & L universe never feels quite right. And now we have something new and special on that front: the debut release from The Sideshows! This is a band comprised of Rags, his longtime drummer Simon Maxwell (Yo Yos, The Loyalties, Role Models), and the legendary Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe, Jetboy, Jerusalem Slim, Demolition 23, New York Dolls, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, etc.). Now that, my friends, is a power trio! 

It all started with Yaffa inviting Rags to come to his home studio in Mallorca, Spain and record a couple of new tunes he'd been working on. And sure enough, Rags, Maxwell, and Yaffa caught lightning in a bottle. This wasn't just a Rich Ragany solo project — it was a new band! And so here we have "Brand New"/"The Start", released on European Phonographic. By now you ought to know what to expect: powerful, anthemic rock 'n' roll that's full of heart and soul. The lead track is a full-on Rags-style glam/punk/rock 'n' roll sing-along anthem. He's been writing songs like this for years, and it never stops being exciting. And how amazing is it to have Sami freaking Yaffa playing on a song like this? I've got chills! B-side "The Start" is another Rags specialty: a song that starts off sounding gentle and restrained, and then suddenly that chorus hits like a ton of bricks! These are both great songs, and the recording sounds amazing. I can't help visualizing these three guys rocking out in the Spanish countryside with the windows and doors wide open, bringing these songs to life in a way that Rags could never have foreseen. That sounds like the stuff of a future legend! This is likely not the last we'll hear from The Sideshows. For now, crank this debut loud and enjoy!


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Goin' Places - Imperfect


Back with their first new album in four-and-a-half years, Staten Island's finest have delivered the absolutely terrific Imperfect. With their first two albums, Girl Songwriting 101 and Relationship Sneakers, Goin' Places helped define the post-millennial era of underground pop-punk. Then on 2021's Save the World, Richie, Victor, and Frank demonstrated how pop-punk band can grow up but still sound like pop-punk. Out on the home of the hits, Mom's Basement Records, Imperfect finds the trio continuing to live by the motto of "give them what they want, but keep them guessing." 

I can't imagine any Goin' Places fan being disappointed in Imperfect. The album finds the band still leaning on its love of harmonies, songs about girls, and '90s pop-punk by way of early rock 'n' roll. Songs like "Let's Go to the Beach," "Laundry Girl," "The Girl with the Eyes," and "TV Girl" bring a sound that will be familiar and comforting to anyone who has enjoyed the band's previous releases. But at least half this record finds the trio thinking outside the pop-punk box. The melancholy, dramatic pop of "Never Again" is a clean break from punk rock. "The Next Wake" is a genuine ballad and a good one at that. And even some of the songs that still sound fundamentally like Goin' Places find the band taking a surprisingly deep lyrical direction. "In My Mind" is a reflection on mental health struggles and the difficulties of just making it through each day. "The Times" is literally about the utterly messed-up times we live in. "Beautiful" and "Imperfect" are linked songs. One ponders the superficiality of infatuation, while the other examines how real adult love thrives when two people embrace each other's imperfections. "Home Depot Daze" seems like it's going to be a silly song but ends up being a meditation on the never-ending pressures of adulting. 

Every pop-punk band that makes it past an album or two has to figure out a plan for longevity. Do you just keep on doing the same thing and hope that no one gets tired of it? Do you break new ground and hope your fans come along for the ride? That's an even taller order when you've been in the game for a quarter-century. But Goin' Places seem to have found the secret sauce. The band is serving musical comfort food without letting the recipes get stale, mixing in its more serious side without taking away all the fun. Covers of Chuck Berry and Beethoven (see what they did there?) are icing on the cake. While most people think of Goin' Places as "that girl song band," the real heart and soul of its music are those timeless melodies and harmonies which draw from the last 70 years of rock 'n' roll. Save the World left me wanting more from this band, and Imperfect absolutely does the same. Hit up Mom's Basement Records to order an LP or CD! 

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Friday, November 07, 2025

N.E. Vains - Running Down Pylons


Since we're getting to that time of the year where I have to start working on my end-of-the-year best-of lists, first drafts are already underway. I took a leap of faith and saved a spot in my top LPs list for N.E. Vains, trusting that they wouldn't throw me a curveball and make this new record sound like Sugar Ray. I can breathe a sigh of relief: the band's debut long player Running Down Pylons (out on Big Neck Records) is a certified banger and precisely what you would expect from a meeting of the minds involving TJ Cabot, Jeffrey Thunders, and friends. 

