Real Sickies - Under a Plastic Bag

If you thought Real Sickies' last album Love Is For Lovers was a significant progression from their previous records, wait until you hear their new one! Under a Plastic Bag, the band's fifth album and first in nearly four years, is out now on Stomp Records. Engineered and produced by Joshua Wells (Autogramm, Lightning Dust), this album finds Real Sickies completely transcending their signature punk-pop sound. Ben and the gang really went for it on this release — incorporating influences ranging from late '70s/early '80s new wave & post-punk, '80s college radio, '90s alternative rock, and modern indie rock without straying too far from their classic punk and power pop roots. If the intention was to move things in a weirder, moodier direction, then clearly Wells was a perfect choice for a producer. Not surprisingly, Under a Plastic Bag is a genuine triumph. The band's flair for well-crafted hooks and anthemic choruses remains fully in tact, but this album offers way more variety and sophistication in songwriting than you'd ever expect from a Real Sickies record. If the band's earlier recordings tended to instantly grab you by the throat, this one pulls you in more gently and deliberately. You can't just listen to a song or two and predict what the rest of the album is going to be. A couple tunes like "Over Thought About It" and "Paralyzed" (the best song Teenage Head never wrote!) recall the Real Sickies of old. But for the most part, this album really breaks the mold. On songs such as "Wild Imagination" and "Destinations," you can really hear the more modern vibe the band was going for on this album. "Summer," perhaps my favorite track on the album, is pure pop that's redolent of the early '80s. "Never Going Back" hits that sweet spot where power pop meets '80s alt-rock. "Lost By a Landslide" sounds like something you might have heard on modern rock radio in the early 2000s. The band also does a wonderfully fresh & original interpretation of MOTO's classic "Choking on Your Insides."

Every great punk-pop band has to struggle with how to handle longevity. At some point, you can't continue to make the same record over and over. Love Is For Lovers was a sign that Real Sickies had ambitions beyond three-chord punk. Under a Plastic Bag takes that progression and accelerates it at a rate no one could have foreseen. Working with a producer who not only understands the band but also has a great feel for how to make new wave rock sound relevant and current in the 21st century, Real Sickies have delivered an album that is sure to attract new fans without alienating existing ones. Great album! 

-L.R.

https://realsickies.bandcamp.com/album/under-a-plastic-bag
https://open.spotify.com/album/2GStLX0NY1Cm0ySEIIn5bk
https://www.instagram.com/realsickies
https://www.facebook.com/therealsickies/
https://www.facebook.com/StompRecords

Vista Blue - "Clearing the Benches"

As it traditionally does, Vista Blue has released baseball-themed music to commemorate the beginning of baseball season. This year, that required some early preparation since Major League Baseball chose to start its 2025 regular season nine days before the actual start of the regular season. But Vista Blue was on it, and "Clearing the Benches" is another A+ pop-punk baseball release. 

While classifying Vista Blue as a baseball band would be no more accurate than classifying it as a holiday band or a movie band, I must say it never feels right for baseball season to commence without Vista Blue having had the first word. So by the time the Cubs took the field in Japan against the best team money can buy on Tuesday, "Clearing the Benches" had been released into the world, and I was emotionally ready for the first pitch to be thrown. The title track is a tribute to one of baseball's greatest traditions: dramatic, furious brawls in which no one actually fights. A couple of errant pitches cause tempers to flare. The umpire issues a warning. Someone charges the mound. The benches clear. The bullpens eventually do as well. But who's gonna throw a punch when having two working hands is integral to your livelihood? It's far better to just talk a little smack or go have a chuckle with your old college teammate. Vista Blue has accompanied the release of "Clearing the Benches" with an official music video so you can witness some perfectly family-friendly brawl footage as you listen to the song. And of course I love that the chorus is a callback to an iconic Ramones lyric. On the virtual B-side, "See You Later, Billy Ripken Card" is pretty much the ultimate pop-punk baseball song. If you remember the infamous Fleer Billy Ripken error card, then you know exactly which Queers song is being referenced here and why this song is an absolute work of genius. A ode to profanity this wholesome could only have come from the same guys who gave us "I Didn't Say Fudge" b/w "Notafinga" a couple year ago. For those of you who still own that particular card, you could probably fetch $150 for it. That could buy you 16 dozen eggs these days! 

It can't be easy to produce top-quality baseball songs every year (especially if you're not a baseball band), but Vista Blue has again delivered in the clutch. I'd be a total f**** face if I kept "Clearing the Benches" off my Opening Day playlist.

-L.R.

https://wearevistablue.bandcamp.com/album/clearing-the-benches
https://open.spotify.com/album/1z9DTEYNQ8eKlgFSX9bqSF
https://www.facebook.com/wearevistablue/
https://www.instagram.com/wearevistablue/

Golden Shitters - Brutal Planet

Do you think this whole world is going down the toilet? Do you hate your miserable life and most of the people in it? Have you observed that everything sucks these days? If so, Golden Shitters' new album Brutal Planet is for you. This Hamilton-based band comprised of Matt Ellis, Dave Tyson, and Kyle Fisher has delivered an instant classic of thumping, Ramones-inspired punk rock with lyrics reflecting the zeitgeist of these bleak times. Musically, Golden Shitters strip everything down to the essence of three-chord punk rock, and they do so to perfection. The majority of the 12 songs on Brutal Planet clock in under a minute-and-a-half, and the longest barely eclipses two minutes. The band puts on a clinic on how to be Ramones-inspired without necessarily being "Ramonescore." And I'm definitely hearing some early 2000s Dirtnap Records vibes as well. What this band does is so simple. Yet as I've said numerous times before, simple is hard to do well in music. These guys totally nail this style with fast-paced, catchy tunes and lyrics that are way deeper than it seems on the surface. Basically, anything that Matt Ellis is ever involved with is gold. In this case, it's Golden Shitters. Brutal Planet is a truly perfect punk rock album that will kick you in the teeth leave you wanting more. Push play, crank up the volume, and let your rage flow!

-L.R.

https://goldenshitters.bandcamp.com/album/brutal-planet
https://open.spotify.com/album/3BaXXeEwLeJ9Hxprplqm5A
https://www.instagram.com/goldenshitters

The Roxies - Keep You Up At Night

It has been more than three years since Berlin's The Roxies last released an album. Don't Wanna Dance Because I'm Told To, their debut full-length, came out in January of 2022. It remains one of the most underrated and best albums of this decade's punk rock/power pop scene. Matthew, Bruno, Imke, and Tim have almost certainly topped themselves with the follow-up, Keep You Up At Night, out now on Flight 13 Records in Germany and Dirt Cult Records in the U.S. What I like about this album is that it's a logical  progression from its predecessor. Again, the influence of late '70s/early '80s punk rock and power pop is palpable, but the band's sound is more modern and unique this time through. While still keeping to the efficiency and leanness of classic punk rock (only one song exceeds three-and-a-half minutes), the band embraces less hurried tempos and a greater sophistication in its songwriting. This is exactly what you'd hope for from a band that is now three years more seasoned and whose members have three more years of personal growth to draw from. The Roxies have an even deeper understanding of who they are, and the things that made them great in the first place have only been magnified. 

Keep You Up At Night confronts the demons and crises that could cause any person to lose sleep these days. But it does so with a tremendous sense of purpose and hopefulness. And as serious as these songs are, listening to them is a joyful experience. The love that was put into this music is palpable. High energy, powerhouse tracks like "Animals," "Alright," "Feeling," and "Dissatisfaction" will please anyone who loved the last album.  Yet more measured, moody numbers such as "Nothing Left" and "Estranged" are every bit as good. Elsewhere, the band shows pure pop sensibilities on "Sometimes" and walks the punk/new wave line on the outstanding opener "Lost Control." Musically, this is one of the best bands in modern punk music. Incredible rhythm work propels these songs along and dances intricately with inventive, melodic guitar lines. And out front, Matthew sings his heart out. This is the first band I've heard in years that has kind of reminded me of The Adverts. I can't say enough good things about this band and this album. If you're looking for a classic punk–inspired record that feels genuinely original and current in 2025, you won't do much better than Keep You Up At Night. This one is going to be in the album of the year conversation for sure.

-L.R.

https://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/keep-you-up-at-night
https://roxies.bandcamp.com/album/keep-you-up-at-night
https://open.spotify.com/album/7Iko7grgaCFPOsNOWS3qwq
https://www.facebook.com/theroxiesberlin
https://www.facebook.com/dirtcultrecords
https://www.facebook.com/flight13mailorder

Autogramm - "Randy"

So one of my favorite bands wrote a song about a cat, and of course I'm going nuts! Autogramm, the greatest early '80s new wave band of the 2020s, has another hit on its hands with "Randy." This track really hits a sweet spot for me — it's an upbeat new wave pop earworm with synthesizers in full glory. If The Cars and Devo had a baby, this would be it. The song was originally recorded for Autogramm's most recent album, Music That Humans Can Play. But then some issues arose with the lyrics, so the track was left off the album. At some point, the band realized it had sidelined a great tune. New lyrics, dedicated to drummer The Silo's cat, were written. Vocals were re-recorded, and now we have "Randy"! As a cat lover, I can fully endorse these lyrics. Do people really have sincere heart-to-heart talks with feline friends who are in dire need of a boost of confidence? I know they do, because I've done it! Even if you're not a cat person, you'll have a hard time denying that "Randy" is a total banger! On the B-side, Autogramm takes on The Diodes' punk/new wave classic "Jenny's In A Sleep World," reimagining it in an '80s synth-pop style. They did such a good job that The Diodes themselves endorsed this cover! 

"Randy" (available on vinyl from Dirt Cult Records in the U.S. and Goodwill Records in Germany) has been released in conjunction with Autogramm's upcoming tour of Spain. The tour kicks off March 22nd in Cox and will continue with dates in Granada, Seville, Córdoba, Valladolid, Alcala de Henares, and Madrid. Check out the band's social media for more information, and be sure to grab a copy of "Randy" while you still can!

-L.R.

https://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/randy
https://autogramm.bandcamp.com/album/randy
https://open.spotify.com/album/6SLEU89kVdc2H7Wbq2joyV

https://www.facebook.com/autogrammband/
https://www.instagram.com/autogrammband/

https://dirtcultrecords.bigcartel.com/product/autogramm-randy-7

Ryan Allen - "I Should (But I Don't Really Wanna)"

It was just a little less than ten years ago when I first got hip to Ryan Allen — who by then was already a two-decade veteran of the underground music scene. If I ever did a list of favorite albums I've reviewed for this blog, Heart String Soul would be on it. Within the first 74 seconds of "Should Be Me," I knew I was going to love the album. And Allen was instantly one of my favorite artists. Since then, I've had the great privilege of chronicling his career, and I highly recommend anything he has ever written or played on. But there's something in particular about his home-recorded stuff that really hits the spot for me. And as I listen to his new single, "I Should (But I Don't Really Wanna) b/w "Anxious All the Time," I'm reminded so much of the first time I heard his music. These songs are giving those same vibes. Not every songwriter is cut out for solo work, but Allen seems to be made for it. There's something about having complete creative control that really allows him to shine as a songwriter. Both songs on this new single are taken from his forthcoming album Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge, which he describes as "the most ME record I've ever made." So first of all, that title is brilliant. And second of all, I am beyond excited for another album where Ryan Allen essentially tells the world, "Hey! This is who I am!" He certainly chose well with these two single tracks — which will give you all the feels if you have a soft spot for crunchy, vaguely melancholy early '90s indie power pop a la Teenage Fanclub and Lemonheads. But I'm also looking forward to hearing where Allen goes with the rest of the record. Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge promises to be a culmination of all the musical influences that have shaped him as an artist over the past 30+ years. 

When I started this blog back in 2011, I was strictly a genre geek. You could argue I'm still genre-driven in what I write about, and that would be fair. But I feel like, over the years, I've become more of a fan of particular artists and bands as opposed to a fan of specific musical genres. That was the way I got into music as a little kid, and I seem to be going back to that in my older age. That's why I don't get tired of writing about certain bands over and over and over. Ryan Allen certainly knows how to write a great pop song. But beyond, I just really like him as singer and songwriter. And unless he starts playing nu metal, I look forward to following his artistic progression for another decade at least. Livin' On A Prayer On The Edge will be out April 25th, and pre-ordering is now open on Bandcamp. I'll have lots more to say next month!

-L.R.

https://ryanallen.bandcamp.com/album/livin-on-a-prayer-on-the-edge
https://open.spotify.com/album/1y6tzeN7TklOhkC0ZiqUnR
https://www.instagram.com/ryanallenmuzik/

Vista Blue - "She Doesn't Wanna Be Your Rally Girl"

A new album from Vista Blue based on the first season of the acclaimed television series based on the popular motion picture based on the iconic Buzz Bissinger book Friday Night Lights is absolutely something I want and need in my life. Clear Eyes, Full Hearts will release on April 5th — the tenth anniversary of Vista Blue's very first release, Good Eye. There's something wonderfully poetic about a group that is often dismissed as a "baseball band" commemorating a decade of its existence with a full album of football-themed songs. In advance of the album, the band has made the track "She Doesn't Wanna Be Your Rally Girl" available for you listening pleasure. In typical Vista Blue fashion, this track is such an exhilarating and infectious slice of pop-punk that it absolutely won't matter if you've never seen Friday Night Lights. While I have no problem liking dozens of pop-punk bands who essentially write the same song over and over for years and years, I must admit that Vista Blue's lyrical originality completely delights me. Who else in this universe would think of making this album? It's just a super-fun idea. Vista Blue, well-known to turn to sports or popular culture for musical inspiration, will be drawing from both on this album. Given how inclined I am to geek out over a great number of things, it's no surprise that Vista Blue is one of my favorite bands. I get it if you wish these guys wrote more love songs. But if you write about what you love, isn't every song a love song? Now when are we getting a song about Abita AndyGator?

-L.R.

https://wearevistablue.bandcamp.com/album/clear-eyes-full-hearts
https://radiantradish.storenvy.com/products/36895804-vista-blue-clear-eyes-full-hearts-cd
https://www.facebook.com/wearevistablue/