Young Francis Hi Fi - The Young Generation

When I reviewed Young Francis Hi Fi's digital track "I Wanna Hold You Tight (Tonite)" three years ago, I was excited to hear tuneful punk music with such tremendous energy. Little did I know that it would be three years before the Brighton-based outfit would get an album out. But this is a full-length debut that has proven to be well worth the wait. Years later, Young Francis Hi Fi's sound has toughened up considerably while still retaining all its original charms. Out on 14th Floor Music/Dirty Water Records, The Young Generation is a raging firecracker of a record that's thrilling to the finish. On paper, this seems like it would be a pop-punk album. Most of the songs are about girls and run around two minutes. But more than anything else, this is a rock n' roll record. Young Francis Hi Fi play fast and furiously, blending pure pop music with blistering garage punk and bulldozing hard rock. I can't think of another band out there that does this sort of thing this well. The Young Generation is pure fun and excitement meets raw power. With the opening 1-2 punch of "I Wanna Hold You Tight (Tonite)" and "Baby You're Braindead," the band affirms that punk rock music can be super poppy yet still melt your face off. Later on, the back-to-back pairing of "Do You Like Good Music?" with "Dance If You Wanna" is a veritable mission statement! Listening to "Don't Break Mt Heart," I can imagine a few action rock bands wishing they could kick this much ass! If you're looking for an album that will get your heart racing, your toes tapping, and your head bobbing, The Young Generation is it. Young Francis Hi Fi have delivered a debut LP that will remind us all why we fell in love with punk rock in the first place.

-L.R.

https://youngfrancishifi.bandcamp.com/album/the-young-generation
https://www.instagram.com/yyoungfrancis/
https://www.facebook.com/yyoungfrancis/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCwBKU5d0w6hEVJg3g8F1XA
https://dirtywaterrecords.bandcamp.com/

Muck and the Mires - "Beat Revolution"

Now here's a political campaign we can all get behind! Muck and the Mires are rallying the troops to mount a beat revolution. The mission, co-sponsored by Dirty Water and Rum Bar Records, is simple enough. If you wanna listen to the sounds you've been missin', you are qualified to join Muck's army. The enemy is soulless corporate pop music. The end goal is real music on the radio to get the masses dancing and singing along. Your role in the revolution is easy enough: all you gotta do is tune in to their station! Given the importance of this endeavor, Muck and the Mires have launched a promotional video for recruitment purposes. "Beat Revolution" features the signature Muck sound — recalling '64 era Beatles if they'd somehow time traveled into the future and heard the Ramones. This song and video leave no doubt as to what the Beat Revolution is all about. Sign me up! The Bill of Rock protects our rights to hear great music! Full album coming soon from Dirty Water Records!

-L.R.

https://muckandthemires.bandcamp.com/track/beat-revolution
http://www.muckandthemires.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/muckandthemires
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords
https://dirtywaterrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/muckandthemires

The Control Freaks - Get Some Help

For their third album, The Control Freaks have surprised us with several ballads, a beautiful piano piece that will move you to tears, and a seven-minute operatic number about the pointlessness of human existence. Just kidding! The Control Freaks will always sound like The Control Freaks, and who would want it any other way? Delayed six weeks by the record-pressing crisis of 2021 but out today on Dirty Water Records, Get Some Help is hands-down the album of the year. It's also one of the best records that Greg Lowery has ever played on -- which is really saying something! On board for Get Some Help are new rhythm guitarist & co-lead singer Amy and new drummer Rob (not to be confused with lead guitarist Rob!). The band is sounding as good as ever with this formidable new lineup. As always, The Control Freaks combine the coolest elements of all of Greg's previous bands into one perfect punk band. If you loved Supercharger, The Rip Offs, The Infections, and The Zodiac Killers but have yet to hear The Control Freaks, you've got some catching up to do! The Dirty Water promo kit heralds this album as a "future classic", and I will not argue that point. I'm notoriously curmudgeonly about how so much of today's so-called "garage punk" is neither garage nor punk. Maybe I'm just not keeping up with what the kids are digging these days, but I find myself longing for the "Rip Off Records" sound on a constant basis. Well here's the real deal from the guy who literally defined that sound! 

