PLRLS - Sleeping in a Dress

Sleeping in a Dress is the fourth full-length album from long-running Baltimore-based band PLRLS. And while I'm loathe to reach into my bag of cliches in just the second sentence of a review, I believe the phrase "breath of fresh air" sums up this record nicely. The world needs more music like this. This band combines creativity, quirkiness, a spirit of fun, and infectious hooks in a way that's classically new wave-ish yet genuinely contemporary. I hear elements of post-punk, power pop, punk rock, and indie rock all coming together as if the music gods had deemed it. The challenge of being inspired by later '70s/early '80s new wave yet creating music that sounds like 2026 is a formidable one, yet PLRLS pull off that very thing in impressive fashion. Each of the ten songs on Sleeping in a Dress is completely different from the others, yet there's clearly a vibe that ties it all together. If you like earworm pop songs that are kind of weird but also super endearing and sure to make you want to dance like a maniac, this album and band are for you. These folks sound like they had so much fun in both writing and recording this material. And the quality of the songs is maintained all the way to the final track. Very often, the term "post-punk" brings to mind dreary, emotionally-detached music. Well, PLRLS are the opposite of that. The moment I knew this album was special was when I tried to play it in the background while I was working and quickly found myself too distracted to work. Some music just refuses to live in the background. New wave is alive and well!

-L.R. 

https://pluralsband.bandcamp.com/album/sleeping-in-a-dress 
https://www.instagram.com/plrls
https://www.facebook.com/plurals.baltimore/
https://open.spotify.com/album/0EY1S8RNXmDqVidYSrm8XG
https://www.youtube.com/@plrlsbmore8212

Unicorn Dogs - Closer To Death

Two years ago, Unicorn Dogs released Age Typical Junk Behavior, one of the best pop-punk debut albums of whatever you want to call this nightmare of an era we're currently attempting to survive. It was a debut that was going to be almost impossible to top. I say almost because here we are on the 25th of July in the year 2026, and Closer To Death (brought into the world by those twin institutions of musical excellence, Jolly Ronnie Records and Mom's Basement Records) has indeed topped its mighty predecessor. If Age Typical Junk Behavior was the album that solidified modern-day pop-punk as the soundtrack to everyone's midlife crisis, Closer To Death takes things to the logical next level. It's an album about how much it sucks to get old — especially in a bizarro world where the robots are taking over and 2 + 2 can equal 5 depending on whom you vote for. If you're looking for a record that will make you optimistic about the world or offer lighthearted escapist entertainment, this is most certainly not it. But if you want to pump your fist in the air and shout along at the top of your lungs to impassioned, anthemic pop-punk songs that will feed the fire of righteous indignation raging inside you, this record is not to be missed. 

What makes great pop-punk great pop-punk? There are a lot of ways to answer that question, but there's something about simple, two-minute-ish songs with punchy guitars and earworm hooks that I never, ever tire of. I could live to be a thousand years old and hear records in a thousand different genres, and I'd still steadfastly maintain that the Ramones were every bit as important as Beethoven. Of course the caveat is that the style has to be done well, and that's the main thing Lucas and Jon bring to the table. They're not trying to be original or innovative. But they're just so freaking good at writing simple pop-punk songs. They play a tried-and-true style of music, but they make it current and fresh by writing about things that matter to them. If you could measure the passion and urgency that goes into music, these guys would be a ten out of ten every time. 

And so here we have Closer To Death, and as usual, the songs rip hard and really have something to say. If you're going to write songs about living out your miserable decline in a word where everything sucks, you better have a sense of humor about it. And that's the magic of Unicorn Dogs. They can be (and often are) quite serious a lot of the time, but they also know how to make an art form out of self-deprecating humor. A lyric like "More than half my life is over with/Not sure I made the most of it/I don't have a bucket list/Just a lot of things I wanna quit" makes me laugh so hard precisely because it speaks a truth I can relate to. These guys aren't playing the brand of pop-punk where middle-aged men pretend they're still teenagers. They're playing the brand of pop-punk where middle-aged men begin reckoning with the sneakily rapid of encroachment of Father Time. If you relate to that description, this record has got plenty for you to chew on. Here we have anthems for people who have managed to get older without getting wiser and who feel like time has made them worse versions of themselves. This band writes profoundly about failure, regret, and just being plain tired of being beaten down by life. That's really heavy stuff, but it's also honest and real. The social commentary side of Unicorn Dogs ("Hallucination Free," "One Disaster Away," "Replaceable") is perhaps an even more bitter pill to swallow, but again, it's not like these guys are wrong about anything. There's even a hint of optimism in "Fix Your Heart Or Die" ("We don't fight because we'll win/We fight because there are things worth fighting for/And we gotta try"). The song is a reminder of why protest music (and protest in general) are so vital in this moment. And at a time when simply being a kind, empathetic human is an act of rebellion, Unicorn Dogs are here to show us the way. 

