Teenage Frames - "Fighting Words"

Issue #15 in I-94 Recordings' Detroit covers series is from one of my favorite bands, and it does not disappoint! Teenage Frames, who recently released a superb album called Everything Has Led To This, are more than familiar with Detroit given their origins in Chicago. Back in the '90s, they played a lot of shows with Detroit's The Gutterpunx. At one point, they had the idea of covering "Factory Man," a signature song of The Gutterpunx and an overlooked classic of Detroit punk rock. While a demo was recorded, the Teenage Frames never got around to doing a proper recording of "Factory Man" — until now! And now, thanks to I-94 Recordings, you can own this track on record along with "Fighting Words," a standout song from Everything Has Led To This. The original version is pretty close to impossible to find unless you have a copy of The Gutterpunx 1996 demo tape lying around. There is some pretty amazing footage on YouTube of The Gutterpunx playing this song live back in the day. And now Teenage Frames have done a totally amazing version of the song. Frankie sings the hell out of this one! The whole point of this Detroit covers series is to celebrate all the great bands and artists that have come out of The Motor City over the decades. Sometimes that means tackling iconic songs. And in this case, it means bringing attention to a song more people ought to know about. Whether you're a Teenage Frames fan, a Detroit punk super-fan, or a regular customer of this legendary record label, this installment in the Detroit covers series is one you won't want to miss. As always, there are lots of color variants of vinyl to choose from, so get on it while supplies last!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/teenageframes
https://teenageframes.bandcamp.com/

The Sleeveens - "UFOs”/"Bernadette"

The Sleeveens are indeed the "hottest band in the land." Within the first 30 seconds of the Nashville/Dublin–based outfit's debut single, I knew I had just met the next great band in the punk rock 'n' roll universe. Many others felt the same way, and word on the street is that the band's live shows blow away its studio recordings. The second Sleeveens single is out on I-94 Recordings, and something tells me it's gonna sell out in the blink of an eye. "UFOs" is #13 in I-94's Detroit covers 7" series. The title track is a slow-burning rocker with a spacey feel and clever lyrics about alien forces taking control of our lives. Now that's truly a song for our times! If The Sleeveens' album proved that their first single was no fluke, now "UFOs" proves that the album was no fluke. This is another phenomenal tune from one of the most exciting bands to come down the pike in a long time. On the B-side, The Sleeveens tear into The Four Tops' 1967 chart smash "Bernadette." This is a classic case of a band honoring the original version of a beloved tune but also making it its own. The Sleeveens definitely punk up "Bernadette," but they also add some interesting twists en route to remaking the song. Don't sleep on this one, my friends. This is the freaking Sleeveens! Head on over to the I-94 web site and order your copy (or copies!) while supplies last! 

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thesleeveens/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091638910253
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4qpMX0LPITLrni8fPCNC1w
https://www.facebook.com/people/I-94-Recordings/100062967923575/

https://thesleeveens.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@thesleeveens

Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders - Senator's Daughter

It's always a good day when I-94 Recordings releases another installment in its Detroit covers singles series. Senator's Daughter is the 12th installment in the series and the second one from Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders. Obviously, we're talking about one of the best rock 'n' roll bands going. And a lot of people forget that Pat Todd was born in the raised in the Midwest. So even though this is a West Coast band, it definitely has that Midwestern soul that characterizes so much of the I-94 roster. "Down at the End of Your Rope" is an original song and a tremendous one at that. It's a rootsy rocker with killer hooks and heartfelt lyrics & vocals. If you want to hear a great songwriter backed by a great band doing it right, this track won't let you down. For its Detroit cover, the band takes it way back to the '50s. Rankoutsider guitarist Kevin Keller recently discovered that Jimmy Boyer of Jimmy Boyer and the Royal Newports was his cousin. So the band decided to have a go at "Little Miss Heartbreak." The Rankoutsiders put their signature on this golden nugget of rockabilly — which I imagine will be most people's first exposure to this song. You can never go wrong with Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders, and you can never go wrong with I-94 Recordings. Put them together, and you've got yourself an absolute must-buy. Vinyl is available now in 13 color variants. Hop to it — that pissy yellow isn't going to last long! 