Get Some Help is 13 tracks of catchy three-chord punk rock full of humor and raw energy. The songs rarely go too far beyond the two-minute mark and lend themselves to a variety of responses such as singing along, dancing in your underwear, and flipping off your neighbors. We'd probably be grateful if Greg were still making records half as good as he did 20-25 years ago, but honestly he's still in peak form with this band. If you were out and about and heard the title track, you might think it was an old Rip Offs song that you somehow missed. When I first heard "You're A Moron" and "F.B.I"., my response was that you've got to be some kind of genius to pull off songs this dumb! "My I.Q." brings much-needed attention to a mysterious medical condition that afflicts millions of young men in the presence of attractive females. "Gonna Be A Riot" and "Lockdown" are topical and great fun at the same time. "Popgun" literally throws it back to 1977 with a terrific cover of Mary Monday's Bay Area punk classic. 

I don't know how they've done it, but The Control Freaks have managed to get better with each new album without changing anything about their approach to music. This band is the walking embodiment of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Get Some Help is the sort of classic style punk rock record that I can never get enough of. Credit Greg Lowery for always finding the right partners in crime. Amy Munoz (an absolute powerhouse on vocals!) and Rob #2 have stepped right in as if they were destined from birth to be Control Freaks. I have a great deal of respect for the band and label for holding off on the official release of Get Some Help until the LPs were in hand. That makes the long-awaited release day more special. If you don't like this album, you need to get some help!

-L.R.

https://thecontrolfreaksband.bandcamp.com/album/get-some-help-2
https://www.facebook.com/ControlFreaksSF
https://www.ripoffrecordsstore.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords/
https://dirtywaterrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Muck and the Mires - Greetings From Muckingham Palace

Yesterday I said that I would be writing about Muck and the Mires' new album very soon. You can see I wasn't kidding! Out on Dirty Water Records U.K., Greetings From Muckingham Palace is Muck's first long playing album in several years. I love the idea of one of Boston's most beloved rock and roll bands continuing its alliance with London's finest record label. It's like the British Invasion in reverse! Mixed and mastered by the legendary Jim Diamond (White Stripes, The Fleshtones, The Sonics), this album delivers a 100 percent guaranteed to satisfy Muck and the Mires experience. As always, the band finds that sweet spot where the early Beatles, '60s garage rock, and power pop meet. Evan "Muck" Shore is in my book one of the most underrated songwriters out there. His affection for '60s rock and roll and the Beatles in particular has been well documented. But it's not just about the influences - it's about what he does with them. And there aren't a whole lot of people these days writing better pop songs than Muck! 

Over the course of 14 tracks, Greetings From Muckingham Palace is able to explore the many facets of Muck and the Mires' sound. And that covers everything from high-spirited British Invasion pop ("This Time") to snappy garage rock ("Mint Condition") to perfect power pop ("The Way It Was Before") to psychedelic sci-fi/spy thriller rock ("Strange Waves") to o.g. proto punk a la Hamburg era Beatles ("I'm Your Man"). "Too Soon To Fall In Love", which you may recognize from the Muckus Maximus EP, still sounds like a lost classic from 1964. What I love about this album as a whole is that it's just so uplifting. And on the first day of what we hope will be a brighter and better year for all, I can't think of a more fitting album to celebrate. Greetings From Muckingham Palace is the kind of album you throw on when you want dance around the house, sing along to some catchy songs, and just have fun listening to rock and roll! Muck has managed to take the spirit of that timeless '60s music he adores and keep it sounding fresh for 2021. If you're looking for an album to wash away the stink of 2020, you've found it! Greetings From Muckingham Palace is available on both vinyl and CD. Hit up Muck and the Mires on Bandcamp for ordering information. Those of you on my side of the pond can also purchase the digital album and CD from Rum Bar Records. If only we could all live in Muckingham Palace! 