In spite of its title, Closer To Death is by no means a bummer of a record. Lucas and Jon (joined by Jon's son Oliver, who kills it on drums) might write from the perspective of disillusioned, over-the-hill folk who feel like life has passed them by. But the truth is that as musicians and songwriters, they've never been better than they are right now. You don't get the backing of two of the best pop-punk record labels ever by accident. Closer To Death is the best record they've ever made. It's packed with smart, super-catchy punk songs that mix their candidly dark musings with an undeniably upbeat energy. If these lyrics were about dominating in pickleball, cooking the perfect lentil soup, and the thrill of stargazing, this would still be quality pop-punk. But it wouldn't quite hit the same, would it? If you take these songs too seriously, it's like spending 27 minutes with Debbie Downer. But I don't listen to these songs and hear complete resignation. Amidst all that frustration, disappointment, and self-effacing humor, I hear a fighting spirit that won't stop pushing. I still don't feel my age, but the cold, hard math of me being as close to 70 as I am far from 40 really fucks me up sometimes. A little more urgency in my life would not be a bad idea. We're all getting a little closer to death every day. But that leads to an obvious question: What are we gonna do about it?

-L.R.

https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/closer-to-death
https://open.spotify.com/album/50uXEKlr2HyF9ZV3tKpm5Z
https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/product/unicorn-dogs-closer-to-death-lp-or-cd
https://www.jollyronnie.com/product/unicorn-dogs-closer-to-death-lp
https://www.instagram.com/unicorndogsmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/momsbasementrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords/
https://www.facebook.com/JollyRonnie/

Unicorn Dogs - "Bogus Journey"/"One Disaster Away"

As they near the release of their new album Closer To Death, Baltimore's Unicorn Dogs are back with another sneak preview single. And as the album title suggests, you ought not to expect light songs about frolicking in the park or basking in fairy tale happy endings. What we have here are a couple more dark songs for dark times — delivered with an energy and catchiness that make these bitter pills remarkably easy to swallow. Unicorn Dogs, simply put, are one of the greatest pop-punk bands going these days. I now cease to be surprised any time their next release is even better than their last. On this latest single, they're not trying to be overly dramatic or deliberately morose. They're just dishing out a heavy dose of real talk. "Bogus Journey" is an unflinching reflection on living in a modern world characterized by "a dearth of kindness" (an observation that's on the money, I'm sad to say). The song plays on the timeless "Life's a bitch, and then you die" theme and notes that no matter how bad things get, they can always get worse. Depending on your perspective, that truth will be either really depressing or oddly comforting. "No one gets out alive" is the song's refrain, and that's no lie. 

"One Disaster Away" is more specifically in the social commentary category. At a time when one party's political power is reliant on millions of normal people believing they are just one big break away from being rich, this song goes the other way and notes that we're all just one misfortune away from losing everything. The idea that we could ever be part of the elite class is pure delusion — as is the notion that we're "better" than people who are serving time or living on the street. So yeah, this is not exactly easy listening. You're probably not going to cue up these songs at your next house party (and if you are, I probably would want to party with you!). But when it comes to making meaningful music with all the conviction in the world behind it, Unicorn Dogs are hard to beat. They play pop-punk with guts and soul. They're inching even closer to Closer to Death, and I can't wait!

-L.R.

https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/even-closer-to-closer-to-death-2
https://www.instagram.com/unicorndogsmusic/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7dM1zWd8hkgG8vKgbQixSu

The Beatings - 1997-2007

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

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

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

-L.R.

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

Unicorn Dogs - "Sad Adult"/"Replaceable"

Could Unicorn Dogs be any more on fire right now? Their fantastic debut album Age Typical Junk Behavior just got a vinyl release on the illustrious Jolly Ronnie Records. They will be playing Mom's Basement Fest this weekend. And they have another album called Closer to Death on the way! In advance of the album, they've released a teaser single. And once again, this band does not disappoint! "Sad Adult" is vintage Unicorn Dogs — an anthemic, passionate shot of pop-punk for grown-ups. This song is about coping with mid-life angst. You know that feeling that you're a shell of the person you used to be and are running out of time (literally)? Well that's what these guys are singing about here. I love that this is a song about being a sad adult but not wanting to be a sad adult. I can appreciate the distinction, and I admire the frank self-awareness of these lyrics. And when that chorus hits with all that power, you feel like not all hope is lost. If there's not a way out of this middle-aged depression, there's at least the catharsis of venting at the top of your lungs. And when you consider that the B-side, "Replaceable," is about how AI is going to take all our jobs and leave us destitute and useless, "Sad Adult" seems almost optimistic in comparison. That album title is really starting to make sense, eh? I love this band so much!

-L.R.

https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/closer-to-closer-to-death
https://www.facebook.com/unicorn.dogs.music/
https://www.instagram.com/unicorndogsmusic/
https://www.jollyronnie.com/product/unicorn-dogs

Splitsville - MOBTOWN

Back in the late '90s and early 2000s, Baltimore-based Splitsville was one of the top bands (if not THE top band) in the indie power pop universe. Now the foursome returns with its first album in 22 years, and it's nothing short of a masterpiece. Out on Big Stir Records, MOBTOWN is an epic and beautifully-crafted love letter to the city of Baltimore. Any version of a reunited Splitsville would have been warmly welcomed in power pop circles, but MOBTOWN is even better than anyone could have imagined. It swings for the fences and crushes the ball out of the park. It's an extraordinary album that enriches the band's already sterling legacy. 

