Showing posts with label Friends of Cesar Romero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends of Cesar Romero. Show all posts

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Friends of Cesar Romero - Songs the Siren Sing


And now it is done. Songs the Siren Sing is the final installment in Friends of Cesar Romero's Doomed Babe Series, a project that spanned 5,191 days, 24,641 words, 400+ songs, and more than 50 releases. What J. Waylon Porcupine has done with this project is one of the most impressive feats in music that I've ever had the good fortune to experience. And now the mystery surrounding the title has been revealed: the doomed babe is J. Waylon himself. "Babe" was his childhood nickname, and this series has documented his failed relationships and allowed him to exorcise some demons. Just releasing 50+ installments in a series would be an achievement in itself. But what's so remarkable about this one is that the quality never dipped. There were no phoned-in installments. There were never any throwaway tracks. How do you release over 400 songs and never once turn out a dud? But I don't want to sell this last installment short by turning this review into a retrospective. I am happy to say that this album finds the Doomed Babe Series (and most likely Friends of Cesar Romero) going out on top.

A la February's superb Soul Scouts, Songs the Siren Sing is definitely on the more rocking end of FOCR's musical spectrum. It has its share of perfect pop songs (such as "Simple XX's" and "Dying For Dai (A Little More Each Day)"). And it concludes with J. Waylon having his Pet Sounds moment on the beautiful "Plum Cherry," which is quite possibly the best song in the entire series. But all in all, this album wraps up the Doomed Babe odyssey with a proverbial bang. From the opening jolt of "Elko Speedway" to the garage-rocking fury of "My Cultist Angel" and "Starfucker Qualities" to the thumping power pop of "74 Dart" and "The War on Wednesday," this album brings an energy that's thrilling and infectious. This album, like every Doomed Babe installment, is the perfect combination of almost every musical genre I love. Why choose between power pop, punk, and garage rock when you can get it all in shot? 

We all know of certain series in television and literature that were great for so long but couldn't stick the landing. Well J. Waylon has absolutely stuck the landing. Songs the Siren Sing doesn't try too hard to create closure. It just does what you expect any great Friends of Cesar Romero to do: deliver two-to-three minute tales of relationship woes that will tear your heart out yet also have you dancing around the house and humming the melodies all week. If you pay close attention to the lyrics, you understand how personal and intense these songs are. Yet isn't the beauty of rock 'n' roll that you can take these excruciating experiences and channel them into music that's fun to listen to and deeply reassuring to people who have felt similar pain? I'll put it simply: if you love garage rock and power pop, you will love this release. It's a great-sounding record with loud guitars, hooks for days, and genuine soul in the vocals and lyrics. Who would have expected anything different? 

It's not fair or even accurate to say that J. Waylon Porcupine is now quitting. He has finished what he started. The last time I checked, that's the opposite of quitting. I was a latecomer to the Doomed Babe Series and have so much gratitude to J. Waylon for putting this music into the world and to Niek for turning me onto it. Someday, music historians will look back on the Doomed Babe Series with absolute awe. That's where I already am. Songs The Siren Sing is a free download for now, and the entire Friends of Cesar Romero catalog is a deal and a steal at $111.25!

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Saturday, March 14, 2026

Friends of Cesar Romero - Jolly Joker


Aw man, we are getting close to the end! Jolly Joker is number 49 in Friends of Cesar Romero's Doomed Babe Series — making it the penultimate entry in a series that dates back to December of 2011. This is something a little different for FOCR: a "semi-live album." Basically, this is J. Waylon's very own Peel Session, and I dig the vibe. This set was recorded for a radio segment that never aired, and now we get to enjoy some FOCR blasts from the past in all their unpolished glory. If you're a fan, this is a huge treat. These songs from the 2010s date as far back as 2011's "Skull Carpenters" (off of Return to Zero, the first installment in the Doomed Babe Series). A lot of these tracks are up there with the band's best — such as 2012's "Tammys of Tomorrow," 2016's "Grab Your Heathers and Run," and 2018's "Longing Heart Condition." Kicking off with the stomper "Wolf in Houndstooth," this is a really hard-rocking set. For all of us who will never experience FOCR as anything more than a studio project, it's thrilling to hear the group as a proper live rock 'n' roll band that puts the power in power pop and the rock in garage rock. If you, as I, were a late-comer to the Doomed Babe Series, you might find yourself inspired to go back and check out some of the early installments that feature these songs. I'm notoriously "meh" about live albums in general, and I'm not sure what my policy on semi-live albums is. But I'm enjoying Jolly Joker tremendously and am quite thankful it was released. Now we await installment #50!