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/greetings-from-muckingham-palace-dirty-water-records
https://muckandthemires.bandcamp.com/album/greetings-from-muckingham-palace
https://www.facebook.com/muckandthemires
http://www.muckandthemires.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords/

Lucy and the Rats - Got Lucky

This has been one of the best weeks ever for new album releases! We already had The Speedways on Monday and The Yum Yums on Wednesday. Last but certainly not least is the absolutely stunning sophomore long player by London-based foursome Lucy and the Rats. A co-release between Stardumb, Surfin' Ki, and Dirty Water Records, Got Lucky builds on the promise of the band's 2018 debut album and ultimately exceeds it by leaps and bounds.

As a singer and songwriter, Lucy Ellis (ex Spazzys) has been responsible for some of the finest pop music of recent years. She crafts beautiful melodies and sings with a tenderness and vulnerability that bring to mind the 1960s heyday of girl groups and Brill Building pop. While known primarily for their punk bona fides, band-mates Joe Tolosoa (Los Perros, Johnny Throttle), Manu Santos (Thee Tumbitas, Johnny Throttle, Raw Fun, Michael Jackson), and Liam Brody (The Gaggers, Johnny Throttle, Scraps) have proven to be exceptionally accomplished players in a pure pop style. If I had any complaints about the debut album, it's that I would have liked to have heard a song or two that picked up the pace a little and exercised the band's punk chops. And that's where Got Lucky really hits the mark. It delights with a nice mix of moods, tempos, and musical styles. It has got plenty of the dreamy, bittersweet pop songs that this band is so well known for. "September" is wistful, beautiful, and exquisite in every way. "On Fire" sounds like a lost girl group classic and will absolutely tear your heart out. It takes a special songwriter and singer to make a ballad work, but "Lucky" is truly extraordinary. I've been going back to this song again and again, and it makes me smile every time. But while the softer side of Lucy and the Rats remains fully intact, the punkier side also comes out on this album. Uptempo numbers like "Real Thing" and "Time To Time" really put the power in the pop. "Sorry" and "Jelly Baby Baby" are perfect pop-punk songs. "Pinch Myself" is pure '77-style punk along the lines of last summer's "Stick To You" single.

If you're going broke buying all of this music I've been touting lately, I apologize (okay, not really). But I hope you've got a little more saved up for Got Lucky. When I heard the advance single "Dark Clouds" this past spring, it was clear to me that Lucy and the Rats had turned out the finest song of their existence. I am happy to report that the entire album is at that same level. If you love power pop with a punk influence, Got Lucky is an album you need to own. Lucy Ellis is a tremendous songwriter and as likable of a singer as you'll ever hear. And this band as a whole is everything that power pop ought to be. Vinyl is available now from Stardumb and Surfin' Ki Records in Europe and The Machine Shop The Machine Shop in the U.S.A.!



-L.R.

https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/album/got-lucky
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/collections/lps/products/lucy-and-the-rats-got-lucky-lp
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/lucyandtheratsgotlucky
https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-and-the-Rats-817424101645809/
https://www.facebook.com/surfinkirecords
https://www.facebook.com/stardumbrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords

Lucy and the Rats - "Dark Clouds"