For MOBTOWN, Splitsville has re-assembled its most recent lineup: Brandt and Matt Huseman of the beloved power pop band The Greenberry Woods along with Paul Kryaiak and Tony Waddy. More than two decades since the release of the band's last album Incorporated, the group has picked up right where it left off. MOBTOWN, while truly an ambitious and stylistically varied effort, is built on a foundation of gorgeous melodies, majestic harmonies, and indelible, perfectly-constructed hooks. In other words, this is a master class in guitar pop. While the band doesn't exactly abandon its signature approach of classic power pop with a '90s indie/alternative flavor (check out "A Glorious Lie" and "I Hate Going To Hutzler's"), it also shows the kind of growth you'd expect from a group that had last recorded before YouTube, social media, and vaping existed. "Cold Open" finds the band reintroducing itself to the world and asserting its capacity to rock. "On Federal Hill" and "Southern Hospitality" are practically indie pop mini-symphonies. "Gray" is funky pop reminiscent of Prince — until it isn't. "Fallsways" is breezy '70s rock that ought to be pumping from every yacht on the Chesapeake. "Perry Hall" and "Penn Station" are stunning ballads that find the album concluding with its finest pair of songs. 

Tying it all together is the album's concept. MOBTOWN celebrates the band's hometown — examining everything from its history to its landmarks to its people to the racial divisions that still largely define it. Through storytelling, personal reflections, and social commentaries, the album explores all that is wonderful, flawed, storied, and unique about this great American city. Unlike some concept albums that crumble under the weight of their ambition, this one flows in a way that could not feel more natural. While of course these songs are best heard as one singular set, any of them can be enjoyed outside the context of the larger concept. MOBTOWN has the sweeping power of a great movie or novel, yet ultimately it's just a fantastic set of pop songs. The talent and skill of all the players involved have only progressed over the decades, and any concerns about rekindling that old chemistry are quickly assuaged once the music hits your ears. And the album's production is to die for. Those of you who fondly recall Splitsville from back in the day will not be disappointed. And if this is your introduction to the band, MOBTOWN will have you wanting to dig into all the greatness you have missed.

-L.R.

https://bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mobtown
https://open.spotify.com/album/695qDRFPYo8c2ae7nbOmi8
https://www.facebook.com/SplitsvilleUSA/
https://www.bigstirrecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bigstirrecords
https://www.instagram.com/bigstirrecords/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKgmSWHFm3wSaT7SF9JGyYQ

The Airport 77s - "1999 (Take Me Back)"

On the second single from their forthcoming LP, DC–area power pop sensations The Airport 77s treat us to a straight-forward ode to lost love. And it'll tear your heart out in exactly the way a song like this ought to. Knowing the band's penchant for clever wordplay and seeing the song title, you might have expected "1999 (Take Me Back)" to be some sort of humorous retro homage. But there's not a whiff of winking irony to be had. This is a textbook tale of regret and longing — and a reminder that there's no statue of limitations on heartbreak. All I remember of the last night of the '90s was getting so inebriated that I didn't care if the world ended. But this song's protagonist, who is not so lucky, would do anything do go back to a time before it all slipped away. Imagine the torture of being reminded of what you lost every time you heard "...Baby One More Time" for the rest of your life. And yet like most great downer love songs, "1999 (Take Me Back)" is more anthemic and cathartic than it is depressing. Andy Sullivan's talent for crafting a perfect pop hook is exceeded by very few people in this world. And his lyrics paint such a vivid picture that I can literally feel myself back in 1999. When that chorus hits, you'll find yourself asking why they don't play songs like this on the radio anymore. And to call that guitar solo "epic" almost undersells it. Even if you were not born until after 1999, this is probably a song you can deeply relate to. Don't Let Go, the full album, will be out in less than four weeks on JEM Records. I can't wait! 

-L.R.

https://theairport77s.bandcamp.com/track/1999-take-me-back-2
https://open.spotify.com/album/635y75lxkPzHyK7uWgRxLw
https://www.instagram.com/theairport77s
https://www.facebook.com/TheAirport77s
https://www.airport77s.com/

Unicorn Dogs - Inauguration

Unicorn Dogs are having quite the year! Their brilliant debut album Age Typical Junk Behavior will soon be getting a vinyl release in collaboration with a couple of titans in the pop-punk label world: Jolly Ronnie Records and Mom's Basement Records. In conjunction with this LP release, they've put out a music video for their should-have-been smash hit "Dumb Stuff." Meanwhile, the band has a brand-new digital EP out today titled Inauguration. After taking a quick peak at song titles like "Snake Oil Salesman," "Executive Order," and "Chief Executives," you will have no trouble discerning the concept of this EP. Let's just say that when it comes to opining on the state of America post January 20, 2025, Unicorn Dogs are not afraid to tell you how they really feel. This is a band that's good enough to write about any topic under the sun and make it feel urgent and anthemic. So you can imagine that Unicorn Dogs raging against America's descent into authoritarianism is going to be powerful stuff. 