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Saturday, February 14, 2026

Friends of Cesar Romero - Soul Scouts


It's not very often that I listen to a record by a band I've reviewed 14 times before and find myself so completely blown away that I have to retrieve my jaw from the floor and process what I've just experienced. By now, you all know I love Friends of Cesar Romero. It's never a surprise when J. Waylon turns out another A+ release. There's a certain level of expectation that this one-man band never fails to meet, and I have no hesitation in urging any reader of this blog to shell out $103.75 for FOCR's full digital discography. But new album Soul Scouts finds this band soaring to heights that not even I could have foreseen. The sound J. Waylon captured on this release is absolutely ferocious, and that suits these songs to a T. And the passion he pours into the vocals will give you chills. I've never heard FOCR rock with this much intensity — yet the songs have never been catchier or more instantly memorable. J. Waylon is such a fine songwriter that he can move seamlessly from garage rock to power pop to punk rock to jangly guitar pop and always sound uniquely like himself. But the sound of this release is more cohesive, and it's pure fire. This is either the hardest power pop or hookiest garage punk you'll hear all year. Perhaps it manages to be both at once. We know one thing for sure: Johnny isn't messing around! 

Over the course of many installments in the Doomed Babe Series, J. Waylon has made an art form out of writing about heartbreak and the wreckage of love gone terribly bad. No one writes more eloquently or cleverly about loss, longing, and relationship trainwrecks than he does. But Soul Scouts, the 48th release in this series, hits different. J. Waylon is not just spinning tales of woe — he's purging things that have been weighing him down for years. He somehow crams a novel's worth of drama and despair into 18 minutes of music. I've always wondered: Are there many doomed babes in the FOCR universe — or just one? Soul Scouts comes off like a singular tale of doomed romance and one man's long and exasperating quest to find closure. And it's brilliant. It takes a remarkable mind to conjure up a verse like this:

I'd rather starve than share a crumb of your affection
My conscience is as clear as my complexion
Remember the good times when you think of me
That won't be hard with your goldfish memory

Soul Scouts is the kind of album people will hear and become totally obsessed with because they'll feel as if its author is telling their story. It's oddly comforting when another person's tale of despair mirrors your own. It makes us feel less alone in the world. This is a tale as old as time itself: a relationship unravels in the most agonizing ways, and even when it's over, it's never really over. Regret and bitterness linger, and moving on is far easier said than done. I love how the energy infused into these songs reflects the urgency of their lyrics. "The Rapid City Is Boring," which is essentially a prelude to the songs that follow, rips so hard that it makes The Hives sound like The Smiths. "Trauma Blonding" and "Air Raid Freshman" are probably too furious and intense to be called power pop but too contagiously hooky to not be called power pop. Likewise, "A Sonnet for Lee Lazy Horse" and "Gate Around the Classy Apple" are punchy pop songs that will rock you into next week. "Brat Summer Heartache," "Tassels," and "Nurse Midwife Crisis" are vintage FOCR garage pop bangers. Future generations will study these songs and question a society that did not appreciate their greatness. "Bitter But Better" is the powerful statement conclusion this album deserves — not quite delivering closure, but surely getting there. What is perhaps the album's most powerful line is also its simplest: "I don’t miss missing you." 

In the excellent review he wrote for Add To Wantlist, Niek likens the Friends of Cesar Romero Doomed Babe Series to a great television series that somehow manages to peak in its final season. I wholeheartedly concur. I've only been hip to the Doomed Babe project since installment #27, but I would absolutely rank Soul Scouts as the finest achievement in the series. This is the kind of album most songwriters would deliver as the grand finale, but the numbers tell me that there are two more releases still forthcoming. Part of me listens to this record and thinks, "There's no way he can possibly top this!". But the bigger part of me knows to not bet against him.

