Hayley and the Crushers - "Cringeworthy"

Did I really get out of bed at 5:00 am just so I could listen to the new Hayley and the Crushers' single and perhaps write a little something about it before heading off to work? That's the level of geekery I have reached! I did not know that "Cringeworthy" was coming out until yesterday afternoon, so I approached this song with zero idea of what to expect beyond knowing it would be super-awesome because, well, it's Hayley and the freaking Crushers! So you're getting my fresh, off-the-cuff take with no time for polishing or overthinking. Bathing and breakfasting await, so I have to hurry. 

On that note, I must say "Cringeworthy" is, as I presumed, super-awesome! In fact, it might extra-super-awesome. It's honestly one of my favorite songs this band has ever done, and the vibe reminds me of those great singles the band put out when it first signed to Kitten Robot Records. I love that this song lives in the world of pure pop goodness with punk and new wave influences — always a sweet spot in the Crusherverse. This song is classic Crushers without necessarily trying to be classic Crushers. It's got a serious, somewhat heavy theme, but it's still wonderfully intoxicating in a way all great pop ought to be. The music video is an absolute hoot. Overall, this song and video seem to be going the opposite direction from the popular sentiment that all those millions of people out there doing their thing online are so very cringeworthy. Perhaps, you know, we ought not to be so quick to judge people for what they're putting into the universe — especially if they're doing what they love. How does all that judging and shaming serve us? Perhaps my interpretation is self-serving since what I do is certainly cringeworthy in the eyes of many, but I'm taking something very positive from this song. My first few spins with "Cringeworthy" were more than worth the lost sleep. I can't wait for the album!

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/7wQRk1kY4TO5Lmg2wEXwoa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at49FDVtKTM
https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLDJXUZWUeuhu_6UHcF32Og

https://kittenrobot.com/

Hayley and the Crushers - "Jewel Case"

Now this is what I'm talking about! Hayley and the Crushers have been one of my favorite bands for quite a few years now. Today, I have the pleasure of writing about them for the first time since September of 2024. It was really exciting finding out that a new Crushers single was on its way and slated for release today. I didn't have any advance knowledge of its existence. I didn't have to sit on this track for weeks wishing I could tell people about it. This was a true surprise treat! 

The brand-new single "Jewel Case" is well-known to longtime fans. The song was one of the first that the Crushers wrote. It has been the band's set-closing number for a decade, and now it has finally received a proper recording. It's a song about that too-wild side that everyone has (or once had) — and that moment where you realize you've crossed a line you never, ever want to cross again. It arrives in advance of a new album that I am super-pumped about. The video for the song is meant to capture the band's raw, set-closing intensity — when the night has reached its end and there's nothing left to do but go for it like there's no tomorrow. In this clip, you can see (and hear!) the band bringing it with full gusto. It really tickles me that even as they lean more into their power pop side, the Crushers are embracing punk rock more deeply than ever. This scorching tune early is serving old school California punk vibes —like X on an energy drink bender. Ya gotta love it! Whether you like to party hearty and party hardly, "Jewel Case" is a song that begs to be cranked loudly while you run around like a maniac and wreak all sorts of havoc wherever you might happen to be. Yeah dude! Hayley and the Crushers are back!

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/3y4xpxjsGbEDSSDtEAwBE2
https://www.youtube.com/@hayleyandthecrushers
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers/

Hayley and the Crushers - Unsubscribe from the Underground

Unsubscribe from the Underground, the new EP from Hayley and the Crushers, arrives two years after the band's last LP Modern Adult Kicks — which I've publicly declared to be my fourth-favorite album of this century. As much as I love Modern Adult Kicks, I've never been tempted to compare Unsubscribe from the Underground to it. Hayley and the Crushers have never been a band to stagnate or imitate themselves. They make one great record, and then they proceed to make a different kind of great record. The progress in between is always a reflection of personal and musical growth. 

In some respects, Unsubscribe from the Underground is the Crushers' punkiest record to date. But I think the whole point of this EP (and this band) is that it doesn't subscribe (no pun intended) to any single genre. Punk, pop, new wave, '60s girl groups, and country music are all in the mix, but it all just sounds like Hayley and the Crushers. They've reached that point as a band where their own style and talents define them more than any genre could. The vibe of the record, in the band's own words, is equal parts "grit and glitz." Instruments were tracked in guitarist Ryan DeLiso's basement, and the vocals were recorded at Josie Cotton's Kitten Robot Studio in Los Angeles. This gives the EP a scrappy Midwestern garage punk edge and a sunny California pop polish. That's a perfect metaphor for Hayley and Dr. Cain's personal transition from California to Detroit — which was certainly a major influence on these songs. 