The last time I checked, these guys were called The Vains. But because they are decent and reasonable humans, they added the "N.E." to avoid confusion with The Vains from Cincinnati. There may be some mystery as to what the "N.E." stands for. "New England" and "North Eastern" seem like obvious answers, but I haven't ruled out "Nominally Egregious," "Naturally Effervescent," "Notable Errors," "New Earmuffs," "Naval Excellence," and "Not Evil" as additional possibilities. New Haven meeting Moncton sounds like an American Hockey League match-up from 40 years ago, but in the case of N.E. Vains, it's a creative partnership between two of the coolest dudes in punk rock which began a few years ago on the Facebook Budget Rock group (possibly the only music group on Facebook not overridden with obnoxiously pretentious gatekeeping a-holes). Shandy Lawson (lead guitar), Bill Bates (bass) and Elvis Belushi (drums) were enlisted to round out the lineup, and the rest is history. Tragically, Bates passed in 2023. Scott Fitch, a notable New Haven musician and engineer, has ably filled in on the band's subsequent recording sessions. 

Running Down Pylons is, as expected, a fun punk rock record that you should not be legally allowed to play under a volume that would likely annoy anyone within earshot. We can loosely call this "garage punk," but to me, it's just great punk. I'm hearing lots of '70s punk and early '80s hardcore influences, but the overall sound is really unique. This is not just another band trying to be Teengenerate. Whatever quarantine-fueled madness inspired these songs was something akin to genius. 10 of 11 songs clock in at under two minutes, and every single track totally cranks. The thing about a TJ Cabot–fronted record is that you're not just getting run-of-the-mill punk rock lyrics. Instead you can expect lots of amusing, wild, and presumably true stories from the life and mind of this Atlantic Canadian luminary. Favorite tracks for me include the pissed-off opener "Kicked off the VPN," the ferocious title track, the blistering "Pinched Nerve," and the mid-tempo stomper "Six for Thirty Six." But honestly, the whole album kicks ass. 

So here's where I get to the predictable part of my review and say that there aren't enough records like this anymore. But I say it because it's true. This is killer punk rock, plain and simple. If you don't like this, there's something wrong with you. I would say that I would gladly listen to TJ Cabot sing the phone book, but he might be the one person to actually take me up on that. Running Down Pylons is limited to 300 copies, so move fast if you want to be able to say you owned it when pandemic nostalgia is all the rage in five years.

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Sunday, November 02, 2025

Radioactivity - Time Won't Bring Me Down


Well, this is kind of a big deal: Radioactivity, one of the most acclaimed and influential garage/punk/pop bands of a generation, has released its first new album in a decade. Man, did Silent Kill really come out ten years ago? Time flies when you're having fun! Just for context, some of the other big albums of 2015 were The Connection's Labor of Love, Night Birds' Mutiny at Muscle Beach, and Kurt Baker's Play It Cool. How long ago was 2015? It was so long ago that being against fascism was still common sense, not a partisan position. 

I suppose waiting a decade between LPs is a great way to solve the problem of the "difficult third album"! Granted, Time Won't Bring Me Down was recorded over a long period of time. So it's not like Jeff Burke waited ten years to write a new batch of songs. But still, the considerable space between Silent Kill and Time Won't Bring Me Down has allowed for a natural progression in Radioactivity's sound. There are still quite a few songs here that "sound like Radioactivity." The title track, "Watch Me Bleed," "Why," and "One Day" all find Burke (along with bandmates Daniel Fried, Gregory Rutherford, and Mark Ryan) putting on a clinic on how fast, hook-laden punk-pop ought to sound. Burke's musical style has been frequently imitated, and it's nice to be reminded that he's still the master. But at least half of this album is a significant progression from Silent Kill. Songs like "This Time" and "Ignorance Is Bliss" sound like classic Radioactivity but with more pace and breathing room — perhaps less punk-pop and more pure pop. "Analog Ways" and "I Thought" find the band firmly and comfortably in indie pop territory. "Shell," which approaches five minutes in running time, is such an ambitiously intense track that you might find yourself asking what band you're listening to. Album closer "Pain" is a moody, masterfully-crafted slow-burner. 

The appropriately-titled Time Won't Bring Me Down is here to assert that Radioactivity is back with a vengeance and poised to remain a vital force in the contemporary music scene. Far from merely rehashing his past glories, Jeff Burke is still growing and evolving as a songwriter — while still holding on to enough of his signature style to keep everyone happy. This album sets in place a seamless transition from what Radioactivity once was to what Radioactivity will be in the future. This is a genuinely modern punk rock record and a truly masterful effort. For fans of Jeff Burke and Radioactivity, this was absolutely worth the wait.

