J Prozac/Space Age Zeros - split

The old school pop-punk vibes are strong on the new split 7" featuring J Prozac and Space Age Zeros, and I am here for it! Out on Critical Mass Music, this split is hitting all the right notes with me largely because so many of my favorite pop-punk records over the years have been in this format. 

It's always a pleasure to review anything that J Prozac is involved with, and Space Age Zeros are one of the best of the newer pop-punk groups out there. Sometimes the J Prozac recordings are a little different from the stuff he puts out with The Prozacs. So the twist with "Digging Holes" is that it reminds me of classic Prozacs! This is textbook Lookout! Records–influenced pop-punk with the melodic lead guitar and whoa-oh harmonies in the forefront. But what perhaps makes this more of a J Prozac song is the more mature perspective in the lyrics. I like how Jay has shown that pop-punk for grown-ups can still sound like the pop-punk we all grew up on. "Chemical Reaction" was a nice surprise. It's a semi-acoustic number that still has the spirit of pop-punk. Musically, this is a little more MTX than Screeching Weasel, and Jay really excels in this space. I love the sentiment of the song. It's a positive, feelgood number all the way, and we need more of that kind of energy in the world.  

On the Space Age Zeros side, "Cheryl Scott" gives me all the feels. This is throwback pop-punk that's melody-forward and wears its heart on its sleeve. It's got a crisp, clean sound that takes me back to a time when my musical world revolved around the Parasites. "Seasons of You" has a different feel: rougher around the edges and more melodic punk than pop-punk — but still super-catchy and full of heart. 

And so there you have it. The key to a successful split is getting two bands that go well together and making sure they can bring quality material to the table. There are no throwaways here. This could easily have been two individual singles that both would have been worth buying. Putting them on one record is a deal and a steal!

-L.R.

https://jprozac.bandcamp.com/album/j-prozac-space-age-zeros
https://spaceagezeros.bandcamp.com/album/space-age-zeros-j-prozac-split
https://open.spotify.com/album/4KfKTwaKwroGLuC7ZPi5k2
https://open.spotify.com/album/25l25PBVTuOFni4cSMmMSV
https://www.facebook.com/spaceagezeros/
https://www.facebook.com/jprozac/
https://www.instagram.com/jprozacofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/space_age_zeros/
https://critical-mass-music-1.storenvy.com/products/37034984-jprozac-space-age-zeros-split
https://www.facebook.com/CriticalMassBlog/

The Prozacs - No Way Out

Still going strong after a quarter century, The Prozacs return today with the four-song EP No Way Out, their first new music in more than two years. While Jay, through countless iterations of this band, has played a vital role in keeping the pop-punk flame burning throughout this century, No Way Out takes a slightly different direction. These songs find Jay (along with Jimmy Craig, Greg Russian, and Matthew Gorr) tearing into some straight-up fast-and-furious kick-ass punk rock. If you like old school '80s/'90s West Coast melodic punk and skate-punk, these tunes ought to hit you just the way you like it. The liner notes promise "energy, sarcasm and angst," and that is definitely truth in advertising. Jay would probably be the first person to tell you that he's twice the lyricist he was 20 years ago, and that really comes through here. He has some serious things to say about life and the world, and the energy he and the whole band put into these tunes is something you are sure to feel the instant you push play. My thought when first hearing this EP was that there just isn't enough music like this anymore. The sound is melodic without necessarily being "pop," and I can't listen to these songs without imagining a bunch of folks going nuts in the pit. Punk music always excites me the most when I can feel a band putting all its heart, soul, and guts into every note, and that's the sort of urgency I'm getting here. The Prozacs aren't getting older — they're getting better.

-L.R.

https://theprozacs.bandcamp.com/album/no-way-out-ep
https://open.spotify.com/album/0w3dTOkGm0o7zZyymrO5xs
https://www.facebook.com/TheProzacs/
https://www.instagram.com/theprozacsofficial/

J Prozac- "Take Me Away"

When it comes to the modern-day pop-punk scene, J Prozac is the epitome of class. He consistently turns out quality releases with his longtime band The Prozacs and as a solo artist. His solo work typically finds him expanding his musical palette yet never straying too far from his pop-punk roots. On his new single "Take Me Away," he's done something pretty remarkable: crafting a tune that's somehow both one of the poppiest and most "rock" songs he has ever done. By broad definition, this is what power pop is supposed to be. Sometimes I can't quite put my finger on what it is about Jay's music that strikes such a chord with me. But with "Take Me Away," it's just so obvious: he writes songs that you can feel deep in your soul. This is a song about being in such a dark place that you wish you could just run away from your life. But it's no bummer. Jay sings and performs this song with such raw emotion that you can't help but feel a connection. A song about hopelessness feels more like a song of hope because you know you're not alone in your despair. There are few songwriters in this genre who are this honest and open with their feelings. I also love the sound of this track: it's crisp and clean, but it also hits like a ton of bricks. On the flip side, "On My Own" is a great version of an old song by The Bates which was previously included on the Wolverine Records release What You Leave Behind (A Tribute To The Bates). Yet if you didn't know the track was previously released, you might think it was recorded just for this release. These two songs definitely have a similar vibe, and they work together perfectly as a single. Lighthouse Records will be releasing the vinyl next month, and you can pre-order now via Bandcamp. Copies are limited to just 100 in Germany and another 100 in the States, so don't dilly-dally!

-L.R.

https://jprozac.bandcamp.com/album/take-me-away
https://open.spotify.com/album/0BNI4ZIUVw9F4nq7TG6OSB
https://www.facebook.com/jprozac
https://www.facebook.com/lighthouse.punkrock

J Prozac - Won't Let Go

I hate to resort to the "This is the best thing ____ has ever done" cliché yet again, but such words seem unavoidable in the case of J Prozac's new album Won't Let Go. This pop-punk lifer and all-around great dude of the underground music scene has been fronting bands since the '90s. My favorite record of his was his 2014 solo release Here Is My Heart, but now he has gone out and topped it! Out now on Rum Bar Records, Won't Let Go is literally a lifetime achievement. It pulls together all of Jay's past and present influences into a collection of songs that come together like a musical diary. It manages to be both a classic pop-punk album and an expansion of the form. Perhaps I'm biased, but I feel like the secret ingredient to this record (and all of Jay's records, really) is the likeability factor. Once this guy opens his mouth to sing, you just can't help rooting for him. You can feel the sincerity and genuine humanity in his words and vocals. Won't Let Go is an album about a lot of things, but a prevailing theme is love and gratitude for family and friends. Whatever quality it is that makes this sort of heart-on-sleeve approach work, Jay has got it in spades. He's at his best when he's singing about the things that are the most meaningful to him. On this record, he really leans into that aspect of his songwriting. And I love every minute of it.  

Nobody will ever question Jay Gauvin's ability to write a perfect pop-punk song. But on Won't Let Go, he broadens his musical approach without straying too far from what he does best. There was always a pretty clear line separating pop-punk from more polished "melodic punk" in the '90s and early 2000s. Songs like "Regret" and the soaring title track seamlessly combine those two aesthetics in a way that's immensely satisfying. Why choose between the Lookout! and Fat Wreck camps when you can love both? Elsewhere, Jay adds just enough musical variety to keep you on your toes. "For the World" could almost be a Kurt Baker song. Can I describe "Claustrophobic" as "emo" without it seeming like a slight? "Days Go By" starts out as a heartfelt acoustic number and ends up an anthemic punk rock sing-along. One could easily dismiss this approach as having "been done" before, but the execution will smash your cynicism to pieces. This is as real and raw music gets: the pain palpable in his voice as Jay sings about loss and the importance of cherishing every moment we have with the people we love. If you can't relate to that, you aren't human. 

Of course you can still expect some great textbook pop-punk with this being a J Prozac album. When Jay tears into his signature musical style on songs like "People I Know" and "No Matter", it's a joyous thing to behold. "Building Blocks" is, as the erudite reviewer Niek would describe it, master class level pop-punk. As Jay sings from his son's point of view, I can't help but think this wisdom applies to all of us as well. What good is life if we stop playing and learning? And I suppose I must address the disturbing "J Prozac is going to ruin a Dirt Bike Annie song" rumor that's been going around. His version of "Thirteen Days" turns out to be super awesome and perfectly complementary to the original songs on the album. I love that this cover acknowledges a crucial influence on Jay's songwriting -- and that members of DBA were willing to contribute to the song! 

It seemed inevitable that J Prozac and Malibu Lou would eventually join forces. And what a way for this partnership to debut! In typical Rum Bar fashion, Won't Let Go is a splendidly-packaged compact disc release. The CD comes with six bonus tracks and features amazing cover art by Paulinho Tscherniak (who also did the cover for the similarly-spirited new album by Lesser Creatures). I seem to be gravitating of late to bands and artists who disprove the notion that pop-punk as a genre is inherently lightweight and adolescent. Won't Let Go affirms once again that "grown-up" pop-punk is an actual thing and a thriving one at that. From Jay's heart straight to yours, this is the very definition of meaningful music. My shame over having once trashed the second Grand Prixx 7" is surpassed only by my thankfulness that Jay was never discouraged by pretentious asshats like me. Long may the king reign!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/wont-let-go
https://jprozac.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jprozac
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

J Prozac - "Building Blocks"

Look who has joined the Rum Bar Records family! J Prozac, leader of one of the 21st Century's best and most prolific pop-punk bands and one of the most solid dudes in the underground music community, has a new solo album in the works that seems poised to follow the same autobiographical path as 2014's superb Here Is My Heart. Jay and Malibu Lou have known each other for well over 20 years, and now they are working together to bring you the finest in pop-punk! Lou assures me that the new album will be "pop-punk serenity", and I don't doubt that after hearing the advance single "Building Blocks". It's a monster hit! A free download from Rum Bar's Bandcamp, "Building Blocks" is heartfelt, profound, and massively catchy. This, my friends, is grown-up pop-punk done to perfection. Did I mention that it's free? Add another selection to the "albums I can't wait to hear in 2022"! 

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/building-blocks-free-digital-single
https://www.facebook.com/jprozac
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://jprozac.bandcamp.com/album/cheers-to-the-end

The Prozacs - Ambivalence

Ambivalence is the title of the album, but J Prozac is clearly anything but ambivalent about his devotion to pop-punk. Supported by a revolving cast of players, he has kept The Prozacs going strong for now nearly 20 years. The Prozacs were always that band that bridged the gap between pop-punk's Lookout!/Mutant Pop salad days and the genre's recent run of unprecedented glory. In fact, you will now find The Prozacs label mates with the likes of Jagger Holly, Black Russians, and Radio Buzzkills - the best of the best of pop-punk's new generation. Ambivalence is the Prozacs' fifth album - but only their second of this decade. In recent years, Jay has branched out with an absolutely wonderful solo album and other projects like Stiletto Bomb and Doubtfire. Ambivalence finds him channeling some of that artistic growth into The Prozacs brand while still remaining ever faithful to the pop-punk music he so dearly loves.

Ambivalence is the first Prozacs album to feature longtime drummer Jimmy Craig. It would not exist without a great amount of perseverance on the part of J Prozac. This record took nearly a year to record and required the contributions of three different bass players. Yet the band powered through and ultimately produced what is probably its best album in a very long time. Opening cut "Rocking Out" celebrates the pursuit of playing punk rock for the sheer love of it - and it's really a statement about where The Prozacs are at this point. The group sounds energized, fully committed, and more than happy to be standing side by a side with a great new generation of bands it helped to inspire. Then suddenly the band tears into "Outta My Face" - almost certainly the "angriest" sounding Prozacs song I've ever heard. It's the kind of song you can only really pull off with an absolute killer manning the drum kit - and Craig is more than up to the task! Two songs in, and it's firmly established that this will not be one of those pop-punk albums where every song sounds the same. J Prozac, after all of these years in the game, has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. "Party's Over" proves that the Screeching Weasel songwriting formula can still yield fantastic tunes. The deceptively upbeat "Out of Time" is a sing-along anthem for our doomed world. "Wishing & Waiting" is thoughtful, sincere, and a fine example of the kind of song an adult pop-punk musician should aspire to write. "Lost In The Waves" is the latest case of J Prozac knowing how to end a record in style. It's a quasi-instrumental that blends pop-punk and surf in a very unique way. And while many of the songs on Ambivalence rail against the hardships and frustrations we encounter as we try to make it through day-to-day life, this song finds the album circling back to the optimistic note on which it began.

What Ambivalence makes clear is that The Prozacs remain a first-class pop-punk act. And while the word "maturity" is almost always the kiss of death within this genre of music, Jay has proven that pop-punk can grow up and still be really awesome. He worked like hell to get this album just the way he wanted it, and that commitment to a vision really paid off. Ambivalence is right at home on OUTLOUD! Records' star-studded roster!



-L.R.

https://theprozacs.bandcamp.com/album/ambivalence 
https://www.facebook.com/TheProzacs/ 
https://outloudrecords.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/OUTLOUDrecords/ 

Meet Doubtfire!

What do you call a super group when it's a duo? A super duo! Made up of Bil McRackin (McRackins) and J Prozac (The Prozacs), Doubtfire is about as super of a duo as you'll find in the world of pop-punk. Perhaps that explains the band's comic book cover art! These two guys have over 10,000 total releases to their combined credit (only a slight exaggeration), and they've both played a large part in keeping pop-punk music going strong for the past two decades. Now they've joined forces and become Doubtfire. Not surprisingly, the results are terrific! The band's debut album features ten original compositions plus two covers. Sure: there are songs that will remind you of McRackins (like "Kung Fu Magoo"), and there are songs that will remind you of The Prozacs (like "Eyes On You"). But the majority of the songs are a perfect combination of both band members. And I think that was the point of these two individuals collaborating in writing songs. Doubtfire brings together the musical strengths of both men. You've got Bil's goofy persona and impressive command of Ramones-style hooks along with J's intensely personal lyrics and considerable talent for writing quality pop songs. And while I never have any objection to touting pop-punk records where every song sounds pretty much the same, this is not that kind of album. From the rockin' opener "California" to the classic Lookout! Records stylings of "Just Maybe" to the grown-up pop-punk of "Love This Rock And Roll" to the high-speed adrenaline of "Spit It Out", Doubtfire's debut offers tremendous variety without veering too far from what these two guys do best.

It's pretty amazing when you think about how this album came to be. Bil and J, separated by more than 3,000 miles, collaborated on lyrics and music for each of the 10 original songs. J ended up flying to Vancouver - where he and Bil worked for a week to complete the album. This was a true two-man effort. No outside musicians were involved, and Bil handled all recording, producing, and mixing himself. Especially in regards to the vocal harmonies and lead guitar hooks, the album is a textbook case of how a pop-punk recording should be produced. It sounds like a million bucks! Just as importantly, the songs are really strong. The choice of covers (Pete Townshend's "Let My Love Open The Door" and the Ginger Wildheart-penned "Superpowered Superfly") emphasizes the wider array of influences that informed this album. Of course these guys love The Ramones ("Punk Rock Heart" is a wonderful love letter to da bruddas). But they've infused plenty of glam/rock n' roll into their sound as well. It's great to hear a couple of pop-punk lifers affirming the staying power of this musical form. You'd expect these guys to get together and do something really excellent. And sure enough, Doubtfire's debut does not disappoint. Let's hope for a sequel!



-L.R.

https://doubtfire1.bandcamp.com/album/doubtfire 
https://www.facebook.com/jprozac 
https://www.facebook.com/mcrackins/ 
https://www.facebook.com/ratgirlrecords/ 

J Prozac solo!

For over a decade, Jay "J Prozac" Gauvin has been at the helm of Westfield, Massachusetts' Prozacs - one of the many excellent bands that have kept the '90s pop-punk sound alive and well in the 21st Century. With The Prozacs slowing down/going on hiatus, Jay has been working on his debut solo album over the last couple of years. Titled Here Is My Heart, it was recently issued by the ultra awesome Jolly Ronnie Records on compact disc. While theoretically a departure from the signature sound of The Prozacs (it's intended to show a "softer and more intimate" side of Jay's songwriting), this album should nonetheless delight any fan of classic '90s pop-punk (such as myself!). As the title suggests, Jay is really baring his soul with these songs. For better or worse, this album is who he is. And while he's not completely reinventing himself as a songwriter, these songs do show increased maturity and sophistication. If you've written it off as a genre for "kids", this record proves that quality pop-punk can be made by and for adults.

Listening to these songs, the influence of modern pop-punk legends like Ben Weasel, Dr. Frank, and Dan Vapid is undeniable. But after more than 15 years of making music, Jay has grown into a distinctive artist in his own right. Some of these tracks could easily be Prozacs songs, while others are quite different. There are a couple of acoustic based numbers, and all in all this is probably more of a pop record than it is a punk record. But given that The Prozacs have very often been power pop influenced, it's not like Jay is overreaching here. In a lot of ways, this is a musical autobiography. Nearly every track revisits a defining moment or significant aspect of Jay's life, and we see how his various experiences have informed the man he's become. As a music lover, I feel privileged when a songwriter "lets me in" like this. And I think it works so well because Jay has the most important quality a pop-punk singer can possess: likability. If this is his life story, you're rooting for him all the way.

With me being a pop-punk guy, I naturally took to songs like "In The Music" (shades of Screeching Weasel circa Anthem For a New Tomorrow) and "O' Lucky Me" (which made me feel like I was 25 again and listening to The Invalids on a dateless Friday night). But the songs that break punk rock form (like "When I Was Two" and "Don't Go") are some of the most touching and powerful on the record. Whether he's reflecting on a lifelong passion for riding BMX bikes or capturing a tender moment between a father and a child, Jay is bravely personal throughout this record. Perhaps because I relate to it on such a personal level of my own, the pop anthem "This All Leads Up To You" strikes me as his masterpiece - a beautiful reminder that sometimes our most terrible experiences are essential pathways to our greatest happiness. Even a song like "From My Heart", which started out as a GrandPrixx demo way back in 20001, is surely enriched by Jay's life experience over the past decade plus.

In the wake of the news that The Prozacs are coming off the inactive list and should be releasing new music later this year, Here Is My Heart is by no means a sign that Jay Gauvin has moved past punk rock. In his words, this solo endeavor was more along the lines of an "alternative vessel" for musical ideas that might not have fit on a Prozacs record. It's rare when pop-punk guys can pull this sort of project off without you wishing they had just made another album with their regular band. When an artist pours his heart and soul into a creation like this, you really want to love it. But in this case, I don't have to want to love it. I do love it! To twist a classic line from Morrissey, it says a lot to me about my life.

-L.R.

http://jprozac.bandcamp.com/album/here-is-my-heart
https://www.facebook.com/jprozac