The Beatings - 1997-2007

Since late '90s/early 2000s punk rock is my jam, I am thrilled about Baltimore's glam-punk heroes The Beatings finally getting the full retrospective treatment. If you've been on this ride with me from the beginning, you may recall me flipping my shit for The Beatings' Kiss on the Cheek EP circa 25 years ago. And while my prognostications of The Beatings becoming the next huge band in American punk rock never came true, Adam T. is still going strong with one of the best bands out there, the mighty New Brutarians. So whether you think of The Beatings as part of Adam T.'s origin story, one of the best and most overlooked of the later '90s old school punk revivalists, or a mainstay of the Baltimore punk scene back in the day, the new digital collection 1997-2007 is well worth your time and attention. As the title suggests, this album compiles material that was recorded and released from the late '90s through the early-to-mid 2000s. It includes the songs from all three of the band's 7" releases: "The Ballad Of Jimmy & Jenny" (WAX/Telegraph Records), Kiss on the Cheek (Pelado Records), and the Solid Gold picture disc (Glass Manacle Records). It also includes The Beatings' cover of The Boys' "First Time," which was originally released on Pelado's cult classic Three Minute Heroes compilation. Also included are "Pretty Face (Born Too Late)" and "Like a Broken Shoe" from the band's 1997 demo tape, a live recording of "Party In Berlin" from New Year's Eve 1998, and some demos from Adam's bands Heavy Metal Kitchen and Treasure Island. At 23 tracks in one hour, this is a massive collection for longtime fans or anyone interested in the music Adam made prior to The New Brutarians. 

I was hardly the only reviewer giving The Beatings their flowers in the early 2000s. Some noteworthy lines of praise included "If Duran Duran wanted to be Motörhead and not Roxy Music", "The Bay City Rollers meets the Dwarves", "Better than a boot to the ear hole" and "The NY Dolls on Crack!" The magic of The Beatings was that there wasn't really another band out there quite like them. They were playing sleazy, glammy '70s-style punk with an unlikely mix of bubblegum, new wave, and hard rock influences. It had been a long time since I had listened to The Beatings, so the release of 1997-2007 has been an occasion for me to revisit these songs and decide if my younger self had any idea what he was talking about. By the time I got through "Kiss on the Cheek" and "Ghetto Blaster," I was able to assert that, at least in the case of The Beatings, I wasn't totally full of shit back then! These tracks really hold up — as do "Rollercoaster Girl," "The Ballad Of Jimmy & Jenny," and "Medicine." I don't recall ever owning or hearing the Solid Gold 7", but "New Wave Love" is a stone cold ripper. 

The beauty of the digital music revolution is that old records don't have to be lost to the dustbin of history. And we don't have to play the "You had to be there!" game. Even if you had never heard of The Beatings before, if you like trashy punk rock with a heavy glam influence, it's likely you'll be really into this compilation. I know there's so much music out there to listen to, but I truly believe that there's a significant audience for this album in 2026. It will warm my heart if a few of my influential friends play some of these tracks on their radio shows or if a couple of you end up discovering The Beatings for the first time and genuinely liking what you hear. I remember getting into punk in the '90s and thinking that all those old punk records from 20 years prior were ancient. Now we are three decades removed from the new bands I was into then! Will there be a '90s punk revival? Let's make it happen while there's still time!

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0p3TXaOEzYvycZNtkJ25T2
https://music.apple.com/us/album/1997-2007/1885234296

The New Brutarians - "Tonight's Your Night (Tonight)"

The New Brutarians are back with another stone cold banger of a single! Last year's summer of singles was just the beginning! Adam T. and Robbie Rist are in full glam fury on this glitzy rocker that practically explodes out of your speakers. I'm talking scorching guitars, smashing drums, a whiff of whiskey and hairspray, and enough attitude in the vocals to raise Stiv Bators from the dead. If you dig Hanoi Rocks, the New York Dolls, early KISS, and Adam's old band The Beatings, then The New Brutarians are speaking your language! Vinyl release coming from Sioux Records later this year!

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/3pC73sImsm4ong9LUL5UG7
https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians/
https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/

The Sideshows - "Brand New"/"The Start"

It's no secret that Rich Ragany is one of my favorite songwriters. I've had the pleasure of reviewing his music on ten occasions and interviewing him a couple times. He has made seven appearances on my top ten albums lists over the years (I'm pretty sure that's a record). A year without ole Rags in the F & L universe never feels quite right. And now we have something new and special on that front: the debut release from The Sideshows! This is a band comprised of Rags, his longtime drummer Simon Maxwell (Yo Yos, The Loyalties, Role Models), and the legendary Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe, Jetboy, Jerusalem Slim, Demolition 23, New York Dolls, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, etc.). Now that, my friends, is a power trio! 