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Friday, October 31, 2025

The Hellflowers - Teenage Radio


One of my favorite things in music is when bands I like do all-covers releases. To me, going into the studio and laying down a bunch of covers sounds like a super-fun thing to do. And it's a great way to honor important influences or simply celebrate songs you love. Having just become hip to The Hellflowers this year after the release of the band's Deluxe compilation on Rum Bar Records, I had the pleasure of discovering a wealth of new-to-me material all at once. But I must admit I was already craving more, and so the band's new EP Teenage Radio (out on Rum Bar and Missing Fink Records) really hits the spot. The selection of songs here makes it pretty clear why I felt an immediate connection to this band. Any band that covers The Clash, Cock Sparrer, and Ramones on the same record is guaranteed to be up my alley. Remember when you first got into punk rock and couldn't get enough of those bands' records? And of course, decades later, nothing has changed. That, my friends, is what we call timeless music. I love the choice of "Spanish Bombs," one of The Clash's finest pop songs. "Riot Squad" is a great opener for the EP, and "Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight)" can be the first Christmas track you listen to in 2025. Elsewhere, the Zero Boys' "Civilization's Dying" is perhaps the definitive example of what hardcore was when it still sounded like rock 'n' roll. Elastica's "Stutter" takes me back to the heyday of the new wave of new wave. "Slippin' And Slidin'" honors the true king of rock 'n' roll, Mr. Little Richard.

These are wonderful, inspired versions of truly classic songs. Christina, Matt, and company give these songs that distinct Hellflowers touch, but they don't really mess around trying to perfect what's already perfect. You know and love these songs, and so do The Hellflowers. Teenage Radio might bring to mind your own teenage radio moments. For me, this is like re-living the awesome mixed tapes of my 20s. If you're already a Hellflowers fan, you'll love this EP. And if you're just now meeting this band, go check out Deluxe as soon as possible!

-L.R.   

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The Prozacs - No Way Out


Still going strong after a quarter century, The Prozacs return today with the four-song EP No Way Out, their first new music in more than two years. While Jay, through countless iterations of this band, has played a vital role in keeping the pop-punk flame burning throughout this century, No Way Out takes a slightly different direction. These songs find Jay (along with Jimmy Craig, Greg Russian, and Matthew Gorr) tearing into some straight-up fast-and-furious kick-ass punk rock. If you like old school '80s/'90s West Coast melodic punk and skate-punk, these tunes ought to hit you just the way you like it. The liner notes promise "energy, sarcasm and angst," and that is definitely truth in advertising. Jay would probably be the first person to tell you that he's twice the lyricist he was 20 years ago, and that really comes through here. He has some serious things to say about life and the world, and the energy he and the whole band put into these tunes is something you are sure to feel the instant you push play. My thought when first hearing this EP was that there just isn't enough music like this anymore. The sound is melodic without necessarily being "pop," and I can't listen to these songs without imagining a bunch of folks going nuts in the pit. Punk music always excites me the most when I can feel a band putting all its heart, soul, and guts into every note, and that's the sort of urgency I'm getting here. The Prozacs aren't getting older — they're getting better.

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Sunday, October 26, 2025

The Bacarrudas - ..... Play A Halloween Monster House Party


Now here's my kind of horror vibe! Philly's always fabulous The Bacarrudas have treated us to a an epic frat rock Halloween party soundtrack on their new album/double EP that's fully titled The Bacarrudas Bleed Out, Get Pushed off a Cliff, Sink to the Bottom of a Lake, and Play a Halloween Monster House Party! I've always loved the idea of a bunch of monsters throwing a house party for Halloween, and The Bacarrudas are here to show us what that would sound like. In attendance are Lady Frankenstein, The Phantom Creep, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, Dracula, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Mummy, and a black cat behind every door. Imagine that scene! 

This is the way I like my spooky sounds: with the wild and infectious energy of '60s garage, R & B, punk, and surf rock. If you're gonna bleed out, get pushed to the bottom of a cliff, sink to the bottom of a lake, and play a monster house party, this is exactly the kind of energy you would put into your performance! Is it possible to sound creepy and high-spirited at the same time? Well, it seems The Bacarrudas are showing us exactly how it's done! These tunes will have you shaking your ass and screaming in delight, and you'll quickly conjure up the nerve to mingle with the monsters so you can get closer to the stage. Just make sure that the bartender doesn't over-serve Frankenstein's monster! When it comes to this style of music, The Bacarrudas always pull if off with a gusto that can't be denied. They're not just playing frat rock — they're living it. If more fun music exists in this universe, I have yet to hear it......Play A Halloween Monster House Party is available now from Mom's Basement Records. If you have kids, I would imagine that they would go bonkers for this album. But then you'd always be stealing it to listen to it yourself. Here's an easy solution: buy two copies!