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/pat-todd-the-rankoutsiders-down-at-the-end-of-your-rope-7-vinyl-single-i-94-024-2024
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062967923575
https://www.facebook.com/pattoddrankoutsiders

Norcos Y Horchata - "Unkind Sometimes"

Well, this was inevitable: the I-94 Recordings Detroit covers series now includes one of Detroit's best present-day bands, the mighty Norcos Y Horchata! There's nothing cooler than seeing one of your favorite bands working with one of your favorite labels. And this team-up is no letdown. "Unkind Sometimes" is the 11th installment in the series, and it finds NYH tackling "Don't Come Crying To Me" by Detroit '77 punks Cinecyde. The movie theme on the cover art is a tribute to two members of Cinecyde running the legendary Thomas Video in the Detroit area back in the day. On the A-side, "Unkind Sometimes" is something a little different from NYH. The band takes some risks on this song, and they all pay off handsomely. The long introduction, the deliberate, almost tribal drum beat, and the dueling shouted vocals in the chorus all contribute to this song's distinct feel. NYH's tough, anthemic punk rock 'n' roll style remains fully in tact, but this song is unique in the band's catalog and instantly memorable because of that. While this band began as Amado's quarantine solo project, it has grown into a true group. Dougie, Roman, and Annie all make essential contributions to this song. This is a killer track, and of course the Cinecyde cover totally smokes. You know you need this record! There are 13 color variations of the vinyl with old school movie ratings on the sleeves. Happy shopping!

-L.R.

https://norcosyhorchata.bandcamp.com/album/unkind-sometimes-b-w-don-t-come-crying-to-me-2
https://open.spotify.com/album/6epbyvv6NtiP9OIf4rU9uq
https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/norcos-y-horchata-unkind-sometimes-7-vinyl-single-i-94-023-2024
https://www.facebook.com/norcosyhorchata/
https://www.instagram.com/norcosyhorchata/

Zero Boys - "Don't Shoot, Can't Breathe"

Installment #9 in I-94 Recordings' Detroit covers 7" series features Indianapolis, Indiana's legendary Zero Boys. "Don't Shoot, Can't Breathe" is the band's first physical release of new music in over a decade. The title track was a digital-only release back in 2018. Now it sees a well-deserved vinyl release, and its message about social injustice is sadly more relevant than ever. 

Zero Boys are one of those bands who've managed to make a successful transition from early '80s hardcore heroes to elder statesmen of the modern-day punk rock and roll scene. Original members Paul Mahern (vocals) and Mark Cutsinger (drums) are still at it. And the "new guys," guitarist Dave Lawson and bassist Scott Kellogg, have been in the band since 2012. "Don't Shoot, Can't Breathe" is nothing short of an anthem. It's an impassioned, furious number that typifies Midwestern punk rock and finds the Zero Boys as socially conscious as ever. It's a thrill to hear one of the greatest American punk groups of all-time in such fine form — and still with something important to say. The music video for the song (directed by Eric Ayotte) is quite powerful and well worth taking the time to watch. I appreciate the thought that the band put into their choice of a Detroit cover for the B-side. They take on Alice Cooper's classic Love It To Death track "Long Way to Go" and give it the proper punched-up Zero Boys treatment. In pairing these two songs together, they reiterate what is painfully obvious in society today: indeed we still have a long way to go. The cover art references the Detroit riots of 1967 but could just as easily depict what's happening in our cities today. Of course this entire 7" series has been brilliant, but this installment is especially essential. There are a few colors of vinyl already sold out, but many remain in stock. Hit up the I-94 web site to order your copy of "Don't Shoot, Can't Breathe" along with any remaining installments in the Detroit covers series you have not yet procured. And if you haven't kept up with the Zero Boys in recent decades, you can explore most of their catalog on Bandcamp!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/people/I-94-Recordings/100062967923575/
https://www.facebook.com/zeroboysofficial/
https://zeroboys.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/zeroboys1/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3tasoNLQ6d3uNBGrC1LEOD

BellRays - "Ball of Confusion"

I-94 Recordings presents the eighth installment in its Detroit covers 7" series, and boy is it ever a doozy. When I heard that the mighty BellRays were covering The Temptations' "Ball of Confusion" for this series, I was pumped. Lisa Kekaula is one of our greatest living soul singers, and this five-decade-old song remains frighteningly relevant in 2023. Kekaula and Bob Vennum have kept The BellRays going strong for over three decades now. On this release, Mark Cisneros (bass) and Ron Miller (drums) round out the band formidably. I figured that a BellRays cover of "Ball of Confusion" could not miss, and I was not wrong. The band's rocked-up rendition of this classic is as inspired of a recording as you'll hear all year. Kekaula's vocal is pure fire, and Vennum rips it up Detroit rock style on guitar. If you had never heard the original version of the song, you'd swear that these lyrics were written about today's world. To give the song an updating, the band has added lyrics referencing the likes of Big Pharma, active shooters, inflation, and warring political ideologies. This version honors the songwriting genius of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong while adding a genuinely contemporary urgency. Hearing these lyrics sung with such power and conviction over top a thundering punk rock and roll attack absolutely gives me chills. So much has been said about the current sad state of things, but nothing sums it up quite like Lisa Kekaula belting the lyrics "Ball of confusion — that's what the world is today!" My god, this track ought to be all over the radio and blaring from a million households. That vocal is just unbelievable! On the flip, "I Fall Down" is a high quality original song that could have been a single in its own right. With its killer hook and bluesy mid-tempo rock style, this tune sounds like something you might have heard on AOR radio circa 1987.  

Your question now is not "Do I really need this single?" but rather "Which versions of this single must I own?" Several variations are already sold out. But at the moment of this review, copies remain available on Riverside Red, Pacific Blue, In the Pink, Dijon, Olive Green, Pumpkin, Dragonfruit, and classic black vinyl. Superstar artist Ben Brown designed the cover, and of course it looks amazing. This is one of the most essential pieces of vinyl to come out in quite some time. Hit up the I-94 web site to snag this smoking hot release along with all of the previous installments in the Detroit covers series. Installment #9 from the Zero Boys will be out soon! 

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/people/I-94-Recordings/100062967923575/
https://thebellrays.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BellRays
https://www.instagram.com/thebellrays/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1j22sbMyu5n26N00BebDBh
https://linktr.ee/thebellrays

Dany Laj & The Looks - "You Should Know"

Installments in the I-94 Recordings "Detroit covers B-sides" 7" series have been arriving regularly and impressively. Release #7 in the series comes from some great friends to this blog — Dany Laj & The Looks. I'm always excited about new music from Dany and Jeanette. "You Should Know" and "I'm So Glad" are their first new tracks in nearly a year and a half. Back when Ten Easy Pieces came out, I actually thought the Flyers had a Cup-contending team (take whatever time you need to cease laughing). Man, things can sure change in a hurry! But one thing that will never change is being able to rely on Dany Laj & The Looks to deliver the goods. Dany and Jeanette recorded this release with pals Anna and Mike Mernieks-Duffield. That makes this particular iteration of the band a collaboration of two couples, and you can feel that dynamic in the warmth of the title track. 

"You Should Know" is one of the most traditional rock and roll songs that Dany Laj & The Looks have ever done. It's a very simple song, yet it's executed wonderfully. Doo wop and girl group influences are front and center, and I'm also catching serious Buddy Holly vibes. Fine details such as the backing vocals and twangy guitar tone are immediately pleasing to the ear. But ultimately this song works because of its genuine sentiment and timeless melodies. What a catchy tune! It seems redundant to say that this is a terrific little pop song when this band is all about terrific pop songs. But I think you'll understand what I mean. Drop the needle on this track, and you'll be transported to the late '50s or early '60s. For the B-side, the Laj time machine stops off in 1967. The Detroit cover is essentially a cover of a cover. "I'm So Glad" was originally written and recorded by Delta bluesman Skip James in 1931. Detroit's The Scot Richard Case had a regional hit in '67 with a psychedelic rock version of the song. That recording was the inspiration for the B-side of this very record. Laj & The Looks definitely put their own twist on the song. But if I didn't know any better, I would think this track was actually recorded in the late '60s. It sounds that authentic to they heyday of psych rock. I'm usually very, very "meh" about the psych thing, but I can't deny that I'm impressed with this take on "I'm So Glad." It totally rocks, and the musicianship is out of this world. 

Most people have their story about the first fun thing they did when lockdown ended. Dany Laj and Jeanette Dowling hung out with a couple of dear friends and eventually had them come down to make a record in the middle of a May heatwave. And now we can all enjoy the fruits of those sessions! "You Should Know" is available now from the I-94 Recordings web site. As usual with this series, there are many different sleeve variations and vinyl colors to choose from. Quite a few are already sold out, so hop on over to the site and check out the tantalizing options that still remain. And look for Dany Laj & The Looks to be touring everywhere in 2023!

-L.R.

https://danylaj.bandcamp.com/album/you-should-know-im-so-glad
https://www.instagram.com/danylajandthelooks/
https://www.facebook.com/danylaj/
https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/dany-laj-the-looks-you-should-know-7-vinyl-single-i-94-019
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5P76mSOqbsmjpkw5GENs9J
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004

David Bierman Overdrive - "She Don't Love You"

 I-94 Recordings is on an absolute roll with its "Detroit B-side covers" 7" series. David Bierman Overdrive's "She Don't Love You" is the sixth installment in the series and the fourth to be released this year. It's also the third to feature a Detroit-based band. You may remember David Bierman from his time leading Junk Monkeys — one of the greatest American indie rock and roll bands of the late '80s and early '90s (any fan of this blog would be well-served to track down a copy of the 1992 full-length Bliss). Bierman stepped away from the music business for two decades but resurfaced in 2014 with his new band David Bierman Overdrive. On board were some of the finest musicians in the Detroit rock and roll scene: bassist Kevin Perri (Junk Monkeys, Brian McCarty’s Big Bad Beat), keyboardist Dave Feeny (American Mars, Blanche), guitarist Stephen Palmer (High Strung, Back in Spades), and guitarist Jim Faulkner (Blueflowers, Beggars). This lineup has remained constant since the band's inception. "She Don't Love You" is the band's second single and first new release in five years. The A-side is vintage David Bierman Overdrive — a Replacements-style mid-tempo melodic rocker with a pinch of alt-country. I won't ruin it for you entirely, but I will say the song is far from the total downer you'd expect based on the title. For its Detroit cover on the B-side, the band took on "Nope," a song from Outrageous Cherry's 1997 album Nothing's Gonna Cheer You Up. The original put a noisy '90s spin on classic '60s pop. The DBO version honors the song's timeless melodies even as it remakes it in its signature style. I love that this cover will shine the light on a really great but often overlooked Detroit band. 

With this on-going series of 7" releases, I-94 Recordings celebrates Detroit and also showcases some of the finest bands and artists in today's rock and roll underground. If this is your introduction to David Bierman Overdrive, you can dig deeper into its catalog over at its Bandcamp page. As is the case for all the installments in the series, "She Don't Love You" is available in many, many different colors of vinyl. Head on over to the I-94 web site to purchase a copy or a bundle of the entire series!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/david-bierman-overdrive-she-dont-love-you-7-vinyl-single-i-94-017
https://davidbiermanoverdrive.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DavidBiermanOverdrive
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004

https://open.spotify.com/album/5cB2X1ybDHSK3booYCTQ3W

Candy Snatchers - "Shame Shivers"

Installment #5 in the "Detroit cover" 7" series from I-94 Recordings is something truly special: the first new recordings from the legendary Candy Snatchers in 12 years! On the A-side, "Shame Shivers" is an absolutely blazing track that finds Larry May and company in vintage form. Hans Molnar (of The Hellbenders) is on guitar, capably stepping in for the late, great Matthew Odietus. Doug "Goose" Duncan and Sergio "Sgt Stash" Pone pick right up as one of the greatest rhythm sections in modern-day punk rock. And Larry May is...well, Larry May! It would be an understatement to say that he has not mellowed over the years. He still hollers with fury, and I love how fired up he sounds on this blistering number. If you're craving some fast and ferocious punk rock and roll, you've come to the right place! Clocking in at just 76 seconds, "Shame Shivers" will pummel you senseless before you even know what hit you. It leaves you wanting more, but at least you can keep dropping that needle and play it over and over. In keeping with the theme of this 7" series, the B-side had to be a cover of a Detroit artist. The Candy Snatchers chose "Must Be the Cocaine" by the mighty Trash Brats. Talk about a classic! Larry May has referred to the 7" version of this tune as "the greatest song of all-time," so there were certain expectations that these guys would do a great version. I mean, come on: if ever a band was born to cover "Must Be the Cocaine," the Candy Snatchers are it! And now they've gone and proven that on record. This version does not disappoint. I don't want to say they've topped the original, but they've sure made it a Candy Snatchers song! 

"Shame Shivers" is an absolute must-have. It's the freaking Candy Snatchers, man! The single is selling fast, with nine of the colored vinyl variations already gone. You know what to do!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/candy-snatchers-shame-shivers-7-vinyl-single-i-94-016
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004
https://www.facebook.com/thecandysnatchers/

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

The Right Here - "Reckless Kind"

Every release in I-94 Recordings' "Detroit cover" 7" series has been an absolute home run, and that continues to be the case with the latest installment from Minneapolis foursome The Right Here. The concept of the series goes like this: each artist pairs an original A-side number with a cover of a Detroit band or artist on the B-side. Previous installments have featured Ricky Rat, Brian McCarty, and Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders. The Right Here has no problem hanging with such exclusive company. A-side "Reckless Kind" is what I'd call a vintage Right Here track: an anthemic heart-on-sleeve rocker in the grand Midwestern tradition. Jim from I-94 has been a fan of this band since Stick To the Plan came out in 2016, and his request to have the band join the Detroit covers series was met with great enthusiasm. This installment, like all the others, works because each side of the record is equally important. "Reckless Kind" is a grade-A rocker that definitely falls into the "recommended if you like The Replacements" category. For its Detroit cover, the band went a little outside the box and chose Sponge's 1995 hit "Molly (16 Candles Down the Drain)". The Right Here's interpretation of "Molly" is quite remarkable -- transforming this vintage slice of '90s alt-rock into a melancholy country rock heartbreaker. If the ultimate goal of a cover is to make a song your own, The Right Here gets a ten out of ten here. If I didn't know any better, I'd think this was one of the band's originals! 

"Reckless Kind" is such an extraordinary single that it makes me want to immediately revisit The Right Here's most recent album Northern Town. The 7" is available now from the I-94 Recordings website in many varieties of colors. Previous installments in the Detroit covers series are still available as well. Additional installments from the Candy Snatchers and David Bierman Overdrive are due out this summer with many more in the works! Hit up the label's web site to order records and catch up on all the latest I-94 news! 

-L.R.

https://therighthere.com/album/reckless-kind-single-digital-only
https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-right-here-reckless-kind-7
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004/
https://www.facebook.com/TheRightHere

https://www.instagram.com/therighthere/

Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders - "Tell Us All a Story"

Pat Todd teaming up I-94 Recordings is what you'd call a match made in heaven. Here we have two veritable institutions of great American rock and roll collaborating to bring you an essential slab of wax. Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders have been going strong now since 2004 and recently released another great full-length album called "…There's Pretty Things In Palookaville…" Out now on I-94, new single "Tell Us All a Story" is vintage Pat Todd: a blistering no-frills rocker that condenses that last 67 years of rock and roll into two minutes and 44 seconds of pure sonic energy. And while Todd and his bandmates are an absolute musical powerhouse, it should not be ignored that the lyrics to this song are remarkably profound -- cutting to the essence of everything that's messed up about the world today. You get bang-on social commentary and a rocking good time in one shot. That's the way to do it! I-94 has adopted a cool format for its 7" releases: an original song on the A-side and a cover of a Detroit artist on the flip. For this release, Todd chose to cover "Prison of Love" by late '60s/early '70s garage band Früt (nee Früt of the Loom). Todd had been wanting to cover this track since the '70s, so it was an easy choice when he signed on to cut this record for I-94. He and the Rankoutsiders rock the hell out of this number while still showing great love for the original. 

Pat Todd never writes a bad song. "Tell Us All a Story" is an especially inspired tune that's perfect for the 7" format. It's available now on black, red, and glow in the dark vinyl. Head on over to I-94's web site and snag yourself a copy! 

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/pat-todd-the-rankoutsiders-tell-us-all-a-story-7-vinyl
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004
https://www.facebook.com/pattoddrankoutsiders

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/

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
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