It all started with Yaffa inviting Rags to come to his home studio in Mallorca, Spain and record a couple of new tunes he'd been working on. And sure enough, Rags, Maxwell, and Yaffa caught lightning in a bottle. This wasn't just a Rich Ragany solo project — it was a new band! And so here we have "Brand New"/"The Start", released on European Phonographic. By now you ought to know what to expect: powerful, anthemic rock 'n' roll that's full of heart and soul. The lead track is a full-on Rags-style glam/punk/rock 'n' roll sing-along anthem. He's been writing songs like this for years, and it never stops being exciting. And how amazing is it to have Sami freaking Yaffa playing on a song like this? I've got chills! B-side "The Start" is another Rags specialty: a song that starts off sounding gentle and restrained, and then suddenly that chorus hits like a ton of bricks! These are both great songs, and the recording sounds amazing. I can't help visualizing these three guys rocking out in the Spanish countryside with the windows and doors wide open, bringing these songs to life in a way that Rags could never have foreseen. That sounds like the stuff of a future legend! This is likely not the last we'll hear from The Sideshows. For now, crank this debut loud and enjoy!

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5LuRWDiOp6EmMTUO49Cpet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pybhUSxUMVk&list=OLAK5uy_lKi6dAPvpUlqlqAWsRdAmd2Zf0OTnt_uQ
https://mermaids.ffm.to/sideshows
https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Sideshows/61583315399406/
https://www.instagram.com/the_sideshows1234
https://www.instagram.com/european_phonographic/

New Brutarians - "Delinquent Things"

The New Brutarians' summer of singles continues with the release of "Delinquent Things" — a hip-shaking, balls-out glam rocker. Adam T. sticks to the lead singer role on this recording, and he's joined by Billy Summer on guitar, Famous George on bass, Alan MP from The Juvenile Wrecks on lead guitar, producer Robbie Rist on drums & keys, Ronnie Dee on sax, and Roxx Gang front-man Kevin Steele (making his first public appearance in nearly a decade) on backing vocals. What a lineup that is, and you can definitely feel the party atmosphere on this track. The New Bruts promised us some bigger-sounding rock 'n' roll this summer, and clearly they are delivering. "Delinquent Things" has the DNA of the Stones, Dolls, and Dramarama coursing through its veins, but it also has that distinctive Adam T. quality in the songwriting and vocal delivery. And lyrically, this is brilliant stuff — the kind of song that manages to be memorable & poetic without being the least bit subtle. All in all, this is the perfect summertime rocker for all of you who aspire to stay up all night breaking all the rules. The digital release is live now; vinyl will be coming out on Sioux!

-L.R.

https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/track/delinquent-things
https://open.spotify.com/album/3yr6OecjYartJFD555Z6R0
https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians

WYLDLIFE - sorted.

WYLDLIFE is a band that needs no introduction in this particular corner of the internet. Since 2011, this New York–based foursome has been one of the very best bands in present-day rock 'n' roll. With its mix of punk rock attitude, infectious pop hooks, and pure rock 'n' roll energy, WYLDLIFE is one of those bands that represents just about everything I love in music. Its new album sorted. (out on Wicked Cool Records) is its fifth and first in five years. It continues the progression that was evident on 2020's Year of the Snake — further broadening and updating the band's musical style but never straying far from its longstanding mission to craft catchy, kick-ass tunes that would be all over the radio in a just world. Longtime fans will go wild for the likes of "Bystander," "Generate 2 Terminate," "Terminal Blue," and "MIA M.I.A." — which are vintage WYLDLIFE glam-punk rock 'n' roll scorchers with hooks for days. Elsewhere, "Little Headcase," "Dizzy," and "Goes Without Saying" find this very American band embracing '90s Brit-pop in an extremely satisfying way. "Fast Dreams" is the ultra-rocking power pop smash hit that the world ought to be begging for. "Shadows" blends old school NYC punk snarl with modern garage rock sensibilities and that distinctive WYLDLIFE flair. "Shotgun" delivers anthemic album-closer energy. 