With super-talented new members DeLiso and Gabe Masek on board, the Crushers sound re-energized and fully inspired on this EP. The first three songs were released as advance singles over the summer, and by now it feels like they've been in my life forever. But what's immediately obvious is that these songs were meant to be heard together. They're all very different songs, but they flow into each other seamlessly. Part of what makes the Crushers one of my favorite bands is the way they sneak genuine lyrical substance into musically intoxicating songs, and Hayley has written some of her finest material for this EP. Over the course of four original songs, she reflects on not fitting in with either the in crowd or the out crowd, reminisces on what it meant to be a teenage punk rocker in Hollywood, beautifully depicts the extraordinary love she and Dr. Cain share, and opines on the way technology has fully consumed our lives. This is an EP made by and for misfits, and that says a lot about why I feel so connected to this band. 

Since I've already reviewed the first three tracks as singles, I won't say too much about them again besides pointing out that "Blood and Treasure" might be my new fave Crushers song. I'm such a fan of songs that celebrate enduring adult love (and do it well). And the Crushers doing a song that sounds like End of the Century gone country is a true stroke of genius. The two new tracks bring it on home in style. "Let Go," which explores the psychological and emotional toll of technology overload, hits very close to home for me. And given that '90s pop-punk was my gateway to this whole underground punk universe, I'm stoked to hear the Crushers calling upon that specific influence and making it their own. To end the EP, the Crushers take on the 1981 Juice Newton pop-country smash "Queen of Hearts." Yeah, I know Dave Edmunds recorded the song first. But the Crushers are definitely covering the song Juice style. I've been waiting decades for a band to properly punk up this song, and the Crushers have not disappointed!

Unsubscribe from the Underground is available now from all the streaming outlets via Kitten Robot Records. A vinyl release is coming soon, so stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, I have decided to unsubscribe from the following things: checking work email outside of work hours, spending two hours writing 700-word record reviews, looking at my phone at the gym, leaving tips at Chipotle and Jersey Mike's, limiting myself to two beers, worrying about things I can't control, and refusing to turn on the heat before November 1st.

-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/album/unsubscribe-from-the-underground
https://open.spotify.com/album/2BlEo07FgcoPy341c58oRn
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers/
https://kittenrobot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords
https://www.instagram.com/kittenrobotrecords/

Hayley and the Crushers - Blood and Treasure

One thing I love that Hayley and the Crushers have been doing in recent years is releasing a lot of singles. Of course albums and EPs are great, but there's just something special about a single where the focus is on one song that you listen to over and over and really get to know. Today's streaming technology has really brought back the idea of great singles bands, and the Crushers are one of those for sure. "Blood and Treasure" is the third single they've released in advance of Unsubscribe from the Underground, their forthcoming EP on Kitten Robot Records. You could hear the band digging back into its punk roots on the previous two. "Blood and Treasure," on the other hand, is pure pop. And it's glorious! Hayley Cain wrote this tune about her relationship with her husband Reid — whom you all know and love as Dr. Cain ESQ. The song celebrates the couple's "irreplaceable love," and I have to say it gives me chills. Sometimes the most important things in life can be the hardest things to write about well since mere words might not be able to do them justice. But here Hayley writes beautifully about the most important thing of all. Her lyrics are heartfelt and vivid, and she sings the hell out of this song. Musically, "Blood and Treasure" brings to mind '60s Brill Building pop and girl groups with a hint of country. It's the sort of song you can't listen to just once, and it's surely an AM radio smash in some alternate universe where perfect pop songs dominate the charts. The full EP releases in September, but now is the time to enjoy "Blood and Treasure" in all its romantic glory.

-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/track/blood-and-treasure
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://kittenrobot.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kittenrobotrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords

Hayley and the Crushers - "Alleyways"

Back with their second single from their forthcoming EP Unsubscribe from the Underground, Hayley and the Crushers are really hitting me where I feel it. Hayley Cain wrote "Alleyways" as a remembrance of her favorite teenage hangout spot and the local punk rock scene that meant everything to her. So many of us have cherished memories of being part of a punk rock community and basking in the freedom, excitement, and pure fun that came with it. With "Alleyways," the Crushers manage to capture that spirit in song. I sensed on the last single "Unsubscribe" that this band has really gotten back to its punk rock roots, and that feeling goes double for "Alleyways." The song is snappy & high-spirited while also having that wistful touch you'd expect when you're reflecting on memories that are now a couple decades old. Above all else, this song taps into the fundamental joy of punk rock as a way of life. This joy is palpable in the playing and the singing, and it comes through in the music video as well. Hayley and Dr. Cain have really done a remarkable job of growing their sound while still holding on to those qualities that make their band so special. And of course this new lineup is hot! I've got a feeling that fans are gonna go absolutely wild for "Alleyways"! Instantly, it becomes one of my favorite Crushers songs ever. If you have precious memories of DIY punk shows and the friends & connections you made there, you'll be feeling this song too. The full EP will be out in September on Kitten Robot Records! 

