Sunday, August 31, 2025

Trevor Blendour - Breaking Up


Three years ago, Trevor Blendour released one of the greatest power pop albums of recent years, and not nearly enough people noticed. Now he's back with his second solo album that finds him again exemplifying what pure pop music ought to be. Breaking Up, like its predecessor Falling In Love,  combines the spirit and sound of 1950s & early '60s pop and rock 'n' roll with the energy and attitude of pop-punk and power pop. It's hard to clearly define where this music fits in today's scene, and that's why I love it. It sounds like the music your parents or grandparents grew up on, yet it's not trying to be retro or kitschy. As a person who has loved pop-punk my entire adult life, I can say this album represents just about everything I've ever loved about the genre. Yet I could imagine people who usually hate pop-punk being really into this album. Trevor Blendour is a master at writing melody-and-harmony driven, two-to-three minute songs about love and heartbreak. Whether you call it power pop, pop-punk, or simply rock 'n' roll, it can't be denied that this is a timeless art form. He also writes some of the smartest, funniest, and most brutally honest lyrics you'll ever have the good fortune to hear. 

The title of this album suggests that it pairs well with the last one, and I would absolutely say that any fan of one would also be fan of the other. But Breaking Up is a big step forward from its predecessor. Every single one of these songs is an absolute gem. In addition to the expected love songs, there are several very personal songs — including a few where Trevor sings openly and honestly about his blindness. "Totally Blind" is such a powerful song because it's so deeply heartbreaking yet delivered with wickedly self-deprecating humor (the lyrics are so amazing that I won't even dare to spoil them for you). "I Don't Want To Rock" is an honest and unflinching reflection on what it's like to be in a hopeless place in your life. "No One To Love" articulates things I've felt so many times in my life but could never properly put into words. "Sucks to be Me" is the kind of song you almost feel bad laughing at until you realize that the whole point is that you're supposed to laugh. Certain things in life are so hard to face that they'd totally destroy us if we couldn't find the humor in them. 

If we're talking about the finest songwriters currently working in the pop-punk/power pop universe, Breaking Up makes it clear that Trevor Blendour belongs in that conversation. So much of the talk about him centers around his influences, but it's his formidable talent as a singer, songwriter, and storyteller that makes his music so enjoyable to listen and so easy to like. Breaking Up is that rare album that could appeal to music lovers ranging in age from 9 to 99. It's a perfect pop record and is sure to land a spot in my year-end top ten. It's streaming now at the usual places; click here to buy a CD or digital download.


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Friday, August 29, 2025

Snakeheads - Belconnen Highs


Now this is what I'm talking about! Belconnen Highs is the posthumously released album from Snakeheads, and it's the epitome of thrilling, high energy punk rock from the old school. Snakeheads were formed in 2016 by James Roden and Pete Lusty, who were high school mates in Canberra and friends for over 35 years. The two played together in Morticians and The John Reed Club, and they both went on to great success in the Aussie music scene. Roden was in City Lights, and Lusty founded Ivy League Records in addition to managing bands such as The Vines, Jet, and Empire of the Sun. Roden and Lusty eventually reconnected and again started playing music together — purely for the joy of it. They set out to play the kind of music they loved when they were 15. Lusty died of very aggressive lymphoma in 2020, and Roden decided that the album the two had started working on together needed to be finished. With the help of Kit Warhurst (drums), Graeme Stanley Trewin (drums), and Harry Roden (bass) as well as producers Wayne Connolly and Jason Whalley, Roden has seen the project through over a period of five years. What results is something truly special — and a tremendous tribute.  

Belconnen Highs is everything it was intended to be. It's the creation of two kindred spirits who shared a love for The Clash, The Jam, Stiff Little Fingers, The Who, and the classic Aussie garage rock of the 1980s. Roden and Lusty, with all the accomplishments they had had in the world of music, just wanted to take it back to where it had all started at Belconnen High School all those years before. If you remember what it was like to be a kid and discovering punk rock for the first time, this record will give you all the feels. Of course there are still bands who make music in the style of 1977 punk rock, but this feels like the real deal. It's not just that they captured the spirit of pure, unadulterated three-chord punk rock 'n' roll. It's also that the songs are absolutely brilliant, and the production is truly perfect. Sometimes punk groups lose a little of their edge when they go from the stage to the studio, but Belconnen Highs practically explodes from your speakers with a raw energy that's truly infectious. These are songs you can crank loudly as you exuberantly shout along and pogo around the house like a maniac. Tracks like "Smash Hits," "Shit I Don't Have Time For," "Top of the Pops," "Exocet," "Cheap Thrills," and "Love My Friends" are veritable jolts of energy that you will have you fired up to take on the world. This is one of the best punk LPs I've heard in recent years and certainly one of my favorite albums of 2025. 

It certainly could not have been easy for Roden to finish this album after Lusty's passing, but his persistence and dedication have culminated in something quite extraordinary. The magic you can hear on Belconnen Highs dates back not just to 2016 but to the early '80s. It's a magnificent tribute to Pete Lusty and a wonderful celebration of friendship, punk rock, and friendships that form because of punk rock. These songs deserved to live on, and now they will. Vinyl is available now from Cassell Records/Impressed Recordings!

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Tin Foil - "Sadonka" (Video Premiere)


Detroit's Tin Foil has a new album out today on Almost Ready Records and Sweet Time Records along with a brand-new music video for the track "Sadonka." The album is called Chicken Sandwich, and it's the band's third full-length. The album title was inspired by what the band members ate for lunch every day when they were recording it! This record was literally powered by Nashville hot chicken sandwiches! As you may have surmised, simply Googling "Tin Foil Chicken Sandwich" is not likely to lead you to much information pertaining to this record. Thankfully, the music speaks for itself. I am delighted to premiere the "Sadonka" music video. When I first heard this track, I couldn't quite put into words what I was hearing. But I knew I liked it! This song brings to mind old school Midwestern proto-punk but with a more modern, slacker-ish edge to it. It's weird in a way that's genuinely endearing and noisy in a way that's pleasing to the ear. In all the best ways, Tin Foil sounds like a band from Detroit ought to. If you dig this song, you will certainly want to check out the whole album (which totally rules).  You know Sweet Time never puts out a bad record!

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Sunday, August 24, 2025

Norcos Y Horchata - "Carbondale"

With a lot of bands that have an album coming up, I might wait for the album to actually come out before I write anything. But come on: we're talking about freaking Norcos Y Horchata, one of my favorite bands. If they released the soundboard recording from a live performance in an Arby's parking lot or a cover of the Vernors ginger ale radio jingle, you know I'd be reviewing it. It's actually a poorly-kept secret that you can go listen to precious little album on Bandcamp already. But the official release date is September 5th, and that's when I'll review it. Today I want to talk about "Carbondale," the closing track on the album and the second single in advance of its release. It's a love note to Carbondale, Illinois and more specifically The Lost Cross House — the oldest punk house venue in America. The band had a memorable gig in that "dark and sweaty basement" a couple tours back, and it has been immortalized in this song. I love that the song celebrates not only one particular show but also the lifestyle choice of being in a band and going on tours. Why does anyone do this? It's not to make money. It's not to become famous. It's about going out there, meeting like-minded people, and experiencing something magical and intoxicating when crowds connect to your music. Like a lot of songs on the new album, "Carbondale" finds Norcos Y Horchata building and expanding their sound yet holding on to the anthemic punk rock style they're so known for. Pre-orders for precious little album are now open. Take The City Records, Eccentric Pop Records, and Rust On The Blade will be joining forces on this release, which I can assure you will be one of the year's best!

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The Sleeveens - "Downtown"


It would be an understatement to say I had high expectations for a brand-new single from The Sleeveens. Out on the iconic Goner Records, "Downtown" is the Nashville and Dublin–based band's third single and first new release in over a year. One of the most gratifying things about 2024 was to witness the worldwide garage/punk community go absolutely nuts for The Sleeveens. There's nothing better than seeing a band at this level of greatness get properly recognized by fans and reviewers alike. The band's self-titled album was one of the most remarkable debut punk LPs of recent memory, and "Downtown" is absolutely of the same caliber. This was actually one of the first songs Stefan Murphy ever wrote. He released it with his band The Mighty Stef back in 2009. And while that original version is great in its own right, this tune just hits different as a Sleeveens song. So much of the allure of this band is that there's no other group out there that sounds quite like this. You've got the Irish poet laureate of the underground fronting a blistering American garage punk rock 'n' roll band, and it's absolute magic. Eli Steele on guitar, Ryan Sweeney on drums, and Jamie Mechan on bass pump new life int "Downtown" without downplaying the substance and soul of its lyrics. The first verse alone is enough to give you chills: 

You know, the nine-to-five is eating us alive
Eating us alive
We are not kings, we are foot soldiers
On the road to nowhere
This is not the way it was supposed to be
We promised ourselves a revolution
But we ended up walking out in the cold again

I love how the song starts out seemingly despairing, but by the end, it's defiant and hopeful. When Murphy sings, "We're ok, we can roll with the punches any day because we're made of steel, we're made of stone," you'll be ready to run through a brick wall. This, my friends, is a freaking anthem! And very quickly. The Sleeveens are becoming known for anthems! Imagine one of your very first attempts at writing a song being something this profound. And while the song seems particularly relevant in the light of recent events, its message is truly timeless. What a brilliant idea it was to revive this song! On the B-side,  the band does an excellent rendition The Reigning Sound's classic "Drowning." When Murphy was just starting out as a songwriter, he was a massive fan of Greg Cartwright. That influence might not have been palpable in his music at the time. But fate brought him into contact with a Tennessee-based garage band, and the idea of The Sleeveens covering The Reigning Sound was just too perfect to pass up. Suffice it to say that if you consider Greg Cartwright as one of the finest songwriters of his generation, you probably view The Sleeveens as the next great hope for rock 'n' roll. And you'd be correct on both counts.


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Sunday, August 17, 2025

Melvic Centre - Trawler


Some of my influential friends have been touting Melvic Centre's new album Trawler. Having given the album a few listens, I feel compelled to do some touting of my own. Seconds after pushing play, I found myself instantly transported back to the '90s in a way that practically gave me chills. Remember all those old college radio favorites who walked the fine lines between fuzzy alternative rock, emo-ish melodic punk, and noisy power pop? Well that's where Melvic Centre lives, and this Aussie foursome pulls off this sound to perfection. With Melvic Centre, it's not just the vibe. It's also the quality of the songwriting, which is first rate all the way through the album. The brainchild of vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Will Mitchell, Trawler delivers the perfect blend of punchy energy, mellow grooves, and infectious hooks. If you had told me this album was recorded 30 years ago, I would have had no reason to doubt you. Yet I wouldn't describe Trawler as a copy of past sounds as much as I would call it a reinvigoration. Sometimes these younger bands have a way of injecting something genuinely fresh into seemingly tried-and-true musical styles. Coming up with a filler-free 14-track album is a high bar to clear, but I can find no fault with any of these songs. This is that rare modern album that not only reminds you of classics from decades past but can also stand toe-to-toe with them. Hands down, this is one of the year's best long players.

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The Sino Hearts - Mondo Paradiso


Mondo Paradiso, the fifth album by international power pop sensations The Sino Hearts, continues the musical progression that was first evident on 2022's Lightening The Darkness and even more pronounced on 2023's Phantom Rhapsody. With each new album, Mocca Chung's songwriting shows greater development and a wider range of influences without losing its grounding in '70s power pop and punk rock. For this album, he reunited with guitarist Ned Moffit, whom he hadn't seen in nearly two years. The two then traveled to Brescia, Italy to record with the brilliant producer Brown Barcella. With Italian drummer Carlo Manzoni rounding out the lineup, The Sino Hearts created this absolute gem of an album. The band's origins as a straight-forward power pop/punk band now seem like light years away. As much as I like those early records (Leave The World Behind and Mandarin A Go-Go), this is clearly a case of a band that has benefited from finding its own identity and sound. 

While it's a power pop record at its core, Mondo Paradiso does not limit itself to any particular genre or defined musical style. Like the two albums that preceded it, this one seems to effortlessly merge the world's of power pop, post-punk/new wave, and modern rock. Also in the mix are a love for '60s pop, garage & surf rock, and even some Chinese and Italian pop. That's a unique blend of musical inspirations, and it all comes together in a way that's cohesive and satisfying. Even as he has matured and evolved as a songwriter, Mocca Chung has held to an approach that's melody-driven and very much rooted in pop classicism. He's taking inspiration from the past but truly aspiring to make something new, and Brown Barcella was certainly the perfect producer to guide the process. Even when it leans into '60s grooves, Mondo Paradiso sounds perfectly in place with the best of today's garage pop. Sonically, there's a sunny warmth to these recordings that really fits the material. "Taste of Romance" is dreamy pop bliss. "Dragon Lady," with its mix of surfy guitars, '80s synths, and power pop energy, encapsulates what The Sino Hearts are all about. "Revolver Club Stomp" is a throwback to the Badfinger/Big Star heyday of power pop. "Arkansas Valentine" is a pretty ballad — the kind of song that is becoming a Sino Hearts specialty. On "Viva La Heartbreak" and "Teenage Hearts," you get classic power pop and punk-pop, respectively. "Love Is Like a Catwalk" and "Whatever Is All the Time" show a softer touch, highlighting this band's flair for pure melodious pop music. "Peking Bikini" and "朝日総動員" close the album with a double shot of adrenaline, proving that this band can still rock with the best of 'em when it wants to. 

The secret for a band like The Sino Hearts (or any band in the punk/power pop neighborhood) is that you can keep growing and evolving your sound without having to throw out what already works well. With these last three albums, The Sino Hearts haven't lost anything that was appealing about their first two albums. They've just added more elements and more influences — and grown more skilled at executing the old elements. If you like this band doing power pop or punk-pop, about half this album will be exactly what you wanted. If you wanted this band to try new things, about half this album will be exactly what you wanted. If you, like me, were hoping for the best of both worlds, Mondo Paradiso is precisely that. This is the best Sino Hearts album by a mile. And even after five albums now, it leaves me hoping for more.


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Friday, August 15, 2025

The Jive - Extended Play


When it comes to my favorite new bands I've discovered in 2025, The Jive is #1 with a bullet. And it's not just because they're from PA. The Delco-based duo released its debut EP on the streaming platforms earlier this year. Today, Extended Play gets a compact disc release on the mighty Rum Bar Records, and people ought to be dancing in the streets. 

The first time I heard this mini-album in full, I had to retrieve my jaw from the floor. So what is it that I like so much about these guys? I think it's that they embody what power pop as a style of music ought to be. Co-songwriters and singers Robbie Dixon and Joey Edwards aren't afraid to write massive, arena-sized pop hits. They don't take themselves too seriously, but they are quite serious about crafting earworm choruses and melodies that'll have you humming all week. When almost every other power pop band out there wants to be The Nerves or Big Star, these two sound like the sons of Rick Springfield. This record gives major early '80s rock radio vibes, yet at the same time it possesses an undeniable contemporary freshness. If you love early '80s power pop but are also glad to live in a world where Kurt Baker and Biters exist, this EP is for you. 

"Good Time Call," the first advance single, wowed me in a big way. But then I had to wonder: was this a great band or just a band with one great song? Extended Play answers that question emphatically. "Sherry Shakes," "Shoulda Known Better," and "The Song You Can't Forget" all could have just as easily been "the hit." And then on "Heart of Gold," the band goes full-on .38 Special with a chorus that explodes out of your speakers and enough guitar power to light up a small nation! The band's lyrics don't aim to be rocket science, but they're relatable and clever in a way that's highly enjoyable. You might learn a new pickup line or two from listening to this EP, so don't dismiss the educational potential of power pop. "Good Time Call" is one of my favorite things: a song that tells a story! Who can deny that "I found your number on the elevator wall/of the Taj Mahal" is a million dollar line? Spending the last minute of the song repeating the lyric "I found your number" over and over sounds like a corny idea on paper. But on record, it's pure gold. "Sherry Shakes" is a master class on how to build an entire song around a simple (but utterly perfect) guitar hook. And how can I not love a band that uses the lyric "cherry cake" in a song called "Sherry Shakes"? "Shoulda Known Better" is a timeless ode to lost love. You feel the sting in the lyrics, but the music is positively intoxicating. Another tune that tells a story, "The Song You Can't Forget," practically packs an entire rom-com into three minutes and 17 seconds. When these guys sing, "I'm the one who got that melody stuck in your head/I'm the one who gets you dancing around," they might as well be talking to you. That whole chorus needs to be on a t-shirt! 

There's a part in the new Billy Joel documentary where he refers to the songs he wrote for Glass Houses as "power pop" in the sense that they were intended to sound awesome in the large venues he was playing. I imagined all the power pop purists and gatekeepers becoming infuriated as he spoke those words. But if you think of "power pop" purely as a way to describe music, it kind of does describe Glass Houses (which might explain why it's an all-time top ten album for me). The Jive appeals to me because it's a power pop band in both the traditional sense and in that broader sense. Somehow Robbie Dixon and Joey Edwards have managed to make an EP that reminds me of sitting by the pool at ten years old and hearing The Cars and Cheap Trick playing on the radio without having it come off as consciously retro. There's something eternal and magical about a perfect three-minute pop song, and these guys get that. Major credit also goes to producer Dan Dixon and session drummer Takashi Takemura for their incredible work on this release. The obvious reaction to hearing an EP this good is to ask, "But can they do it for a full album?" Well, if you bet against The Jive, you shoulda known better. This is the best new power pop band I've heard in a damn long time.


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Saturday, August 09, 2025

The Prize - "From the Night"


How long have I been talking about how amazing a full-length from The Prize would be? Well, we're finally getting it! In the Red, the Melbourne-based group's highly anticipated debut album, will be out September 19th on Goner Records in the U.S.A. and Anti Fade Records in Australia. Drummer Nadine Muller and guitarist Carey Paterson remain co lead vocalists, and they're joined by guitarists Joseph Imfeld and Austin Haire along with new bass player Ethan Stahl (Chubby and the Gang, Loose Lips). In advance of the album, a new single called "From the Night" has been released. And what a tune it is! "From the Night" is the sort of straight-forward guitar-heavy rock song you rarely hear these days. It hearkens back to the '70s and '80s while still sounding perfectly in place with the red-hot Aussie garage/punk scene of the present day. If you're gonna have three guitarists in your band, you might as well use them! Pre-orders for In the Red are open now. Move quickly if you want the colored vinyl — or any vinyl at all!

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Friday, August 08, 2025

TA-80 - Open Late


Arizona's veteran punk rockers TA-80, at it since 2001, are back with another great album that's sure to be the party record of the summer. When it comes to Open Late, the title says it all. This is your soundtrack to good times after dark — delivering ten more tracks of rockin' and super-catchy punk rock. You know what I'm talking about: fun, anthemic music that begs to be played loud while you make your way from the roller rink to the basement show to the diner that never closes. Expect shredding guitars, shout-along choruses, and hooks that never quit. If you've been waiting four decades for a band to properly punk up Toto's "Africa," your moment has arrived. And how about a robust rendition of The Vindictives' "Alarm Clocks" with Mr. Nick Spoon guesting on lead vocals? Last year's Turn It Up! was a criminally underrated album release for TA-80, and now Open Late follows it with every bit as much enthusiasm, power, and charm. Any time I get dismayed about the state of the world, it's music like this I turn to. Having my face rocked off is almost always a cure for whatever ails me. If I had to pick one band on Earth that I'd most want to drink beers with, this would be the one. Load up on Pop Rocks & King Cobra tallboys and catch the first train to Tempe Rock City!  

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The Kowalskis - 30 Years Of Goofballs


And so here we are with something very special from Rum Bar Records! To commemorate 30 years of the world being fortunate enough to have The Kowalskis in it, a deluxe reissue of the band's debut album All Hopped Up on Goofballs is out today. Titled 30 Years Of Goofballs, this retrospective adds a whole slew of compilation tracks, album & 7" cuts, and unreleased tunes for a grand total of 25 songs. Go big or go home! 

To me, The Kowalskis have always been criminally underrated. They were playing old school punk rock with '60s girl group roots way before it was cool — paving the way for so many of the garage/power pop/punk rock 'n' roll bands that we celebrate today. They arrived on the scene with the musical and spiritual DNA of the Ramones, Blondie, The Dictators, and Devil Dogs coursing through their veins. Along side the likes of D Generation, The Heartdrops, NY Loose, The Turbo ACs, FUR, L.E.S. Stitches, and The Prissteens, they were at the forefront of an exciting new era in New York punk rock. The songs on this collection epitomize everything that was great about the '90s punk scene. The sound is raw, exciting, and super-fun. Close your eyes, and you can feel yourself in the pit at an all-ages show or imagine yourself in your bedroom littered with 7" records, print zines, and cassette demo tapes. You just don't hear music that sounds quite like this anymore. And what could be a more fitting tribute to '90s punk rock than a compact disc with 25 songs on it? Even if you still own your original copy of All Hopped Up on Goofballs, you probably don't have all those old compilations in your possession anymore. So having all these songs carefully re-mastered by Kurt Bloch and packaged as a single album is an absolute treat for fans. And if the '90s were before your time, or you somehow missed out on these songs the first time around, 30 Years Of Goofballs still comes highly recommended. I'd put the likes of "Sunny Sunday Hangover," "Not Surprised," "100% Fun," "Kiss Me One More Time," and "First Date" up there with the best songs of just about any pop-leaning punk rock band past or present. And covers of everyone from Blondie to the New York Dolls to KISS to Cheap Trick give you a great feel for what The Kowalskis are all about. 

I love that The Kowalskis and Malibu Lou have come full circle. In 1999, "First Date" was featured on the Melted Records compilation My So Called Punk Rock Life — one of the greatest punk rock comps from the heyday of great punk rock comps (seriously, check out the track listing on that thing!). And now The Kowalskis have joined the Rum Bar Records family. The greatest thing about being a music fan is that it's never too late to discover a band. So whether 30 Years Of Goofballs brings back fond memories of seeing The Kowalskis live or is your introduction to this amazing band, I declare that this is an album you need to hear and ought to own.

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Thursday, August 07, 2025

The Beaten Hearts - 2010 recordings


I love that this blog has been around so long now that I can sometimes review bands I wrote about years ago and people will be like, "Who the hell were they?" If you've never heard The Beaten Hearts, that's okay. You get to hear them now! 

The availability of the 2010 recordings of The Beaten Hearts on Bandcamp ought to be a huge deal for fans of 21st century garage punk and Canadian punk in general. This was Brian LaManna's band in between The Valentine Killers and Phone Jerks. The lineup also included Derek Lounder and Jeremy O'Neill from Fear of Lipstick, former Teenage Hurricane and future Phone Jerk Tyler Boutilier, and the legend himself, Mr. Ray Auffrey. In retrospect, we can all wonder how in the world we ever forgot about a super-group like this! Perhaps it was because they only released two singles. Six of these songs were released on 7" records in 2011 (on Maladroit Records and the venerable Sonic Jett Records). Five have never been officially released until now. In my original review, I dropped all the usual band comparisons (New Bomb Turks, Humpers, Dead Boys, Saints, Teenage Head, Pagans) but also commended the quality of the songwriting. Listening back to these songs now, I'm noticing a melodic, heart-on-sleeve sensibility that reminds me somewhat of Pat Todd. 

While the importance of The Beaten Hearts as a precursor to The Phone Jerks or a hint of what a second Valentine Killers album could have been are cool things in their own right, the music would be worth revisiting even if this had been a band of nobodies. Brian's talents as a songwriter and especially as a lyricist are super-underrated, and there are more than a few gems in this set. When people are releasing fanatic bootleg compilations of 2010s Canadian punk rock a few decades from now, "Red Line Gurls" will certainly be a go-to cut. "Back to the Deadline" brings to mind Iggy Pop fronting The Saints and is a stone cold ripper. "(This Is) How It Ends," which Brian wrote about his mother's death, is the kind of powerful ballad that I wish more punk groups would have the nerve to try. Was there any doubt that Joel Jett, with his impeccable taste, was not going to pass up releasing these songs on his label? "Badlands," the A-side of the band's second 7", is a scorching homage o.g. Cleveland punk rock with lyrics inspired by Terrence Malick's classic film. "Rhonda Lynn" is excellent poppy garage punk rock 'n' roll that will get your toes tapping and your head bobbing. "AM Sound" finds the band again worshipping at the church of The Saints, and who's going to complain? "She's Stimming Outta Control" is the original version of a song that would become one of the best Phone Jerks tunes. This is a hugely personal and significant song for Brian, and the world is a better place for having it in it (twice). 

How crazy is it that these songs were recorded 15 years ago? I am happy to report that they hold up great in the light of 2025. I know we live at a time in which there's so much stuff out there. There are more things to listen to than we have time to listen to. But if you dig soulful garage punk with a '90s feel and a power pop heart, The Beaten Hearts are an essential listen. I'm always talking about how Canada freaking owned punk rock in the early 2010s, and this album ought to be part of that conversation.

-L.R.

https://beatenhearts.bandcamp.com/album/the-beaten-hearts-2010-recordings

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Sunday, August 03, 2025

Big Life - The Cost Of Progress


On its new album, Detroit-based Big Life has hit the nail on the head when it comes to the present state of things. Songs about a techno-fascist ruling class turning the masses against each other and profiting from a dumbed-down, bitterly divided populace would have sounded like the stuff of dystopian fiction a few decades ago. Now it's just our everyday reality — to the point where it almost feels like the great dystopian novels undersold their warnings. On The Cost Of Progress, Big Life rages against the nightmare of contemporary life and the forces that sow dissension. Musically, this band channels the mid-to-late '80s hardcore of SST and Dischord Records, but everything about these songs screams now. This is an angry record — but totally in a good way. Rather than just fuming over how fucked up things have become, the band comes across defiant and determined — pairing its rage with some genuine hope that things could get better if only we admitted there was a problem and collectively tackled it. There's a freshness to these songs that is sometimes missing from modern takes on '80s hardcore. This is not just a bunch of guys listening to their old Husker Du and Dag Nasty records and trying to revive a sound. This is a furious, fiercely intelligent, and genuinely inspired set of songs that you can truly feel deep in your soul. Our good friend Ryan Allen plays guitar in this band, and let's just say that this is very different from the music he typically releases. But it's every bit as good. Crank up the volume, sing along at the top of your lungs, and let the anger flow!

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Vibeke Saugestad Band - "Hey Now Sunshine"


Perk up your ears, pop people! Vibeke Saugestad is a fantastic Norwegian singer who fronted the band Weld back in the '90s, released several solo albums in the 2000s, and was also in The Yum Yums and The Twistaroos. She's responsible for "He's Peculiar," one of the greatest power pop songs ever recorded. She's now based in New York and working with a terrific band. The Vibeke Saugestad Band features Ken Fox on bass, Mark Westin on guitar, Josh Stark on guitar, and Adam Napell on drums. A new EP called The Sun Sessions will be releasing this fall on Rum Bar Records and Red Chuck Records. "Hey Now Sunshine," the first single from the EP, is out now and very much living up to its name. This track is indeed a ray of sonic sunshine and the very definition of perfect pop. Who's ready for a master class on how to write an earworm chorus? I've been wearing out the repeat button on this one, and I imagine many of you will be doing the same. All hail the queen!

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Perilous - "End Of An Era"


Installment #4 in Perilous's summer of singles is "End Of An Era." And once again, this band has absolutely knocked me out. "End Of An Era" is a huge, anthemic old school punk rock song which laments how all good things must come to an end. It's a tribute to all the lost rock 'n' roll rebels. For many of us of a certain age, this song will really hit home. Luckily for us, we have bands like Perilous still keeping the flame lit for a sound and attitude that some would consider a thing of the past. The band's debut album, released in December 2023, was really good. But holy smokes, Perilous has been at a whole other level with this recent series of singles. If this is the caliber of song we can expect from Perilous at this point, the next album is going to be an instant classic. King Ralph says this is the next great punk rock & roll band, and I concur 100%. You have to respect this band for knowing it had enough killer tunes to justify a whole summer of singles. If you still aren't caught up on "Dear Heart," "Perilous," and "Revolution Calling," it's not too late. There's plenty of summer left to enjoy, and Perilous is making it one to remember!

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Saturday, August 02, 2025

The Unknowns - Looking From the Outside


Well it seems we've got ourselves another album of the year contender — and this one wasn't exactly a surprise! On Looking From the Outside, their third full-length album, Australia's The Unknowns continue their steady rise into greatness. Josh Hardy and company have been at it for over a decade and releasing albums since 2020. Looking From the Outside is their best release yet and hands down one of the best albums we'll have the pleasure of hearing all year. What I love about this record is that it's a combination of just about everything I love in music. The Unknowns play simple, straight-ahead, three-chord rock 'n' roll that takes inspiration from the early punk greats while also helping to define a new generation of punk rock. These 12 tracks bring together the the raw energy of garage punk, the melodies and hooks of power pop, and the muscle and volume of pure rock 'n' roll. The band didn't do anything radically different this time out, but why fuck around with a winning recipe? 12 songs in 27 minutes is just as the punk gods intended, and every note is delivered with joyful abandon. Writing consistently great songs in a simple style is one of the hardest things to do in music, but these guys seem to do it effortlessly. If you've been dying for a punk rock record that's catchy as hell yet still plenty tough and a little dirty, your wait is over. Looking From the Outside is a perfect punk record in any era. Vinyl is available now from Bargain Bin Records in Australia and Drunken Sailor Records in the UK!

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Friday, August 01, 2025

Ricky Rochelle - "Head Voice"


Ricky Rochelle has a new album coming out next month, and my reaction to an advance listen was simply, "Wow!" I won't spoil too much in advance of the release, but I can tell you that Ricky's new single "Head Voice" is a big part of why I love this record so much. Here's a guy who's beloved in the pop-punk scene. And somehow he has managed to expand his musical style and influences while still retaining the qualities that have long made him such an appealing songwriter and vocalist. That whole "It's still pop-punk, but it's not still pop-punk" approach is hard for a lot of bands and artists to navigate. But for Ricky Rochelle, it has been a seamless progression. Lyrically, "Head Voice" reflects on some pretty heavy stuff. It's a song about the struggle to maintain one's mental health when there are so many dark things swirling in your brain that just won't go away. But this song is no bummer. Ricky's knack for being relatable really comes through here. You hear him singing with tremendous openness about how all these troubling thoughts make it hard to find inner peace or even sleep at night, and it's guaranteed that you either relate personally or are very close to someone who does. And in this modern world full of anxieties and distractions, our head voices have never been louder. Musically, this song is indicative of Ricky's current musical direction. It's fundamentally a pop song with a big hooky chorus. But it's quite sophisticated in composition, and it embraces more modern influences than are typical for pop-punk. This is truly a song for these times, and it's a fantastic piece of work from a songwriter who just keeps getting better. Check out the music video which just premiered today! 

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The Peppermint Kicks - Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum


The Peppermint Kicks have titled their second album Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum, so of course you can expect a doom metal masterpiece. Just kidding. The sensational super-duo of Dan Kopko (Watts, The Shang Hi Los) and Sal Baglio (Amplifier Heads, The Stompers) is back with ten more tracks of '70s-inspired glam rock and pop that fittingly arrive with several weeks of summer still in front of us. As terrific as the band's 2021 self-titled debut album was, Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum (out today on Rum Bar Records) is at a whole other level. We can debate all day whether it's better to be a singles band or an album band, but The Peppermint Kicks have aspired to make the whole question moot. Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum is essentially a whole album of singles. The duo's sound and identity remain heavily influenced by the pre-punk '70s — think glam rock, bubblegum, early power pop, and big hooky arena rock. One listen to this album will have you fondly recalling a time when you lived for listening to the radio and spending your allowance on LPs at the record store. But the chemistry and shared musical vision between these two fantastic songwriters feel considerably more developed this time out. You can hear elements of their other bands at times, but you can also hear them combining their talents to create something that's uniquely The Peppermint Kicks. 

The best thing about being an indie band making a classic rock record in the 2020s is that you don't have to worry about record label interference, commercial pressures, or unsympathetic producers getting in your way. I am reasonably sure that Malibu Lou didn't lock these guys in a closet and threaten to not let them out until they had written another "When Rock & Roll Met Your Dad." Kopko and Baglio were free to just make the album they wanted to make. And just as the title suggests, this is a great pop record that really rocks. But by no means is it a copy of its predecessor. "Radio Wam Bam Boom" and "Too Sweet (Oh Yeah!)" kick off the album with a 1-2 punch of vintage glam rock pop action. But any fears of every song on the record sounding the same are quickly assuaged. "Number One Record" and "Out Of The Trashcan Into Your Heart" are truly perfect pop songs. "Little Doll (Picolla Pupa)" is a garage-rocking throwback to prime '60s British pop. "Shangri La" is laidback and dreamy — a calming moment in the shade that gives way to the dizzying, Cheap Trick meets The Strokes rush of "Lollipop Girl". "Gigantor," with its classic Bowie vibes, is nicely paired with the upbeat punky power pop of "Speed Racer." "We Did It All For Rock & Roll" is the big arena rock anthem that brings it all to a rousing conclusion. 

It goes without saying that Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum is a perfect record for the summertime. But like any great pop-rock album, it's truly for all seasons. There was never going to be much mystery about what a band called The Peppermint Kicks would sound like. But on this second album, Kopko and Baglio (joined by drummers Kevin Rapillo, Chris Anzalone, and Napoleon Hashimoto) bring a sound that's bigger, hookier, and even more satisfying. Who can't relate to songs about the radio, French girls, British girls, Italian pop stars, Japanese cartoons, and rock 'n' roll itself? And with Danny The K himself mixing and mastering the record, there was no chance that the musical vision would be compromised in the studio. The album sounds both classic and contemporary, and that's absolutely a hallmark of a Kopko production. I can still remember the first time Lou told me that these two guys we working on a record together and thinking, "Holy shit!" Well The Peppermint Kicks have turned out to be everything I hoped they would be and then some. I spent most of this week driving around in 95 degree weather in my non air-conditioned car listening to Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum trying to decide which songs were the "hits." I had no success, but rarely in my life have I enjoyed failing at something that much. This is indeed a whole album of hits!

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