While sorted. is the fruit of numerous studio sessions over several years, it doesn't feel disjointed or lack an identity. It manages to sound like a WYLDLIFE album without being a retread of previous WYLDLIFE albums. If anything, this band doesn't get nearly enough credit for turning out such consistently good records that celebrate rock 'n' roll's past while also leading the way for its present. Arriving just in time for summer, sorted. needs to be cranked loudly and thoroughly enjoyed while you live life to its fullest. This album scratches an itch that only real rock 'n' roll can reach.

-L.R.

https://wyldlife.bandcamp.com/album/sorted
https://open.spotify.com/album/7FCGMMQ8J3VR9ClCExdJrB
https://www.instagram.com/them_wyldlife_boys/
https://www.facebook.com/wyldlifeband

Perilous - "Dear Heart"

Since releasing its fantastic album YEAH!!! in December of 2023, Buffalo, New York's Perilous has been busy rocking out live (including appearances last year at Fear City Fun Fest and the International Power Pop Festival). But the now the band is ready to unleash a series of summer singles for 2025! Up first is "Dear Heart," which infuses some serious power pop vibes into the band's high energy garage/punk/rock 'n' roll attack. Produced by the legendary Kurt Reil, this track is a kick-ass rocker with soaring harmonies and a huge, hooky chorus. It really is the perfect summertime radio hit. And even if it isn't quite summertime yet, there's no harm in getting a head start (it's 84 degrees as I type this). Perilous will release a new single on every first Friday of the month all summer long, so get ready for some more killer rock 'n' roll that you can blast in the car with the windows down!

-L.R.

https://perilousny.bandcamp.com/track/dear-heart
https://open.spotify.com/album/6kNlx9XrM8rstu4VEJTVgc
https://www.facebook.com/Perilousrocks
https://www.instagram.com/perilousbuffalony/

The New Brutarians - "Born Out of Time"

It has been over two years since The New Brutarians last released new music. But America's favorite pop art glam-protopunk rock 'n' roll band is about to treat us to a summer of hits! After the gonzo lo-fi stylings of the excellent Don't Want To Know Your Secrets EP, Adam, Christina, and friends figured it was time to treat us to some more polished, sub–three-minute pop gems. Our first taste of this is the new single "Born Out of Time," which has been released to coincide with tonight's special event at the Redwood Bar in Los Angeles: an Adam T. art show and glam punk gig extraordinaire featuring The New Brutarians (acoustic), The Juvenile Wrecks, Richard Duguay and The Beautiful Decline, Monodelux, and Bill DeGidio of The Pagans. Produced by Robbie Rist (yes, THE Robbie Rist!), "Born Out of Time" is a perfect little shot of glitzy, melody-driven rock 'n' roll. The lyrics are amazing, and Adam's voice sounds so freaking cool on this track. And those backing vocals are absolute majesty. If glam punk with a power pop heart is your thing, this song will be right up your alley. "Born Out of Time" has left me wanting more, and thankfully more is very soon to come!

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0IINwORCb3XodXYaOduZkh
https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/
https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians/
https://www.instagram.com/adamtpopartist/

Daniel James Gang - Darkness Over This Town

Daniel James, who has been responsible for some of my favorite records of the past decade, is back with an absolutely smoking new Daniel James Gang EP/maxi single titled Darkness Over This Town. Alongside Logan Stang, Johnny Cyanide, Geoff Palmer, and Miski Dee, Daniel tears through four tracks of grimy old school Midwestern punk 'n' roll with mega-tasty pop hooks. Is there anyone out there who does this sort of gutsy punk rock with a bleeding power pop heart better than Daniel James? Daniel's songs aren't just catchy and super-tough —they're also passionate, soulful, and totally fierce. As great as all those Indonesian Junk records were, this new stuff might be at a whole other level. The EP would be worth the price of admission just for "Misery" — one of the best tracks of 2024. "Darkness Over This Town" and "Lies" are every bit as good. 

I can't look at a song title like "Darkness Over This Town" and not think about how fitting it is for present-day America. I suppose you could say the exact same thing about "Misery," right? Even if these songs are more personal than political, they certainly capture the zeitgeist of 2025. To me, the vibe of this record is what solo Stiv Bators might have sounded like if he had gone in a more straight-forward punk rock direction but still retained his love for The Raspberries. I dig how "Lies" sounds huge and melodic but also totally raw in the very best way. And of course Daniel's lead guitar work is pure fire. Wait? Did Daniel cover a New Model Army song? Fuckin' right, he did! Now there's a band that never gets enough love! Darkness Over This Town is available now on compact disc from Bandcamp, or you can stream it from all the usual platforms. This is my favorite release of 2025 so far. If you love it too, you have impeccable taste.