-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/track/alleyways
https://open.spotify.com/album/5dQYgmEiW7EJkEEZaUkIdZ
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers/
https://kittenrobot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords
https://www.instagram.com/kittenrobotrecords/

Hayley and the Crushers - "Unsubscribe"

Now this is kind of a big deal! Hayley and the Crushers have released their first original song since the fall of 2022. Given the way the Crushers have been evolving and growing musically over the last few years, I was intrigued to hear how they'd sound on their new single "Unsubscribe." A lot can happen in 20 months, and I had a feeling that "Unsubscribe" might reflect that. Spoiler alert: I was not disappointed! "Unsubscribe" is vintage Crushers but by no means a copy of the group's past hits. It's a punky earworm that will have you dancing around the house, but it's also vaguely haunting and quite deep lyrically. A lesser writer might have come up with that one great line "Unsubscribe from the underground" and done something obvious or superficial with it. But obvious and superficial are not in Hayley Cain's playbook, and "Unsubscribe" is a fascinating reflection on the tensions that exist within music scenes: between the old and the new, between tradition and change, between the past and the future. As many of these same tensions exist in other sub-cultures and within society itself, this song will be relatable far beyond the world of music scenes. Keep in mind that the lyrics are written from the point of view of a fictitious scene veteran and not Hayley herself — the Crusherverse will never be hostile to new ideas and new faces! 

Instrument tracks for "Unsubscribe" were recorded in lead guitarist Ryan DeLisio's Detroit basement, and the vocals were recorded at Kitten Robot Studios in Los Angeles. This combination gives the song a perfect mix of gritty punk energy and California pop polish. This particular Crushers lineup, which also features Gabe Masek on drums, is sounding fantastic. Dare I say that Hayley and Dr. Cain sound re-energized? If you like punk and pop or any combination of the two, you ought to be opting in on "Unsubscribe." A full EP called Unsubscribe from the Underground will be out in September on Kitten Robot. Now you'll have a reason to not be bummed when the summer's over!

-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/track/unsubscribe
https://open.spotify.com/album/0ewUH89qQXQXYbzIoHBsGh
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers/

https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLDJXUZWUeuhu_6UHcF32Og
https://kittenrobotrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://kittenrobot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords
https://www.instagram.com/kittenrobotrecords/
https://www.tiktok.com/@kittenrobotrecords

Josie Cotton/Hayley and the Crushers - Split 45 RPM

 

Now here's one of the coolest projects I've ever had the pleasure of reviewing! Kitten Robot Records' first-ever split 7" release pairs the label's founder Josie Cotton with the mighty Hayley and the Crushers. When Hayley and the Crushers joined the Kitten Robot family a few years back, I couldn't get over what a perfect union that was. Josie Cotton and Hayley and the Crushers together encompass multiple generations of incredible pop music fronted by strong, inspiring women. Josie Cotton was surely an influence on Hayley and the Crushers, and no doubt Josie Cotton found Hayley and the Crushers to be kindred spirits. Those who love Hayley and the Crushers would be well-served to check out Josie Cotton's catalog. And those who grew up on Josie Cotton are sure to be into Hayley and the Crushers. So now these two musical entities finally share a piece of vinyl, and it does not disappoint. 

Josie Cotton's contribution to this split is "Day of the Gun," which originally appeared on the album of the same name. Somehow in one three-minute pop song, Ms. Cotton manages to summarize her entire philosophy on the history of the world. Reminiscent of both '60s pop music and spaghetti Westerns, "Day of the Gun" is both haunting and intoxicating. It finds a masterful artist at the top of her game, and her voice has never sounded better. I somehow missed the full album last year, but I've found it now and can't recommend it enough. It's extraordinary.

Hayley and the Crushers' contribution to this split is their cover of Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life," which was released this past fall as a digital single through Kitten Robot. The band recorded the song as a tribute to the city of Detroit, a community which has been incredibly welcoming to them. It's a tremendous rendition of a classic. You can sense the love for the original version, but of course Hayley and Dr. Cain put their signature style on it as well. You can hear the fun they had recording the song, and the energy level is off the charts. As I've previously stated, I don't think I ever fully appreciated the gonzo brilliance of the song's lyrics until I heard Hayley and Dr. Cain sing them. It made me want to go back and listen to the original again, and I suppose that would be an artist's primary goal in covering a song. 

The Josie Cotton/Hayley and the Crushers split is a hit! The world is a better place now that bedroom turntable parties and dive bar jukeboxes can include these two songs. The 45 officially releases on Kitten Robot Records this Tuesday, but pre-sale is already live on the label's web site. Go get it!