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Saturday, December 06, 2025

Friends of Cesar Romero - Cars, Guitars, Girls

I was just thinking how this has been a great year for singles and albums, but I could go for a couple more ace EPs before we close the door on 2025. Right on cue, we get a new EP from one of my favorites, Friends of Cesar Romero. J. Waylon Porcupine is one of the greatest songwriters in the contemporary underground/indie/whatever-you-wanna-call-it music universe. And every time he releases something new from FOCR, it's always a bit of surprise. He can pull off everything from garage rock to power pop to punk rock to classic pop rock 'n' roll to pop-punk to low-fi indie stuff, and he does it all equally well. And ultimately, it always sounds like him. We are blessed to be living in the time of Friends of Cesar Romero, and the Doomed Babe Series ought to go down as a milestone in music history. 

Cars, Guitars, Girls is installment #47.5 in the series, and it ought to be received warmly by regular readers of this blog. J. Waylon was definitely in a power pop state of mind when he made this EP, and I'm sure not complaining. "Pro Yearner" is big crunchy power pop with typically fantastic lyrics. Perhaps this babe isn't doomed, but any fella who falls under her spell certainly will be! "Nine Pound Hamer®" falls in that sweet spot where the line between power pop and pop-punk is blurred, and again the theme is heartbreak with a side of despair. "Just another fur coat suicide in a Cadillac" is certainly one of the best lines of the year. "Headlight Queen" is 73 seconds of perfect power pop with lyrics that twist the usual moral of the story in FOCR song. Our protagonist knows it can never end well with the object of his desire, so he's freeing her to go torture some other poor sap. My god, this guy is a genius. 47 1/2 installments into singing about doomed romance, and he's not even beginning to run out of inspiration! 

As is typically the case with Friends of Cesar Romero releases, Cars, Guitars, Girls is a free download for a limited time only. And if you like what you hear, the purchase of the complete discography on Bandcamp is the best $100 you'll spend all year!

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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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Saturday, June 14, 2025

Friends of Cesar Romero - "Can't Get You"


I could probably write a book about why Friends of Cesar Romero is one of my favorite bands. But the main thing is that this one-man musical force of nature is the perfect blend of all the things in music that appeal to me. FOCR is everything I love about pop, punk, power pop, garage rock, indie rock, and rock 'n' roll distilled into one cohesive project dedicated to exploring the depths of doomed romance with lyrics you wish you had written and vocals you can feel in your soul. And since Johnny is so good at writing songs in so many different styles, every new release is like a little mini-surprise. What we're getting on new single "Can't Get You" is absolutely perfect power pop. From the first note, this song had me in a state of bliss. Listen to the way those crunching, punching guitars contrast with those dulcet, bittersweet melodies. Listen to that hooky chorus exploding from your headphones. Listen to those lyrics that take us all back to that one person we could not let go of no matter how much we wished we could have. How amazing is that line "If looks could kill I'd come complete/With a graveyard ghost in a white sheet"? Here we are at number 45 in the Doomed Babe Series, and the well is far from running dry! On the virtual flipside, "Busy Signals" is also in the power pop vein — a little more restrained in tempo but still steeped in the ringing melodies and romantic sentiments of classic guitar pop. What a gem of a single this is — but that's hardly a surprise, is it?

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Sunday, April 13, 2025

Friends of Cesar Romero - Spider Dreamer Sweet Tooth


Is it possible that even the great J. Waylon had room to step up his game? His long-running solo project Friends of Cesar Romero has released some of the modern-day garage/punk/power pop scene's finest music over the last several years, and his Doomed Babe Series has become the stuff of legend. But with installment number 44 in the series, J. Waylon has done something I wasn't quite expecting: not just meet my expectations but rather exceed them. While the majority of FOCR's releases are EPs or singles, Spider Dreamer Sweet Tooth is a proper full-length album. And without question, I'd say it's the band's best release yet. 

So much has been made (rightfully) of J. Waylon's knack for crafting top quality pop hooks and writing relatable, often brilliant lyrics about doomed romance. But with Spider Dreamer Sweet Tooth, I find myself struck by how much he has continued to grow as an artist and musician. This album incorporates a wide range of musical influences, yet it all sounds distinctively and emphatically like Friends of Cesar Romero. Kicking off with the infectious garage rock stomp of "October Eve," the album seamlessly swings from the textbook power pop of "My Motel Mermaid" to the classic SoCal punk stylings of "Quality Inn Cambodia" to the pristine psychedelic pop of "To Quell Your Starlite Mist" to the vintage FOCR charms of "Jennifer Ann" to the '60s pop glory of the title track. And that's just the first half of the album! The virtual B-side is just as hit-packed and stylistically varied. "Throwing Deadly Nightshade" is not just a great song title. It's the epitome of a garage rock banger that will have you dancing wildly in your bedroom. And I'm not sure if I can name another artist capable of going back-to-back with a '60s-style country rocker ("Gasoline on the Trampoline") and a 72-second blast of dawn-of-the-'80s hardcore punk ("Sundowner Uppercut") and legitimately pulling if off. 

None of these songs are throwaways. This is 12 songs in 23 minutes, and not a single moment falls short. J. Waylon, who can write some of the best pop-punk tunes you could ever hope to hear, here proves that he's just as adept at pure punk and perfect pop. And when this album aims to rock, it really rocks. J. Waylon is not just a terrific songwriter and vocalist but also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who has really learned how to make great-sounding solo recordings. If you've been ignoring my pleas to check out the best-kept secret in the punky pop/garage underground, this album would the perfect place to get on the train. 

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Friday, October 25, 2024

Friends of Cesar Romero - "Quick Wrath" b​/​w "Her Lipstick Dedication"


J Waylon is back! Actually he was back three weeks ago, and I've just been a slowpoke. Every release from his prolific and remarkably consistent solo project Friends of Cesar Romero is a must-hear, so of course that's true of new single "Quick Wrath." What I love about FoCR is that whatever sub-genre of rock 'n' roll J Waylon tackles, the quality of the songwriting is always beyond top-notch. This release is a thrilling 1-2 punch of ferocious garage rock and textbook power pop. Either of these songs could have been the A-side, but I do love the way J Waylon sequenced this single. You get a total banger to get you moving and grooving and then a perfect pop song you'll be hearing in your head all day. The lyrics, as always, are totally amazing and a highly underrated aspect of the FoCR experience. This release is Number 43 in the band's Doomed Babe Series, and it doesn't skimp on the doom. I freaking love this band! 

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Saturday, June 22, 2024

Friends of Cesar Romero - Last Summer A Year From Now


You know I'm always pumped for new music from Friends of Cesar Romero. J. Waylon is one of the finest songwriters in the present-day garage/pop/rock 'n' roll universe, and the way he manages to be a prolific artist yet never turn out a sub-par release is beyond impressive. FoCR's new EP Last Summer A Year From Now (How's that for an amazing title?) is installment number 42 in the Doomed Babe Series. And yet as deep as we are into this series, none of these installments have felt unnecessary or redundant. Any time I hear the latest installment, I'm already looking forward to the next one. Part of that is the timelessness of the subject matter. Who can't relate to themes of heartbreak and obsession and doomed romance? Another part of it is how well J. Waylon writes about this sort of stuff. He has lived these songs, and he's gifted at putting all that doom into eloquent words. This new EP finds him mixing up musical styles in a most satisfying way. "Kinetic Threat" is a crackling opener that brings to mind the early 2000s heyday of modern garage rock. "Purple Hearts Hardly Bruise" is ultra-energetic poppy punk and quite the toe-tapper. The title track is scruffy power pop par excellence. "The Long Drive To You" takes it back to the garage vein and begs to be blasted loudly. Closing it out, "Simple Little Love Song" is textbook power pop. There's something on this EP for everyone, and there's nothing on this EP that will disappoint longtime fans. And if you're not a longtime fan, this would be a perfectly good entry place into Friends of Cesar Romero fandom. Grab a free download while you can, and be sure to dig into that treasure trove of a back catalog if you like what you hear!

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Friday, March 08, 2024

Friends of Cesar Romero - "More Like Norman Fucking Mailer"


"More Like Norman Fucking Mailer" is the first 2024 release (of likely many) from Friends of Cesar Romero. J. Waylon is that rare songwriter who can manage to be both prolific and consistent. There is no such thing as a sub-par Friends of Cesar Romero release. If you're into punky power pop, you need to smash that "Follow" button on Bandcamp so you never miss a new release from FOCR. That said, "More Like Norman Fucking Mailer," in my book, is one of the best songs J. Waylon has ever written. The title alone (which I assume to be a sly Lana Del Rey reference) is a work of brilliance, and thankfully the song lives up to it. On this release, J. Waylon leans towards power pop as much as he ever has. "More Like Norman Fucking Mailer" seems like a happy love song on its surface, but keep in mind that this is #41 in the Doomed Babe Series. Dig a little deeper, and you'll find signs of doom. This is a perfect power pop song, and little else needs to be said. On the virtual B-side, "I Believe In Her Science" is another top-notch power pop tune that's destined to become stuck in your head. This single is a tremendous showing from J. Waylon. His songwriting has never been stronger, and the sound quality he has elicited from a basement recording is beyond impressive. It's almost criminal that you can download something this good for free, but you will find many opportunities to wisely spend your money if you peruse the FOCR Bandcamp page!