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The High Frequencies - self titled


Wow! The queen of power pop is back with an amazing new band, and of course the debut album is out of this world! Out on JEM Records, the self-titled debut from The High Frequencies is a sure bet to make my year-end top ten list. Lisa Mychols and her husband, Tom Richards (formerly of The Waking Hours), moved to Virginia in 2023. They soon got together with Tom's brother, Scott, and Ricky Tubb (both of whom were also in The Waking Hours) and formed The High Frequencies. If you dig great power pop that genuinely rocks, with touches of punk, new wave, and arena rock, this is a band you won't want to miss. Mychols (The Masticators, The Seven and Six, Lisa Mychols 3, The Checkered Hearts, NUSHU, Lisa Mychols & Super 8) is truly one of the most extraordinary pop vocalists out there, and she is prime form on this 12-track long player. This album offers up a great variety of songs, but the common thread are those infectious hooks, punchy guitars, and soaring harmonies. Fans of straight-up power pop will go crazy for the likes of "Tonight And Every Night," "See You Again," and "Cleanup Time." Elsewhere, the band kicks up a modern garage rockin' energy on "Eleven," "Parasite," and "Can You Hear Me." JEM president Marty Scott describes "Girl In Trouble" as "Motown power pop," and I'd say that hits the nail on the head. I heard "Strataplastic" and thought I'd been transported back to the glory days of '90s alt-rock. "Nexus Star" is the sort of gorgeous pop song you hope to hear on any album featuring Lisa Mychols. 

On their debut album, The High Frequencies manage the impressive feat of sounding both timeless and contemporary. As much as I hate to resort to clichés, I can't help but describe this band as a breath of fresh air in the power pop scene. From songwriting to vocals to musicianship to production, everything about this album is top quality. The High Frequencies are the real deal, and people are gonna be going nuts for this album. JEM Records does it again!

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Ricky Rochelle - "Until I Fell in Love With You"


Ricky Rochelle continues to be on fire. Fresh off his superb new album Second Layer, he's back with a new single that gives me all the feels. As the title suggests, "Until I Fell in Love With You" is a love song with a very positive sentiment. But what's notable is that all that positivity has its roots in darkness and despair. This song isn't just a love letter to Ricky's wife. It's also a reflection on the bad spot he was in before he met her. He sings about being directionless, broken, and seemingly without hope. And then, just like that, everything changed. There was light and promise and healing and purpose. This song, in very simple terms, celebrates that. It gives me chills because it takes me back to where I was 18 years ago at this very time of the year. I always thank myself for pushing through that rough patch when the light at the end of the tunnel was so hard to see. This song would not have sounded out of place on Second Layer, but I really like it as a stand-alone single. And it's a treat to have some bonus Ricky Rochelle music! Musically, it's very much a pop-punk song, but it also brings to mind early 2000s modern rock via '80s new wave (I'm reminded a little of the Blink-182 self-titled album). Billy Pfister, who plays guitar, bass, and keyboards on this track, was also the producer, and his work on this track is just stunning. Ricky's vocal is also tremendous; you can truly feel the words he's singing. I always like a song that sounds like it could be playing over the closing credits of a movie that you never want to end, and this really hits that mark. What a beautiful and moving single! 

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Friday, October 24, 2025

The 66ers - Have More Fun


Now we're cooking with gas! The 66ers are a pop-punk and punk rock all-star team playing '60s-style garage, surf, and bubblegum pop. The band's songwriter Steven Brookfield (The 99ers) is on guitar and vocals. Joe freaking Queer is also on guitar and vocals. Amy Heronemus (TA-80) is on bass and vocals. Ron "Pete Sake" Mullens (Rubber City Rebels) is on keyboards. Andy Wilson (Billy Batts and the Made Men) is on drums. You see a roster of talent like that and can't help but think, "Holy shit!" And the music is everything you would expect it to be. Out on Rum Bar Records, Have More Fun is the band's debut album. This is definitely a case where the title says it all. This is a fun record and a throwback to one of the greatest eras in the history of rock 'n' roll. Rather than sounding like the Ramones, The 66ers sound like all the bands that influenced the Ramones. Think upbeat, organ-driven tunes with lyrics bout girls, summertime, the sun, and surfing. And I love how those call-and-response lead vocals contribute to the party atmosphere. These songs really capture the unbridled joy and wild-eyed innocence of the teenage pop of yesteryear. If you grew up listening to the oldies stations or were already around in the mid-to-late '60s, you're gonna be feeling what The 66ers are dealing. 