When it comes to protest music of any kind, I'm always looking for one main thing: the music has to be on par with the message. And that is certainly the case here. I will paraphrase my brother from across the pond and say that Unicorn Dogs are the epitome of pop-punk with balls. I've heard very few bands capable of writing songs that sound this raw and this catchy. Of course you can feel the passion and indignation in these songs, and that all comes through more forcefully due to the quality of the melodies and the cleverness of the lyrics. The band has turned Inauguration into a choose your own adventure experience: you can listen to the entire EP in one single shot (with some added snippets) or enjoy it one track at a time. Covers of "Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed)" by Raveonettes and "Serendipity" by Trusty are Bandcamp exclusive bonus tracks that fit in quite nicely with the rest of the EP. All this for $2 is a deal and a steal for fans of pop-punk and opposers of fascism! 

-L.R.

https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/inauguration
https://www.facebook.com/unicorn.dogs.music/
https://www.instagram.com/unicorndogsmusic/

The Airport 77s - "If It's On, I'm In"

The Airport 77s have a new single out, and of course it's great! "If It's On, I'm In" is another absurdly catchy track from the D.C. area's finest pop trio. It's the first single from Don't Let Go, the band's forthcoming album on JEM Records. This song, while ostensibly a love song, could very well be the affirmative-thinking can-do anthem that a world plagued by spiritual malaise is dying for. Shouldn't we all resolve to be in if it's on and down if it drops down? Andy Sullivan seems to have a knack for writing songs that tell a story, and this tale is particularly intriguing. A lyric like "And when I tried to buy her a diet Moxie/She just tossed her hair and laughed/She said, 'You look like the kind of guy who's used to being strung along'" is going to be awfully hard to top in 2025. I too would be down for adventures involving electric scooters, Baskin Robbins, and city buses destined for parts unknown. Musically, I would just say that this sounds like The Airport 77s. It's very new wave influenced with a 1980s college radio spirit to it, and it manages to be consciously clever without crossing the line of becoming annoying. Sullivan's perky synthesizers are front and center on this track, and new band member Cal Everett (of D.C. power pop legends 4 Out of 5 Doctors) propels the song with his hot bass work. If that's not enough for you, how about a breakdown that's absolutely bonkers! This is a super-fun tune and a grade-A earworm at that. But who would expect anything less from The Airport 77s? Don't Let Go releases May 30th. Who's signing up to clown?

-L.R.

https://theairport77s.bandcamp.com/track/if-its-on-im-in
https://open.spotify.com/album/0hGqWwNvcJE3cQeiPn21Qa
https://www.airport77s.com/
https://www.instagram.com/theairport77s
https://www.facebook.com/TheAirport77s

Unicorn Dogs - Chaotic Neutral

Spoiler alert: I'm working on my "Best of 2024" mega-post, and Unicorn Dogs are going to be mentioned in the top albums list. It seems I may need to make some space in my top EPs list as well! As much as I like pop-punk, I seldom show pop-punk bands much love on my year-end lists. But to me, Unicorn Dogs are a pop-punk band who transcend genre. They're just a great band, period. They write meaningful, anthemic songs about the things that matter in life, and they play them with heart, guts, and passion. They've also released some really cool concept records like a single devoted to the roleplaying game Against the Gloom and the autumn-themed double A-sider Harvest Moon. Their new EP Chaotic Neutral is also based on a theme: all four of these songs are about fantasy games of various types. 

You have to appreciate a punk band that puts the same level of care and urgency into a song about role-playing games as it does into one of its regular songs. These songs are full of all of Unicorn Dogs' usual signatures: efficient songwriting, massive sing-along choruses, impassioned vocals, clever lyrics, and melodies to die for. What I love about this EP is that it celebrates nerdom in the most joyful way. What fun would life be if we didn't have things to geek out over? I say this as a man who writes hundreds of record reviews every year, circles seasonal craft beer releases on the calendar, and obsesses over fantasy football. So I was delighted to discover that fantasy football was one of the topics covered on Chaotic Neutral. "My Little Football Guys" is so hilarious and dead-on that I might feel attacked if I didn't think the song was written from a place of love. I also like that "Core Earth" is ostensibly about the role-playing game Torg but most likely has a political subtext. I'm always a sucker for an extended metaphor. Whether you're into fantasy games or not, this EP is highly recommended to any fan of Unicorn Dogs or great pop-punk in general. All proceeds will go towards a vinyl release for the band's most excellent album Age Typical Junk Behavior!

-L.R.

https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/chaotic-neutral

Unicorn Dogs - "Harvest Moon"

Having already released one of the year's best albums, Unicorn Dogs are giving us bonus awesomeness with their new single. There are few things I love more than the fall, so naturally a fall-themed single is going to be right up my alley. "Lycanthrope" is probably literally about becoming a werewolf, but there's part of me that suspects the song could be a metaphor for how we become hardened by the cruelty of humanity. Either way, it's a freaking awesome song. When it comes to playing gritty yet immensely catchy pop-punk that makes you want to pump your fist in the air and sing along at the top of your lungs, Unicorn Dogs are as good as it gets. On the B-side, "COVID Thanksgiving" might sound like a potentially humorous song. But it's actually completely serious. The song conveys how much it sucks to have a major holiday completely ruined because you and/or your family members have COVID. This is a great example of why Unicorn Dogs are such a relatable band. They write honest, straight-from-the-heart songs about real life stuff. There are few things worse than suffering in isolation with your hot tea while the rest of America gorges on stuffing and mashed potatoes. Man, the pandemic was the worst! But Unicorn Dogs are the absolute best for gifting us with this seasonal special. Procure your favorite pumpkin-spiced beverage, put on a light sweater, and crank this thing on repeat!

-L.R.

https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/harvest-moon
https://open.spotify.com/album/5UuDT4vuqwyzFw1Ps1yj4K

Unicorn Dogs - Age Typical Junk Behavior

Back in March, I predicted that Unicorn Dogs' debut full-length Age Typical Junk Behavior would join the growing list of  "A+ pop-punk albums" released this year. For once, I turned out to be right about something! To recap, two-thirds of Baltimore-based Unicorn Dogs used to be two-thirds of Charlie Brown Gets a Valentine. But while there's some similarity between the two bands, Unicorn Dogs are miles beyond what CBGaV was. There's nothing particularly novel or complicated about what Unicorn Dogs do, but perhaps that's the whole point. They play gritty, straight-forward pop-punk, and they put tremendous heart & soul into it. Their songs are simple in terms of both structure and the approach to recording. Yet you won't find a band with catchier, more memorable pop-punk tunes. I appreciate that there are two songwriter/vocalists, and I like them equally. That's a little reminiscent of Husker Du for me, and I would guess that Husker Du is somewhat of an influence on Unicorn Dogs. You can feel the passion and energy that went into these songs, and the lyrics are thoughtful and super-relatable. This, my friends, is pop-punk for grown-ups —and it's freaking amazing. Was I practically in tears the first time I heard "You Would Have Known Better"? Of course I was! Surely I can relate to "Screwed Together" way more deeply than I can relate to any pop-punk song I liked 25 years ago. Age Typical Junk Behavior is an absolutely perfect pop-punk album. Only one song exceeds two minutes, and every track makes me want to pump my fist and shout along like my life depended on it. Over the course of this album, the band reflects on topics such as revenge, parenthood, work, marriage, overcoming adversity, the shortcomings of humanity, alienation, and the inevitability of death. To reverse-paraphrase Morrissey, the music Unicorn Dogs play says a lot to me about my life. 

-L.R.

https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/age-typical-junk-behavior

Unicorn Dogs - "Dumb Stuff"/"Screwed Together"

Unicorn Dogs are totally a breath of fresh air in the pop-punk scene. The Baltimore-based trio has released two singles in advance of its forthcoming album Age Typical Junk Behavior, and I just can't stop listening to these tracks! Two-thirds of Unicorn Dogs were two-thirds of Charlie Brown Gets a Valentine, so you probably have some idea of what to expect. But while Unicorn Dogs share certain characteristics with CBGaV, this is a different band with a different vibe. These guys are still doing gritty pop-punk, but they're writing shorter and catchier songs with lyrics that are freaking amazing. These two singles tackle serious subject matter like marriage, parenthood, and other heavy adult stuff. They approach these topics with honesty, a sense of humor, and a remarkable relatability. Check out "You Would Have Known Better" for an example of how powerful songwriting doesn't have to be complicated songwriting. I'm not crying — you're crying! We've already had a couple of A+ pop-punk albums in 2024, and now another seems imminent. 

-L.R.

https://unicorndogs.bandcamp.com/album/dumb-stuff

The Airport 77s - We Realize You Have a Choice

I didn't want to make any puns about The Airport 77s "taking flight" or "reaching new heights" on their new album We Realize You Have a Choice (out today on the world-famous JEM Records). But then I read the press release about how this album "finds the fly boys of power pop spreading their wings" and thought, "Yeah, that totally nails it!" The Airport 77s (guitarist Andy Sullivan, bassist Chuck Dolan, and drummer John Kelly) have graduated to four-stripe status on their proper full-length debut. If you didn't already know there was more to this D.C. area trio than new wave nostalgia and hilarious costumes, you'll find out soon enough once you push play. We Realize You Have a Choice is packed with hits from front to back. I feel it would be reckless of me to say that this is the best album JEM has ever released. So I'll show some proper restraint and just say that JEM has never released anything better than this. 

The name of the album is funny largely because it's true: the choices for a music consumer in 2022 are literally limitless. There's so much music out there competing for your time, attention, and disposable income. You will be well-served to give all of the above to We Realize You Have a Choice — one of the finest power pop/rock albums to come out in quite some time. This release proves that the best way to make a power pop album is to not make a power pop album. Don't get me wrong: this release features a couple of perfect power pop songs. Latest single "One Good Thing About Summer" has been tearing up the indie radio charts for weeks, and "All Torn Up Over Tina" (co-written by Kelly and the great J.P. McDermott) could pass for a lost classic from the early '80s. But rather than supplement these A+ power pop songs with lesser power pop songs (as many, many bands do), The Airport 77s have elected to apply their mastery of hummable melodies, clever wordplay, and earworm choruses to a variety of musical styles. Are you feeling some '80s AOR pop-rock? Could you dig a synth-pop dance track? How about a little arena rock, lounge pop, indie rock, hard rock, and even a birthday song? The Airport 77s can fly you anywhere you want! 

We Realize You Have a Choice is that rare album where there's no drop-off from a great single. The aforementioned birthday song, "Birthday Girl," has all the makings of a new standard. One part sweet love song and one part party anthem, it's destined to become a staple of birthday girls' nights out everywhere. I love how the song comes on unassumingly enough and then just knocks you out with that chorus! Bar owners: get this song on your playlist, and you will sell drinks galore! "Losers Win," which packs an entire short story into three and a half minutes of massively catchy rock and roll, also highlights the band's flair for epic choruses. "Somebodies," with its stacked lead vocals and anthemic feel, sounds like something that could have been on the radio back in the '80s — when pop music still moved small-town kids to dream big. That line "I'll never be nobody with somebody like you" could have been cheesy, but The Airport 77s make it sound genuinely inspirational. Plus it models how to properly use a double negative. "The Way She Moves" takes things into full-on hard rock territory and is genuinely awesome. "Bad Together" would not sound out of place on the Valley Girl soundtrack. "Alone Together" has made me a believer in jazz-influenced power pop (Yeah! Really!). Back in storytelling mode, "Drinking Alone" finds its heartbroken protagonist spiraling towards rock bottom — but bouncing back to a regular shaving routine and a steady diet of wheatgrass smoothies and spinach shakes. Did I mention something about earworm choruses? Bonus points must be awarded for an REM reference that doubles as a DC–adjacent geography joke. 

With We Realize You Have a Choice, The Airport 77s have made a rock album for people who love power pop. Or is it a power pop album for people who love rock? This release has it all: should-be radio hits, arena-sized rockers, and even some stellar deep cuts ("Since the Circus Left Town" snuck its way into my brain and has been residing there for weeks). It captures the essence of classic music from the '70s and '80s without getting itself stuck there. If you'd like to hear some great pop-rock made by stellar musicians and singers, you'll want to book your reservation in short order. Every seat on this flight is first class.

-L.R.

https://theairport77s.bandcamp.com/album/we-realize-you-have-a-choice
https://open.spotify.com/album/473ALGFe1Sm3vkcr3nhFKG

https://music.apple.com/us/album/we-realize-you-have-a-choice/1634682626

https://www.amazon.com/We-Realize-You-Have-Choice/dp/B0B71Y5CDN
http://www.airport77s.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheAirport77s/
https://www.instagram.com/theairport77s/
https://www.jemrecordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Jem-Records/100063542772461/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh4Lksh6LQ4Q97XNut59PAQ

The Airport 77s - "One Good Thing About Summer"

The Airport 77s, authors of one of my favorite albums of last year, are set to release a new LP titled We Realize You Have A Choice on the illustrious JEM Records. I first heard The Airport 77s in January of last year, which for some reason now feels like a million years ago. Since then, the Maryland-based power pop trio has released a couple of singles for JEM and contributed to the label's recent tribute to Pete Townshend. In advance of the new album, the band has a brand-new single out called "One Good Thing About Summer." In keeping with the band's clever lyrical style, "One Good Thing About Summer" proceeds to list a litany of things about summer that actually suck (and it's hard for me to disagree with most of them!). Yet at a deeper level, this is an exceptionally sweet love song. You have to love a tune that manages to tug at the old heartstrings and make you laugh out loud. This song could easily be mistaken for some hidden gem of early '80s power pop that you never heard before. Legend has it that The Airport 77s formed over a shared love of The Jags' "Back of My Hand" and 20/20's "Nuclear Boy." "One Good Thing About Summer" would slot perfectly between those two songs on a playlist. That hook is a thing of beauty: so simple yet so undeniably, unstoppably catchy. It will make you wanna buy the full album, which you will have the opportunity to do starting on September 30th!

-L.R.

http://www.airport77s.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheAirport77s
https://www.instagram.com/theairport77s/
https://www.facebook.com/Jem-Records-607560186079388/
https://www.jemrecordings.com/
https://open.spotify.com/album/6rz0IhBQyOJE18eP85LzIm
https://theairport77s.bandcamp.com/
https://orcd.co/realizechoice77

The Airport 77s - "Losers Win"

Look who's back! On the very first day of 2021, The Airport 77s self-released Rotation -- which remains one of my most highly rated albums of the year. This fantastic power pop trio from Silver Spring, Maryland recently signed with the legendary JEM Records. Now there's a match made in heaven! Out today, the band's JEM debut is comprised of two digital tracks -- "Losers Win" and "The Illustrated Book of Cupid". Written by guitarist Andy Sullivan, both songs highlight this band's flair for harmony-laden power pop with big hooks and witty lyrics. My first reaction to these tracks was that they totally rock! If you like your power pop with equal parts power and pop, you should already be cranking up "Losers Win"! I dig the way this song builds slowly to a knockout chorus that's gonna be stuck in my head for the rest of the year at the very least. Somehow this song squeezes a novel's worth of storytelling into three and a half minutes. Check out this snippet:

He's got a photo with Sammy Hagar

And a tattoo says, Aloha

He's got a scar that runs from his elbow to his watch

Hung up on the baby sitter

Stepping in your kitty litter box

He got it in his socks

Now that, my friends, is true poetry! 

On the digital "flipside", "The Illustrated Book of Cupid" is a clever & hard-rocking love song that worships at the sacred altar of Cheap Trick (How stoked are Airports 77s to be on the same record label that first imported Live At Budokan to the U.S.? ). Is it just me, or do I hear cowbell and handclaps? Never underestimate the importance of percussion!

It was a tremendous surprise to discover that The Airport 77s had joined forces with one of my favorite record labels. And "Losers Win" sure does not disappoint! Whether you consider this one two-song single or two separate singles (Who can really tell these days?), this is a formidable pair of songs from one of the hottest up-and-coming bands on the power pop scene. If you're headed to International Pop Overthrow in New York next month, you can catch The Airport 77s on night three with label mates The Grip Weeds and the Anderson Council!

-L.R.

https://theairport77s.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheAirport77s
http://www.jemrecordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Jem-Records-607560186079388

The Prostitutes - "Shapeshift"

When it comes to all of the things that are cool about music blogging, it does not get any cooler than having the opportunity to write about the almighty Prostitutes in the year 2021! I came up in the later '90s era of punk rock and will forever insist that The Prostitutes were the greatest punk group of that period. After the band's first and second breakups, I lamented that this musical force of nature had been silenced forever with so much more left to give. But with the tenacity of a cockroach, Kevin McGovern has re-grouped The Prostitutes time and time again in different locales with different lineups. And the one thing that has remained unchanged through it all is the quality and the power of the music. Out on Last Punkers Records, the band's new EP "Shapeshift" is its first vinyl release since 2009. It took six months to record and probably even longer to be pressed due to COVID-related delays. But it was well worth the wait and will disappoint absolutely no one. 

Much like The Prostitutes' recent digital releases ("Shake Rattle Die", "Nineteen", "Cheap Highs"), "Shapeshift" retains the fire and the ferocity of The Prostitutes' vintage recordings while adding modern production touches and the kind of sophisticated songwriting approach you'd expect from a seasoned veteran of the punk scene. Dark and raging but also catchy and tuneful, "Shapeshift" is everything you could want from a Prostitutes song. On the B-side are two more ace tracks: the moody, hard-hitting "Needle In the Red" and the fierce, blistering "Rat Race". Vinyl is limited to 300 copies (50 on black and 250 and violet) and is sure to go fast. If you've been waiting a decade plus for the return of The Prostitutes to your turntable, satisfaction is guaranteed! And when it comes to that voice, there's nothing else like it in the punk world! 

It's still hard for me to believe that my first Prostitutes review was written 25 years ago. If you had told me back then that Kevin would still have this band going in the dystopian future of 2021 and would still be making records this good, I would have sworn you were insane! Click here to order the vinyl!

-L.R.

https://theprostitutes1.bandcamp.com/album/shapeshift
https://www.facebook.com/tutespunk/
https://lastpunkrockersrecords.bigcartel.com/

The Airport 77s - Rotation

The Airport 77s had me with the mere mention that they formed over a shared love of The Jags' "Back of My Hand" and 20/20's "Nuclear Boy"! This trio comprised of Chuck Dolan (bass), Andy Sullivan (guitar), and John Kelly (drums) is based out of the D.C. area and just released its debut album Rotation on the first day of this new year. Unsurprisingly, Rotation is an album steeped in classic power pop. But what I appreciate about The Airport 77s is that their clever humor and eagerness to rock out provide a refreshing twist on this musical style. The influences are discernible, but Rotation doesn't come off like an album I've heard a thousand times before. This is a band that brings not just great hooks, but also a lot of personality. 

The 1-2 punch that opens Rotation is particularly impressive. Both tracks demonstrate this band's knack for building songs around humorous yet fully relatable concepts. "Christine's Coming Over" is about a guy who ponders cleaning up his house - and perhaps his entire life - in advance of a big date. "(When You're Kissing On Me Do You Think Of) James McAvoy" is pretty self-explanatory. With a title like that, the song had a lot to live up to. But it does not disappoint. Who among us has not pondered the possibility that our significant others would leave us for a dashing actor - and perhaps even sink to the depths of embracing creme brulee and Coldplay? Off to such a formidable start, Rotation continues to please in numerous ways. "Shannon Speaks", which tells the story of a "mysterious, unconscious visitor who might provide the skeleton key to the modern era", sounds like something off of the Valley Girl soundtrack. "Wild Love" is full-on Cheap Trick worship executed to arena-rocking perfection. "All The Way", a tale of a summer romance culminating in the back seat, is accurately described as "the Raspberries meets .38 Special". "Bad Mom!" savagely spoofs the high drama of the modern-day PTA/soccer mom scene. "Girl Of My Dreams" is a wonderfully faithful cover of the Bram Tchaikovsky classic - a song that so fascinated drummer John Kelly that he once flew to England to interview its author Ronnie Thomas. 

It would be impossible for me to not like a band that aspires to write original material good enough to follow "Jessie's Girl" in its live set. And of course I quickly identified The Airport 77s as kindred spirits who like me have invested countless hours of their lives perusing musty stacks of vinyl in search of Artful Dodger LPs. But what I really admire is how this band takes that late '70s/early '80s power pop influence in its own unique direction. Rotation strikes a perfect balance between songs that make me laugh and songs that embrace the visceral horniness of the arena rock of yore. If the best power pop is always fundamentally rock and roll, then The Airport 77s pass the test for sure. You know I never like to go too far into a year without identifying an early album of the year contender. So I'll slide Rotation into my #1 spot and make it the one to beat. Hands down, the best album of the past 14 days! 

-L.R.

https://theairport77s.bandcamp.com/album/rotation
https://www.facebook.com/TheAirport77s/
http://airport77s.com/

The Prostitutes - Nineteen

I recently did a Facebook post asking people to name "the five greatest punk rock bands from the state of Pennsylvania". As far as those types of posts go, I usually let my friends do the talking and withhold my own opinions. I'm actually thinking about doing a full top ten list that I'll publish here. But I will tell you this: my #1 greatest Pennsylvanian punk band, without a doubt, is The Prostitutes. That might have even been true if the band had broken up 20 years ago. But I continue to be awed and inspired by the amazing music Kevin McGovern continues to turn out under The Prostitutes name - now 23 years after the release of the band's debut single.

Now based in Baltimore, The Prostitutes in their latest incarnation are a tight power trio also featuring JR Matthew on guitar and Barry Jewels on drums. The recent digital single "Cheap Highs" was a clear indicator that the 2019 version of The Prostitutes are a major force to be reckoned with! In short order, the band is back with another outstanding single that's available as a name your price download from Bandcamp. "Nineteen" is like the older, wiser counterpart to the band's classic song "Twenty-Two". It's a tale of aimlessness, dead-end employment, and rampant chemical abuse. Except in this case, the lyrics come from a place of perspective and reflection. I think most of us have those moments where we look back upon on our younger selves and think, "What in the hell was I doing?!". If you're a great artist like Kevin McGovern, you turn those thoughts into a song. This is exactly the kind of music you would hope to hear from a punk band nearing the quarter century mark of its existence. Lyrically and musically, it's informed by life experience and personal growth. Yet it still rages with a passion and purpose. Kevin doesn't rest on his past glories. Working with his new band mates and kindred spirit producer Tim Shock, he's moving forward! But don't for a minute think that means that he's fully retired his notorious nasty streak. "Not Around" is full of the blunt truth-telling and eloquent tongue-lashings that have been a Kevin McGovern signature for years. And it just straight-up rocks! "Now I'm leaving town/Low budget hearse in reverse" just might be the line of the year. This song is vintage Prostitutes, yet it feels updated for the musical landscape of 2019 punk rock.

If you had told 25-year-old me that I'd be reviewing The Prostitutes in 2019, I would have said, "No fucking way!" I certainly didn't foresee myself still writing about punk records when I was pushing 50, and I probably didn't foresee The Prostitutes making it out of the '90s alive. Yet here we are, and one thing that's become clear to me through the years is that punk rock is not something that people "outgrow". Over 40 is probably the median age of the people who read this blog and the members of bands I write about! I can sit here with a straight face and tell you I'm genuinely excited about The Prostitutes future. Whether you're a longtime fan or just hearing this band for the first time, "Nineteen" is essential listening.



-L.R.

https://theprostitutes1.bandcamp.com/album/nineteen-not-around
https://www.facebook.com/tutespunk

The Prostitutes - "Cheap Highs"

Can I name another band besides The Prostitutes that I've been touting for the entire span of my years reviewing music? I don't think so! My first review of The Prostitutes dates back to 1996 (it was the band's debut 7" on Pelado Records). The Prostitutes would go on to become perhaps my favorite punk band of the '90s. And although I left them for dead a time or two or three, Kevin McGovern has managed to sustain this veritable institution of American punk rock through numerous changes in personnel and relocations from the East Coast to the Midwest to the West Coast and back to the East Coast. And even with all of those changes, the one thing that remains the same is that The Prostitutes still sound like The Prostitutes! The band's most recent EP Don't Want A Future (2017) is one of the strongest releases in its catalog. Now with new band-mates JR Matthew (guitar) and Barry Jewels (drums), McGovern has The Prostitutes back and sounding as good as ever. A new EP is in the works, as is a split 7" with the mighty Pegs. "Cheap Highs" is a little taste of what's to come - recorded earlier this month in the band's current home base of Baltimore with Don't Want A Future producer Tim Schock. I'd describe this track as "classic Prostitutes" with that modern edge to the guitars that Schock is so skilled at capturing. You hear that voice, and you immediately know what band you're listening to. And with lines like "self destructive pose/the midnight show/an image that always cracks", you're getting the sort of poetry that could only have come from the mind of Kevin McGovern. If you're a longtime fan, you should be so stoked for this song! And if The Prostitutes are still new to you, you would be wise to dive into the Bandcamp page and discover one of the greatest punk bands of the last 25 years. Stay tuned for more!



-L.R.

https://theprostitutes1.bandcamp.com/track/cheap-highs 
https://www.facebook.com/tutespunk