-L.R.

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-over-this-town
https://open.spotify.com/album/3VNztHRzQHzEtiSF3EtwKQ
https://music.apple.com/us/album/darkness-over-this-town-ep/1785303927
https://linkin.bio/danieljamesgang/
https://www.instagram.com/xdanieljamesx/
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk

The Daniel James Gang - "Misery"

It has been over three years since I reviewed Indonesian Junk, one of my favorite bands of recent times. While I'm sad to say that IndoJunk has called it a day, I'm happy to report that Daniel James has revived their solo project The Daniel James Gang. New single "Misery" features Daniel teaming up with Logan Stang and Miski Dee, and it's an absolute monster of a song. It was originally written for Indonesian Junk, so you have some idea of what to expect. This is power pop for people who love glam-punk — or is it the other way around? This tune blends face-melting energy with ultra-catchy guitar hooks and powerful vocals that fully capture the anguish of the lyrics. Daniel sings the hell out of this song and rips it up on guitar as always. The vibe is a little like the Dead Boys and Johnny Thunders getting together to play power pop, and I am here for it! More singles are to come from The Daniel James Gang, so stay tuned!

-L.R.

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/misery
https://open.spotify.com/album/6f4J39lKd6nWr9ZfT36tzz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PTiTMZ-aqA
https://www.instagram.com/danieljamesgang/

The Black Halos - How The Darkness Doubled

For all intents and purposes, How The Darkness Doubled is the true follow-up to The Black Halos' classic 2001 release The Violent Years. Technically there have been a couple albums in between. But How The Darkness Doubled (out now on Stomp Records) finally reunites lead singer Billy Hopeless with original members Rich Jones and Jay Millette — using the album title that was originally planned for a third Black Halos album a couple decades ago. And while it's a music reviewer cliché to talk about "returns to form," there's just no denying that this album is a 100% triumphant return to form. The OG Halos, joined by new members John Kerns (The Age Of Electric) and Danni Action (ACIIDZ), have picked up where they left off 20+ years ago. How The Darkness Doubled is vintage Black Halos in every sense — an ass-kicking set of glam punk rock and roll rippers with hooks for days. 

The passing of time has only added more layers of grit to Billy Hopeless's signature vocal rasp. When that voice intersects with those melodic guitars and Jones' tuneful songs, it's an awesome thing to behold. The band sounds energized and inspired across these 12 tracks  — very few of which fail to get me thrusting my fist in the air and shouting along to the choruses. Few bands can pull off that "rock" side of '70s glam & punk like The Black Halos, and opening cut "A History of Violence" quickly affirms that these guys have still got it. That hook has been lodged in my skull for the past week! Whether you're craving big choruses ("Tenement Kids"), scorching rockers ("Uncommonwealth"), soaring anthems ("Better Days"), or pure punk rock adrenaline ("A Positive Note"), this album has got you covered. With lyrics grounded in life's harsh realities and bitter disappointments, these songs really benefit from the time that has passed since these guys last made a record together. "Better Days" offers solid life advice about never looking back. "All My Friends Are Like Drugs" is insightful and relatable. Originally released as a single two years ago, "Ain't No Good Time to Say Goodbye" is a powerful tribute to the late Chi Pig and one of the most profound songs about grief that you'll ever hear.  

Mixed by Dave Draper (The Wildhearts, The Professionals), How The Darkness Doubled sounds like a million bucks with its huge guitars and slick backing vocals. I'm not saying that I have lo-fi fatigue, but it's kind of nice to hear a punk rock band that's not afraid to rock. And with songs this good, who wouldn't want to sound massive? As the spiritual successor to The Violent Years, this album is everything you hoped for and then some. Longtime fans will not be disappointed. And even if you have never heard the band's first two albums, How The Darkness Doubled will make you want to. At a time when reboots and revivals almost always leave us wanting, The Black Halos are here to remind us that it doesn't have to be that way.