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Vista Blue - "I Didn't Get Invited to the Halloween Party"

When it comes to both music and beer, I am all about the seasonal releases! So this will not be the last review of a Halloween-themed release I write this year. I've always thought of the fall as "Vista Blue season." And even though I'm not a big horror movie guy, I consider this band's annual Halloween releases to be an indispensable tradition in my life. If Vista Blue ever ceased to exist, they might as well cancel Halloween and Christmas. The new single "I Didn't Get Invited to the Halloween Party" is an absolute winner. First of all, how insane is that cover art? That's a party you would not want to miss! I appreciate that this is both a song about Halloween and a love song. Musically, this is hitting me just where I want it. It's punky power pop with old school rock 'n' roll harmonies, and it tells a relatable story. Who wouldn't be bummed about not getting invited to the Halloween party? That's a party that even I would attend! Mike and Mark really crushed it with this track. It's another hit from a band that someday may surpass Pete Rose. Exclusive to Bandcamp, the virtual B-side is a cover of "This Is the Night" from the 1985 animated special Garfield's Halloween Adventure. What's not to love? If you stock up on candy and buy this single, you've got your own Halloween party ready to go!

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Thursday, October 23, 2025

The Dahlmanns - "Leatherboys"

What a glorious day it is: we have new music from The Dahlmanns! This is, of course, one of my favorite bands. The "Leatherboys" 7" is the first new release from Line and Andre since May of last year and the first single from their forthcoming album Life in Reverse (due out next year). The narrative around this single and album will likely be that this is not the same old Dahlmanns. Having been pretty much the quintessential power pop group for most of the 2010s, The Dahlmanns are now broadening their musical influences. The new album will be a reflection of everything they've listened to from their teen years to the present day and will thus be quite different from what people might be expecting. But if "Leatherboys" is any indication, that's not going to be a bad thing at all. And given how many cover songs The Dahlmanns have done, we're already used to the band tackling more than just power pop by the book. 

"Leatherboys" finds Line and Andre leaning into their love of old school punk and proto punk and the old Detroit sound in particular. Nods to The Stooges and Alice Cooper are more than palpable, and there's also a touch of the Rolling Stones in the mix as well. The lyrics were inspired by the images of the erotic artist Tom of Finland. So yeah, this is something new from The Dahlmanns. But ultimately, it still sounds like The Dahlmanns. Even when they take things in a harder and darker direction, they still turn out massively infectious hooks and bring the kind of energy that will make you want to dance. That pop heart of theirs will always be there. The B-side, exclusive to this single, is a cover of Prince's classic "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man." Line was a huge Prince fan in her early teen years, and she and Andre do an amazing rendition here of one his best pure pop songs. This track is certainly more "vintage" Dahlmanns than the A-side, but I must say I love both tracks. 

I'm excited to hear what this next iteration of The Dahlmanns will sound like. It has been over 15 years since the band first debuted, so it's only logical to expect a musical progression at this point. Meanwhile, their talent and charm are as remarkable as ever. "Leatherboys" is out on Plato Utrecht Records. It's available from Platomania (NL), Sonic Rendevouz (NL), Soundflat (GER), Sugar and Spice (FR), and Munster Records (SP). No Dahlmanns fan will be disappointed!

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Sunday, October 19, 2025

The Let Down - Awake


Life has been crazy lately, and there have been things I've been meaning to write about that keep getting put off. When it comes to the new EP from Austin, Texas's The Let Down, the putting off ends today. To employ a baseball metaphor, Awake is a fastball blazing right over the plate of my musical taste. This band's style of classic power pop with a whole lot of power is absolutely my cup of tea. All four of these songs are A-side–worthy, and I think any power pop fan will be jazzed about this EP. The Let Down was formed by longtime friends Evan Charles (vocals, guitar) and Chris Ritchie (vocals, bass). The band is rounded out by Z Lynch (guitar, backing vocals) and Jordan Cook (drums). These are great melodic songs with punchy guitars and catchy leads, and I am very excited to hear more. A very promising debut!

