Monday, December 15, 2025

The Control Freaks - TV Generation


Here's what you were waiting for, kids! Back with their fourth album, The Control Freaks do what The Control Freaks do best. I couldn't quite put my finger on why I enjoy this band so much until Greg Lowery himself described the music he writes as "fast, catchy, stupid punk rock." YES! That's it! TV Generation, out today on Sweet Time Records, is 12 tracks of fast, catchy, stupid punk rock done to perfection. To me, there's nothing harder to do in music than write simple songs. So the genius of Greg Lowery should not go unappreciated. If you liked the first three Control Freaks album, you are sure to like this one as well. And if you didn't like the first three Control Freaks albums, there's almost no way you're reading this right now. 

It has occurred to me that today's punk rock scene would be far better off if there were more bands out there still ripping off Greg Lowery. But in the absence of that, at least we can count on Greg Lowery to still sound like Greg Lowery. For TV Generation, the band lineup has changed. Amy Munoz returns on rhythm guitar and vocals. Matt K. Shrugg (Zodiac Killers, Losin' Streaks) is on lead guitar. New drummer totally Mike kills it, but you might not want to get too attached to him since he has already left the band. As for the album, you know what to expect. Every song clocks in somewhere around two minutes, and there's no messing around with a winning formula. This is fun and brilliantly dumb three-chord punk rock with a fuck-you attitude and songs that will have you bobbing your head and singing along. With the opening 1-2 punch of "Burn It Down" and "TV Generation," you are quickly assured that the G.O.A.T.'s magic touch remains fully in tact. No aspirations of modernization or maturity are apparent. Songs like "Pathetic," "Panic Attack," "Please Don't Hate Me," and "You're So Revolting" live up to their promising titles. 

Leave it to Sweet Time Records, which has become THE label for primo garage punk in the 2020s, to have the good sense to put out this record. Is this the best Control Freaks album yet? Well I certainly won't say that it's not! The first 100 copies are on neon green vinyl. And in case you've been living in a cave since 2017 and don't own any of The Control Freaks' albums, you can get all four in a very limited edition box set for just 80 bucks. Now that's a deal and a steal!

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Sunday, December 14, 2025

Matthew Julian - The Wayside (songs that fell)


For the first time since 2023, Matt Julian from The Speedways has chosen to share some of his private demo recordings with the world. As many songwriters do, Julian keeps a folder of rough or unfinished demos of songs that were never properly recorded and perhaps never will be. As a creative person, you sometimes have to explore all your idea ideas and see what works and what doesn't. The Wayside (songs that fell) is the title of Julian's latest collection of demos. These are songs that literally fell by the wayside. While these recordings were never intended for outside ears, there must have been something promising in each track that compelled Julian to let the world hear them. As a massive Speedways fan, I really enjoy hearing demo recordings of songs that didn't quite become Speedways songs but probably could have. Four of these songs were written this year, and one ("Best Friend") has been around forever. It might be fun to guess which of these songs (if any) got the closest to being properly recorded. I'm quite fond of "A Leg to Stand On," which is jangly and rainy-day melancholy in that distinctive Matt Speedway manner. I hear a little Buddy Holly shining through in "She Likes to Dance." With a proper recording budget and full band, "Nothing I Understand" could almost be a Def Leppard power ballad. "Bodies of Lovers" finds Julian in rare form lyrically. And certainly there has to be a reason why "Best Friend" has been rescued from the dustbin of history. 

The next Speedways LP has been written and should be completed at some point next year. By the time it's released, we will have waited nearly four years in between albums. So we've got something big to look forward to in 2026. In the meantime, The Wayside is well-worth £3 and 12 minutes of your time.  "____ is so talented that they piss away better songs than most people will ever write" is the joke we sometimes make about certain songwriters. Perhaps that's no joke at all.