The arrival of a new Lucy and the Rats record is always a beloved event for power pop fans. The London foursome was assembled by Lucy Ellis from The Spazzys after her relocation from Melbourne a few years back. Stardumb Records and Dirty Water Records UK have teamed up to release "Dark Clouds" - the band's fourth single. You may recall that last year's single "Stick To You" was a bit of a departure for the band as guitarist Joe Tolosa temporarily assumed lead vocal duties and the group fashioned a much punkier sound. With "Dark Clouds", the band gets back to its signature pure pop sound with a couple of bittersweet melodic gems. It gives me chills to hear Lucy constantly refining her songwriting talents as she grows into a true master of the pop craft. "Dark Clouds" is her finest work to date - a sad, heartfelt, and absolutely beautiful pop song that brings to mind something that would have been all over the radio in the early '80s. I love the way she weaves together a stunning, plaintive melody and a vocal that pulls at the heartstrings without a hint of affectation. That chorus is irresistible, and honestly you'd have to have a stone heart to not be moved by the words coming out of Lucy's mouth. Then there's some wicked good lead guitar work to ice the cake! On the flip, "Get Down" is another pretty, melancholy number that pairs the sweetest melodies with somewhat despairing lyrics. If you choose to really pay attention to the lyrics, there's a powerful statement to be experienced. But even if you don't, that melody will stay with you. Lucy continues to push her songwriting to greater depths, and the band absolutely has the chops to make this material soar. That guitar solo is almost at a Johnny Marr level!

"Dark Clouds" arrives in advance of a forthcoming Lucy and the Rats album titled Got Lucky. While I'm stoked for the album, I would urge you to grab the single now. Lucy and the Rats are one of those bands that really excel in the singles format where you can savor the music in these perfect little bite-sized portions. Both of these tracks are outstanding, and "Get Down" could just as easily have been the A-side. Order your copy from Stardumb Records in Europe and The Machine Shop in the U.S.A. Dirty Water has the digital release!



-L.R.

https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/album/dark-clouds 
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/products/lucy-and-the-rats-dark-clouds-get-down-7 
http://www.themachineshoprocks.com/Lucy_and_the_Rats_Dark_Clouds_7_p/latr2.htm 
https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-and-the-Rats-817424101645809/ 
https://www.facebook.com/stardumbrecords/ 
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords/ 

Lucy and the Rats - "Stick To You"

How about a new Lucy and the Rats 7" co-released by the splendid Surfin' Ki and Stardumb Records! You know that's gotta be good! But here's the surprise twist: for this release, Lucy Ellis has handed lead vocal duties over to guitarist Joe Tolosa! With Tolosa (Johnny Throttle, Los Perros) taking his turn on the mic, the band takes on a slightly different identity. Its previous output has been pretty much pure power pop. "Stick To You" leans more towards old school poppy punk. The one-sheet mentions Teenage Head & The Boys, and I won't argue with that at all. We all love Lucy, but Joey proves to be a really cool singer in his own right! This an upbeat, high energy number with killer lead guitar and a beat that ought to get your toes tapping. I dig! On the flip, "True Romance" is a perfect example of how to do pop-punk and still make it totally rock. It has that "classic Stardumb Records" feel to it that seems appropriate given that particular label's involvement. If you like a sound that's equal parts pop, punk, and rock n' roll, this one ought to hit the spot for you. I don't think any fans need to worry that Lucy has retired from fronting the Rats. But if you have two good singers in your band, why not take advantage of that? Like the band's previous singles, this one is absolutely essential. Order the vinyl from the links below. Digital release is through Dirty Water Records!



-L.R.

https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/album/stick-to-you
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/products/lucy-and-the-rats-stick-to-you-true-romance-7
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/lucy-and-the-rat-stick-to-you-true-romance-ep-preorder
https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-and-the-Rats-817424101645809/
https://www.facebook.com/stardumbrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/surfinkirecords/