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Satch Kerans Band - Gotta Be Better (Five Short Stories)


Given that short stories and great pop songs are two of my favorite things in life, I was intrigued by the latest EP from the Satch Kerans Band. Satch Kerans is a veteran Boston-based singer/songwriter who likes to write songs that tell stories. But he's not the typical singer/songwriter strumming an acoustic guitar and stripping everything down to just words and music. Backed by his band (George Hall on lead guitar, Jamie Griffith on bass, and Roger Brockelbank on drums), Kerans presents his stories as full-blown rock songs with pop hooks. Produced by the legendary David Minehan, Gotta Be Better (Five Short Stories) occupies a unique space in today's music scene. It brings together elements of Boston garage rock, melodic pop-rock, folk, and heartland rock in a way that's genuinely original. Kerans has a distinctive singing voice that I very much enjoy, and I love the idea that rock and roll can be literature (and vice versa). And the stories are quite compelling. "Gotta Be Better" is a true story about a time Kerans got arrested on the way home from a Red Sox game back in the late '80s — and the lessons he learned from that experience. "Do Ya" is a remembrance of late nights on the North Shore — you know, that window of time "when nothing good happens." Elsewhere, "Helen of Troy (New York)" and "Wearing His Pain" are portraits of strong women who overcome tough circumstances. "Those Lies" is a reflection on the consequences of telling lies. Spoiler alert: it doesn't end well! 

Musically, this EP covers a nice range of styles. "Gotta Be Better" and "Helen of Troy (New York)" sound a little like Tom Petty if he'd been from Boston. "Do Ya" brings to mind '70s Stones. "Those Lies" is old school '60s garage rock a la Boston's own The Remains. "Wearing His Pain," the EP's lone ballad, ought to hit a sweet spot for Replacements fans. Of course the lyrics are tremendous. Kerans is a gifted lyricist who successfully mixes deeply personal reflections with vivid character sketches. But the music is no afterthought, and these songs genuinely rock. If you dig quality songwriting and storytelling and enjoy good, solid American rock 'n' roll, you will find much to like in the Satch Kerans Band and this excellent new EP.

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Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin/The False Positives - "Caveman"/"A Rocket Ship to You"

This is my fifth review of a split single involving Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin. The band's new collaboration with Boston's The False Positives is far and away my favorite installment in the series to date, and I've been a big fan of all of them. So yeah, this one is especially great! 

By now, you know the drill: Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin get together with one of their favorite bands or artists, and they each record one of the other's songs. The False Positives are a band I've been following since the pandemic days. They have an old school East Coast garage rock sound that pairs perfectly with Moss's '70s glam-punk approach. What I like about this split is that both bands absolutely bring it with their performances. And they each chose one of the other's finest songs! If you want to hear Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin and The False Positives at their absolute best, you need to check out this single. The False Positives cover "A Rocket Ship to You" off of Moss's 2022 album NOW WITH MORE ROCKETS. In contrast to the anthemic old school punk feel of the original, The False Positives' version brings a rawer and more fiery garage rock energy. Dave and his band honor the spirit of the original, but they definitely make the song their own and even inject a little Stooges flair. As a fan of fun, filthy rock 'n' roll, I must say this track really hits a sweet spot for me. This is the most powerful and fierce The False Positives have ever sounded on tape! 

On their half of the split, Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin tear into "Caveman," a fantastic song which appears on The False Positives' 2022 album Demos. Clive Wright (Broken English, Cock Robin) is featured on lead guitar, and he tears it up. I love that Moss and his band glammed up this Boston-style garage rock banger. They also added some amazing new lyrics and came up with a new outro. Moss is always such a presence on vocals, and he's in top form here. I'm talking charisma for days! If you had never heard of either of these bands before, hearing this song would make you an instant fan of both. What a killer track! 

If you haven't kept up with all these split singles from Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, you are seriously missing out. Start with this one!

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Saturday, October 18, 2025

Cindy Lawson - "The Reckoning"


The great Cindy Lawson is bringing the heat! Back with her first new release since 2023's Don't Come Crying To Me EP, the Minneapolis rock legend makes her Hygh Tension Records debut with the powerful single "The Reckoning." Backed by her usual band (Jerry Lefkowitz on guitar, Dave Randall on bass, and Mark Devaraj on drums), Lawson is in full old school punk rock mode on this storming track. This is a song with a message, and it comes through loud and clear. "This song is for anyone who's been burned, betrayed, and silenced,” says Lawson. "It's that universal satisfaction when someone evil finally gets taken down. And for me, it's not just about them—it's about reclaiming the part of myself they tried to destroy." One gets the sense that this song is very personal for Lawson, and she sings the hell out of it. Her voice has never sounded better, and the passion she puts into this track will just about give you chills. When she screams, "Karma's a bitch, but so am I!", I can imagine a million formerly silenced voices erupting in deafening exultation. At a moment in the world where it feels like evil is winning, this song is an urgent ray of hope. Sooner or later, the reckoning comes.