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Saturday, December 13, 2025

Perfect Buzz - Happy Trails


From Portland, Oregon — one of the greatest music scenes in the universe — we are now introduced to the aptly named Perfect Buzz. Perfect Buzz are Petey, Luke, and Wes. Petey was in Pure Country Gold and the Suicide Notes, so the pedigree is undeniable. With Perfect Buzz, he has crafted a unique sound that fits nicely into the Pacific Midwest garage rock lane but also incorporates elements of first wave punk, power pop, post-punk, and the louder side of '90s alt-rock. Happy Trails, the trio's new EP, ought to appeal to readers of this publication without necessarily sounding like other bands I review. These tunes definitely put the rock in indie rock with heavy guitars, slamming drums, and aggressive but melodic vocals. Whatever's in the air in the Pacific Northwest is deeply embedded in this band's musical DNA. "Mess Around" and "You're Wrong" open this record with a formidable 1-2 punch of sonic thunder. "Here Come the Cowgirls" is excellent tuneful garage rock. The post-punk influence is more apparent on "Gonna Make You Sweat," but the song still rocks hard enough to peel the paint off the walls. In a good way, my reaction to hearing any of these songs would be, "Did this come out in 1993?" This is super-cool stuff that's well worth a listen. A physical release on 10-inch vinyl is coming early in the new year!

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The Lemon Drop Gang - "My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own!" b/w "Wine Song"


There's nothing I like more than a nice surprise, and a brand-new single from the mighty Lemon Drop Gang seemingly released out of the blue on the one-and-only Rum Bar Records certainly qualifies as such! Since I've been so willing to die on the hill of The Lemon Drop Gang being perhaps the best band on the entire Rum Bar roster, I had to hope that Steph, Johnny, and friends weren't going to take a musical left turn and suddenly start sounding like Blues Traveler or something. So I'm thrilled to report that the new single, "My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own!" b/w "Wine Song" (or Mind and Wine for short) is 100% vintage Lemon Drop Gang. The band remains in its signature lane of punk-influenced, endearingly odd desert garage pop for hopeless romantics or the just plain hopeless. And as you'd expect from a band that has concentrated on releasing music in the singles format, the quality of the songs is as stellar as ever. 

"My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own!" is one of the band's most wildly rocking tunes: think early Kinks meets class of 1966 American garage rock with a pinch of that Lemon Drop Gang secret sauce. Who can't relate to the sentiment of this song? Sometimes we think we're controlling our brains, but really our brains are controlling us. Is this the stuff of science fiction or just an honest reflection of the human condition? You be the judge! This is an A-1, five-star Steph O'Halloran vocal performance as she manages to pull us all into the depths of madness. And the band is right there with her, kicking up a righteous racket that will have you dancing all the way to the edge and beyond. What an absolute stomper this song is! On the virtual B-side, "Wine Song" infuses the band's deliciously dark pop sound with old school music hall vibes. This is the band's most sincere love ballad to date — an ode to a glorious, venerable beverage and its numerous magical powers. Remember when singles were always two songs? The Lemon Drop Gang still abides by that. Remember when B-sides were usually filler? The Lemon Drop Gang does not subscribe to such nonsense. If they're going to go to the trouble to release a single, you better be emotionally prepared for two hits! 

By my count, Mind and Wine is The Lemon Drop Gang's fifth single in the last three years, and the band's hot streak remains very much in tact. With this latest offering, the band is kicking on all cylinders, and both tracks are out of this world. To say I'm not disappointed would be an understatement. I was expecting a ten out of ten, and they found a way to take it to eleven. If a better way to spend $2 exists, I sure haven't heard of it!

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Sunday, December 07, 2025

Dimmicks - self-titled EP


Dimmicks from Toulouse, France are here with a debut release that practically defines perfect pop-punk music. There's little else that needs to be said about this EP. This is the way this type of music ought to be played. These songs are catchy as hell yet hit plenty hard, and they're the epitome of high-spirited sing-along fun. If three-chord tunes chock full of peppy harmonies, cool pop culture references (these folks really like Quentin Tarantino movies!), stick-in-your-head melodies, and super-tasty guitar hooks sound like your cup of tea, Dimmicks are absolutely the band for you. I just love this band's energy, and all six of these tracks are stone-cold earworms. Anyone looking for some infectious pop-punk that totally rocks will want to turn their attention to southern France!

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Lesser Creatures - "People Suck!"


"People Suck!", the feelgood new hit from Lesser Creatures, is not quite the bitter pill you might be expecting. If you were thinking this was going to be Nick ranting maniacally for 100 seconds about how awful and unendurable humans are, well, that's not quite what we have here. The song is more about the wisdom of accepting that people suck and not allowing yourself to get too worked up about it. Expect people to be jerks and go on with your day (as the faux-Latin phrase says, Nolite te bastardes carborundorum). It's hard not be reminded of Wiggle/My Brain Hurts era thinking man's Screeching Weasel with a spicy side of The Vindictives. That description would have had 23-year-old me sprinting to the record store. Maybe some of you will be sprinting to the streaming sites. The icing on the cake is that Amy and Jamin from the very awesome TA-80 appear on backing vocals and bring their usual "turn everything into a party" energy. The fact sheet tells me that I have not reviewed Lesser Creatures in a year-and-a-half, so this is kind of a big deal. People may suck, but this song certainly doesn't.

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Saturday, December 06, 2025

Reader Top Tens 2025: First Call!


Well, here we are well into the final month of 2025! As I did last year, I plan to post reader top ten lists on December 30th, the penultimate day of the year. It's fun to get some outside perspectives on the music that came out during the year. So I'm asking you, if you're so inclined, to contribute a list. I figured I would make the first call now to give people time to think about their selections. You can certainly wait until the last minute if you want. Again, the format is up to you. You can list your top ten favorite albums of the year, your top ten favorite tracks of the year, your top ten favorite releases of the year, or anything else that suits your fancy. Once you have completed your list, you can submit it to me in either of the following ways:

You can also message me directly if you're friends with me on Facebook. 

Thanks!

-L.R.

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Friends of Cesar Romero - Cars, Guitars, Girls

I was just thinking how this has been a great year for singles and albums, but I could go for a couple more ace EPs before we close the door on 2025. Right on cue, we get a new EP from one of my favorites, Friends of Cesar Romero. J. Waylon Porcupine is one of the greatest songwriters in the contemporary underground/indie/whatever-you-wanna-call-it music universe. And every time he releases something new from FOCR, it's always a bit of surprise. He can pull off everything from garage rock to power pop to punk rock to classic pop rock 'n' roll to pop-punk to low-fi indie stuff, and he does it all equally well. And ultimately, it always sounds like him. We are blessed to be living in the time of Friends of Cesar Romero, and the Doomed Babe Series ought to go down as a milestone in music history. 

Cars, Guitars, Girls is installment #47.5 in the series, and it ought to be received warmly by regular readers of this blog. J. Waylon was definitely in a power pop state of mind when he made this EP, and I'm sure not complaining. "Pro Yearner" is big crunchy power pop with typically fantastic lyrics. Perhaps this babe isn't doomed, but any fella who falls under her spell certainly will be! "Nine Pound Hamer®" falls in that sweet spot where the line between power pop and pop-punk is blurred, and again the theme is heartbreak with a side of despair. "Just another fur coat suicide in a Cadillac" is certainly one of the best lines of the year. "Headlight Queen" is 73 seconds of perfect power pop with lyrics that twist the usual moral of the story in FOCR song. Our protagonist knows it can never end well with the object of his desire, so he's freeing her to go torture some other poor sap. My god, this guy is a genius. 47 1/2 installments into singing about doomed romance, and he's not even beginning to run out of inspiration! 

As is typically the case with Friends of Cesar Romero releases, Cars, Guitars, Girls is a free download for a limited time only. And if you like what you hear, the purchase of the complete discography on Bandcamp is the best $100 you'll spend all year!

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Beatnik Termites/The Putz - split 12"


A limited-edition split 12" involving Midwestern powerhouses the Beatnik Termites and The Putz certainly grabbed my attention in a very big way. The Putz is one of my favorite current-day pop-punk bands. The Beatnik Termites are legends in their own right and certainly one of the biggest influences on the "oldies-core" sub-genre of pop-punk that I am quite fond of. This split, out on Mom's Basement Records and the Italian label I Buy Records, is, in fact, an oldies-core fan's dream. The two bands team up to cover some of their favorite songs from the golden age of rock 'n' roll — mostly from that post-'50s, pre–Beatlemania period of the early 1960s. This record goes for a very particular vibe. Think soda shops, drive-ins, jukeboxes, hot rods, leather jackets, and pretty girls in poodle skirts. And musically, this is a great tribute to the harmony-laden radio hits that were so foundational for pop-punk music. 

On this record, the Beatnik Termites and The Putz transport you back to the time of Brill Building pop, teen idols, surf rock, Motown, and the early British Invasion. The Beatnik Termites tackle Neil Sedaka's classic "Next Door to an Angel" (1962), The Who's "I Can't Explain" (1964), and the Beach Boys' "Surfer Girl" (1963). The Putz covers The Contours' "Do You Love Me?" (1962), Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy" (1964), and Buddy Holly's "Rave On" (oddly enough, the only song on this '50s-themed record that came out in the '50s!). You pretty much know what this record is going to be. Both bands give these songs a little bit of a pop-punk twist, but they don't stray too far from the original versions. Both bands play to their strengths. The Beatnik Termites are all about the harmonies and the perfect execution of timeless rock 'n' roll. The Putz put a little bit more attitude and oomph into their tracks while still keeping that golden oldies appeal. For anyone who misses what oldies stations used to be (before they tarnished the format with songs from the '80s, ha ha!), this album will hit all the right retro notes. It's a super-inspired throwback to a glorious time in music and culture. You'd have to be in your 80s to have actually lived through these times as a teen. But I defy anyone of any age to listen to The Putz's version of "Do You Love Me?" or "Rave On" and not immediately start to dance like a maniac. Grab this record, fix yourself a malted milkshake, and have yourself a party by the turntable. The Fonz would absolutely give this split a resounding "Ayyyy!"

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Tuesday, December 02, 2025

Soda Pops - Sweet Nothing


I don't often quote band bios in full, but get a load of this one from Helsinki duo Soda Pops:
"Bubbling with bright riffs and bittersweet vibes, Soda Pops bring a sugar-coated chaos with their garage pop tunes with distorted guitars, tongue-in-cheek lyrics about serious issues like substance abuse & mental health problems, sing-along hooks, and enough sweet nothings to keep your heart warm while it breaks."

Hot damn! Where do I sign up? Leave it to Finland to bless the world with a band this delightful. On the four-song EP Sweet Nothing, Cherry Twist and Candy Crash deliver four tracks of exuberant budget garage punk by way of '60s girl groups with pop hooks galore. What's not to love? I always enjoy a band that can write songs about serious topics in a way that's fun to listen to. All four of these tunes are legit, and producer Ville Valavuo does an excellent job of preserving this band's raw edges without downplaying its undeniable pop charm. This is a band that's gonna be pretty special, so stay tuned, kids!

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Sunday, November 30, 2025

The Hallingtons - No Plan


On their new album, Oslo-based trio The Hallingtons deliver something that's very underrated in this world: high-quality pop-punk straight out of the textbook. I always love a band that can take me back to the classic pop-punk sounds of the '90s without coming off like pale imitators. No Plan, out on Monster Zero, reminds me why I fell in love with this sort of music in the first place. These guys aren't asking to be awarded any points for originality, but they get high marks for execution and enthusiasm. This is how you do it: three chords, catchy melodies, and lyrics that cover everything from love to hate to science fiction to social commentary. And within the general realm of pop-punk sounds, they cover a lot of ground. Songs like "Valerie" and "Dance to the Radio" lean to the bubblegum/super-poppy side of pop-punk, which is always a sweet spot for me. "Love Song for You (My Baby Blue)" splits the difference between pop-punk and power pop. "Highjacked" could almost be The Riverdales. "Little Love Lock" and "Wanna Be An Intellectual" bring to mind the Ramones circa Rocket To Russia/Road to Ruin. Songs about King Kong and The Mothman are certainly on brand for these guys, and "Planet B" is your pop-punk anthem for the climate crisis. 

I often talk about those bands that aren't going to turn you to the dark side if pop-punk isn't your thing but will check off all the boxes if pop-punk is your thing. The Hallingtons are one such band. They make pop-punk for people who love pop-punk, and they do it well. No Plan is a fun record and a reminder that sometimes this kind of music is most enjoyable when it knows what it's supposed to be and just delivers the goods. "Valerie" alone justifies the purchase of this album! 

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Pig Rides - These People Are Not Your Friends


How about some hardcore punk, kids? You know I don't write about this sort of stuff very often, so when I do, you can be sure I'm really feeling it. Pig Rides hail from Cleveland, Ohio and feature members of a couple bands I've written about before, Kill the Hippies and Wild Wings, as well as Sockeye, Muzzle, Pill Time, TV Drugs, and many more that cannot be listed for legal reasons. These People Are Not Your Friends is the band's new EP/tape, and it freaking rips. This is my kind of hardcore: fast, ferocious, and pissed, but it still feels like it came from rock 'n' roll. These songs sound like the product of breathing the Rust Belt air while rolling around in the gutter. The drums and bass hit like a ton of bricks. The guitars have just the right amount of heaviness to them while still being built for speed. The vocals are properly demented and delivered from a genuine place of rage. Each song vehemently punches you in the mouth. This is your soundtrack to the world falling apart and you insisting on going down fighting. Pink is the new black, so get yourself a cassette while supplies last.

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Sunday, November 23, 2025

Lone Wolf - Dark Thoughts

Back with its fourth album, the Rotterdam-based foursome Lone Wolf is doing its thing like only it can. Out on Stardumb Records, Dark Thoughts is an album that lives up to its title. It explores themes of depression and anxiety along with the unrelenting pressures and distractions that define modern life. But the album is by no means a downer — it's more a reminder that if you deal with this heavy stuff in your life, you're not alone. Ox, Merel, Damien, and Ivo deliver their usual mix of indie rock and poppy punk rock, and as always they bring a sound that's anthemic and infectious. "We wanted to make an album that captures the way our darkest thoughts seem to consume us, but with an energy that makes you want to move and let it all out," says Ox. So if you're looking for songs that are real and relatable but also uplifting and fun to listen to, Lone Wolf has got you covered. This is a fantastic album. It comes out swinging with "High All the Time" and closes with "Take Me Outta Here," perhaps THE anthem for life in 2025. In between are one killer tune after another. Dark thoughts? We all have 'em, and that's why we need to lean on each other. Without needing to reinvent itself as a band, Lone Wolf has managed to up its game and produce a new album that almost no human will be able to resist.

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Saturday, November 22, 2025

Andresa Nugraha - "Nothing Lasts Forever"

Andresa Nugraha, the artist behind the one-man garage punk phenomenon The Battlebeats, has released something very different under his own name. The new single "Nothing Lasts Forever" was created in loving memory of his mother, Suryati. I have to say this single has absolutely blown me away. 

Stylistically, this is a big shift for Andresa — from budget punk to noisy indie rock. It's also a big shift in tone. These songs represent part of his grief cycle. The title track was written a couple months before Suryati's passing. "I never knew the meaning of the song by then," says Andresa, "but I do now, as if my future self in the past writes songs for me in the present time." What an incredibly profound thing to say! Andresa wrote "The Time Machine" after his mother's passing as he was cleaning up her room and viewing old photographs of when she was young and full of life. This caused him to reflect on his own days as a young adult, realizing that his mother was once just like him, and that if he's lucky, he'll live to be as old as she was when she passed. These reflections have changed the way he views life. He's found himself wanting to live in the present, spending time with the people he loves, "not thinking too much about the future or regretting past." Again, that's remarkably profound. 

Doing a punk/garage/power pop type blog, I don't often write about music that brings me to tears. But holy cow, Andresa has really hit all the right notes here. And the thing is that this isn't him doing something different just for the sake of experimentation. This is true personal inspiration. It's as if the songs came to him, and he pulls off this more indie pop style remarkably well. He fills these songs with genuine feeling and remarkable wisdom for such a young man. The reason why music (along with all art) exists is to create something that speaks to the human experience, to reflect on the things that are most important in life. What could be more important in life than the love of a parent — someone who brought us into this world and helped mold us into who we are? And lately as I've been thinking a lot about how much I'm like my mother, these songs have me wanting to cherish the time I still have with her. Andresa may have created this music to help process his grief, but I'm so happy that he realized these songs needed to be shared with the world. If you're a fan of his, you absolutely need to have this single.

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Linear Television - Sandy Beach

Well here's something that couldn't be any more up my alley! From Münster, Germany, Linear Television hits a sweet spot for me: old school, spirit of 1977 pop-punk. Sandy Beach, the band's new EP, delivers four tracks of catchy three-chord poppy punk that ought to appeal to fans of both first wave punk and '90s pop-punk. As soon as I heard the title track was about the simple glory of drinking beer in the sun, I knew this was my kind of band! "Sedated By Television" is not social commentary but rather a relatable breakup song (I would be lying if I said I never had to turn to reruns of Knight Rider or The A-Team to soothe my soul in times of despair). "Stay Strong" could almost be Cock Sparrer, and I sure can't complain about that. If you like your punk music with a lot of melodic lead guitar but also plenty of bite to it, Linear Television is a band well worth your further inspection.

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The Dahlmanns - "Dark Side with You"


Having promised a new album that won't necessarily conform to the classic power pop style they're so well known for, The Dahlmanns are here to give us another taste of what's soon to come. "Dark Side with You," the band's new single, is certainly the least "Dahlmanns-like" song it has ever released. But again, that's by no means a bad thing. As the title suggests, this is a darker (yet still powerful) pop sound — something not out of a character for a Scandinavian rock band. Line's vocal is dynamite and perfectly in tune with the emotion of the song. The hooks are undeniable, and how about that guitar solo! When Andre remarked, "Those expecting more of the same as our previous records may turn up their noses" in reference to the new album, he probably wasn't wrong. But I'm not so sure that most fans will insist on more of the same. The Dahlmanns did power pop by the book for a decade. Now they're writing a whole new book, and they are poised to surprise a lot of people — in an entirely good way. A band so many of us love is back and making excellent music. That's something to be excited about!

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Friday, November 21, 2025

The Young Hasselhoffs - 7"


I'm usually spreading the word on new music you can buy. Well here's a write-up on something you can't buy! In celebration of Mom's Basement Records' tenth anniversary, The Young Hasselhoffs have put out a new limited 7" record featuring a couple of songs that will appear on their next album. This single will not be released in digital form, but it can be ordered free of charge (while supplies last) if you buy something from Mom's Basement Records' webstore. The band wanted to go for a '90s Lookout! Records vibe with this single, and Andrew Berlin at The Blasting Room was enlisted to mix the tracks for that very effect. If you've been holding off on buying, say, the new Goin' Places album or that Bacarrudas Halloween record, now would be a great time to make your move! And of course, today, Mom's Basement is releasing Boris the Sprinkler's Gets a Clue EP on vinyl. You know you're gonna want that! 

There are not many bands who are 27 years into their existence and can rightfully be described as being at the top of their game. That's doubly true for pop-punk bands. But here are The Young Hasselhoffs at the peak of their craft, coming off their two best albums, Life Got In The Way and Dear Departed. The new single is a sneak peak of what's to come in the third installment of this trilogy. The upbeat, punchy "Adeline" brings a touch of an old Green Day feel but is very much in keeping with the Hoffs' recent musical direction. This is pop-punk for grown-ups, crafted and executed to near-perfection by three guys who truly understand what great pop music is all about. "Come Back Marie" is kind of giving a Weezer energy, which is something a little different for this band. Both of these songs are A-side worthy, so it makes sense that the 7" is self-titled. If you weren't already jazzed for the new album, you will be now! 

The decision to keep these songs off the streaming sites was meant as a way to honor the hard work and dedication that John and Tricia put into keeping Mom's Basement Records going strong. Sometimes as music fans, we take for granted how much you have to bust your ass to keep an independent record label going. The Young Hasselhoffs wanted to give a little something back. Giving away 200 copies of a 7" record might seem like an insane idea. But this is the ten-year anniversary of the world's greatest pop-punk record label. Go big or go home! 

Not wanting to leave their fans in the U.K., E.U., and Japan out in the cold, The Young Hasselhoffs have also created a CD version of this single (with a bonus track!) that will be given away with orders from Brassneck Records, Stardumb Records, and Waterslide Records. So please check in with those labels to find out how you can get your hands on this special gift. If you're ordering from Mom's Basement, please make sure you follow the instructions!

So for this review and this review only, we can pretend it's 1996 again and you have to order something I reviewed without being able to listen to it first and make sure I'm not full of shit. Then again, you can certainly listen to whatever else you're ordering in advance. This was my 2024 label of the year for a reason. If it comes from Mom's Basement, you know it doesn't suck! 

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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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