-L.R.

https://kittenrobot.com/product/josie-hayley/
https://kittenrobotrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords
https://www.instagram.com/kittenrobotrecords/
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/album/4cb9LURxMGnTTLjzeNpGQO

Hayley and the Crushers - Modern Adult Kicks

Hayley and the Crushers were already one of my favorite bands. So it feels a little strange for me to say they've made an album that completely blows away everything they've done before. But sure enough, Modern Adult Kicks (out today on Kitten Robot Records) is a next-level step for the now Detroit-based Crushers. This album, my friends, is everything. Remarkably, the band has managed to make a very serious album without losing the fundamental joy of the Crushers experience. If you're putting on this record with expectations of punk, pop, and fun, you will not be disappointed. But it's a different kind of fun on this record — one that the band has pulled off marvelously. 

As the title suggests, Modern Adult Kicks finds Hayley and the Crushers fully embracing maturity. That can be the kiss of death for a punk-pop band, but the "grown-up" Crushers are truly the best version of themselves. Of all the pandemic inspired albums I've heard over the last two and a half years, Modern Adult Kicks is definitely my favorite. It's not necessarily about the pandemic, but it was inspired by all the heavy real-life stuff the band members went through post-COVID. Songs on this release address themes such as isolation, disappointment, addiction & co-dependency, longing, disillusionment, and just general angst. At a time when almost all of us have been "going through some shit," this album has the feel of the Crushers giving the world a great big hug and telling us that it's okay to not be okay (but to always keep dancing!). As I ponder how I've largely suppressed my own pandemic anxieties for the past 30 months, I find myself really feeling Modern Adult Kicks. I was either going to have this album in my life or one day randomly have a breakdown in the cereal aisle at Target. 

One thing that I appreciate about Modern Adult Kicks is how perfectly the Crushers' recent singles ("Cul de Sac," "She Drives," "Click and Act Now!") fit in with the album as a whole. I remember hearing "Cul de Sac" for the first time and thinking, "Wow, this is an amazing new direction for the Crushers." Now I'm hearing the fulfillment of this direction on Modern Adult Kicks, and I'm blown away. Working with legendary producer Paul Roessler, the band has achieved a timeless yet modern new wave pop-rock sound that demonstrates that a punk band can grow up and still be, you know, punk! And with Roessler's support, Hayley Cain has elevated her singing talents to new heights. Vocally, she taps into emotions ranging from sorrowful to angry to tender to wistful to wicked to feisty  — and every note rings true. Hayley and the Crushers have always had a knack for writing those immediately catchy pop songs, but Modern Adult Kicks is full of tunes that slowly and sneakily get into your bones. The album's absolutely perfect side 1 culminates with two such songs: the intensely emotional "Broken Window" and the deeply yearning "I Fall." The aforementioned "Cul de Sac" and "She Drives," exceptional singles in their own right, take on a new power within the flow of this album. 

As serious of an album as Modern Adult Kicks is, it's not without its lighter and brighter moments. "Click and Act Now!", which hilariously skewers late night TV infomercials and shady product pitchmen, will have you starting a mosh pit in your own living room. "California Sober" pokes fun at people who get high and call it "spiritual." "No Substitute" is a wonderfully uplifting cover of The Shivvers' power pop cult classic. "Overexposed" is a reflective and nostalgic recollection of the heyday of online chatrooms. Altogether, this album is as advertised. It finds Hayley and Dr. Cain navigating growth, change, and the sometimes unpleasant realities of adult life in this post-pandemic world. And yet that light that Hayley and the Crushers have always emitted shines as brightly as ever. They are here to remind us that when real life knocks us down or sets us back, our best choice is to keep grinding and hold on to hope. The irony of 2020-21 being such a tough spell for the Crushers is that it was also when Josie Cotton recognized their talents and welcomed them to her record label. The Crushers have benefited greatly from working with a label and producer that fully "get" them. Combine that with a heavy dose of real-life inspiration, and you've got a formula for something special. I can't even name a favorite song off this record because I have a different one every day. If "maturity" for Hayley and the Crushers means such things as emulating Pat Benatar and writing songs inspired by Ira Levin novels, then I am all about it. Get your Modern Adult Kicks on blue-raspberry vinyl while supplies last!

-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/album/modern-adult-kicks
https://kittenrobot.com/product/hayley-kicks/
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLDJXUZWUeuhu_6UHcF32Og
https://kittenrobot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords
https://www.instagram.com/kittenrobotrecords/

Hayley and the Crushers - "Taboo"

Concluding a remarkable run of singles leading up to their forthcoming album Modern Adult Kicks, Hayley and the Crushers have released the wickedly tantalizing "Taboo." Since signing to Josie Cotton's Kitten Robot Records last summer, the Crushers have continued to surprise and delight with each new song they've released. That continues with "Taboo," a song that blasts like an early '80s pop-rock radio smash yet retains a cool, modern edge. This is a sinister song with a sinister hook. By the time you realize how catchy "Taboo" is, you're already caught. Reliable sources tell me this song is written from the perspective of a snake eating its prey, but at a broader level it's about chasing forbidden desires. Who can't relate to that at some level? The band is openly channeling a Pat Benatar energy on this track, which tickles me since my nine-year-old self played Crimes of Passion to death (on 8-track tape, no less!). I don't want to spoil too much about Modern Adult Kicks since I have a full review to write in a couple of weeks. But I will say that as I've listened to the album, I've been struck by how amazing Hayley Cain's voice sounds. Perhaps it's the emotional range of the material on the album. Perhaps it's having a producer who fully "gets" the band. Whatever it is, I feel like I've never fully appreciated what a powerhouse voice Hayley has. If "Taboo" came on the radio, you'd definitely stop and think, "That's a star!" 

The Crushers have released a music video for "Taboo," and it's absolutely bonkers. Say what you want about technology's impact on the world of music. One thing that has to go in the plus column is that the social media age has revived the music video as a vital art form. A video isn't just a promotional tool -- it's a means for bands like Hayley and the Crushers to show the world who they. If you stumbled upon this clip, you would immediately understand what it means to exist in the Crusherverse. Like the song itself, the "Taboo" video is captivating, wonderfully weird, and a whole lot of fun. It also allows the Crushers to celebrate their new home base of Detroit. Modern Adult Kicks will be out on limited blue raspberry vinyl September 13th on Kitten Robot Records. Head on over to the Kitten Robot store to pre-order!

-L.R.

https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLDJXUZWUeuhu_6UHcF32Og
https://kittenrobot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords
https://www.instagram.com/kittenrobotrecords/

Hayley and the Crushers - Fun Sized (Cassette Edition)

The record will show that I previously reviewed Hayley and the Crushers' wonderful Fun Sized compilation in February of last year. There's no need for a second review, but I wanted to get the word out about a special cassette release of Fun Sized on the very cool tape label Memorable But Not Honorable. The thing about a MBNH release is that you can't sleep on it. These releases are limited and always sure to sell out very quickly. So if you're a Crushers fan and would enjoy owning a special edition of Fun Sized on pink or yellow cassette, hop on over to MBNH's web store immediately! There are only 50 copies of each color in stock. This release comes with four unreleased live studio bonus tracks! And by the way, the CD version of Fun Sized is still very much available from Rum Bar Records!

-L.R.

https://www.mbnhtapes.com/product/hayley-and-the-crushers-fun-size
https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/fun-sized
https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://www.facebook.com/mbnhtapes

Hayley and the Crushers - "Click and Act Now!"

It's always a great day when new music from Hayley and the Crushers arrives! "Click and Act Now!" is the Crushers' third single this year on Josie Cotton's Kitten Robot Records. What I love about this band is that you never know exactly what you're going to get. Just this year alone, the Crushers have given us a wonderful variety of tunes. "Cul-De-Sac" was a moody, haunting reflection on the silent suffering of mid-century housewives. "She Drives" was upbeat new wave pop with a serious message about the futility of trying to outrun your problems. And now with "Click and Act Now!", the band has cooked up an homage to classic East Bay punk rock that doubles as satire on commercialism. This is the Crushers' most straight-forward punk tune in a while, and it's an absolute blast! It's fun and high-spirited. but as always Hayley Cain offers up lyrics that have something meaningful to say about society. And while these lyrics specifically reference the heyday of late night infomercials, the sentiment rings just as true in the age of streaming: advertisers will aim straight for your insecurities to make a buck. There's an awesome backstory to this song about Dr. Cain first hearing Operation Ivy when he was 16. I can so easily visualize him sitting there with his friend drinking beer and cranking that tape on repeat! Many of us have our own "wow" moments of first encountering Op Ivy. Like the recent single "Church of Flag", "Click and Act Now!" is a delightful reminder of what it was like to be a young punk rocker discovering a life-changing band! And now I'm literally imploring you to click and act now -- but it will cost you considerably less than five easy payments of $19.99!

-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/track/click-and-act-now
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://www.instagram.com/hayleyandthecrushers/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords/

Hayley and the Crushers - "She Drives"

A new single release from Hayley and the Crushers is always a blessed event! Out now on Josie Cotton's Kitten Robot Records, "She Drives" continues the band's amazing run of recent singles which began last summer. While all devotees of the Crusherverse (me included) are eagerly awaiting a new full-length album, the single format really suits this band well. I love digging into one song at a time and savoring every note. I'm reluctant to invoke that dirty word "maturing", but I'll at least say that Hayley and the Crushers are growing in their craft and getting better with each new release. And it certainly doesn't hurt to work with a legendary producer like Paul Roessler! One aspect of this band that's sometimes underrated is what a tremendous writer Hayley Cain is. Anytime I see any of her music-related articles, I find myself wishing I could write like that! She brings that exceptional way with words to her lyrics as well. Musically, "She Drives" is a sunny shot of new wave pop that could easily be slotted on a playlist between The Go-Go's and Holly and the Italians. It's a super fun tune, and the music video is an absolute hoot! But lyrically, this is a song full of heart and substance. It's a very serious reflection on how we can never outrun (or outdrive) our problems as much as we may try...and inevitably we do try! 

"She Drives" is available now from all of your favorite carriers of digital music. Crank it loud while you enjoy what remains of the summer. Behold the majesty or Dr. Cain rocking the glockenspiel! And yes indeed, a new Crushers album is currently in the works!

-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/track/she-drives

https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers

https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/

https://kittenrobotrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://kittenrobot.com/records/

https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobot

Hayley and the Crushers - "Cul-De-Sac"

For my first post of unofficial summer 2021, I present the brand-new single from one of my favorite bands, Hayley and the Crushers! The band was recently signed to Kitten Robot Records, a label founded by pop icon Josie Cotton back in 2018. Now that's truly a match made in heaven! "Cul-De-Sac" is the Crushers' first release on Kitten Robot, and of course it's amazing. It was recorded and mixed by legendary punk producer Paul Roessler at Kitten Robot Studios in Los Angeles. "Cul-De-Sac" is not your typical "summer song", but it's an extraordinary pop song and a new high point in the annals of the Crusherverse. Inspired by Ira Levin's novel The Stepford Wives with an added touch of COVID PTSD, this is a song about feeling trapped in a supposedly sunny place. Hayley's lyrics powerfully evoke the silent suffering of mid-century housewives doomed to lives of forced domesticity ("And when he asks you why you're so cold, you're somewhere else/you tell him cul-de-sac is French for Dead End"). It was mere coincidence that the song was recorded during a worldwide pandemic -- when Hayley and Dr. Cain were essentially trapped in a sunny cul-de-sac of their own. So while "Cul-De-Sac" is not a COVID song per se, its themes are extremely relatable at this moment. It's a little bit of a different kind of song for Hayley and the Crushers. It's moody and haunting, with Roessler's production magnificently playing up the range of emotions layered in the song. And Hayley's lead vocal? Just wow! "Cul-De-Sac", like last summer's remarkable single "Jacaranda", proves that great pop need not lack substance. For the full backstory on "Cul-De-Sac", check out this post from Hayley's personal blog. Click here to find the single on your favorite streaming platform!

-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/track/cul-de-sac
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://kittenrobot.com/records/
https://www.facebook.com/kittenrobotrecords/

Hayley and the Crushers - Fun Sized

There were literally only two things that could have made me love Rum Bar Records even more than I already did. One would have been if the label started bottling its own beer. The other would have been for the label to sign Hayley and the Crushers. While the former has not happened (yet), the latter most definitely has. Needless to say, I'm pumped! The Crushers' Rum Bar debut is called Fun Sized. And as the title suggests, this is a nice little snack-sized taster of the band's incredible 2020 output. It compiles all three songs from both of the singles released by the band last year - which were previously unavailable on compact disc. Rounding out the disc are two tracks from last year's magnificent long player Vintage Millennial and an absolutely stunning cover of the Ramones' "Suzy Is A Headbanger" - which was previously available only in digital form. I just love that this CD exists. If you've yet to become fully initiated in the Crusherverse, Fun Sized would serve as a fine introduction to this band for the nice price of $7 (or only $5 for a download). And for those who do own Vintage Millennial but didn't pick up the "Jacaranda" and "Church of Flag" singles, this is a convenient way to grab both at once! 

As the dark clouds of 2020 slowly begin to lift, "Jacaranda" is the perfect song for this optimistic moment. It's a song about getting out there, meeting people, and opening one's self up to all that this beautiful world has to offer. It was a terrible irony that Hayley and the Crushers did not have the chance to perform this ultimate summer song for anyone last summer. But perhaps things will be different in 2021! "Church of Flag", which celebrates keeping the punk rock faith into old age, was a late-year release that went a little bit under the radar. The arrival of Fun Sized breathes new life into both of these songs, which will surely be crowd favorites once the band is again able to take its act on the road. The "filler" material rounds out this disc nicely. "Kiss Me So I Can", in my book, is one of the best tracks on Vintage Millennial. "Water On Glass" is a wonderfully Crusherized cover of Kim Wilde's 1981 hit. And my god, this CD would be worth buying just for the "Suzy Is A Headbanger" cover alone! If I close my eyes, I can convince myself I'm floating in a swimming pool and catching a whiff of the ocean. With meteorological spring less than two weeks away, it's by no means too soon to start daydreaming about lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun, and frolicking with sea creatures. Equal parts punk, pop, surf, and rock and roll, Hayley and the Crushers never fail to deliver the soundtrack to eternal summer. Pop Fun Sized into your car CD player, and you'll have sunshine on even the most dismal day!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/fun-sized
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers
https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Hayley and the Crushers - "Church of Flag"

I've been so immersed in work lately that I did not notice until yesterday that a brand-new Hayley and the Crushers cassingle came out four days ago! My god, I'm losing my touch! "Church of Flag" is the new song - a tune the band loved so much that it recorded it twice! "Church of Flag" is a song about growing old and still holding on to the ideals of punk rock. Now that's a subject that is near and dear to the hearts of a lot of us. As I rapidly approach the big 5-0, this song really strikes a chord with me. I'll grant you that it's been a long time since I've looked the part. But in spirit, I'm still that same punk rocker kid who started doing zines decades ago. I can remember the first time I heard a Black Flag tape, and it seems like only yesterday! 

Needless to say, "Church of Flag" is one of the "punkest" tracks Hayley and the Crushers have ever done. And I love it! It captures the excitement of first discovering punk rock and how you may or may not hold on to that feeling as you grow up and grow old. That's a timeless theme in our world, and "Church of Flag" will be tremendously inspiring to all of you who are still keeping the faith. Hayley sings lead on the A-side. And then, in a rare lead vocal appearance, Dr. Cain sings the same song on the B-side. Who sang it better? If I took a position, I would surely be courting controversy. So I'll just say I love both versions. With the cassette single being limited to a small amount of copies, I figured it was my civic duty to get this thing reviewed ASAP! Hayley and the Crushers kicked off 2020 so auspiciously with the release of the incredible album Vintage Millennial. Now after much hardship and despair, the year ends on an uplifting note with another joyful release from the Crusherverse. Things can only get better!

-L.R. 

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/album/church-of-flag
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers

Hayley and the Crushers - "Jacaranda"

For the first time in my life, I had to rewrite an entire record review. When I'm writing about Hayley and the Crushers, it's my natural inclination to take a joyful, carefree tone and to romanticize the eternal pool party that lives within the band's music. But clearly a joyful, carefree tone is neither possible nor appropriate while a nation is grieving. This does not mean, however, that music can't still bring hope and happiness into our lives. With a hurting heart, I take comfort in a couple of wonderful songs from one of my favorite bands. The "Jacaranda" 7" arrives courtesy of Canada's Reta Records and Italy's Surfin' Ki Records. Fresh from releasing the phenomenal Vintage Millennial (still my #1 album of the year so far), Hayley and the Crushers have turned out another gem of a record. "Jacaranda" has that perfect early '80s new wave power pop sound with a spirit to match. I love how it's both an upbeat pop song and something far deeper than that. It's a song full of emotion and meaning, reminding all of us of the importance of living our lives fully and embracing the great big world that exists outside of our little bubbles. As I reflect on the state of things and what I can do to make this world a better place, I find this tune inspiring. That chorus is magical. And it certainly doesn't hurt to have one of my very favorite musicians, Dougie Tangent, sitting in on drums. The Go-Go's are the most obvious comparison here, but I'm reminded just as much of Holly and the Italians. In keeping with the early '80s Southern California vibe, "Angelyne" is a loving homage to the Hollywood icon. It's got a bit of a Missing Persons/Berlin new wave feel to it, but with guitars that really crunch. I love how this band can continually take the best elements of a bygone era and blend them seamlessly into a fresh, modern take on surf/punk/pop.

While I scrapped the whole "song of the summer" angle of my original review, I will say that both tracks on this latest Hayley and the Crushers single have brought me joy and will continue to do so for a long time to come. Music heightens our best times, but it's also capable of making our worst times more bearable. I've been spinning Vintage Millennial as I type this, and it feels like a ray of sunshine on my soul. As disheartening as current events are, it's very encouraging to see the way the masses are coming together to demand the dismantling of systemic racism in America. I've been comforted by the goodness I see in the majority of individuals - particularly in our underground music community. This gives me hope for a brighter times ahead, and for future summers when all are free to enjoy pool parties, beach getaways, and cruising with the top down.



-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/
https://retarecords.bandcamp.com/album/jacaranda-ep
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/preorder-hayley-the-crushers-jacaranda-angelyne-7
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers/
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/reta.records/
https://www.facebook.com/surfinkirecords/

Hayley and the Crushers - Vintage Millennial

In case you were wondering how far I would go into 2020 before anointing a prime contender for album of the year, the answer is exactly 21 days! In lieu of writing a review of Hayley and the Crushers' new album Vintage Millennial, I considered just embedding a video of me jumping up and down and screaming in delight as I was hearing it for the first time. Seriously: I've been freaking out over this thing! I was a big fan of the band's previous album Cool/Lame, but I wasn't quite prepared for how hard Vintage Millennial was going to hit me. This is my cup of tea in a 48-ounce container. Described by the band as "modern snark with an oldies heart", this album finds the California trio elevating its fun-filled brand of soda pop-punk bad girl surf rock and roll to new heights of awesomeness. I was hooked from the first note and delighted all the way to the end. Committed as ever to their signature "poolside glitter trash" aesthetic, Hayley, Dr. Cain, and drummer Benjamin Cabreana have come on with their biggest hooks and most righteous tunes to date. This album is the soundtrack to a beach road trip where the itinerary includes surfing with sea monsters, guzzling Slurpees, and detouring to the nearest late 20th shopping mall still left standing. And that's exactly the escapism I crave in the dead of an East Coast winter.

The songs comprising Vintage Millennial are upbeat, fun, and crazy catchy - yet also full of smarts, substance, and tremendous heart. Opening track "Put A Little Action In Ya" could very well have the Crusherverse taking over the airwaves. This is feelgood punky pop at its finest, with lyrics that are just naughty enough to get the message across. I've always believed that there need to be more songs about enduring love, so I really have a soft spot for "Kiss Me So I Can". From my married guy perspective, I must say this song is both adorable and incredibly truthful. A title like "Gabbie Is A Domme" would be played as a joke by a lesser band. But in the hands of Hayley and the Crushers, this tune is sweet, heartfelt, and a wonderful testament to empowerment. It's got to be the purest pop song I've ever heard this band do. All I have to do is close my eyes, and the instrumental "Forever Grom" places me at a swim-up pool bar by the beach. Elsewhere the trio steps a foot into early '80s California new wave power pop ("If You Wanna Dance"), pays loving tribute to the uncrowned people's champion of Drag Race ("Shoulda Been Shangela"), and imagines the sinister secrets lurking within one of Berlin's most famed landmarks ("Poison Box"). And a couple of covers here are perfect for the vibe of the album. A splendid rendition of Kim Wilde's "Water On Glass" acknowledges what has to be a huge influence. The X classic "Los Angeles" also gets fully Crusher-ized, with certain lyrics updated for more enlightened times.

The slate of full-length albums for 2020 looks to be super stacked, but Vintage Millennial is going to be very hard to beat this year. This is exactly the album that we need right now. And I don't just mean now as in January. I mean now as in the world really needs a band like Hayley and the Crushers that is all about spreading joy, love, and sunny vibes everywhere it goes. Clearly this is a band that ticks all my boxes as a fan of bubblegum punk and power pop. But that's only the half of it. I can't think of a band that does a better job of taking classic influences and reworking them into something that's original and "now" for modern times. And in a music scene where so many acts seem interchangeable, this is one band with personality that's off the charts. No matter what the weather may be, Vintage Millennial needs to be cranked loud with the windows down and your cup-holder occupied by a cold fizzy beverage.

  
-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/album/vintage-millennial
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers/ 
https://eccentricpop.bigcartel.com/product/pre-order-lp-hayley-and-the-crushers-vintage-millennial 
https://www.facebook.com/EccentricPop/ 

Unfinished Business: Hayley and the Crushers - Cool/Lame

Continuing on my mission to attend to the releases I should have reviewed in 2018, I now turn to the fantastic second full-length from San Luis Obispo, California's Hayley and the Crushers. Cool/Lame was released on Eccentric Pop Records in September, and I can't think of any other situation in the world where ten bucks will buy you this much fun! There are a lot of ways that reviewers have described Hayley and the Crushers, but the band's own "poolside glitter trash" is probably the most apt summation. Taking musical inspiration from surf, sunny '60s pop, oldies rock n' roll, and of course the almighty Ramones, Hayley and the Crushers sound like the band you wish were playing your next beach party. They inhabit a spirit not just of pure fun, but also of embracing weirdness and individuality. And who can't get behind that?! This band may never be able to shake the Go-Go's comparisons - especially not if they keep writing amazing songs like "Small Lives"! Elsewhere this album delivers a delightful mix of bubblegum punk, cool surf rock, and straight-up fun rock n' roll. But while the music draws obvious inspiration from the legacy of beach culture, Hayley's lyrics steer clear of cliche and bring a smart, modern perspective. How many other party bands out there are writing songs about the dark secrets lurking under the perfect sheen of suburbia or romance blooming against a backdrop of apocalypse?! Are Hayley and the Crushers the ultimate California surf-punk band? I'd say they're more like the Bizarro World version - which is way cooler in my book!



-L.R.

https://hayleyandthecrushers.bandcamp.com/album/cool-lame 
https://www.hayleyandthecrushers.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/hayleyandthecrushers/