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Saturday, December 02, 2023

Friends of Cesar Romero - Temporary Anne


Temporary Anne is already the 7th release this year from J. Waylon's prolific and ever-dependable Friends of Cesar Romero. It's almost shocking that J. Waylon can deliver such a remarkable quantity of music yet never, ever skimp on the quality. Part of what makes FOCR so appealing is that a new release is never predictable. You know you're getting loud guitars and top-tier hooks, but you can never be sure of exactly what to expect. J. Waylon moves effortlessly between banging garage rock, textbook power pop, catchy old school punk, and timeless guitar pop — sometimes all within a single release! Temporary Anne is #39 in his Doomed Babe Series, and I can only hope that there are many more installments to come. The title track is fantastic power pop and blessed with so many FOCR signatures: ringing guitars, a killer chorus, and lyrics that will break your heart. "Who's Wondering Now" kicks up the pace with some stellar poppy punk rock. "Running on the Spot" is mostly faithful to The Jam's classic original, but J. Waylon still manages to give a distinct FOCR feel. All in all, this is another fantastic release from a band that never disappoints. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If you're a regular reader of this blog and not yet into Friends of Cesar Romero, that situation needs to be rectified ASAP!

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Sunday, September 10, 2023

Friends Of Cesar Romero & The Manxx - split


Hey kids! Are you ready for some rock n' roll that's money-back guaranteed to set your soul on fire? Snappy Little Numbers Quality Audio Recordings has brought us a killer collaboration between the mighty Friends of Cesar Romero and Colorado-based garage rockers The Manxx. FOCR is such a versatile project. You never know what you're gonna get from J. Waylon and friends. Sometimes it's perfect power pop. Other times it's punchy pop-punk or '60s-influenced melodic guitar pop. On this release, FOCR finds itself poised to blow the doors off the garage. On "You Lied (Now You're Gonna Cry)", J. Waylon is joined by Dug Two Bulls who rips it up on the organ. This is familiar lyrical territory for FOCR. But instead of coming off melancholy or woebegone, J. Waylon sounds defiant and totally fired up. This is a garage rocker that comes on like a firecracker. Imagine "Louie Louie" if you could understand the words. With its irresistible guitar and organ riffs and sing-along chorus, this is ten-out-of-ten caliber garage rock! Up next, FOCR teams up with Sara from The Manxx for an inspired rendition of The Drags' "Feel Real Good." The title is truth in advertising. You will rarely come across a more thrilling 55 seconds of rock n' roll. To finish, The Manxx fully matches FOCR's intensity with the exhilarating "You're Losing Me." I think the reason I don't review a lot of modern garage rock is because it doesn't often hit me the way this song does. "You're Losing Me" attains levels of attitude and unstoppable rhythmic energy that are rare in modern music. Just push play, and you've got yourself an instant party. What an amazing EP! If these three tracks don't immediately have you dancing around the house and screaming for utter joy, you might want to check yourself for a pulse.

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Monday, July 03, 2023

Friends of Cesar Romero - "Cold East Coast Shoulder" b​/​w "Greenway Thunderbird"


I again find myself awed and appreciative as J. Waylon continues to release some of our finest present-day power pop/punk/garage music with his prolific project Friends of Cesar Romero. Cold East Coast Shoulder, already the fourth FoCR EP of the year, is #37 in the band's Doomed Babe Series. The title track finds J. Waylon doing what he does better than almost anyone: writing a breakup song that will intoxicate you with its hooks even as it tears out your heart. The song title alone is a stroke of brilliance, and the lyrics are some of J. Waylon's finest. Seriously, just read that second verse:

You needed someone to fill the void/
But somehow now baby you’re annoyed/
I wrote these words down in a poem/
Then I burned it all down like Ancient Rome

It seems that even as it nears its 40th installment, the Doomed Babe Series is still picking up steam! "Cold East Coast Shoulder" is a stone cold gem from a songwriter/band that should be on every power pop fan's radar. "Greenway Thunderbird" is another fresh blast of top-quality pop, and "Don't Look Back" is a very lovely cover of a Teenage Fanclub classic. All in all, this is another stellar EP out of many produced by Friends of Cesar Romero over the years. If you like what you hear, be sure to also check out the punchy '60s-style rocker "You Really Had Me" which was released in May (#36 in the Doomed Babe Series!).

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Sunday, April 30, 2023

Friends of Cesar Romero - Gameboy America


What can I say about J. Waylon that I haven't said already? If you're into the power pop/punk thing and don't own at least  a few of his releases, you're missing out on one of the finest songwriting talents out there. With his one-man-band Friends of Cesar Romero, he's proven to be not only prolific but also remarkably consistent. Gameboy America, the latest FoCR release, is yet another gem. While last month's Spiral Eye Roll leaned more in the pop-punk direction, Gameboy America (installment #35 in the Doomed Babe Series) finds J. Waylon flexing his power pop chops. It's not just that he writes about heartbreak and romantic disappointment so convincingly. He has also has a way of articulating his feelings that is absolute genius. Check out these lyrics from "Gameboy America":

You hold my heart when I’m held in your hands
You sang me lines from your favorite bands
You sold me dreams in 8 bit lands
Like Gameboy America

I know, right? And the whole song is that same level. Just read through the lyrics on Bandcamp, and you'll swear J. Waylon has been inside your brain. He's the poet laureate of the brokenhearted! Am I the only one who heard this song and thought, "This is like REM with a better singer"? "Somebody's Someone" is another slice of power pop perfection that eloquently explores that excruciating moment when you sense that your special someone might have a special someone else. At this point, it's no longer a surprise when J. Waylon turns out songs this great. But that doesn't mean we should take it for granted. Friends of Cesar Romero is a treasure of the underground music scene and more than worthy of a follow on Bandcamp!

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Saturday, March 25, 2023

Friends of Cesar Romero - Spiral Eye Roll


The prolific and talented J. Waylon just might be the most underappreciated songwriter in the modern power pop/punk world. With his one-man-band Friends of Cesar Romero, he has managed to create a body of work that's astounding in terms of both quantity and quality. He produces so much amazing music (five releases last year alone!) that you could be forgiven for not managing to keep up. If you're ever looking for a good way to spend some money, hop on over to the FoCR Bandcamp and dig into a discography that's sitting at 40 titles and growing. The band's latest release, Spiral Eye Roll, is installment #34 in J. Waylon's Doomed Babe Series. Depending on the particular release or individual track, the Friends of Cesar Romero sound can range from pop-punk to power pop to garage rock to classic '60s style guitar pop. Spiral Eye Roll leans more pop-punk, and it's a truly perfect execution of the genre. It delivers three tracks in four minutes. The sound is tight, punchy, and catchy, with lyrics that find J. Waylon wearing his heart on his sleeve. This, my friends, is poppy punk rock at its very best. If you're a regular reader of this blog and not yet a Friends of Cesar Romero fan, that needs to be rectified as soon as possible!


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Sunday, September 12, 2021

Friends of Cesar Romero - War Party Favors


As the strong full-length releases of 2021 continue to pile up, here's another one to add to the conversation. War Party Favors is the latest of many albums by Friends of Cesar Romero -- the long-running solo project from J. Waylon (ex The Reddmen). On this release, J. Waylon basically did it all. He sang, played all of the instruments, and produced the album. And from start to finish, War Party Favors is stacked with absolute gems. If you dig power pop that takes it cues from garage rock, the '60s classics, modern-day indie pop, and even a little pop-punk, you'll find much to love here. This is just a really great album that should go over well with almost anyone who regularly visits this blog. J. Waylon knows to turn out a killer hook, and his songwriting style is steeped in the timeless traditions of the two-to-three minute pop song. Snappy Little Numbers has released the album on CD and also offers a pay-what-you-want download. If you like what you hear, you could very well spend all day on the Friends of Cesar Romero Bandcamp digging into the back catalog. Check it out! 

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