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Vista Blue - The Shift Is Dead


Mike Patton loves baseball, and he loves The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths. And because he loves doing dumb things, he decided to make a baseball-themed EP with song titles derived from The Queen Is Dead. And so now we have The Shift Is Dead, the latest EP from Vista Blue. I approve of this message. It's hard to deny that The Queen Is Dead is one of the greatest albums ever made. The likelihood that Morrissey would be appalled by this release is icing on the cake. Indeed, the shift is dead. I just wish they'd killed it before it ended Ryan Howard's career. 

In addition to the title track, the songs on this EP include "Frankly, Mr. Manfred," "Never Had No Salary Cap Ever," "Bigmouth Strikes Out Again," "The Boy With the Motorola Patch on His Side," and "Some Bats Are Bigger Than Others." As far as I'm concerned, this is just about the most hilarious thing ever. The specific group of people who are super-fans of both The Smiths and American baseball (and would thus get the jokes) is a very exclusive club, but that's what makes this so fun. Even Mick Fletcher, who probably doesn't get all the jokes, is raving about this release from across the pond. There may literally be over 100,000 new songs getting released every day in this modern musical landscape, but these are the first six in history to make baseball puns out of Smiths song titles. As far as doing dumb things goes, this is genius-level stuff from Mike and Mark. 

The title track is vintage Vista Blue: a pop-punk song leaning a little more pop than punk. I love that this song is about baseball but not really about baseball. It has a charm that brings to mind the Mr. T. Experience. More in a straight-forward pop-punk vein, "Frankly, Mr. Manfred" finds Mike appealing to The Commissioner of Baseball for a redress of his grievances concerning the "automatic runner" rule in extra innings. I think we can all agree that this is the stupidest rule in the history of professional sports, and I certainly hope Mr. Manfred is listening. Clocking in at just 16 seconds, "Never Had No Salary Cap Ever" makes in a point in a hurry by hilariously repeating the refrain "Hey Dodgers! Defer This!" I would expect nothing less from the band that gave us the classic song "Hey, Bruce Springsteen, What's a Speedball?" "Bigmouth Strikes Out Again" has a great title to live up to and does not disappoint. Chicago Cubs fans are sure to enjoy the pure pop goodness of "The Boy With the Motorola Patch on His Side." "Some Bats Are Bigger Than Others" is a reminder of why I love this band so much. At a time when so many pop-punk bands are writing songs for 40-year-olds, Vista Blue excels at writing songs for eight-year-olds. When it comes to mixing fun, education, and simplicity, this song is about as good as it gets. I will never tire of Vista Blue writing songs about baseball bats. 

Even if I make a minor deduction for not including a song referencing the greatest Smiths song of all-time, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out," I have to give The Shift Is Dead an "A." It possesses the same degree of musical variety that has made Vista Blue's Clear Eyes, Full Hearts one of my favorite albums of the year. And as I prepare to hate-watch the Dodgers in the World Series, the timing of this release could not be any better. This is a delightful little EP for fans of Vista Blue, The Smiths, baseball, and possibly all three. Now excuse me while I go cry in my Festbier over the realization that Kyle Schwarber may have played his last game as a Philadelphia Phillie. 

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Sunday, October 12, 2025

Ryan Allen - One Week Off

Ryan Allen has given us his own version of one of those "How I spent my summer vacation" essays. One Week Off, his second album of 2025, is the the fruit of an August staycation. In that one week, he literally made a record all by himself. He sat down with some songs he'd demoed in the past, found a whole bunch of them that worked as a single album, and created this gem of a power pop record. These songs are mostly from 2021-22. A few are from 2024, and one is brand new. But One Week Off doesn't come off like a collection of leftovers. This is genuinely one of Allen's best albums, and it's definitely the hardest he has ever rocked as a solo artist. 

What kind of talent do you have to have the luxury to write songs this good and then put them on the shelf? But it's not just about talent — it's also about work ethic. Ryan Allen writes a lot of songs. And when you're that prolific, you're bound to have some gems that you can save for a rainy day (or a week off from work). He intended this to be an "upbeat, no-frills, punch-you-in-the-face rock record," and that's precisely what it is. His last album, Livin’ On The Prayer On The Edge, was all over the place by design. One Week Off is a little more focused on that power pop by way of '90s indie rock with a touch melodic punk style that is Allen's forte. If you enjoyed his 2016 album Basement Punk, you're gonna be into this one as well. Allen played everything on this record and produced it at home on a Digital Audio Workstation. Then he had Paul Miner work his mixing and mastering magic and make it sound like a million bucks. It's crazy to think that songs like "Bloody Gums" and "Simple Pleasures" went unrecorded and unreleased for so long. If "Sick of Content," "Do It All Again," and "When Is Everybody Gonna Step?" aren't anthems for these times, I don't know what is. 

When I hear about an artist putting out two albums in a year, that means one of two things to me. Either you're contracted to a soulless major label in the late '70s, or you're making music for the sheer love of it. In the case of One Week Off, we know which one it is. Be sure not to miss Allen's recent contribution to the Is It Power Pop?! series over at Remember the Lightning! 

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Brad Marino - "Voodoo"


It's no secret that Brad Marino is one of my favorite musical artists. I recently reviewed him for the 25th time, and it's not out of the question that I'll review him 25 more times (at least!). He's back with a new vinyl single out on the German label LIGHTHOUSE Punkrock. "Voodoo" is the first song from Marino's next album Agent of Chaos, which will be out next spring. Joining Marino on this track are the secret weapon Bobby Davis on bass, the great Gene Champagne on drums, and the legend Ron Mullens on keyboards. Now that's one heck of a band! This is one of the most straight-forward power pop songs that Marino has ever written, and of course it's a hit! Marino is always so good about writing about doomed romantic relationships, and on this track he employs some seasonally appropriate horror metaphors to emphasize the extent of the doom. This is a rockin' and super-catchy tune with wonderfully clever lyrics. Without ever straying too far from his signature musical style, Marino manages to never disappoint. That is certainly the case with "Voodoo." One listen to this song is all it takes to know that the album is gonna be hot! The B-side, exclusive to this single, is a cover of one of the best Jesus and Mary Chain songs, "Between Planets." It's in many ways faithful to the original, but for sure it has been Marino-fied. Come on, man: it's a new Brad Marino single! You know you need it!

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Tuesday, October 07, 2025

Video Premiere: Moron's Morons - "Neon to Rust"


Warsaw's Moron's Morons are back with a brand-new single/video, and it is my pleasure to premiere it! With releases on labels like No Front Teeth, Slovenly, Wanda, Sweet Time, and Big Neck Records, this band has become a fixture in the modern day garage punk rock 'n' roll scene. The new song is called "Neon to Rust," and Tremendo Garaje is hosting the video on its world-famous YouTube channel. In the band's own words, "Neon to Rust" is "a punk anthem that tears into the hollow luxuries of privilege and the gradual deterioration of a risk-free existence." Well I can certainly get into that! You'll notice a new lead singer, but it's the same style of music you've come to expect from Moron's Morons: ferocious & filthy '70s-style punk with a dark, dangerous edge. The video is quite intriguing and seems to fit the music perfectly. Moron's Morons will soon be working on a new album and may have an EP in the works as well. For now, crush that play button and enjoy "Neon to Rust" in all its raging glory!

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Saturday, October 04, 2025

The Vibeke Saugestad Band - The Sun Sessions


Well here it is! When The Vibeke Saugestad Band released its summertime smash "Hey Now Sunshine" a few months back, a full EP was promised for the fall. A co-release between Rum Bar Records and (from my neck of the woods) Red Chuck Records, The Sun Sessions marks Vibeke Saugestad's long-awaited return as a songwriter and recording artist. 

The queen of Norwegian power pop, Saugestad was in the band Weld back in the mid '90s and had several solo releases in the early 2000s. She also spent time in The Twistaroos and The Yum Yums. After marrying Ken Fox (The Fleshtones) and moving to the States, she eventually put together a new band and began performing her old solo songs. Fortunately for all of us, she was soon inspired to start writing again. So here we are with her first original songs in well over a decade. Ably backed by her terrific band (Fox on bass, Adam Napell on drums, Josh Stark on guitar, and Mark Westin on guitar), Saugestad makes pop magic on this four-song EP. Her voice has never sounded more beautiful, and her maturity as a songwriter is undeniable. Of course "Hey Now Sunshine" was too great of a song to not own on vinyl or CD. This track is majestically bittersweet power pop by way of later '60s Kinks, and it's a perfect opener for this decidedly autumnal EP. "Another Light" is a cover of The Lisa Marr Experiment's classic; Saugestad truly makes it her own with an absolutely stunning vocal. "2nd Ave" is equal parts country twang & pop jangle — a testament to Saugestad's ability to write a song that's simultaneously sprightly and melancholy. The wistful ballad "Last Days of Summer" brings to mind '60s folk rock and sunshine pop. It's a gorgeous little song that will wash over you like a warm October breeze. 

This is quite the auspicious debut for a band that's sure to be a force to be reckoned within the indie pop scene going forward. The playing and production are exquisite, and there's just no questioning that Vibeke Saugestad is an incredible singer and formidable songwriter. We are blessed to have her back in the game. I expect this EP to be frequently mentioned when all the power pop sites start publishing their 2025 best-of lists. It will surely be high on my list!

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