-L.R.

https://theblackhalos.bandcamp.com/album/how-the-darkness-doubled">
https://open.spotify.com/album/7cZROQgtUUPeqYaROhmL3u
https://www.instagram.com/theblackhalos/
https://www.facebook.com/TheBlackHalos
https://stomprecords.com/
https://www.instagram.com/stomprecords/
https://www.facebook.com/StompRecords/

The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs - All The Covers (And More)

I often talk of how 1995 was my 1977. The late '90s revival of '70s punk rock is a subject near and dear to my heart and one I may someday write a book about. Those bands were my gateway to all the first wave punk rock I now consider to be the greatest music ever made. One band from that movement that has held up particularly well is L.A.'s Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. Maximum Overdrive, a compilation of the band's debut album and early singles on Alive/Bomp! Records, is an essential purchase for fans of '70s style punk from the '90s. It combines a gritty and roaring Stooges/Dead Boys punk rock and roll style with some seriously underrated melodic songwriting. Still going strong after 27 years plus, the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs have never lost sight of their mission to fill the world with high energy rock and roll. And they've never ceased to wear their influences on their sleeves. On their two-disc set All The Covers (And More) (out today on Rum Bar Records), they show the love to all the bands that inspired their very existence. 

Featuring extensive liner notes by singer/guitarist Frank Meyer, All The Covers (And More) is a deluxe package comprising 38 covers of punk, proto-punk, and rock and roll classics. Essentially, these are the songs that made the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. This album is a window into the soul of the band. It features both studio tracks and live cuts. I'm not always a fan of covers albums or live recordings, but I've got to say that I've been enjoying the hell out of this release. It makes me nostalgic for a time in my life when I was first discovering so many of the bands covered here. I can remember what it was like when I first got my hands on records by the Stooges, MC5, Dead Boys, Radio Birdman, Saints, and Dictators and had my mind totally blown (To this day, I can't hear any version of "Sonic Reducer" without screaming along until I'm hoarse). I'm envious of anyone who might be introduced to these bands through this release. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs are providing a road map for a formal education in punk rock! And the cover selections go beyond the obvious choices. The band pays homage to its more "pop" influences with two Cheap Trick covers and a rousing take on The Boys' "Kamikaze." There are also nods to greats from the worlds of hard rock/metal (Motley Crue, Iron Maiden), glam punk (Hanoi Rocks, Smack, Dogs D'Amour), and classic L.A. punk (X, Fear). The performances, both live and in the studio, properly capture the powerhouse energy and wild aggression of the songs' original versions. Standout cuts for me are The Runaways' "Cherry Bomb" (featuring Cherie Currie on lead vocals), the aforementioned Dead Boys "Sonic Reducer" (featuring Jimmy Zero), X's "Los Angeles," Cheap Trick's "Hot Love" (featuring the B-Movie Rats), Motley Crue's "Live Wire," The MC5's "Kick Out the Jams," and (of course!) The Dictators' "Faster and Louder." 

I appreciate that the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs didn't just want to do a covers album. Instead they wanted to release all their covers in one shot  — which provides a complete picture of the varied influences that formed them. Some of the vital influencers (Wayne Kramer, Sylvain Sylvain, Deniz Tek) even make appearances on this collection. It seems weird to say that this album could be a perfect introduction to the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. But honestly, it just might be! The band will surely be playing a lot of these songs as it tours the West Coast in support of All The Covers (And More) in November and December. Featuring over two-and-a-half hours of music, this two-disc set is an absolute treat for fans of both the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs and old school punk rock and roll in general.

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-covers-and-more
https://thestreetwalkincheetahs.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/streetwalkincheetahs/
https://www.facebook.com/TheStreetwalkinCheetahs/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Ricky Rat - Ghosts of Isolation

Ricky Rat is a legendary figure in glam-punk and Detroit rock and roll. The longtime Trash Brats and Lovemasters guitarist has played with everyone from the Dead Boys to Kevin K to Mike Skill. He has also had a great run as a solo artist over the past decade, which continues with his terrific new album Ghosts of Isolation (out now on I-94 Recordings). Ghosts of Isolation can be properly described as a vintage Ricky Rat recording. It exists in a world where glam rock, punk, power pop, and boozy rock and roll are not separate genres but rather complementary facets of a distinct musical aesthetic. Behold the master at work! 

Ghosts of Isolation is one of those albums that has something for everyone. The title track is a punk rock anthem with one foot in power pop - the sort of song that has been a Ricky Rat specialty for decades. Elsewhere Ricky goes all-in on power pop on the sentimental numbers "Lakepointe Nights" and "Dream That Can Never Be," hits the old school country sweet spot on "Bottom of My Heart," tears into some quintessential trashy rock and roll on "I Can't See Shit," and puts his signature stylings on the Jimmy Cliff classic "Sitting In Limbo." And as was often the case on Trash Brats releases, it's the deep cuts that really make Ghosts Of Isolation. Songs such as "Glow of Gabriel's," "When We Were the Boys," and "Singing with Angels" find their author pouring out his heart and shining as a storyteller and songwriter.  

