Geoff Palmer & Lucy Ellis - Your Face Is Weird

Hands down, my favorite song released this year is a cover of John Prine's "In Spite Of Ourselves" recorded by Geoff Palmer and Lucy Ellis. No matter how bleak life gets or how doomed this world seems to be, one listen to this recording always gives me a reason to smile. Palmer had been wanting to record this song for years, but it just never quite fit in with any of the records he was making. But once it became apparent that 2020 had been "canceled", Palmer reached out to his good friend Ellis and asked her if she would record "In Spite Of Ourselves" with him. She quickly said yes, and Palmer brought in his pal Zack Sprague to round out the band. In the wake of Prine's death from COVID-19 in April, the Geoff & Lucy version of "In Spite Of Ourselves" proved to be both an extraordinary tribute and a ray of hope in very dark times. Then came the delightful news that this was just the beginning of the Palmer and Ellis duets! 

"In Spite Of Ourselves" was originally intended to be one half of a single on Stardumb Records. But these two had so much fun collaborating on recording and chatting about music over Zoom happy hours that they decided to just keep going! Not knowing for sure if any labels would release it, they made an eight-song mini-album. Out today on Stardumb Records on 10" vinyl and Rum Bar Records on CD, Your Face Is Weird includes six covers and two original songs. The idea of these two individuals forming an intercontinental super duo is beyond exciting. They are two of my favorite people in music today. They both have roots in the pop-punk scene and have since grown into two of our finest modern-day creators of pure pop songs. What I love about this project is that these songs are not bound to any specific genre. The idea was for Palmer and Ellis to just record some songs they loved that would be fun to cover. They also wrote a couple of originals that perfectly fit the vibe of the album. 

If you're a fan of these two artists as I am, you surely had high hopes for Your Face Is Weird. Well I'm here to tell you: it more than lives up to expectations! The original number "SWIM" matches the pure delightfulness and joyful vibes of "In Spite Of Ourselves". It's a sweet pop song not too far removed from Lucy and the Rats - but with an obvious Geoff Palmer touch as well. In these cynical times, we need songs like this that bask in the wonders of falling deeply in love. It will warm my heart to no end if someone makes this their wedding song. That chorus ("Do that thing you do where you move slowly...") is nothing short of magical. It gives me the feels every single time! The other original "Crash" is a high-energy rocker reminiscent of the Beach Boys and first album era Connection. It's just so much fun. If Mike Love had sung co-lead on a Nikki and the Corvettes track, it would have sounded an awful lot like this! And with this album being three-quarters cover songs, it's fortunate that they're all terrific. Where else are songs by Kieran Kane, Blag Dahlia, Burt Bacharach, and Sam Cooke going to sound like they were meant to be on the same album? I love that these two weren't afraid to take on beloved songs that some people would probably consider untouchable. Seriously: no one will ever do "In Spite of Ourselves" better than John Prine and Iris DeMent. But Palmer and Ellis have come darn close, and in the process they've turned countless individuals into John Prine fans. And while Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know" is one of the most perfect pop songs ever written, Palmer and Ellis just might have made my second-favorite version ever (and that's no slight to The Speedways or Tracey Ullman!). How do you top Sam Cooke's "Having a Party"? Well, you don't. But if you're Geoff Palmer and Lucy Ellis, you work up a super fun version that essentially serves as a theme song for the entire album.

It can be hard to view the glass as half full (or even a quarter full) in a year like 2020. But when Geoff Palmer found himself with time to kill, a door opened to a duet with Lucy Ellis that quickly turned into a full-fledged musical partnership. Had 2020 gone a different way, this dream pairing of pop titans may have never occurred. As expected, these two sound great together. And Your Face Is Weird definitely gives you a taste of what those virtual happy hours were like! To wish for a sequel seems a little greedy, so I'll just focus on enjoying one of this year's true feelgood albums. Vinyl is available in Europe from Stardumb Records and in the USA from The Machine Shop. You can also get the CD from Rum Bar Records  and the cassette from Memorable But Not Honorable!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/your-face-is-weird
https://geoffpalmer.bandcamp.com/album/your-face-is-weird
https://mbnh.bandcamp.com/
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/products/geoff-palmer-lucy-ellis-your-face-is-weird-10
http://www.themachineshoprocks.com/Geoff_Palmer_Lucy_Ellis_Your_Face_is_Weird_10_p/epgeofflucy.htm
https://www.facebook.com/GeoffPalmerMusic/
https://www.instagram.com/geoff_palmer/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.facebook.com/stardumbrecords/

Lucy and the Rats - Got Lucky

This has been one of the best weeks ever for new album releases! We already had The Speedways on Monday and The Yum Yums on Wednesday. Last but certainly not least is the absolutely stunning sophomore long player by London-based foursome Lucy and the Rats. A co-release between Stardumb, Surfin' Ki, and Dirty Water Records, Got Lucky builds on the promise of the band's 2018 debut album and ultimately exceeds it by leaps and bounds.

As a singer and songwriter, Lucy Ellis (ex Spazzys) has been responsible for some of the finest pop music of recent years. She crafts beautiful melodies and sings with a tenderness and vulnerability that bring to mind the 1960s heyday of girl groups and Brill Building pop. While known primarily for their punk bona fides, band-mates Joe Tolosoa (Los Perros, Johnny Throttle), Manu Santos (Thee Tumbitas, Johnny Throttle, Raw Fun, Michael Jackson), and Liam Brody (The Gaggers, Johnny Throttle, Scraps) have proven to be exceptionally accomplished players in a pure pop style. If I had any complaints about the debut album, it's that I would have liked to have heard a song or two that picked up the pace a little and exercised the band's punk chops. And that's where Got Lucky really hits the mark. It delights with a nice mix of moods, tempos, and musical styles. It has got plenty of the dreamy, bittersweet pop songs that this band is so well known for. "September" is wistful, beautiful, and exquisite in every way. "On Fire" sounds like a lost girl group classic and will absolutely tear your heart out. It takes a special songwriter and singer to make a ballad work, but "Lucky" is truly extraordinary. I've been going back to this song again and again, and it makes me smile every time. But while the softer side of Lucy and the Rats remains fully intact, the punkier side also comes out on this album. Uptempo numbers like "Real Thing" and "Time To Time" really put the power in the pop. "Sorry" and "Jelly Baby Baby" are perfect pop-punk songs. "Pinch Myself" is pure '77-style punk along the lines of last summer's "Stick To You" single.

If you're going broke buying all of this music I've been touting lately, I apologize (okay, not really). But I hope you've got a little more saved up for Got Lucky. When I heard the advance single "Dark Clouds" this past spring, it was clear to me that Lucy and the Rats had turned out the finest song of their existence. I am happy to report that the entire album is at that same level. If you love power pop with a punk influence, Got Lucky is an album you need to own. Lucy Ellis is a tremendous songwriter and as likable of a singer as you'll ever hear. And this band as a whole is everything that power pop ought to be. Vinyl is available now from Stardumb and Surfin' Ki Records in Europe and The Machine Shop The Machine Shop in the U.S.A.!



-L.R.

https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/album/got-lucky
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/collections/lps/products/lucy-and-the-rats-got-lucky-lp
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/lucyandtheratsgotlucky
https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-and-the-Rats-817424101645809/
https://www.facebook.com/surfinkirecords
https://www.facebook.com/stardumbrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords

Geoff Palmer & Lucy Ellis - "In Spite Of Ourselves"

You can imagine I was over the moon when I saw that two of my favorite people in music had recorded a duet! And let me tell you, I was not disappointed! Geoff Palmer and Lucy Ellis have teamed up long distance to pay tribute to the great John Prine in the wake of his recent passing. They've collaborated on an absolutely wonderful version of Prine's classic "In Spite Of Ourselves". Zack Sprague and Kris Rodgers also lent their musical talents to this delightful track, which Palmer recorded and produced. The song, available as a digital single from Bandcamp, Spotify, etc. has been accompanied by the super fun music video I've embedded below. I love how Geoff and Lucy show tremendous affection for the original song while still allowing their own style and personality to come through. You won't need to be a John Prine fan to enjoy this cover. And you won't need to be a Geoff Palmer or Lucy and the Rats fan to enjoy it either - although you might quickly become one! These two sure know how to make a duet work. Will there be more coming? Maybe if we ask nicely!



-L.R.
 
https://geoffpalmer.bandcamp.com/album/in-spite-of-ourselves
https://www.facebook.com/GeoffPalmerMusic/
https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-and-the-Rats-817424101645809/  
 

Lucy and the Rats - "Dark Clouds"

The arrival of a new Lucy and the Rats record is always a beloved event for power pop fans. The London foursome was assembled by Lucy Ellis from The Spazzys after her relocation from Melbourne a few years back. Stardumb Records and Dirty Water Records UK have teamed up to release "Dark Clouds" - the band's fourth single. You may recall that last year's single "Stick To You" was a bit of a departure for the band as guitarist Joe Tolosa temporarily assumed lead vocal duties and the group fashioned a much punkier sound. With "Dark Clouds", the band gets back to its signature pure pop sound with a couple of bittersweet melodic gems. It gives me chills to hear Lucy constantly refining her songwriting talents as she grows into a true master of the pop craft. "Dark Clouds" is her finest work to date - a sad, heartfelt, and absolutely beautiful pop song that brings to mind something that would have been all over the radio in the early '80s. I love the way she weaves together a stunning, plaintive melody and a vocal that pulls at the heartstrings without a hint of affectation. That chorus is irresistible, and honestly you'd have to have a stone heart to not be moved by the words coming out of Lucy's mouth. Then there's some wicked good lead guitar work to ice the cake! On the flip, "Get Down" is another pretty, melancholy number that pairs the sweetest melodies with somewhat despairing lyrics. If you choose to really pay attention to the lyrics, there's a powerful statement to be experienced. But even if you don't, that melody will stay with you. Lucy continues to push her songwriting to greater depths, and the band absolutely has the chops to make this material soar. That guitar solo is almost at a Johnny Marr level!

"Dark Clouds" arrives in advance of a forthcoming Lucy and the Rats album titled Got Lucky. While I'm stoked for the album, I would urge you to grab the single now. Lucy and the Rats are one of those bands that really excel in the singles format where you can savor the music in these perfect little bite-sized portions. Both of these tracks are outstanding, and "Get Down" could just as easily have been the A-side. Order your copy from Stardumb Records in Europe and The Machine Shop in the U.S.A. Dirty Water has the digital release!



-L.R.

https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/album/dark-clouds 
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/products/lucy-and-the-rats-dark-clouds-get-down-7 
http://www.themachineshoprocks.com/Lucy_and_the_Rats_Dark_Clouds_7_p/latr2.htm 
https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-and-the-Rats-817424101645809/ 
https://www.facebook.com/stardumbrecords/ 
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords/ 

Lucy and the Rats - "Stick To You"

How about a new Lucy and the Rats 7" co-released by the splendid Surfin' Ki and Stardumb Records! You know that's gotta be good! But here's the surprise twist: for this release, Lucy Ellis has handed lead vocal duties over to guitarist Joe Tolosa! With Tolosa (Johnny Throttle, Los Perros) taking his turn on the mic, the band takes on a slightly different identity. Its previous output has been pretty much pure power pop. "Stick To You" leans more towards old school poppy punk. The one-sheet mentions Teenage Head & The Boys, and I won't argue with that at all. We all love Lucy, but Joey proves to be a really cool singer in his own right! This an upbeat, high energy number with killer lead guitar and a beat that ought to get your toes tapping. I dig! On the flip, "True Romance" is a perfect example of how to do pop-punk and still make it totally rock. It has that "classic Stardumb Records" feel to it that seems appropriate given that particular label's involvement. If you like a sound that's equal parts pop, punk, and rock n' roll, this one ought to hit the spot for you. I don't think any fans need to worry that Lucy has retired from fronting the Rats. But if you have two good singers in your band, why not take advantage of that? Like the band's previous singles, this one is absolutely essential. Order the vinyl from the links below. Digital release is through Dirty Water Records!



-L.R.

https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/album/stick-to-you
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/products/lucy-and-the-rats-stick-to-you-true-romance-7
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/lucy-and-the-rat-stick-to-you-true-romance-ep-preorder
https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-and-the-Rats-817424101645809/
https://www.facebook.com/stardumbrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/surfinkirecords/

Lucy and the Rats - self titled

When three labels the caliber of Monster Zero, Stardumb, and Surfin' Ki Records collaborate on the release of a vinyl record, you know it's gonna be something pretty great! Lucy and the Rats are a power pop band Lucy from The Spazzys formed with members of the English punk group Michael Jackson after she relocated to London a few years back. In 2016/2017, the band released a pair of singles on Surfin' Ki and Monster Zero. Now a proper album has arrived, and it's one of my favorite releases of the year so far!

If you enjoy The Spazzys but aren't yet familiar with Lucy and the Rats, you might be a little surprised by what you hear. While there's no questioning this foursome's punk pedigree, with this band the focus is on pure power pop. Melody and harmonies are in the forefront as the band draws from the classic sounds of the '60s. There's still plenty of punch in the guitars and drums, but the less-rushed tempos really allow these songs to take their time unfolding. Lucy's singing voice is warm and easy on the ears, which works so well with the pretty melodies the band favors. Lucy's willingness to show her softer side is really what gives these songs their charm. Some people are just naturally good at singing love songs, and I would definitely put her in that category. Of the ten tracks here, three are songs fans will recognize from the singles. But there's no drop-off with the new material, and it's not hard to imagine a song like "Make You Mine" or "Hold On Me" being an A-side in its own right.

This full-length debut from Lucy and the Rats is pretty much the ultimate power pop record. It's got that hard crunch on the outside with a soft, sweet center. You can land on any track of your choosing and encounter a melody you'll be whistling for days. This is just a top-class effort all the way! The songs are exquisitely crafted, the band rocks, and Lucy is as likable of a vocalist as you could ever hope to hear. This album is pop as fuck, and I love it! Follow the links below to peruse your many options for colored vinyl! Digital release coming next month on Dirty Water Records.



-L.R.

https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/album/lucy-and-the-rats
https://monsterzerorecords.com/products/lucy-and-the-rats-s-t-lp-1 
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/presale-lucy-and-the-rats-s-t-lp 
https://www.stardumbrecords.com/products/lucy-and-the-rats-lucy-and-the-rats-lp 
https://lucyandtherats.bandcamp.com/ 
https://dirtywaterrecords.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-and-the-Rats-817424101645809/ 
https://www.facebook.com/MonsterZeroPunkrock/ 
https://www.facebook.com/surfinkirecords/ 
https://www.facebook.com/stardumbrecords/ 
https://www.facebook.com/dirtywaterrecords/