The Control Freaks - Double Dose Of Hate

Photo by David Greenfield

Wait, The Control Freaks are putting out another single? How about that: I am the bearer of good news! Their last single, "I Am Crime", just came out last month on Bachelor Records (Order it here!). Next up is Double Dose of Hate, due out November 2 on the fabulous Dirty Water Records. This single literally IS a double dose of hate, as both tracks are odes to...you guessed it...hate! Who can't get behind that?! Sherrilynn Nelson (formerly keyboardist for The Omens) loved The Control Freaks so much that she learned guitar just so she could join the band. "Time's Up" from the last single was her CF songwriting debut. Double Dose of Hate opens with another song she penned called "I Hate Your Face". That's a damn fine title, and sure enough the song lives up to it! I can never get enough of this sort of old-style catchy punk rock, and I really dig the back-and-forth exchange between Sherrilynn and Greg. For a song about hate, those lyrics are surprisingly profound. And about 99 out of 100 humans will fully relate to that line "I'm still in love with you/But I hate your face". On the flip, "Hatelist" has a nastier edge to it and brings to mind Greg's late, great band Zodiac Killers. This one will have you pumping your fist and shouting along in fervent dedication to everyone who's ever wronged you or otherwise pissed you off. Those lyrics are so hilariously scathing that I feel Greg is entitled to some sort of literary prize!

When it comes to garage punk in the year 2018, The Control Freaks are showing everyone how it's done. Double Dose of Hate is their fourth single - and in my opinion their best yet. I say this because of the impossible time I'm having trying to determine which of these two tracks is "the hit". One song can be played at max volume while you curse the name of significant others past and present. The other will feed your abhorrence for just about everyone else. Arguments over which track is superior could very well lead to drunken fist fights and ruined friendships. Do we really want that? So let's just call it a tie and agree that a double dose of hate is exactly what this world needs. Pre-order here!




-L.R.

https://thecontrolfreaksband.bandcamp.com/album/double-dose-of-hate
https://www.facebook.com/ControlFreaksSF/ 
https://www.dirtywaterrecords.co.uk/ 
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords/ 

Lucy and the Rats - self titled

When three labels the caliber of Monster Zero, Stardumb, and Surfin' Ki Records collaborate on the release of a vinyl record, you know it's gonna be something pretty great! Lucy and the Rats are a power pop band Lucy from The Spazzys formed with members of the English punk group Michael Jackson after she relocated to London a few years back. In 2016/2017, the band released a pair of singles on Surfin' Ki and Monster Zero. Now a proper album has arrived, and it's one of my favorite releases of the year so far!

If you enjoy The Spazzys but aren't yet familiar with Lucy and the Rats, you might be a little surprised by what you hear. While there's no questioning this foursome's punk pedigree, with this band the focus is on pure power pop. Melody and harmonies are in the forefront as the band draws from the classic sounds of the '60s. There's still plenty of punch in the guitars and drums, but the less-rushed tempos really allow these songs to take their time unfolding. Lucy's singing voice is warm and easy on the ears, which works so well with the pretty melodies the band favors. Lucy's willingness to show her softer side is really what gives these songs their charm. Some people are just naturally good at singing love songs, and I would definitely put her in that category. Of the ten tracks here, three are songs fans will recognize from the singles. But there's no drop-off with the new material, and it's not hard to imagine a song like "Make You Mine" or "Hold On Me" being an A-side in its own right.

This full-length debut from Lucy and the Rats is pretty much the ultimate power pop record. It's got that hard crunch on the outside with a soft, sweet center. You can land on any track of your choosing and encounter a melody you'll be whistling for days. This is just a top-class effort all the way! The songs are exquisitely crafted, the band rocks, and Lucy is as likable of a vocalist as you could ever hope to hear. This album is pop as fuck, and I love it! Follow the links below to peruse your many options for colored vinyl! Digital release coming next month on Dirty Water Records.



-L.R.

https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/album/lucy-and-the-rats
https://monsterzerorecords.com/products/lucy-and-the-rats-s-t-lp-1 
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/presale-lucy-and-the-rats-s-t-lp 
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/products/lucy-and-the-rats-lucy-and-the-rats-lp 
https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/ 
https://dirtywaterrecords.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-and-the-Rats-817424101645809/ 
https://www.facebook.com/MonsterZeroPunkrock/ 
https://www.facebook.com/surfinkirecords/ 
https://www.facebook.com/stardumbrecords/ 
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords/