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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Saturday, July 26, 2025

Flutter - When You Love Somebody


Perfectly executed power pop is something I'll always embrace, and so Flutter's debut EP is literally music to my ears. Based in Denver, Colorado, this foursome hits that sweet spot where '70s power pop classicism meets '90s indie/alternative sensibilities. When You Love Somebody delivers six tracks of well-crafted pop that's full of jangly guitars, pretty melodies, and top-quality hooks. Clearly this band has a deep love for the timeless sounds of Big Star, Badfinger, The Raspberries, etc., but it also possesses the musical and songwriting chops required to keep this sort of sound fresh in 2025. At six tracks, this release is just the right length. It allows for a more varied listening experience than you'd get from a single, but it still leaves you wanting more. There's not a sub-par track in sight. Songs like the title track and "5 Star Review" sound like radio hits in an alternate universe. "I Don't Wanna Be Sad Anymore" is a nod to some obvious influences, but that doesn't make it any less glorious. I was intrigued to see that a band from the western part of the country would write a song called "Wizwit" and was thrilled to discover that it's essentially the best Teenage Fanclub song in years. Everyone talks about the art of the three-minute pop song, but a six-minute pop song is an even higher level of difficulty. Great job, fellas! When You Love Somebody is a super-promising debut that will deservedly be a fixture of many power pop fans' best-of 2025 lists! 

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Friday, July 25, 2025

The New Brutarians - "(Better Than The) Apocalypse"


Back with the latest installment in their summer of hits, The New Brutarians are in full-on power ballad mode on "(Better Than The) Apocalypse." On this single, Adam T. is putting his love for The Dogs D'Amour on full display, and who's gonna complain about that? The track features the current New Bruts lineup (Adam T., Alan from The Juvenile Wrecks, Robbie Rist, Famous George, and Billy Summer), and it will get your glam rock juices flowing in a major way. Hot on the tails of the New Bruts having their Use Your Illusion moment on "Delinquent Things," "(Better Than The) Apocalypse" slows down the pace and highlights Adam's knack for gutsy, heart-on-sleeve poetry. He turns in a great vocal, and the musicianship on this track is truly top-notch. I can easily imagine big-haired teens slow-dancing to this track at the 1988 high school prom, but the sentiment of the song could not be more timely in 2025. In a better world, this tune would be all over the radio. You can always count on The New Brutarians to deliver the goods!

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Sunday, July 20, 2025

Behind the Bar - Rum Bar Records (documentary)


It's no secret that Rum Bar Records is my favorite record label — by a very wide margin. So it's a very cool thing that Snag Keith has produced and directed Behind the Bar - Rum Bar Records, a short documentary film about this world-renowned label. In less than 13 minutes, you'll get to know Malibu Lou and find out everything you wanted to know about Rum Bar Records (but were afraid to ask). If you're a Rum Bar fan like me and want an insider's perspective on this label, you'll get the scoop straight from Lou, Lisa, and some of the musicians who are part of the Rum Bar family. How did the label get its name? Is there actually a rum bar? How does Lou find the time to do everything he does? What's it like being a Rum Bar recording artist? Tune in and find out! This is a beautifully-done little film that packs a whole lot of substance into just a few minutes of content. If you've never had the pleasure to speak with Lou, this documentary is a very accurate representation of what it's like! He's one of one, and Behind the Bar is essential viewing for anyone who loves this label or has a passion for the independent music scene.
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N*rc*s y Horchata - "BYOBV"

I promised you all a new album from the mighty N*rc*s y Horchata (Yes, I had to censor the band name because Google now says it violates its content standards). Now I am happy to tell you that it will be out September 5th on the fine record labels Eccentric Pop, Take The City, and Rust on the Blade. It's going to be called Precious Little Album, and I am so stoked for it! "BYOBV," the first single off the album, is a relatable little ditty about reaching into your jacket or vest pocket and finding valuable stuff that you didn't even realize you had lost! Fans of NYH's gritty and melodic Midwestern punk rock 'n' roll style will be pleased with this banger. It's catchy, fun, and rocking as fuck. What more could you ask for? It's definitely worth spending the buck-and-a-half to grab a download of "BYOBV." And while you're at it, hit one of those links below and pre-order the album. You know you're gonna want it!

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Saturday, July 19, 2025

MariPili - self-titled

Out now on Jarama 45RPM Recs. is the excellent debut release from Spanish foursome MariPili. The band's lineup features members of Klaus & Kinski, Hollywood Sinners, Autócratas, Laplank, and Quicklime. If you like high-energy, high-spirited pop-punk with lyrics in Spanish, this EP will be very much up your alley. Even though I have no idea what they're singing about, I dig the vibe of these songs. This is straight-forward pop-punk that's catchy as heck and really fun to listen to. These tunes had me instantly tapping my toes, and it didn't take long for those hooks to sink their way into my skull. The vinyl is limited, so grab a copy while you can. Let's hear it for music that makes you smile! 

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Gino and the Goons and Chinese Junk - Talk Trash With


Out on Big Neck Records, we've got ourselves a garage punk split LP of epic proportions. Gino and the Goons (USA) and Chinese Junk (UK) are two of the biggest names in the game. They've joined forces to deliver a stone cold ripper of an album called Talk Trash With. Each band contributes five songs in its signature style — the venerable Gino and the Goons pounding out rip-roaring, booze-soaked degenerate rock 'n' roll and Brit knuckleheads Chinese Junk blasting snotty, lo-fi garage trash like the '90s never ended. I appreciate that these two bands have different styles yet totally fit together on the same record. This album was made to be cranked at maximum volume while you pound cheap beer and contemplate who you're going to flip off next. Gino and the Goons have a really good new album out on Slovenly Recordings, and their contributions to this split are even better. I can easily imagine this band tearing into "Come On and Shake It" and blowing the roof off of some sweaty dive! This is the rock 'n' roll that your parents, teachers, and pastor warned you about! Songs like "Shut Up About the USA" and "Crimewave" capture Chinese Junk doing what it does best: smashing it up at full speed and full fury. If real deal garage punk rock 'n' roll is your thing, this album is a for-sure must-buy. 

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Friday, July 18, 2025

The Chelsea Curve - "Kindawanna"


Oh boy, here we go! The first new original song from The Chelsea Curve in over two years is a red-hot summertime smash! "Kindawanna," the first in a series of singles this Boston trio is releasing this year on Rum Bar Records, explodes with feelgood vibes and razor-sharp hooks. When it comes to mod-influenced power pop, this song is about as perfect as it gets — combining punchy guitars with an irresistible beat and sing-along lyrics that will have you daydreaming about all the fun things you could be doing with your latest crush. Chelsea 2.0 is here and sounding amazing. Linda Pardee's voice has never sounded stronger or more joyful. Tim Gillis is dishing out guitar hooks all day long. And new drummer Bruce Caporal is a freaking machine! If this song doesn't get your heart racing, I would seek medical attention immediately. The world can always use more songs where the singer is screaming things like "Yeah!" and "Wow!" I know I've been talking a lot about summer playlists lately, and now I must proclaim that "Kindawanna" is track #1 on my 2025 summer playlist! This tune is sure to get you up and moving and deeply feeling what it means to be alive. Crank it loud and go do all the things you kinda wanna do!

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The Dogmatics - Nowheresville


Today is the day! Considering that The Dogmatics are one of my favorite bands of all-time, you can imagine that I was really looking forward to the group's first full-length album in 39 years. I can assure you that a lot of other people were too, and I'm confident that no one will be let down by the long-awaited Nowheresville. Out today on Rum Bar Records, this is exactly the kind of album I was hoping for. It sounds distinctively like The Dogmatics while still allowing for the kind of maturity and growth you'd expect from a band after four decades. Some of these songs sound like they could have been written back in the '80s (at least two of them actually were!). Others come off as very much belonging to the garage rock scene of today. And others sound unprecedented in the band's catalog. What results is an album that can stand on its own merits. You don't need to be a fan of The Dogmatics' beloved '80s output (or to have even heard it) to appreciate what a great album Nowheresville is. 

When The Dogmatics reunited in earnest prior to the pandemic, they never settled for writing new songs just to have something to play live. They were inspired not just by performing, but in creating something new — something that would reflect who and where they were in the 21st century. They'd still play the old favorites, but they were going to write new ones as well. Phoning it in was not an option. And that accounts for one of the most impressive second acts in rock 'n' roll history. Ask any fan at a Dogmatics show if they look forward to hearing the likes of "She's the One," "I Love Rock and Roll," and "Drop That Needle," and you'll get a "Hell yeah!". And now Nowheresville is the work of a band that's still showing all the young whippersnappers in the garage/punk scene how it ought to be done. It's a celebration of the spirit of family that exists literally within the band itself and also within the Boston garage rock scene. The album title is a tribute to Paul O'Halloran, referencing a song he was working on just before his passing. The cover art is a vintage photo taken by Mary Lou O'Halloran. The record features guest appearances by Tom Baker, the Nervous Eaters' Billy Loosigian, and John "J.G." Goetchius of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The song "You've Got What I Want" was written by a 20-year-old Jerry Lehane in 1981 in the aftermath of seeing The Outlets play a live show. The closing track "Ball Me Out" is a cover of a DMZ classic. And of course the album is out on a record label that has gifted the entire world with the chance to hear so much of this great music that Boston is known for. Had The Dogmatics turned out a passable but ultimately uninspired comeback effort, we would have been grateful just for that. But for the band to release an album in 2025 that can genuinely rival its predecessors Thayer St. (1984) and Everybody Does It (1986) is truly something to shout about. 

Right off the bat with "Key of B," Nowheresville makes it clear that you're listening to a more accomplished version of The Dogmatics. The song is a garage rocker, sure enough, but it shows off the band's highly refined musical and songwriting chops. It comes off like a love letter to music, and who among us can't relate to that? Elsewhere, the jaunty "Con Job" (featuring James Young on lead vocal singing lyrics penned by his late father) combines Irish pub rock with bluegrass and sounds like nothing you would have expected from The Dogmatics in the '80s. "Rainy Nights," a jangly tale of heartbreak and regret, was first written in 1986 and has surely become something far different in the hands of these older, wiser Dogmatics (imagine "Margaritaville" if The Byrds had written it). The snappy "Nothing To Be Learned" is thoughtful power pop that has the spirit of The Replacements. Those hoping for some throwbacks to the band's heyday will love "No Likes No Comments," which combines a raw folky/country style with wickedly humorous commentary on life in the age of social media. The song is definitely in the tradition of the band's classics "Hardcore Rules" and "Teenage Lament." Recent singles "Library Girl" and "With a Scarlet Letter" sound like vintage Dogmatics but still have a very contemporary appeal. And that cover of "Ball Me Out" is an absolute ripper! 

Nowheresville is everything you could want from a Dogmatics album. At just ten tracks and with only two songs longer than three minutes, it doesn't mess around. The songs are rockin' and fun to sing along with but also quite profound in what they have to say. The band isn't afraid to offer some nods to its early days, but it's not stuck in the past. It's no easy feat to make a record that successfully bridges the past, present, and future, but Nowheresville pulls off that very trick. Even as the album celebrates the legacy of Boston garage rock, it reminds us that that legacy is still being built today by a whole lot of great bands who continue to release exciting, inspired music. There's something very momentous about a band releasing its first album in 39 years, but what I appreciate about The Dogmatics is that they didn't overthink it. They just went out and made a terrific garage rock 'n' roll record that reflects who they are as a band today. I can honestly say that if you've never heard The Dogmatics before, this is a perfectly good place to start. And if you're a fan, I don't doubt for a second that you're going to love this album and play the heck out of it for a very long time to come!

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Splitsville - MOBTOWN

Back in the late '90s and early 2000s, Baltimore-based Splitsville was one of the top bands (if not THE top band) in the indie power pop universe. Now the foursome returns with its first album in 22 years, and it's nothing short of a masterpiece. Out on Big Stir Records, MOBTOWN is an epic and beautifully-crafted love letter to the city of Baltimore. Any version of a reunited Splitsville would have been warmly welcomed in power pop circles, but MOBTOWN is even better than anyone could have imagined. It swings for the fences and crushes the ball out of the park. It's an extraordinary album that enriches the band's already sterling legacy. 

For MOBTOWN, Splitsville has re-assembled its most recent lineup: Brandt and Matt Huseman of the beloved power pop band The Greenberry Woods along with Paul Kryaiak and Tony Waddy. More than two decades since the release of the band's last album Incorporated, the group has picked up right where it left off. MOBTOWN, while truly an ambitious and stylistically varied effort, is built on a foundation of gorgeous melodies, majestic harmonies, and indelible, perfectly-constructed hooks. In other words, this is a master class in guitar pop. While the band doesn't exactly abandon its signature approach of classic power pop with a '90s indie/alternative flavor (check out "A Glorious Lie" and "I Hate Going To Hutzler's"), it also shows the kind of growth you'd expect from a group that had last recorded before YouTube, social media, and vaping existed. "Cold Open" finds the band reintroducing itself to the world and asserting its capacity to rock. "On Federal Hill" and "Southern Hospitality" are practically indie pop mini-symphonies. "Gray" is funky pop reminiscent of Prince — until it isn't. "Fallsways" is breezy '70s rock that ought to be pumping from every yacht on the Chesapeake. "Perry Hall" and "Penn Station" are stunning ballads that find the album concluding with its finest pair of songs. 

Tying it all together is the album's concept. MOBTOWN celebrates the band's hometown — examining everything from its history to its landmarks to its people to the racial divisions that still largely define it. Through storytelling, personal reflections, and social commentaries, the album explores all that is wonderful, flawed, storied, and unique about this great American city. Unlike some concept albums that crumble under the weight of their ambition, this one flows in a way that could not feel more natural. While of course these songs are best heard as one singular set, any of them can be enjoyed outside the context of the larger concept. MOBTOWN has the sweeping power of a great movie or novel, yet ultimately it's just a fantastic set of pop songs. The talent and skill of all the players involved have only progressed over the decades, and any concerns about rekindling that old chemistry are quickly assuaged once the music hits your ears. And the album's production is to die for. Those of you who fondly recall Splitsville from back in the day will not be disappointed. And if this is your introduction to the band, MOBTOWN will have you wanting to dig into all the greatness you have missed.

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Sunday, July 13, 2025

The Scunthorpe Yobs - Kick It 'Til It Breaks


Mick Bladder's mighty punk/Oi! super-group The Scunthorpe Yobs are back with album #2, which does not mess around with a winning recipe. Also featuring members of bands such as Oil!, The Generators, The Randumbs, and Smogtown, The Scunthorpe Yobs are based in Southern California but sound like they just stepped out of the U.K. circa 1979-82. If you dig classic Oi! a la Cockney Rejects, Angelic Upstarts, and Sham 69 along with tougher first wave U.K. punk (Menace, UK Subs) and early '80s British street punk (Anti-Nowhere League, Blitz), The Scunthorpe Yobs will be right up your alley. Having already nailed this sound perfectly on 2023's We Are The Yobs, the band was going to be challenged to top itself. But I must say that Kick It 'Til It Breaks is even stronger than its predecessor, pounding out ten tracks of beer-swilling, first-pumping, teeth-kicking punk rock that mixes serious social commentary with boorish humor and a fuck-off attitude. Of course songs like "Hey Wanker," "Lager Frenzy," and "Two Finger Salute" live up to the promise of their titles. But "Council Estates," "Class War," and "Sing Through the Pain" prove that these self-proclaimed yobs are far more thoughtful and sophisticated than they let on. When it comes to old school street punk, this album checks all the boxes. These songs are powerful and aggressive yet also tuneful, anthemic, and fun to sing along with (preferably with a pint in your hand). If you didn't think music like this was still being made, well, you're wrong! Kick It 'Til It Breaks will be best enjoyed if played loud enough to piss off your neighbors, co-workers, or family members. It's available now from the iconic No Front Teeth Records!

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Saturday, July 12, 2025

Friends of Cesar Romero - "Empress of the South Pole"/"Florencia"


Man, I'm doing a really bad job at being a Friends of Cesar Romero super-fan! I last reviewed the band on June 14th and was apparently asleep when it released new music on two occasions later in the month. And then in came another single while I was on vacation this week. So let's catch up. The digital single "Florencia" is #46 in the Doomed Babe Series, and it's a loud and tremendously catchy power pop rocker with amazing lyrics that say more in two minutes than some novels do in hundreds of pages. J. Waylon writes songs like this so well that you might be tempted to take it for granted. But please don't! If you need Exhibit A to demonstrate why Friends of Cesar Romero is one of the best bands out there, crank "Florencia" at full blast and marvel at some masters' class power pop! "Empress of the South Pole," released earlier this week, is a two-track digital single and #47 in the Doomed Babe Series. Lead track "Like Extracting Teeth From The Jaws Of Death" is a kick-ass garage rocker that digs deep into the pain of loving someone who just can't stop jerking you around. Man, you can really feel the pain in this one. It lives up to its title for sure. On the digital flipside, the title track is a jangly pop song exploring a situation where the heartbreak is mutual but there's hope of starting over. The optimist in me believes that perhaps this particular babe isn't so doomed. Then again, in the Friends of Cesar Romero universe, happy endings are rare. And guess what? "Empress of the South Pole" and "Florencia" were actually preceded by All Goodbyes Aren't Bad Cause This Goodbye Is For Good, which was # 45 1/2 in the Doomed Babe Series. Three of the songs on the EP were previously released on Bandcamp but not on the streaming sites. They've been remastered and bundled with a new song called "Finish Him," which cleverly uses the brutality of Mortal Combat as a metaphor for the devastation of heartbreak. The "new old" songs on the EP are "Summer Boyfriend," "Longing Heart Condition," and "Rebound Baby." If you're not familiar with these tunes (or even if you are), I highly recommend adding this EP to your FOCR collection. And if you don't already have a FOCR collection, what in the world are you waiting for?! 


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Hormones - "If I Was Your Girl"/"Hayley Smith"


The "world's hottest band" returns with single #2, and it's another stone-cold banger! Betty, Stuey, Jim Jim, and Joseph, collectively known as Hormones, are here to stand up for "trans rights and trans wrongs." I am here for it! These delightful humans play absolutely perfect old school pop-punk that's as endearing as it is catchy. Last month's "Out of the House, Out of the Closet" b/w "I Wanna Be Your Herfriend" was such a formidable debut that even a slightly lesser follow-up would have been more than satisfactory. But Hormones are here to show us that that first single was no fluke! "If I Was Your Girl," in fact, might be the best track the band has released so far. It finds the foursome dialing back the tempo just a tad but still living in that world where the Ramones are everything and the only thing. I'm always a sucker for a good love song, and this one is very heartfelt and sweet. Why should straight dudes have a monopoly on writing songs about girls? "Hayley Smith" is a bit faster and punkier, and it's a loving shout-out to a life-changing transgender role model. Sometimes in life, there's nothing more important than meeting someone who is like you or like the person you know you want to become. I love the way Hormones are able to use simple pop songs to reflect on something as serious as life and love from a trans woman's perspective — and to present it in a way that's both very vulnerable and fun to listen to. I love this band and can't wait to hear more!

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Friday, July 11, 2025

Golden Richards - "Jenny on the Run"


It never really feels like summer without a Golden Richards hit in rotation on all the cool indie radio shows. And so here we go with Golden Richards' 2025 summer smash! "Jenny on the Run" is pretty much what you'd expect from this long-running Chicago-based duo: a power pop anthem with bigtime '90s vibes. But what's cool about this band is that it always brings interesting concepts for songs. "Jenny on the Run" might sound like modern power pop via crunching '90s alt-rock, but its lyrical inspiration goes back to the '60s. The song is somewhat inspired by the movie Woodstock and the young people in the film who talked about leaving their homes because they just had to be at Woodstock for the music. More generally, the song is about kids (or anyone) escaping their boring everyday routines through music. Who can't relate to that? The titular Jenny leaves it all behind to dance and rock out at Woodstock, feeling more alive than she ever has. But what I love about this song is that it's more universal than that. The idea of live music being this spiritually thrilling thing where you connect with like-minded souls and escape your shitty reality transcends time. Jenny may have been on an odyssey to experience Jimi Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone live, but the same story could be set in any year with any other artists. The song is vintage Golden Richards: rocking, tuneful, and chock full of hooks. It's got majestic vocals, all sorts of guitar heroics, and a bridge to die for. This, my friends, is rock 'n' roll! Crank this tune loudly in the car with the windows down and let the music take you far away from whatever might bum you out. 

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