TA-80 - 25

After releasing three albums in four years, Arizona's mega-awesome pop-punk rock 'n' roll power quintet TA-80 came into 2026 with a clear plan: play a bunch of shows, record a bunch of singles and EPs, and start writing the best album of 2027. Why stop when you're on a roll? 

This is a particularly significant year for the band since it marks the 25th anniversary of its formation. To celebrate its 26th year as a band (yeah, that's how the math works), TA-80 has dusted off four songs from its early years and re-recorded them for 25, a brand-new EP that is out now on Allegedly Records. You can find TA-80's digital catalog online tracing back to 2010. But there's also an early catalog of titles you can only hear if you own the original CD-Rs, cassettes, compilation albums, reel-to-reel tapes, VHS videos, floppy discs, voice mails, etc. The band would be the first to tell you that they hadn't fully found their sound when they wrote and recorded a lot of that stuff. But for this release, the band chose four songs from its early 2000s period that it found worthy of revisiting and re-recording. So they dug out their iPods, guzzled lots of SoBe Lizard Fuel, frosted their tips, and transported themselves back in time. Exactly 26 copies of a CD release were pressed — one representing each year that this planet has had the pleasure of existing with TA-80 in it. Each copy is unique and comes with caringly hand-drawn art representing a particular year in the storied life of TA-80. If you didn't know these were old songs, you might think it was just a cool new EP from one of your favorite bands. These tracks are legit good, and certainly they benefit from the "We know now what we didn't know then" perspective that the band brought to this project.   

"Radio Beehive" (which originally appeared on TA-80s's 2001 album '80-'83) pulls no punches. It's almost straight-up '80s metal. Check that: it is straight-up '80s metal, and it totally kicks ass. It's fun, loud, and sure to rock your face off. These folks always knows how to get the party started, and here they do just that! You think I won't have the intestinal fortitude to choose this track for embedding? Try me! "No Call No Show," originally a 2005 demo for the band's mid-2000s lost album, 40 oz. Rose, takes the EP in a very different direction. It has more of a laidback, fuzzed-out '90s alternative rock/power pop vibe to it, and it shows that TA-80 can do pure pop with the best of 'em. "Super Slob," from the 2003 album TA-80 Are Go!, is vintage 2000s-style pop-punk that's catchy as hell but still packs a punch. "This City Night," also written for the ill-fated 40 oz. Rose, closes things out with anthemic rock energy. TA-80 might not play stadiums, but it sure makes music that could fill them. I love that this release embraces the band's past yet aligns wonderfully with its present vibe. And it's neat to hear four different members of TA-80 on lead vocals (Russ sings "Super Slob," and Jens duets with Amy on "This City Night"). Bandcamp and CD versions come with bonus tracks culled from a couple of split singles the band has done recently with The Femurs and Rob Moss and Skintight Skin (more on that one in a couple days!). 

When I say a release is limited, that usually means 100 copies. But with only 26 copies of 25 made and a few already spoken for, you best not dilly-dally if you want to get your hands on that sweet polycarbonate plastic! Tonight I will drink to the first 25 years of TA-80 and hope I'm still around to review 50 when it comes out. By then, we'll be nostalgic for the good old days before the robots fully took over! 

-L.R.

https://ta80.bandcamp.com/album/25-e-p
https://open.spotify.com/album/311ZG6XthmGEC3Bj0RhLug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dguU9vcsomI&list=OLAK5uy_mijAxD0KHDx3Zi2Z5xHWJU6-xnYCujkW4
https://www.facebook.com/ta80band/
https://www.instagram.com/ta80band/

The Lemon Drop Gang - Wreckless Eyeballs

The Gang is back, and you have been properly warned! Wreckless Eyeballs is the sixth in a string of singles released by desert-pop superheroes The Lemon Drop Gang between 2023 and today. Like most of the installments in the series, it arrived without prior notice. One day, I wasn't even thinking about new music from The Lemon Drop Gang; the next, new songs were stampeding out of my headphones and making plans for permanent residency in my head. 

Me calling The LDG the best band on the Rum Bar Records roster is no hot take. And every new release adds to the growing mountain of evidence. On a surface level, this is a band that almost anyone who reads this blog can enjoy. Garage pop with a punk rock urgency is a vital part of all our musical diets. But at a deeper level, you've never heard a band quite like this one. The way this band can milk such a pleasurable listening experience out of the darkest and strangest subject matter never ceases to amaze me. Even their most bitter pills hit the tongue like hard candy. Every song is a window into the brilliant and utterly unique mind of Steph O'Halloran. Even on record, her presence is commanding and enthralling. Her songwriting partnership with husband Johnny produces an enticing sonic stew with a rare depth of flavor. 

The title track of the new EP was something I never could have anticipated: a haunting, five-minute Western epic that breaks completely from the band's usual two-minute minimalism. Steph sounds like she's purging poison from her soul, and the musical performances (hey there, D. Walker and Matt Rendon!) are so flawless that an instrumental remix on track 2 was fully warranted. You could be a skeptic and call a second version of "Wreckless Eyeballs" superfluous, but there's something fascinating about hearing the same desert dirge repeated with J. Clay Koweek's pedal steel essentially doing the "singing." It's like they're both the same song but also not the same song. Who knew we needed ten minutes of "Wreckless Eyeballs"? I will always admire a band that's willing to take chances on an idea that not everyone will get. 

The final track "Comin' To Get Him" was originally done by Steph's old band Tulip Sweet and Her Trail of Tears. Here it receives a proper Lemon Drop Gang makeover — finding the band back in the fuzzy garage punk/pop lane with a hint of spy flick soundtrack. Steph's vocal is fierce, and those lyrics are totally bonkers in the very best way. Johnny kills it on guitar, and that rhythm section locks in tightly. That hook is worth its weight in gold. If ever a song needed to be revived for the world of 2026, this was it! 

With 13 new tracks released since its first album came out, The Lemon Drop Gang more or less has a whole second LP already in virtual existence. They could comp these tracks now and instantly have one of the best albums of the year. Whether that project is imminent or a little further down the road remains to be seen. But if you're not keeping up with all this stuff, you're missing out on one of the most extraordinary indie bands of the moment. Head on up to the bar and let Lou hook you up with this triple shot of spiked punch!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/wreckless-eyeballs-comin-to-get-him
https://www.facebook.com/lemondropgang/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

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

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

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

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

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mind-and-wine
https://www.facebook.com/lemondropgang/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords/
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

Lesser Creatures - "People Suck!"

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

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0vEa0ZBaKisAVbilEZuq9B
https://www.facebook.com/lessercreatures/
https://www.instagram.com/lessercreatures/#

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!  

-L.R.

https://ta80.bandcamp.com/album/open-late
https://open.spotify.com/album/1hPylTvgpBpISDHMdgKaRt
https://ta-80.hearnow.com/open-late
https://www.facebook.com/ta80band/
https://www.instagram.com/ta80band/
https://www.youtube.com/user/jaminta80

TA-80 - "Roller Rink Days"

On its new single, Arizona's TA-80 is hitting all my sweet spots. Not only does "Roller Rink Days" mix up the perfect cocktail of punk, pop, and rock, but it also pays homage to the culture of roller rinks. Man, when I was a kid, there was literally no place better to be than the roller rink. You had skating, killer tunes, arcade games, snacks, and quality time with your friends under the glow of ultraviolet light. So yeah,  "Roller Rink Days" is giving me all the feels. It's fun and anthemic like any TA-80 song, and the music video is an absolute hoot. The band's new album Open Late will be out next month, so make sure you are ready to rock. Y'all can loiter by the Space Invaders machine all day as far as I'm concerned!

-L.R.

https://ta80.bandcamp.com/track/roller-rink-days-3
https://open.spotify.com/album/6A8mkSGnZDHqWbNkaf8wSa
https://www.facebook.com/ta80band
https://www.youtube.com/user/jaminta80
https://www.instagram.com/ta80band/

The Lemon Drop Gang - "Somethin'"

Well, this was quite the nice surprise! We've got brand-new music from the mighty Lemon Drop Gang? Holy crap! Even with a little advance notice, I didn't manage to have a new single from one of my favorite bands reviewed in time for release day. So here I am a day late and hopefully less than a dollar short. I've hinted/implied/suggested that The Lemon Drop Gang might be my favorite band on the entire Rum Bar Records roster. That's some big talk, but this band is more than worthy of that level of adulation. 

Somethin' is the fourth in a series of five singles from The Lemon Drop Gang. And in the case of this band, a "single" means what it's supposed to mean: two songs! The plan is to eventually compile all of these singles into an album that can rightfully be declared filler-free. So now lets' get into Somethin'. The two tracks are "Something Brings Me Down" and "Something Real." And they're exactly what you'd expect from The Lemon Drop Gang: sublimely crafted garage pop songs which meld unabashedly dark vibes with intoxicating melodies. On the virtual A-side, "Something Brings Me Down" is a slinking shot of psychedelic desert pop that really plays to the band's strengths: Steph O'Halloran's one-of-a-kind vocal presence and lyrical ingenuity, Johnny O'Halloran's mesmerizing lead guitar, and the unheralded brilliance of rhythm players D. Walker and Matt Rendon. This song highlights the band's ability to draw from timeless '60s pop music in a way that's highly inventive and completely unique in the contemporary garage rock scene. Steph O'Halloran's vocal on this track just about gives me chills. Few singers have the stuff to lure you in like this and then walk you to the brink of madness. "Something Real" picks up the pace a little and is more of a straight-forward guitar pop song. But again, there's something slightly sinister and a little disconcerting lurking beneath all that poppy goodness. It's like swallowing a sweet candy that becomes way more delicious when you notice the splendidly sour aftertaste. This is what happens when you have a great singer working in perfect harmony with a dynamite band. As a creative team, the O'Hallorans are something special. And the band's rhythm section really stands out here just by not trying to stand out. The Lemon Drop Gang is a band firing on all cylinders, and I'll enthusiastically double down on everything I've been saying about this Arizona foursome. This is the best band on Rum Bar Records. I can hardly wait for the next single!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/somethin
https://www.facebook.com/lemondropgang/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

The Lemon Drop Gang - "Leave The World Behind"

The Lemon Drop Gang has been quickly rising up my list of favorite bands on the Rum Bar label —  and favorite bands, period! This band has it all: a talented & charismatic lead singer, a unique sound, serious musical chops, and incredible songs. Steph and Johnny O'Halloran, along with Danny Walker and Matt Rendon, really have something special going with their new single, "Leave The World Behind." It follows a couple of fantastic singles released last year. In typical Lemon Drop Gang fashion, both songs on this single manage to be both dark and totally intoxicating at the same time. That's the sweet spot (or perhaps bittersweet spot) for much of what I find appealing in this world. The title track adds some surf rock tones to the band's desert-tinged '60s garage vibes. It captures the angst and hopelessness of modern times and streamlines it all into a minute-and-a-half of perfect garage pop with a punk rock attitude. Steph turns in a great vocal, and Rendon's drumming makes it feel believable that the band just stepped out of a time machine from 1966. Johnny's guitar work, as always, is nothing short of mesmerizing. Could any song in 2024 be more relatable than this one? On the B-side, "Let the World Stay!" is punkier and delightfully bleak, propelled by Steph's urgent & inspired lead vocal. Both of these songs get the job done without any messing around — satisfying completely yet still leaving you wanting more. It goes without saying that this is one of the top singles of the year. And how amazing is that art work?

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/leave-the-world-behind
https://www.facebook.com/lemondropgang/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

TA-80 - Turn It Up!

One of the best things about doing a music blog is that I'm constantly receiving an education. It seems like the more I learn, the less I know about this massive universe of underground music. Arizona's TA-80 has been around long enough to have contributed to that Queers tribute album that came out on Asian Man Records 17 years ago. They've got a catalog of releases dating back to 2010. Yet I am just now becoming hip to this delightful punk rock band from the American Southwest. TA-80's new album is called Turn It Up! It is available on cassette and compact disc from Snubbed by Allegedly Records (a collaboration between Pennsylvania record label Allegedly Records and Maryland label Snubbed Records). Now of course the fastest way to my heart is to put a cat on your album cover. But in all seriousness, I dug this record from the moment I first hit the play button. This band plays raw & energetic poppy punk with hints of new wave and straight-up rock. I love the mix of melody and grit. When it comes to showing enthusiasm and having fun in a totally palpable way, TA-80 really hits the mark. This is the kind of band I would have loved when I was first getting into punk. It understands how to write quality tunes while still keeping some of that roughness around the edges. I really dig the dual vocals, and there's something special about a band that can go from a raging hardcore song straight into a five-minute anthem that sounds like it could fill up an arena. This album makes me wanna jump up and down and shout nonsensical interjections for the sheer joy of it. Turn it up indeed!

-L.R.

https://ta80.bandcamp.com/album/turn-it-up
https://open.spotify.com/album/1tuWo5oqQyLdQ3lhjg9u4s
https://www.instagram.com/ta80band/
https://www.facebook.com/ta80band
https://www.allegedlyrecords.com/snubbedbyallegedly

The Exbats - Song Machine

It's official: The Exbats are the best band in the world. Two years on from their wonderful pandemic-inspired release Now Where Were We, daughter/dad duo Inez and Kenny McLain (joined by Bobby Carlson and Matt Rendon) have topped themselves once again. Out on Goner Records, new album Song Machine finds the McLains steering their musical time machine into the early 1970s. Palpable on this release is their affection for that often-overlooked post-'60s, pre-punk era of popular music. Yet their style remains more timeless than retro — truly a sound for all ages. The album's title suggests a goldmine of hit singles, and that's exactly what it delivers. Inspired by the walls of 45s that adorned record stores in Kenny McLain's youth, Song Machine finds The Exbats writing new pop anthems for the 21st century. 

While Song Machine continues The Exbats' progression towards more sophisticated songwriting and production, it retains the charm, energy, and sense of fun that made the band such a breath of fresh air in the late 2010s garage punk scene. With their exquisite harmonies and easygoing, hummable melodies, tracks like "Riding With Paul," "Singalong Tonight," "What a Song Can Do," and "The Happy Castaway" hearken back to the glory days of AM radio pop. When it comes to pure pop songs, nobody does it better than The Exbats. But while The Exbats have expanded from their punk rock roots, they certainly haven't abandoned them. "To All The Mothers That I'd Like To Forgive" is a searing rocket of punky '60s girl group goodness. "Food Fight" brings to mind early-period Ramones — hardly a surprise considering the two bands' shared musical DNA. The moment I heard "Like It Like I Do," I jotted the words "vintage Exbats" in my notes. In my daydreams, I envision "Cry About Me" topping the charts as stadiums full of humans joyfully scream the words "I'm overdue to fuck off outta here!" Elsewhere, the band flirts with styles as varied as orchestral pop, country rock, garage rock, and doo wop. Song Machine manages to be all over the place stylistically yet sound definitively like The Exbats. And that's a beautiful thing. 

The genius of The Exbats is that they create music that's steeped in reverence for the past yet find a way to make it new. From the songs to the production to the packaging of the record, Song Machine has the appeal of an artifact from an era that seemingly no longer exists — a reminder of how great music "used to be." In truth, though, this album announces how great music can still be and actually is. While so many of The Exbats' influences are obvious, they don't merely rehash them. They write remarkable songs about life and love in the modern world — many of which could very well influence future generations of rock 'n' roll. If you're a parent, you'd want to inspire your kid to be the next Inez McLain. If you're a kid, you'd want to inspire your parent to be the next Kenny McLain. It's never too late or too early in life to pick up a guitar or pair of drumsticks and find your passion. As Song Machine's extraordinary middle cuts "Singalong Tonight" and "What a Song Can Do" make clear, The Exbats are music lovers above all else. Song Machine, which ought to open older fans' minds to newer bands and lead younger fans to seek out some of the inspirations behind these song, spreads that love in a massive way. 

-L.R.

https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/album/song-machine
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats
https://www.instagram.com/theexbats
https://goner-records.com/products/exbats-song-machine-lp-goner
https://www.youtube.com/@theexbats5477

The Lemon Drop Gang - "Sweetie Pie" b/w "The Party's Over"

There's nothing I love more in music than a perfect single. Give me an A-side I want to play over and over with another hit on the flip, and I'm a happy camper. I was a very happy camper the moment I first experienced The Lemon Drop Gang's new Rum Bar Records release "Sweetie Pie." I played the lead track four times in a row because I couldn't get enough! While the format is not vinyl but rather compact disc, the effect is the same. This is a bite-sized piece of punky pop goodness from one of the best bands out there. These are the first new tunes from The Lemon Drop Gang since they unveiled their debut long player I'm Not the One! seven years ago (Rum Bar released the album on CD in 2020). And they do not disappoint! "Sweetie Pie" and "The Party's Over" will delight anyone craving more of The Lemon Drop Gang's wonderfully weird, fiercely original, and intoxicatingly tuneful desert garage pop. 

"Sweetie Pie" is vintage Lemon Drop Gang fare. It will make you want to dance and sing along even as it brandishes a sharp knife's edge. In this disdainful kiss-off of a jerky suitor, dynamic lead singer Steph O'Halloran holds back nothing. Both her lyrics and the way she chooses to emphasize them are pure gold. I love that the song is sharply humorous but also deeply profound in what it has to say about gender inequality. In typical Lemon Drop Gang fashion, this tune brings together all the best elements of garage rock, girl groups, '60s pop, and punk rock in a novel and unique way. Johnny O'Halloran's guitar playing is a true thing of beauty! On the virtual B-side, "The Party's Over" feels like a requiem for pre-pandemic times. The song reflects on our collective loss of innocence in a way that's truthful yet not entirely hopeless. I'm struck by the perfect harmony between Johnny O'Halloran's melodic guitar and Danny Walker's dancing bass. Steph O'Halloran, who has a gift for taking a classic pop song and twisting it into something truly haunting, is in top form on this track. Once the music stops, I find the song's melody and vocal lingering in my head. 

The first great single of 2023 comes from The Lemon Drop Gang! I can think of few bands with a better grasp on how to accentuate the contrast between a pure pop melody and a classic punk rock vocal. Then again, there just aren't many living punk singers who can match the guts, power, and sheer personality of Steph O'Halloran. If these tracks are a sign of what's to come from The Lemon Drop Gang, we are definitely in for a treat with the next album. This single was recorded by Matt Rendon, and I don't think there's ever been a more perfect marriage of a band and a recording engineer. For a while, I've considered The Lemon Drop Gang one of the most underrated bands on the Rum Bar roster. If you find "Sweetie Pie" to your liking, do yourself a favor and acquire I'm Not The One! ASAP!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sweetie-pie
https://www.facebook.com/lemondropgang
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Lesser Creatures - Issue 2

It seems like just last year that Lesser Creatures released their debut album Issue One. That's because it was just last year that Lesser Creatures released their debut album Issue One! Exactly 11 months following my review of Issue One, I have the tremendous pleasure to review the follow-up, Issue 2. With a little help from his friends (such as Zac Buzzkill, Ruben Patino, and Black Russian 666), Nick Spoon has turned out another album of textbook pop-punk. With this release, he has essentially created his musical diary for 2021 -- which turned out to be one of the best years of his life. This is a nice change-up from the usual misery of "pandemic" releases. Now that doesn't mean that every song is happy-go-lucky. But taken as a whole, this is an album about making the most of your circumstances and living your best life. I heard "Nobody's Keeping Score" last year at a time when I felt particularly discouraged by the rising tide of extremism, conspiracy lunacy, and general toxicity in modern-day society. This song offers a perspective on that issue that really lifted my sprits. Simply put, life is too short for you to let that shit -- or anything else -- drag you down. You don't have to worry that the bad guys are winning if you simply realize that there is no competition. Throughout Issue 2, Nick applies that same general philosophy to various aspects of his life. Just because it was a great year, that didn't mean it was a perfect year. But through all the trials and tribulations, our hero emerges triumphant. Let's hear it for the good guys of the world! Musically, this is everything you would expect from a Lesser Creatures album. Nick wears the influence of Lookout! era Screeching Weasel on his sleeve but still puts 100% of himself into these songs. He can write a catchy tune like nobody's business. And even though this set of songs is extremely personal, it's still great fun. Cleverly released on 2/22/22, Issue Two is highly recommend to any superfan of '90s pop-punk. It's available on compact disc from the mighty OUTLOUD! Records or in digital form from Lesser Creatures' Bandcamp. Amazing cover art is by Paulinho Tscherniak!

-L.R.

https://outloudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/issue-2
https://lessercreatures.bandcamp.com/album/issue-2
https://www.facebook.com/lessercreatures/
https://www.facebook.com/OUTLOUDrecords/

The Exbats - Now Where Were We

The Exbats have turned out a classic '60s pop album that somehow manages to sound completely current in 2021. Given that Inez McClain and her dad Kenny have been making music together for over a decade, it wouldn't be quite right to say that Now Where Were We finds The Exbats "coming into their own". But the album does complete the band's transition to a pure pop sound. On this release, the McClains and bandmate Bobby Carlson dig deep into their love for mid-'60s American pop music. When I saw that The Mamas & the Papas and Sonny & Cher were primary reference points for Now Where Were We, I figured this album would be up my alley. I was not wrong! 

Recording with Matt Rendon at his Midtown Island Studios, The Exbats certainly had the perfect engineer to help them realize the sound they aspired to. Now Where Were We is classic not just in style but also in recording approach. There's no high-tech trickery going on here -- just a real band playing and singing music straight to analog tape. The result is an album that sounds like it could have been made in 1966, but with lyrics and a perspective that are fully contemporary. In terms of musical influences, the album touches on so much of what made the '60s remarkable: psychedelic and baroque pop, girl groups, bubblegum, R & B, and even country music. The album's 12 tracks are loaded with instantly memorable choruses, majestic harmonies, and lyrics which skillfully imbue dark subject matter with hope and humor. Written last year over a nine-month period, Now Where Were We is The Exbats' pandemic record. It's full of songs that acknowledge a bleak time but also find cause for optimism. How can you not love a pandemic record that opens with a song about Scooby-Doo? And while this album has its weighty moments (the spectacular "Hey New Zealand" is a haunting ode to climate change), it's all in all a feelgood pop record. In particular, songs like "Best Most Least Worst", the Shangri-Las inspired "I Don't Wanna Feel Dead", and the beautiful "One Foot in the Light" throw lifelines to anyone overcome by the despair of 2020-21. It's probably cheesy to proclaim that this album will make people feel less alone in tough times, but I can't think of a better way to say it. 

Now Where Were We tackles the complexity of the COVID experience with the most fundamental musical approach. As a songwriting team, Inez and Kenny McClain excel at crafting timeless pop songs that are catchy and melodious and impossible to resist. If you experience the "Where have I heard this melody before?" sensation, that's half the fun! Now Where Were We is that rare pandemic record that's actually enjoyable to listen to and that rare old school pop record that appeals to every conceivable generation. Get it now from Goner Records!

-L.R.

https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/album/now-where-were-we
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats
https://goner-records.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gonerrecords

French Girls - self titled

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, French Girls are fronted by Che Beret (aka Chela from The Peeps and Hell on Heels). Chela is an alumnus of some of the coolest record labels this planet has ever known: Bomp!, Dionysus, Sympathy for the Record Industry, and Lipstick Records. You can now add Rum Bar Records to that formidable list. Out today on Rum Bar is the first full-length album from French Girls -- which kicks out ten tracks of exhilarating garage punk in just 21 minutes. Joining Chela (bass, vocals) are guitarist Jean Jacques Clouseau III, guitarist Michel Ouioui, and drummer Chiffon Baton (let us take a brief moment to applaud the sheer brilliance of those stage names!). Musically, this band totally hits that sweet spot where garage rock intersects with punk rock. That may seem like an obvious definition of garage punk, but these days you can't be too sure. French Girls bring us the real deal stuff: simple trashy pop tunes that are full of energy and attitude and straight-up fun to listen to. This band doesn't believe in any sort of musical excess. None of these tracks go too far past two minutes, and you never have to wait long for a hook. My first thought after popping this disc into my car player was, "This sounds like it could have come out on SFTRI a couple of decades ago!". The modern-day garage scene is sorely missing more bands like this, and I will gladly deign to cliché and call this album a breath of fresh air. "No Morals" is an instant garage punk classic. "Summertime" merits permanent placement on your "essential summer songs" playlist. "Aerobicise", re-recorded from the band's 2013 debut EP, is one minute and 45 seconds of pure energy and excitement. These ten tracks always fly by in what seems like a flash, and then I just push play and re-start the fun! If you, as I, fondly recall the late '90s/early 2000s heyday of garage punk, this debut long player from French Girls will be music to your ears.

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/french-girls
https://frenchgirlsphx.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/frenchgirlsphx
https://www.instagram.com/frenchgirlsphx/
https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/french-girls

The Lemon Drop Gang - I'm Not the One!

I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but Rum Bar Records has added another great band to its roster! The Lemon Drop Gang hails from Tucson, Arizona and features Johnny O'Halloran (Magnatone, Tina and the Total Babes, Nikki Corvette and the Stingrays) on guitar and his wife Steph (Tulip Sweet and Her Trail of Tears) on vocals. Johnny O'Halloran is, of course, from Boston's famous O'Halloran family. He and Malibu Lou have been pals for decades, so it's only fitting that The Lemon Drop Gang are now officially Rum Bar recording artists!

A band name like The Lemon Drop Gang perhaps suggests a sweet indie pop group. Well let's just say that names can be deceiving! Reissued today on Rum Bar, the band's 2016 debut album I'm Not the One is indeed a really great pop/punk/garage/rock and roll record with hooks for days. But it's also quite haunting and at times straight-up creepy - a perfect album for the Halloween season! Steph O'Halloran is a powerhouse on lead vocals. Her voice has an amazing tone but also an undeniable presence. Once you hear her voice, it's hard to get it out of your mind. A running theme of this album is "tales of psychotic love". It's full of songs about obsession, possession, outright stalking, and love gone horribly, horribly wrong. I'm not a big horror guy in the traditional sense. But if you're talking about psychological horror, well that's way more my speed. Steph O'Halloran has got a sick and twisted mind, and I absolutely LOVE it! I appreciate how many of these songs seem so pleasant and tuneful at first listen before you really dig into the lyrics. Then things turn scary. 

Musically, The Lemon Drop Gang is drawing a lot from '60s pop and girl groups as well as '70s punk and new wave. They are at their core a melodic guitar pop band. But their songs have hidden layers and take surprising turns. And in there with the punk, garage, and power pop influences, you can definitely hear some eerie, distinctly southwestern undertones. Songs range from fierce and punky ("Hit the Wall", "Bubble Yum") to beautifully haunting ("Ghost", "You Just Don't Know It") to perfectly pop ("Georgie"). Moving away from the general theme of the album, "Georgie" is a response to the The Seekers' 1967 hit "Georgy Girl". If you've ever listened to "Georgy Girl" and thought, "God, that's such terrible advice!",  you will feel much better about "Georgie". This song celebrates individuality and advises against the trap of living your whole life in accordance to what society expects of you. That's a wonderful and powerful message, and "Georgie" is one of the year's most essential independent singles. Another highlight is closing track "Time To Myself" - a true anthem for those who want nothing more than to get away from everything and everyone. Talk about a song that really holds up in 2020! 

I'm Not the One is a stunning debut from one of the most unique and fascinating garage pop bands I've come across in a long time. It's definitely a pop record, but in a wonderfully twisted way. Of course these songs will quickly have you tapping your toes and humming along. But they'll stay with you long after that and just might haunt your dreams. The Lemon Drop Gang have been around a long time and are fixtures of the Tucson music scene. I can only hope that being on a label like Rum Bar will bring them the international exposure and adoration they so richly deserve. Don't let 'em change ya, Georgie! 

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/im-not-the-one
https://thelemondropgang.bandcamp.com/album/im-not-the-one
https://www.facebook.com/lemondropgang/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

The Resonars - Disappear

Disappear, the latest album from The Resonars, finds one of our finest modern-day pop craftsmen operating at the peak of his powers. For over 20 years, Matt Rendon has been making first-rate '60s-inspired psychedelic pop records under the Resonars name. His output has been remarkably consistent and ever faithful to the 1965-67 era of popular music. While Disappear does feature appearances from members of Rendon's live band on a couple of tracks, it was for the most part recorded entirely by Rendon in his home studio. As always, he wears the influence of The Byrds, Zombies, Hollies, and later '60s Who & Kinks on his sleeve. And as always, the quality of his songwriting and vocal arrangements is at a level comparable to the top bands of the psychedelic pop era. 

Listening to Disappear, I find myself marveling that Rendon recorded those majestic harmonies all by himself. He's not just a one-man band; he's a one-man chorus! On this release, he moves seamlessly from the quintessential psych-pop of "My Fog" to the jangly proto power pop of "How Did You Get Here?" to the Beatlesque "No Little Plans" to the Pet Sounds influenced "Don't Ever Disappear" to the marvelous, Who-inspired "Brown, Baby". If it weren't for the vintage glam rock strains of "Let's Bring It On Home", you could probably be convinced that this album was actually made in 1966! The two cover selections (The Mamas and the Papas' "Even If I Could" and the Herman's Hermits hit "Don't Go Out in the Rain") are beautifully-executed and perfectly complementary to Rendon's originals. 

There aren't many bands/artists that can get away with spending an entire career in the same stylistic lane. The Resonars are one of those few. If you could write psychedelic pop songs this good, why would you ever want to stop? And by operating (mostly) alone, Rendon has near complete control of his artistic vision. Disappear finds him excelling as a songwriter, singer, musician, and producer. The mid-to-late '60s is arguably the greatest of all eras of popular music. And as long as The Resonars are around, it never really has to end.

-L.R.

https://theresonars1.bandcamp.com/album/disappear

https://www.facebook.com/The-Resonars-114993301867228/

The Exbats - Kicks, Hits, and Fits

I have had the pleasure of acquainting myself with the full Exbats catalog over the past several months, and I must conclude that the Arizona trio is one of our greatest present-day rock and roll bands. I bet my mate Mick Fletcher would concur! Featuring the father/daughter duo of guitarist Kenny McLain and drummer/vocalist Inez McLain, along with Bobby Carlson on bass, The Exbats pull off the nearly impossible task of drawing faithfully from the beloved rock and roll of the 1960s yet creating something that sounds genuinely fresh and current in 2020. Some of that is owed to the band's commitment to writing the sort of timeless pop songs that hardly anyone bothers to write anymore. A larger part of it is that Inez McLain is a real deal rock star with a voice and charisma that you just don't come across every day. Kicks, Hits, and Fits is The Exbats' third album and best one to date. Imagine your parents' (or even grandparents') record collection shaken up with the vigor of youth and the attitude of punk rock. That is essentially The Exbats. If you can listen to the final verse of "I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts" and still doubt that there's a bright future for rock and roll, then clearly you've given up.

The McLains write songs very much in the style of their musical heroes. You never have to wait long for a hook, and songs rarely go too far past three minutes. You can hear the love for The British Invasion, '60s girl groups, and of course The Monkees. But that affection for the sounds of yesteryear is reflected through the lens of present-day realities. Inez sings of love and life in the modern world. She's fierce, outspoken, and unwilling to take any shit from anyone. This can apply to jerky exes who won't take a hint (the brilliant opening track "You Don't Get It [You Don't Got It]"), club doormen who hassle her at her own shows, or the patriarchy at large ("Try Burning This One"). Elsewhere "Wet Cheeks" offers some gentle encouragement to people who need to do their part to lift themselves out of despair. "Put Down Your Fights", while inspired by very specific experiences in Kenny's life, conveys a broader, hopeful message about moving on from toxic personal conflicts.

There have been particular songs on past releases ("Hercules", "2027", "I'm A Witch") that made it clear that The Exbats had something special cooking. But Kicks, Hits, and Fits takes all of that to another level. It's hard to identify a standout track because literally every song sounds like a hit. This is an album for all ages and tastes. If you grew up on '60s rock and roll, you'll love it. If you grew up on modern-day garage and punk, you'll love it. The songs are catchy and fun to sing along with, but they have meaningful things to say about the world we live in (check out "Hey Hey Hey" for some brilliant social commentary served up with a spoonful of sugar). This album has it all: upbeat pop songs, feisty punk tunes, heartfelt ballads, and straight-up rockers. I love how "I Got the Hot for Charlie Watts" begins as a tribute to the most dapper man in rock but ends up as a love letter to rock and roll itself. It's a wonderful reaffirmation that this music we love is going stronger than ever. And while sometimes the whole "rock and roll will never die" shtick comes off as corny cliche, that all goes away once you hear music this joyful, wonderful, and full of life. This is what Don McLean was talking about when he asked, "Can music save your mortal soul?". It's some kind of happy accident that Kicks, Hits, and Fits arrives exactly at a moment when our world needs to be uplifted. If you're looking for something to give you a reason to smile and dance merrily around the house, this album ought to do the trick. I hope for a day when The Exbats are the biggest band on the planet!



 -L.R.

https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/album/kicks-hits-and-fits 
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats 

The Exbats - "I'm A Witch"

For the past four years, Madrid's Jarama 45RPM Recs. has made a name for itself as one of the most dependable labels on the planet. Bernardo only releases 7" records, and he sure knows how to pick the hits! His latest release features Arizona trio The Exbats, who have been standouts on the Burger Records roster since 2016. If you live outside the U.S.A., Exbats releases might be hard to come by. That changes with the arrival of "I'm A Witch" - the band's first European release. For this project, Jarama 45RPM selected a couple of essential tracks from The Exbats' 2018 cassette I Got The Hots For Charlie Watts along with a brand new song called "Doorman". If you're already a fan, "Doorman" alone makes this a worthy purchase. If this is your first exposure to The Exbats, these songs will have you wanting to hear everything the band has ever released! This is a band that perfectly fits the general vibe of Jarama 45RPM - playing fun three-chord punk rock inspired by the songwriting structures of '60s pop and bubblegum. Drummer/vocalist Inez McLain has the attitude, charisma, and genuine personality that puts her in the top class of punk singers. She's been honing The Exbats sound for several years with her dad, guitarist Ken McLain. A-side cut "I'm A Witch" leans to the jangling and (appropriately) spooky side of '60s garage rock, with bad-ass lyrics about hexing some dude who surely deserved it. "2027" is both a righteous party punk anthem and an insightful political statement. "Doorman" is one minute and twelve seconds of pissed-off punk goodness: an exuberant sing-along that surely gets a rousing response at live shows (although maybe not from the doorman!). This release is limited to 300 copies from Jarama 45RPM, and it's available from the label's Bandcamp. Look for a new Exbats album next year!



-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/im-a-witch 
https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats 
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/ 

The F & L Hall of Fame: Beat Angels

Out of all the great unheralded bands I championed in my late '90s heyday, Phoenix, Arizona's Beat Angels might have been the greatest and most unheralded. Everyone I know who's heard the band's two albums would probably consider them both to be classics of glam/punk/powerpop. Sadly, I'm only talking about a handful of people. Although the Beat Angels were beloved by local crowds and allied with a big name in the music industry (producer Gilby Clarke - formerly of Candy and Guns N' Roses), they were one of those bands that just never quite caught on with the punk underground or the alternative nation. Thankfully, their music is still out there - although not easy to find. 

When the Beat Angels formed in 1994, they viewed themselves as descending from a lineage of bands like the New York Dolls, Sex Pistols, Rolling Stones, and Cheap Trick. And as hard is it may be to believe it now, that put them at odds with what was going on in underground music at the time. You could say they were behind the times, but more likely they were ahead of them. Looking now at how many bands I come across that swear allegiance to the glam/trash and power pop greats of yore, it seems like good taste has come back around. But in a day and age when everyone and his brother was trying to be the next Kurt Cobain, it was far from "cool" to worship the The Clash, Raspberries, Johnny Thunders, and Badfinger. Like kindred spirits the Trash Brats, the Beat Angels bucked the trends of the times and fully embraced punk's glam roots. The group's albums Unhappy Hour (1996) and Red Badge of Discourage (1997) were not big sellers. But if they'd never existed, I'm not sure the glam-punk scene would be where it is today.

Singer Brian Smith (ex Gentlemen Afterdark) and guitarist Michael Brooks (ex Motorcycle Boy) had known each other from crossing paths in late '80s Hollywood. And after becoming reacquainted in Phoenix, they recruited Detroit-bred guitarist Keith Jackson (longtime fixture in the great, criminally overlooked Glass Heroes). Those three would form the permanent nucleus of the Beat Angels - and their collective set of influences helped make the band what it was. Smith and Brooks were veterans of the L.A. glam scene. Jackson was (and still is!) a '77 punk diehard. Clarke, having played on Candy's power pop classic Whatever Happened To Fun, clearly "got" the sound the band was going for. Unhappy Hour and Red Badge of Discourage were perfect syntheses of glitter-tinged '70s punk and sing-along power pop - with lyrics informed by beat/pulp/noir literature and the seedy underbelly of Hollywood glamour. Inspired by his own hard luck experiences and the writings of authors like Jim Thompson and Harry Crews, Smith used the three-minute pop song as a vehicle for vivid, powerful storytelling - weaving tales of beautiful losers, broken dreams, strippers, addicts, drunks, and glamorous women with dark secrets. I've previously documented what a legendary year 1996 was for punk albums, and Unhappy Hour was the best of the whole lot. Red Badge of Discourage is darn near as good - and some fans will tell you it's better! 

Anytime I listen to the Beat Angels, it's like I enter a portal to an eternal cocktail hour. I walk into the lounge and punch up "Hungover With Jenny" on the jukebox. I see Dean Martin chatting up some lovely thing at one end of the bar, Don Draper schmoozing some suit at the other. Cigarette smoke permeates the air, and sad souls drink alone - pondering the hopelessness of existence and reflecting on dreams deferred. I eye up some faded starlet in the darkest corner of the room, and I can read her tragic life story with one glance. That's the kind of writer Smith was - a Paul Westerberg or Ian Hunter for a certain generation of '90s punk rockers like me. After the Beat Angels split, Smith moved to Detroit and became managing editor of the Metro Times. I've often wondered if he's continued to write songs and make music. His presence in the world of underdog rock n' roll is still dearly missed.

The Beat Angels did record a third album in the early 2000s - again with Clarke producing. But for a variety of reasons, it was never completely finished or properly mixed. I know this unreleased, "lost" Beat Angels album was circulating on-line for a time - but I think it's disappeared from the face of the earth. Perhaps that's for the better given that the band's two official releases are so flawless and an unfinished product might not be up to the same standards. Meanwhile, I've been waiting for a long time for some label to reissue both of the band's classic albums. Perhaps I shouldn't hold my breath. We are, after all, living in times when even legendary bands like the Buzzcocks have to resort to crowdfunding to get their new music released. Unhappy Hour and Red Badge Of Discourage can still be had for a reasonable price from a few sellers at Amazon. And if you were lucky enough to have seen the Beat Angels live back in the day, I envy you!



 -L.R.

http://www.lastbandit.com/beatangels/