Ricky Rat takes his solo artistry to another level on Ghosts of Isolation. He has never put his name on a finer collection of tunes, and this album has the feel of an autobiography. Over the course of ten tracks, he reflects on lost love, old friends, good times, and a life in rock and roll. Backed by Joe Leone and Laura Mendoza (as well as special guest stars Jimmie Bones, Jackson Smith, Brad Elvis, and Chloe Orwell), he has delivered an album imbued with the beating heart of the great city of Detroit. It's available now on black and silver vinyl from the I-94 Recordings web site!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/ricky-rat-ghosts-of-isolation-lp-i-94-015
https://rickyrat.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004

New Brutarians - Hysteria

After much, much, much delay, the New Brutarians finally have their debut LP out into the world! Out now on the illustrious Alien Snatch Records, Hysteria is every bit the lo-fi glam-pop proto-punk rock and roll masterpiece I was hoping for from this Sunshine State duo comprised of Adam Turkel (vocals, guitar, bass, and keys) and Christina Wright (drums and vocals). It has been two and a half years since I first wrote about this band -- although it feels like much longer given what's been happening in the world over that time! Hysteria is full of scrappy pop songs crafted under the influence of glam rock, pop art, and early punk rock. If you love Johnny Thunders, Television, Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, Nikki Sudden, the Only Ones, and '70s Stones, you've just found your new favorite band. Hysteria includes some of the New Brutarians' stellar singles from the last couple years such as "A Little Hit of You," "(Rock Me) I'm A Dadaist" (easily the greatest song title of all-time), the truly marvelous "New Muse," and the COVID anthem "Living In Isolation." The half of the album I had not heard before proves to be every bit as formidable. "16 Savior" is nothing short of pop perfection. The Velvets-inspired "The Prettiest Girls (Sing the Saddest Songs)" is the first New Brutarians song to feature Christina Wright on lead vocals -- and hopefully not the last! "I Know Where Richey Edwards Lives" and "Stop! In the Name of Art" (featuring Treasure Island) are classic shots of '77 glam-punk. "Butterfly" is something we rarely hear these days: a really great old school punk rock ballad.  

Recorded by Adam Turkel, Billy Summer, and Gino Gambino in the midst of the great pandemic, Hysteria arrives triumphantly in the summer of 2022. It was recorded in dark, desperate times, and its release was delayed for over a year by bottlenecks at pressing plants. The fact that you can now hold this vinyl record in your hands seems like great cause for celebration. Together, Adam and Christina make music that affirms anew the healing power of rock and roll. Their influences, while obvious, are absorbed and interpreted with a style and personality that are uniquely theirs. Hysteria's existence on vinyl enables it to be enjoyed the old-fashioned way: you can drop the needle on the vinyl, relax, and read the lyric sheet as you fully experience each song. If this album proves anything, it's that Adam T is not just a tremendous pop artist and righteous screamer but also one of his generation's true punk rock poets. Hysteria is limited to 500 copies. It's available in the States from the New Brutarians' Bandcamp and in Europe directly from Alien Snatch. Don't miss one of the year's best LPs!

-L.R.

https://aliensnatch.bandcamp.com/album/new-brutarians-hysteria
https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/album/hysteria
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians
https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/
http://www.aliensnatch.de/
https://www.facebook.com/ALIEN.SNATCH.RECORDS/

The New Brutarians - Hysteria (Streaming Release and LP Preorder)

Now it can be told! It has been a well-kept secret for a while that The New Brutarians will be releasing their debut LP on my favorite record label of all-time, the mighty Alien Snatch Records. The band has officially opened preorders for the vinyl release via Bandcamp. The LPs will be shipping next month. If you absolutely can't wait to hear this glam-punk blockbuster, it's now up on Spotify and all major streaming platforms. Otherwise, you can now order a copy of Hysteria on black or solid gold vinyl directly from the band. The vinyl release contains an exclusive track called "Stop! In The Name of Art." While I'm going to save my full review for the official release next month, I will say that Adam and Christina have outdone themselves on their full-length debut. Long delayed by the international vinyl pressing crisis, Hysteria is finally arriving and proves to be well worth the wait. For a nice little taste of what to expect, check out the official music video for "New Muse" below!

-L.R.

https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/album/hysteria

https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians

https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/

https://open.spotify.com/album/05uDOSidKL6qYXJqzsLDxc?si=fde4d41fb892473c

The New Brutarians - "Barter Baby (I'll Trade You My Heart)"

2021 has been the year of delayed records. The pressing plants are so bogged down that albums recorded now just might see the light of day before a human lands on Mars. The New Brutarians, a band I'm quite fond of, must now wait until spring of next year for their debut album Hysteria to come out. Some bands will just say, "Screw it!" and release the music on other formats. But The New Brutarians seem poised to wait this one out for another half year or so. In the meantime, Adam and Christina have turned loose an outtake from the Hysteria sessions called "Barter Baby (I'll Trade You My Heart)" . This track kind of channels the Rolling Stones by way of the Velvet Underground -- or maybe it's the other way around? As always, I dig the lo-fi glam/proto-punk vibe. Lyrics are always a highlight of an Adam T. composition, and they're absolutely brilliant on this track. I got through one verse and was like, "Man, I wish I could write like that!". While "Barter Baby" didn't make it onto the album, it's no throwaway. The song is a staple of the band's live set and would probably have been released as a single at some point. Enjoy it now, and look forward to Hysteria next year!

-L.R.

https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/track/barter-baby-ill-trade-you-my-heart
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians
https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/

New singles from Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty!

What's the next best thing to a new single from the late, great Trash Brats? How about new singles from Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty released simultaneously on I-94 Recordings! This double release will disappoint absolutely no one. The concept was for each of these guys to record an original song along with a cover of an iconic Detroit artist. Backed by the Jen-U-Wine Faux Diamond Band, McCarty gives off Trash Brats vibes with "Hamtramck Jukebox" -- his tribute to Lili Karwowksi and her beloved bar Lili's 21. Ricky Rat guests on guitar, and the song's references to the likes of The Mutants, Bootsey X & the Lovemasters, and The Junk Monkeys will certainly bring back fond memories to anyone who frequented shows at the Trash Brats' favorite hangout. If you were hoping for upbeat glam rock and roll with a touch of pop, "Hamtramck Jukebox" is precisely that. On the flip, McCarty does a rootsy rock and roll version of Stevie Wonder's "A Place In The Sun" that is an absolute blast. The legendary Jimmie Bones makes an appearance on piano, and of course he steals the show!

For his single "She Feels Like a Good Thing", Ricky Rat teams up with Laura Mendoza on bass and Joe Leone on drums. The A-side dishes out some old school glam-punk with catchy hooks: exactly what you'd expect from the longtime Trash Brat and recent Dead Boy. It has been five years since Ricky Rat last released solo tracks, and "She Feels Like A Good Thing" is right in line with that material. On the flip, he tackles The Rockets' early '80s number "Born in Detroit" in a style that can only be described as anthemic. Once again, Jimmie Bones turns up on piano and rips it up! 

Whether you witnessed the 1980s and '90s Detroit punk rock and roll scene first hand or simply admired the Trash Brats from afar as I did, these two new singles from Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty & the Jen-U-Wine Faux Diamond Band are must-have items. Each single delivers a top-notch original song and a revved-up version of a Detroit classic. Jim at I-94 really went all out and pressed these records on a multitude of colors of vinyl. A few of the colors are sold out, but most are still available. Have at it!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004/

Indonesian Junk - Living In a Nightmare

On its fourth LP, Milwaukee's Indonesian Junk continues to blend the best parts of punk, glam, power pop, and arena rock into one singularly awesome sound that no reasonable human being could possibly resist. IndoJunk singer/guitarist Daniel James wrote Living In a Nightmare in May and June of last year. He and his bandmates Johnny Cyanide (bass), Mike Mattner (drums), and Adam Turetzky (guitar) recorded the album over a weekend in October with Shane Hochstetler at Howl Street Recordings in Milwaukee. 

The timing of this album's creation might lead you to believe that the title is a reference to 2020 and the Coronavirus. But the nightmare being referenced here is systematic racial inequality in America -- and the grim realization that half of the country either denies its existence or simply doesn't care. For this release, James has written a pair of powerhouse protest anthems in "Livin' in the USA" and "Policeman". Both songs rage furiously against this unacceptable state of a nation. Yet what makes them so riveting is that they are killer tunes first and foremost. "Livin' in the USA" is a scorching punk tune that for some reason reminds me a little of Demolition 23. And "Policeman" is the very definition of an anthem -- its catchy sing-along chorus doubling as a rallying cry against injustice. It takes a skilled songwriter to craft an album where tales of heartbreak can logically co-exist with songs addressing important social issues. Yet James has pulled off that very thing here. And it feels so authentic to him. He's a passionate guy, and Living In a Nightmare is essentially his heart on a plate. 

Living In a Nightmare, to me, is the best Indonesian Junk album because it gives you a little bit of everything that makes this band so cool. It's a record full of big hooks, catchy tunes, loud guitars, and ripping solos. "Type of a Girl" and "One More Try" is an opening 1-2 punch that would be the envy of most power pop bands. "I Don't Mind" sounds like the best song that Richard Hell and the Voidoids never wrote. "Tracy" could be a long-lost Joneses song. At nine minutes plus, "Bawlin' My Eyes Out" is the epic closer every great album ought to have. Whether you're a punk lifer, a glam rocker, a power pop geek, or just someone who waits patiently for Thin Lizzy or Cheap Trick to come on when the Boomer FM channel is playing, there's something on this album for you. It releases today on compact disc on Rum Bar Records. Vinyl will be available this summer on Spiderbite Records!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk

Indonesian Junk - "One More Try" (Song Premiere)

Today I am honored to premiere a new song by one of my favorite bands! "One More Try" is a brand-new track from Indonesian Junk, a band I've had the pleasure of writing about for the last seven years. "One More Try", featuring a guest appearance on backing vocals by the illustrious Kurt Baker, will appear on IndoJunk's forthcoming album Living In a Nightmare. It's one of the most "pop" songs yet from these Milwaukee-based glam-punks, who are now a foursome with the addition of guitarist Adam Turetzky. In an era in which great pop songs on the radio are all but a distant memory, Daniel James still endeavors to write old-fashioned radio hits. "One More Try" meets at the intersection of classic power pop and the Ramones circa Road To Ruin. In one single song, it takes on two of the greatest themes in guitar pop: the despair of love gone bad and the high hopes of old flames revived. This, my friends, is what you call an earworm! And that guitar solo is sheer majesty. As the title suggests, Living In a Nightmare will be Indonesian Junk's magnum opus about 2020. Preorders are open today from the Indonesian Junk and Rum Bar Records Bandcamp pages. Digital album releases March 19th. Vinyl coming this summer! 

-L.R.

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Trash Brats - self titled (30th anniversary vinyl reissue)

Detroit's legendary Trash Brats have been a huge part of my musical universe going back to my early days in the record-reviewing racket. Here was a band that was too punk for the glam rockers, too glam for the punks, and probably too pop for either! If nowadays "glam-punk" is a thing, that's largely because the Trash Brats and a few like-minded bands made it a thing through years of exciting live performances and stellar releases that attracted devoted fans the old-fashioned way. It all started 30 years ago with the release of the Trash Brats' self titled debut album. This would be the first of four proper albums released by the Trash Brats. It was originally released on cassette but had never come out on vinyl until earlier this month. The 30th anniversary vinyl reissue of Trash Brats is the first release on Jim Rinn's I-94 Recordings in nearly 20 years! The bubblegum pink vinyl sold out in 24 hours, and the fancy wax mage art vinyl sold out in a few days (I wasn't joking about the fans being devoted!). The album is still available on 180-gram black vinyl and well worth owning whether you're a longtime Trash Brats fan or just discovering the band for the first time. It's also available from the streaming sites if you just want to hear the songs again. Featuring fan favorite cuts like "Don't Wanna Dance", "Bubblegum Girl", "3873 Marlborough Street", "Gas Boy", and "S-M-U-T", this remains the definitive Trash Brats release. Grab a copy while you can!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/trash-brats-s-t-lp-preorder-ships-in-december-2020
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004/
https://open.spotify.com/album/0GrjvFHdDE4LJ2WdxGisLM

Indonesian Junk - "Type of A Girl"

Now this is how you start off a month in style! Indonesian Junk is back with its first new material in over a year, a brand-new digital single on Rum Bar Records called "Type of A Girl". It's also the band's first release featuring Adam Turetzky on rhythm guitar. This is a vintage IndoJunk track: a classic three-minute pop song that will leave the power poppers and glam punkers equally satisfied. As always, Daniel James sounds like the spirits of Joey Ramone and Stiv Bators are co-residing within him. "Type of A Girl" has the feel of a song that could have been a radio hit circa 1980. It's got hooks galore, and that guitar solo is nothing short of glorious! If you're brokenhearted or just like songs for the brokenhearted, this will be music to your ears. New album coming soon!

-L.R. 

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/track/type-of-a-girl

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/type-of-a-girl

https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk/

https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords