SMARM - self titled

Cincinnati has been an underrated hotbed of punk rock for pretty much as long as I've been following punk rock. The latest sensations from The Queen City are called SMARM, and their debut EP is totally ripping and super-promising. While SMARM is a very new band, members Drew Decker, Liam Dolan, Sam Richardson, and Eric Stein are veteran players who really know what they're doing. Taking inspiration from classic American punk and garage rock, SMARM dishes out an attack that's a tad heavier than your typical garage punk. These songs are muscular and riff-driven while still giving a whole lot of Midwestern grit and attitude. I love that this band doesn't sound like every other garage band out there but will still appeal to anyone who digs tough and bruising punk rock 'n' roll. DMZ, Consumers, Radio Birdman, Union Carbide Productions, and Rubber City Rebels are some stated influences, and that's a nice mix to be working from. For a new-ish band, the songwriting is remarkably well-developed. SMARM has hit the ground running, and surely we will be hearing many more good things from this band!

-L.R.

https://smarm1.bandcamp.com/album/smarm
https://www.instagram.com/smarm.band/
https://open.spotify.com/album/0KdtCkDoGgOCvhjusCQ7aJ

MK Ultras - self-titled

Alright! Here we go! When it comes to straight-up killer punk rock that rips hard and fast, MK Ultras are one of the best new bands representing for the old school. Goodbye Boozy Records has just unleashed the Cleveland-based foursome's third release, a 4-song 7" that will smash anything that dares to get in its way. This, my friends, is quintessential Rust Belt punk rock. It's not quite '77 punk and not quite hardcore punk but rather something perfectly in between. These are tough, hard hitting tunes that kick you straight in the ass yet will still get your toes tapping. The Clevo-punk in this band's musical DNA is undeniable, but they aren't ripping anyone off. They're doing their own thing, and it's real deal punk rock like you rarely hear these days. Great freaking stuff from dead end America!

-L.R.

https://goodbyeboozydigital.bandcamp.com/album/mk-ultras
https://mkultras.bandcamp.com/album/goodbye-boozy-e-p
https://www.instagram.com/mkultras/
https://www.facebook.com/mkultrasofficial/

Pig Rides - These People Are Not Your Friends

How about some hardcore punk, kids? You know I don't write about this sort of stuff very often, so when I do, you can be sure I'm really feeling it. Pig Rides hail from Cleveland, Ohio and feature members of a couple bands I've written about before, Kill the Hippies and Wild Wings, as well as Sockeye, Muzzle, Pill Time, TV Drugs, and many more that cannot be listed for legal reasons. These People Are Not Your Friends is the band's new EP/tape, and it freaking rips. This is my kind of hardcore: fast, ferocious, and pissed, but it still feels like it came from rock 'n' roll. These songs sound like the product of breathing the Rust Belt air while rolling around in the gutter. The drums and bass hit like a ton of bricks. The guitars have just the right amount of heaviness to them while still being built for speed. The vocals are properly demented and delivered from a genuine place of rage. Each song vehemently punches you in the mouth. This is your soundtrack to the world falling apart and you insisting on going down fighting. Pink is the new black, so get yourself a cassette while supplies last.

-L.R.

https://pigrides.bandcamp.com/album/these-people-are-not-your-friends
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wJxwFw26RRIqBQO1rSGaC

Post Ramone - Sounds Like This

And the honor of my final review of 2023 goes to Post Ramone! That's a genius band name, and thankfully it isn't wasted on mediocre music. Out on Mom's Basement Records and Jolly Ronnie Records, Sounds Like This is the debut long player from this Youngstown, Ohio–based outfit made up of members of Spastic Hearts, Jagger Holly, Hollywood Blondes, RADD, etc. On this album, these pop-punk veterans rip through 12 tracks straight out of the textbook. There's something to be said for a pop-punk band that's wise enough to not mess with a winning formula. If originality or innovation are must-haves for you, this is not your next favorite band. But if you enjoy tried-and-true pop-punk executed to perfection, Sounds Like This is sure to satisfy. Post Ramone is here to show you how it's done with killer tunes, quality lead vocals & harmonies, and a musical philosophy that values fun over all else. None of that is surprising given the band members' musical history, and the brisk sales so far indicate that the pop-punk faithful are appreciative. Every year there are two or three pop-punk records that remind me why I got into this type of music in the first place. Sounds Like This is one of those albums for 2023. Would you expect anything less from a Jolly Ronnie/Mom's Basement co-release? 

-L.R.

https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/product/post-ramone-sounds-like-this-lp-cd
https://jollyronnierecords.bigcartel.com/product/post-ramone-sounds-like-this-lp
https://open.spotify.com/album/6rVBmvAbMINoMBe3jCRBGN
https://www.facebook.com/p/Post-Ramone-100064910940746/
https://www.instagram.com/postramoned/
https://www.facebook.com/JollyRonnie/
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords

The Prostitutes - Alternates: 2017​-​2021

I'm always grateful to have an excuse to write about The Prostitutes. This is one of my favorite bands of all-time and to me one of the greatest American punk groups of the modern era. I feared that my previous review of The Last Two would be my final statement on this musical entity that has been a fixture of the punk rock scene since 1996. But an odds-and-ends collection titled Alternates: 2017​-​2021 has turned up out of nowhere, and I will jump at the chance to add another chapter to my book on The Prostitutes. Kevin McGovern, who for all intents and purposes is The Prostitutes, put together this collection largely to give these songs a second life. What results is the closest thing we've gotten to a Prostitutes full-length album in 14 years. Recorded between 2017 and 2021, all these tracks are alternate takes of songs released as singles over the last four years. Most of these songs were originally released in the peak pandemic years, and they may have been overlooked (as digital singles sometimes are these days). As an album, they fit together remarkably well. With the release of the track "Shake Rattle Die" in April 2020, The Prostitutes' turn to a more modern, experimental sound became apparent. Six of the remaining eight tracks on Alternates were originally released from 2020 to 2022, making this album the perfect bridge between "classic" Prostitutes and McGovern's current band The Trouble Seekers. If you missed these songs when they were singles, now you can conveniently own them in the form of one last excellent Prostitutes album (probably). 

The phrase a "second life" is very fitting in the case of the songs on Alternates. Hearing these nine tracks together gave me a new appreciation for this material. This is not just a treat for super-fans. This is a really great 21st Century punk album that fully captures the darkness and despair of the COVID era. If this were your first time hearing The Prostitutes (and perhaps it will be), you'd definitely want to hear more. McGovern as an artist concluded that he took The Prostitutes as far they could logically go, and certainly he was right. The Trouble Seekers are a remarkable, visionary band, but they are something new entirely. Yet this last gasp of The Prostitutes was a brilliant precursor, and that's captured fully on this album. It's bookended by "Shake Rattle Die" and "Nineteen." It would be fitting for the last-ever Prostitutes track to be "Nineteen," which reflects on the suburban dread and chemical abuse that inspired so much of McGovern's youthful songwriting. "Nineteen was so lame," he screams, bringing perfect closure to a quarter century of The Prostitutes. Perhaps it's the different studio takes, but the whole feel of this album is more edgy and post-modern  — yet still totally punk rock. The guitars get denser and more complex. The vocals are distorted just enough to sound surreal. Synthesizers are used judiciously. I think the reason I'm usually so lukewarm about "post-punk" music is because it almost never sounds like this. Even in middle age, McGovern has lost nothing in terms of vocal fury or sharp lyrical edge. The aforementioned tracks plus the likes of "Shapeshift," "Needle in the Red" (think angrier Psychedelic Furs), and "Sick To Death of Myself" are among the best songs McGovern has ever written and definitely merit being heard with fresh ears. 

As I listen to Alternates, I find it astounding that one could acquire music this good without paying a cent. Has the overwhelming abundance of new music constantly dropping into the digisphere finally taken the shine off of free music? I would hate to think so. How can you pass up a deal this good? The Prostitutes were the best, most exciting punk band to come out of Pennsylvania in the 1990s, and even this last gasp of output holds its own against the group's most celebrated releases. Most of the band's releases (including its undisputed masterpiece, Can't Teach Kids Responsibility) are name your price downloads from Bandcamp. If you do elect to pay a little something for these downloads, your kind donations will be used to recover the cost of a busted car transmission. And lord knows transmissions aren't cheap.

-L.R.

https://theprostitutes1.bandcamp.com/album/alternates-2017-2021

https://www.instagram.com/tutespunk/

https://thetroubleseekers.bandcamp.com/

The Trouble Seekers - self titled

Well that sure didn't take very long! Back in March, I mentioned that The Trouble Seekers were hoping to connect with a like-minded record label and do a full-length album release. Ruined Records ended up being that label, and the band's self-titled full-length release is now on the street! This duo made up of Kevin McGovern (The Prostitutes) and Hillary Burton (honeychain, The Pandoras) continues to prove there's plenty of room for originality and innovation in punk rock. Seriously: there's nothing out there in the world of music that sounds quite like this band's blend of synth-punk, dark new wave, dystopian soundtrack, and post-modern rock and roll. 

Shockingly, this is the first 12" vinyl that McGovern has released since The Prostitutes' Can't Teach Kids Responsibility came out 25 years ago. He shared with me that The Trouble Seekers, in some warped way, feels like the proper follow-up to Can't Teach Kids Responsibility. Way back in 1998, he was envisioning a new direction for The Prostitutes that would have involved the addition of synthesizer, female vocals, and moody tempos. Lacking the right collaborators to make this happen, he put this vision on hold and never really got it back until last year when he and his friend Burton decided to make music together. And once these two got together, everything clicked. McGovern and Burton work perfectly together — not just as co-vocalists but also as complementary creative forces. The Trouble Seekers' 15-track debut album retains the snarl, sharp edge, and pure intensity of The Prostitutes' recordings. But it moves that energy in new and exciting directions. The Trouble Seekers are moodier, stranger, and far more experimental than even the later Prostitutes were. Yet this isn't just experimentation for experimentation's sake. This is creativity without restriction in fulfillment of a vision. These are your most troubling nightmares set to music you can dance to on the apocalyptic ruins. 

So here we have the record that Kevin McGovern wanted to make 24 years ago. Would the world have been ready for this in 1998? Would he have been ready for this? I'm usually lukewarm on the whole idea of synth-punk, and perhaps that's because it rarely comes out this good. These tunes, while definitely "out there," are exceptionally well-crafted and sneakily tuneful. And I like that I'm hearing two familiar voices coming together to create something that's even more than the sum of its parts. Sometimes leaning more punk rock ("Beautiful Doom," "Falling in a Dream," "Cruel Summer"), other times leaning more new wave ("Out of Order," "Endless City"), and other times adhering to no conventions whatsoever, this album manages to be informed by new wave era reference points even as it drags them kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. A case in point are the album's two cover songs: hyper-imaginative re-workings of Cheap Trick's "He's a Whore" and Madonna's "Borderline" that will just about blow your mind. Priced right at just 15 bucks plus postage, this face-melting debut from The Trouble Seekers can be yours if you hit up the Ruined Records web site!

-L.R.  

https://thetroubleseekers.bandcamp.com/album/the-trouble-seekers
https://www.instagram.com/thetroubleseekers/
https://www.facebook.com/TheTroubleSeekers/
https://www.ruinedrecords.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ruined_records/
https://linktr.ee/thetroubleseekersband
https://ruinedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t

The Prostitutes - the last two

This is my 11th time reviewing The Prostitutes for this blog, and it looks to be the last. The last two is the title of the latest single from The Prostitutes -- signaling a defined ending to a 27-year institution of American punk rock. And if these really are the last two Prostitutes tracks, it's great to hear this band going out exactly as it came in: with absolute fury. Even with its modern edge in production and guitar tone, "Sick to Death of Myself" has the feel of a classic Prostitutes song. Let me correct myself: it is a classic Prostitutes song. It knocks my head off in the same way that songs like "1-2-3 GO," "Twenty-Two," and "Living Wreck" did back in the day. This is raging, explosive punk rock from a true master craftsman of the form. From Pennsylvania to Ohio to Long Beach, California to Pennsylvania again to Baltimore to Ohio again with an ever-changing supporting cast, Kevin McGovern has kept The Prostitutes going strong for two-and-a-half decades plus. And now is the right time for him to close the book on this musical entity as he moves on to other things (most immediately the truly excellent Trouble Seekers). And so these last two tracks (recorded in 2020) complete a discography that includes two full-length albums, five 7" singles, 12 digital singles/EPs, and one un-released album. If you have somehow been living under a rock since 1996 and never experienced The Prostitutes, I can't recommend the Complete Recordings 1995-1998 compilation enough (in my book, Can't Teach Kids Responsibility is a top five 1990s punk rock LP). For those of you who are longtime fans, I assure you that you will find the last two to be a fitting swan song. Tonight I will drink to the storied legacy of The Prostitutes -- and to new beginnings for the force of nature that is Kevin McGovern!

-L.R.

https://theprostitutes1.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-two
https://www.instagram.com/tutespunk/
https://linktr.ee/TheProstitutes

The Trouble Seekers - EP #1

And now here's something that has straight-up blown me away! From the moment I heard that Kevin McGovern (The Prostitutes) & Hillary Burton (honeychain, The Pandoras) had started a band together, I was building crazy expectations in my head. These are two of my favorite musicians of the present-day. I was going to be disappointed if they didn't make something special together. Well their debut EP released yesterday, and it exceeds my expectations by leaps and bounds. Simply titled EP #1, this six-song digital release manages to combine almost all of the musical influences that shaped these two artists as they were growing up in the '70s and '80s. I might generally categorize this band as experimental punk/new wave, but I can't really put a hard label on what The Trouble Seekers are doing. These songs are informed by everything from glam rock to power pop to new wave to post-punk to modern rock to synth-pop. This is powerful and genuinely original music that doesn't sound like anything else out there. All it once, it's dark, melodic, hard-hitting, hooky, retro, and futuristic. It brings an overall energy and a "window into a twisted mind" lyrical sensibility that are quite similar to The Prostitutes. But unlike The Prostitutes, The Trouble Seekers limit themselves to no specific style or genre. If I could create my own soundtrack to a film adaptation of a Bret Easton Ellis novel, The Trouble Seekers would be on it! Not only do Kevin and Hillary sound amazing singing together, but they're also perfectly in synch in a creative sense. Seriously: what other duo on earth is citing The Waitresses and Suburban Lawns as primary influences? Pals of mine with exquisite taste (such as Ralph Rivera and my podcast partner Jay Castro) are losing their shit over this release -- and with good reason! And these guys have been huge Kevin McGovern fans for just as long as I have. So when they say EP #1 is great, you better best believe it's great! EP #1 is now available from The Trouble Seekers' Bandcamp and the Rock N Roll Manifesto Bandcamp. If you dig what you hear, you'll be happy to discover that EP #2 is already in the works. This band is currently on the lookout for like-minded record labels. If that's you, be sure to get in touch!

-L.R.

https://thetroubleseekers.bandcamp.com/album/ep-1
https://rnrmanifesto.bandcamp.com/album/ep-1-2
https://www.facebook.com/TheTroubleSeekers/
https://www.instagram.com/thetroubleseekers/

Wild Wings - Foil Landscape

Ohio's reigning champions of psychedelic, art-damaged, post-apocalyptic space punk have returned! Foil Landscape is the third release from Youngstown-based Wild Wings. This four-song 12" is the band's first vinyl release and the debut release on the brand-new label Color And Time Tonight. This label intends to specialize in punk rock, hardcore, noise, psyche, and outsider rock. Wild Wings could be categorized as all of the above and then some. Foil Landscape is a formidable follow-up to 2018's tour de force SHOWBIZZZ. The promotional material recommends it to fans of My War, Chrome, Acid Mothers Temple, and The Germs. I couldn't have said it better myself! Wild Wings cook up a mind-melting concoction of Rust Belt proto-punk, '80s hardcore, and heavy rock which they launch into the deepest realms of the universe. As always, Kenny Halbert's songwriting acknowledges familiar influences even as it fully disregards convention. I always love a band that can write a three-minute song that feels epic (imagine, then, what they can do in five minutes!). If you crave sludgy hard rock, spastic hardcore, and a mind-fuck trip through space and time, it's all on the menu -- sometimes all within a single song! In so many cases, music this adventurous and creative is just that. But in Wild Wings' case, it all comes together perfectly. Foil Landscape plays like a psychedelic punk symphony in four movements. It's not just original -- it's fucking great! The songs are top-notch; the playing is powerful and dynamic. This is music that goes through your bones and transports you to new worlds. 

For five decades, Northeastern Ohio has lent itself to a particular aesthetic within the punk rock universe. Wild Wings embody that aesthetic in every way. If you are an Ohioan punk historian or simply someone who longs for that moment in time when hardcore was forging a bold new path for itself, Foil Landscape is the album for you. Hit up Color and Time Tonight's online shop to order a copy on clear vinyl. And be on the lookout for upcoming releases from TV Drugs, Sacred Hate, and Vaxer!

-L.R.

https://wildwings.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WildWings69
https://colorandtimetonight.com/
https://www.facebook.com/colorandtimetonight

The Prostitutes - "Headcase"

Now here's a great way to start a week! "Headcase" is the brand-new digital single from the legendary Prostitutes. Kevin has kept this band going strong through 26 years and moves from Central Pennsylvania to Columbus, Ohio to Long Beach, California back to Central Pennsylvania to Baltimore, Maryland, and now back to Columbus. The locations and supporting players change, but the constant is that The Prostitutes represent punk rock music at its very best. Part of what's made Kevin a success as a veteran punk rocker is that he's never settled into a rut where every release or song sounds the same. He's managed to sustain a progression and evolution in the music of The Prostitutes while still keeping it sounding like...The Prostitutes! He describes "Headcase" as "A Different Kind of Tension meets China White experimentation". Name one other band out there that's trying that! "Headcase" is a raging punk tune with a cool modern edge. The lyrics are quite minimal and classic Kevin. You can grab "Headcase" right now as a name your price download on Bandcamp. And be sure to pick up the recent and totally essential EP Shapeshift if you haven't already!

-L.R.  

https://theprostitutes1.bandcamp.com/track/headcase
https://www.facebook.com/tutespunk/
https://www.instagram.com/tutespunk/

Beatnik Termites - Sweatin' To The Termites

I've mentioned two or three or 20 times that my favorite pop-punk bands tend to be the ones that fully embrace the pop side of the genre. On that note, you would expect the Beatnik Termites to be way up there on my list of all-time favorite pop-punk groups. Indeed, the Termites would be included in my personal holy trinity of pop-punk (most likely joined by The Queers and Parasites). With a legacy dating back to the dawn of the '90s, the Termites paved the way for every subsequent pop-punk band that would take its primary musical influence from the worlds of doo-wop, surf, bubblegum, and '50s rock and roll. If "oldiescore" is a recognized strain of modern-day pop-punk, it's no stretch to say that Pat Termite pioneered it! 

And so it's a true joy to hear the old master still at the top of his game in 2021. Out now on Mom's Basement Records, Sweatin' To The Termites is the first Beatnik Termites album in 18 years and just the fourth proper album in the band's history. I was excited by the return of the Termites but wasn't sure how a new release would stack up to the band's classic albums. Well let me tell you: it stacks up just fine! This is a vintage Termites release all the way. The Termites were always the band you could play for your parents if you wanted to turn them onto pop-punk. Well now it's your grandparents that you're converting, and Sweatin' To The Termites is fully up to the task! The formula hasn't changed in over 30 years, any why should it? The band still excels at writing harmony-drenched pop songs about pretty girls and the ups and downs of love. On Sweatin' To The Termites, the group embraces its love for doo-wop and early rock and roll like never before. Throw in nods to the Beach Boys, bubblegum, and (of course) the almighty Ramones, and you've got yourself a recipe for another classic Beatnik Termites album! Songs like "Pet Shop Girl", "Denise Marie", "Out of My League", "Summer Summer", and "My Darling Maryann" instantly rocket into to the top tier of Termites songs. "Tell Me Why" demonstrates that even bubblegum bands can have a serious side. "Rubber City Roller Girl" brings to mind the Ramones on Sha Na Na. "She's Gonna Kill Me" finds the Termites at their punkiest. 

It seems fitting that I'm typing a review of a record called Sweatin' To The Termites on a 90-degree day. This really is the ultimate summertime record from the ultimate summertime band. Thinking back to the days when Taste the Sand was a foundational piece of my initiation into the world of pop-punk, I am pleased as punch to discover that the Beatnik Termites have withstood the test of time without having to fundamentally change their approach to music. If you like pop and punk and rock and roll, it doesn't get much better than this.

-L.R.

https://momsbasementrecords.bandcamp.com/album/beatnik-termites-sweatin-to-the-termites
https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/product/beatnik-termites-sweatin-to-the-termites
https://www.facebook.com/BeatnikTermites/
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords/

Nothin' - self titled

Nothin' is a funny and really cool name for a band. "Hey, what are you listening to?" "Nothin'!" Nothin' is based out of Columbus, Ohio. Lead singer Hillary Jones used to be in Pretty Pretty. And while there may be some similarities between the two bands, I suppose you could say that Nothin' is consciously less "punk rock". Nothin' rolls together power pop, '90s twee, and good, solid Midwestern indie rock and roll to create a sound that is simple and satisfying. Let's Pretend Records out of Bloomington, Indiana has released Nothin's self-titled cassette, which is chock full of fuzzy pop songs that will instantly have you tapping your toes and humming along. While Nothin' has branded its musical style "anxiety rock", these songs are more likely to relieve anxiety than they are to induce it. These are fun tunes that really rock, and there can never be too many bands doing that sort of thing. If you like good pop of any variety, this is a band you ought to look into. Jones has an appealing, matter-of-fact vocal style, and as a songwriter she sure knows how to a turn out a killer hook. Don't miss out on Nothin'!

-L.R.

https://nothin.bandcamp.com/album/nothin

https://www.facebook.com/nothin614/

https://letspretendrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/nothin-s-t-tape

https://www.instagram.com/letspretendrecords/?hl=en

Betty Machete and the Angry Cougars - "Stay In Your Lane"

Whew! If you feared that after all of these years, Betty Machete and the Angry Cougars might have mellowed-out a little or settled comfortably into "musical maturity", you can breathe a little easier today. If anything, the passage of time has only deepened the rage and ferocity driving this Ohio outfit's recorded output. It's as if they're siphoning all of the rancor and discontent that's in the air and using it to acquire musical super powers. "Stay In Your Lane" is the Angry Cougars' 7th EP, and it's every bit as fierce and pummeling as the band's first. Ms. Machete still sounds like an individual you do not want to mess with, and behind her the band remains in permanent attack mode. As always, it's tricky to categorize the music beyond calling it loud and aggressive rock n' roll. The title track is a fast and furious Motörhead inspired punk ripper, while "Who Dies First" slows the pace but dials up the heaviness in a big way. "Grudge Match" comes on with thunderous, AC/DC caliber arena riffs, then turns on a dime to blazing and supremely pissed-off hardcore punk. Track four, exclusive to the vinyl, is a cover of Iggy and the Stooges' "I Got A Right" - arguably the first ever punk song.

Believe it, kids: "Stay In Your Lane" kicks ass! It's tremendously satisfying to hear Betty Machete and the Angry Cougars sounding as committed as ever to slaying anything in their path - six years after they unleashed "Book of Hate" on an unsuspecting world. I can't think of another band that hits the spot quite like BMATAC when you're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. If you're a strictly digital person and have thus far missed out on the wonders of this band, the time for catching up has arrived. Angry Cougars are now on Spotify! Your enemies and friends alike ought to be on notice.

  
-L.R.

https://angrycougars.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/AngryCougars 

Jagger Holly - The Last Of The International Playboys

Having come up in the zine world as a pop-punk kid in those ancient times of the '90s, I am pleased as punch to hear this genre of music still thriving today. There's tremendous Ramones-inspired/three-chord talent out there right now, and we are very fortunate to have labels like Monster Zero and Mom's Basement Records that devote themselves to filling the world with great pop-punk. It's no surprise, then, that those two labels have a hand in what I consider to be the best pop-punk album of the last several years. The Last Of The International Playboys is the second album from Jagger Holly, a band featuring Jay Dee from Johnie 3 and Spastic Hearts along with members of DeeCracks and On My Arms. Essentially what we have here is a pop-punk supergroup - one born in Ohio and now based in Austria. I was a big fan of Spastic Hearts, and I like Jagger Holly even better. The sound is pure pop-punk that fully embraces the pop side of the equation (oh, those harmonies!). The Last Of The International Playboys brings to mind genre standard-bearers such as MTX and Darlington, but not in a copyist sense. This is just great pop-punk in the "let's have a good time!" mold. Literally and figuratively, it's the perfect mix of American pop-punk and European pop-punk. Jay, I mean Jagger, writes lyrics that make me laugh out loud but also show genuine tenderness in the love song department. Topic-wise, these 12 tracks cover all of the essential issues in life: partying, longing for lost love, pursuing new love, hanging out at the beach, heartbreak, romance, and crushing on porn stars. Usually with a pop-punk record, I go through all of the tracks and try to identify which songs are the "hits". I can't do that with this album since literally EVERY song is a hit!

The Last Of The International Playboys won't turn any non-fans of pop-punk to the dark side. But if you are a fan of pop-punk, I 100% guarantee that you will love this album and play it to death. From the lyrics to the melodies to the vocals to the musicianship, you simply won't hear this style of music done better. And if you could quantify fun, this would be a ten out of ten. Blue vinyl is available from Monster Zero, and red vinyl is available from Mom's Basement. Outloud! Records is releasing the album on CD. This is the summer album of 2018 - arriving just in time for winter!

 
-L.R.

https://monsterzerorecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-of-the-international-playboys-2 
https://outloudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-of-the-international-playboys 
https://www.facebook.com/jaggerhollyrocks/ 
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords/ 
https://www.facebook.com/OUTLOUDrecords/ 
https://www.facebook.com/MonsterZeroPunkrock/ 

Cold Stereo - Demo 2018

One recent pattern of mine that I'm looking to break is that I've been writing almost entirely about bands I've reviewed before. Of course I'm gonna cover my favorites, but I've been a little lax about touting new talent. And when it comes to new talent, it doesn't get much newer (or more talented) than Cold Stereo. This Cincinnati-based foursome "dropped" its demo on Bandcamp just last week, and within hours Shawn Abnoxious alerted me to its crankworthiness. He was not wrong!

Having come of age as a young punk rocker in the '90s, I have a certain emotional attachment to demos. There's just something really awesome about hearing a band on its way up, and I love that the technology exists for bands like Cold Stereo to share their demo recordings with the world. And come on, what do you have to lose? This is free music! A certain amount of mystery surrounds Cold Stereo, and I kind of like it that way. I don't have to worry about being influenced by what other people might have written about this band. I don't know much about Cold Stereo besides recognizing Todd Uttley's name from the equally awesome SUBSETS. But I must say that I like what I'm hearing! Cold Stereo doesn't really sound like any other band. There's a plus right off the bat! They can actually pull off punk rock with keyboards, which is something not a lot of bands can do. A lot of these songs kinda walk that fine line between punk and new wave in a manner that would be satisfying to fans of either. Right away, "We're Gonna Take This To Heart" has a great energy to it. It's upbeat and fun and instantly worthy of blasting loud. "I Need A New Head" seems like a message that most of us can relate to. "The People Are Going Bananas" ought to be the new national anthem. "Run From the Sun" is post-punk that pays just as much attention to the "punk" as it does to the "post".

So here's your opportunity to get in on the ground floor with Cold Stereo! If it drives you crazy with guilt to download free music, you could certainly toss the band a few bucks. Or maybe you could just pinky swear to buy Cold Stereo's debut record in the near future. I will have my eyes and ears primed for further updates from Cold Stereo HQ. 17 likes so far on Facebook? I foreee that number reaching at least 20 by the end of the weekend! Ohio. Always. Wins.



-L.R.

https://coldstereo.bandcamp.com/album/cold-stereo-demo-2018 
https://www.facebook.com/coldstereo 

Vanilla Poppers - I Like Your Band

Should Vanilla Poppers be considered Aussie punk or Cleveland punk? Perhaps they are both - which would explain the innate awesomeness of this four piece hardcore punk outfit! Melbourne transplant Christina Pap is a first class screamer on lead vocals, and every word that comes out of her mouth is one you fully believe. Meanwhile, Jo Coone has captured the ideal guitar tone for aggressive punk music. It's raw and dirty, but man it sure hits hard! Out now on the ever-dependable Drunken Sailor Records, new EP I Like Your Band follows an LP from last year, an EP from 2016, and a demo from 2015. There's no messing around on these four tracks: just straight-up ferocious punk rock that hits you right in the mouth. Early '80s hardcore is a clear frame of reference, and the band wears its Midwestern grit like a badge of honor. If you're seeking honesty, conviction, and full-on raging intensity in your punk music, look no further. Crackling stuff!



-L.R.

https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-like-your-band-7-ep 
https://www.facebook.com/DrunkenSailorRecords 

Wild Wings - Showbizzz

Wild Wings, northeastern Ohio's reigning champions of psychedelic, art-damaged, post-apocalyptic space punk, are back with their second full-length album. Showbizzz is the band's first release since 2015's World War Wild Wings, and it's nothing short of a tour de force. Over the course of a full album and sometimes just a single track, Wild Wings can fluctuate between spastic thrash, thundering grunge, bruising noise rock, archetypal Midwestern punk, and way out-there sonic experimentation. A laboratory analysis of Wild Wings' musical DNA would reveal ancestral connections to everyone from Chrome to Blue Cheer to The Pagans to Sonic Youth to Hawkwind to Devo to Black Flag. You'd have to travel six galaxies over to find anything close to a comparable band, and what's even better is that all of this genuinely works! Singer/guitarist Kenny Halbert's compositions are full of unique ideas and unconventional turns, yet every song is brilliantly constructed and perfectly executed. Every risk brings a reward. And even with all of the avant garde tendencies, this is still very much a punk rock record in every way that really matters. Really, this album had me with the opening song title "Hamburger Ice Cream". I'd order that flavor any day of the week! But it only gets better from there. "Failed Design For Living" is the sonic experience of the year: like what would happen if you were listening to a long-lost Killed By Death cut, and an alien species suddenly broke in with a ten-minute transmission from a quadrillion light years away. This is just one of those albums that will have going from "What the fuck IS this?" to "This is the best thing ever!" in very short order. Grab some headphones, load up on your mind-altering substance of choice, and prepare yourself for a musical trip to an unknown dimension (or Youngstown, Ohio...same difference). Showbizzz is available on CD and cassette, and you can order it here! 


-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/WildWings69/ 
https://wildwings.bandcamp.com/music 
http://lionscarerecordings.com/ 

Angry Cougars: the debut album!

With four ripping singles to their name, Columbus, Ohio's Betty Machete and the Angry Cougars already had the blueprint for a great debut album. All they had to do was keep being the Angry Cougars, and there was no way they could screw up. History has taught us that that there's just no stopping a true force of nature. And thus I'm delighted to report that that the debut album Angry Cougars (out on Break-Up Records) is precisely what it ought to be: a short and swift sonic assault laden with profuse airings of grievances and threats of physical violence that you can ignore at your own risk. It's truly the classic debut we've all been waiting for since 2012! 

In case you feared the possibility of the Angry Cougars embracing ballads, string sections, jazz influences, yodeling, rap interludes, drum machines, or songs about yachting on this nine-song LP, I can assure you that there is no sign of any such missteps. This is your textbook case of a band starting up the steamroller and just flattening everything in its path. As always, the Angry Cougars bring it hard and fast - tearing through these tracks in a style that teeters between pummeling Midwestern punk and blood and guts rock n' roll. The guitars are louder, the drums hit harder, and Ms. Machete sounds more pissed off than ever! A full two-thirds of these songs clock in at under two minutes - highlighted by ill-tempered burners like "Bullshit" and "Bullet". Not content to just re-package songs from the singles, the band has come through with almost entirely new material (although it is great to hear the old favorite "Mexico" re-worked for 2016 and sounding more ferocious than ever). And while there's plenty to like here if you favor the tried and true, closing track "Kill It" shows that there's more to the Angry Cougars than 90 seconds and a cloud of dust. The "epic" of the album at three minutes and 41 seconds, this thundering dirge is so over the top in its bleakness that it has me wondering if this is the Angry Cougar's Spinal Tap moment. But it's executed so well that I just can't be sure. If this band really wanted to go down the path of doom metal, you can't deny they have the chops to pull it off!

Alright, citizens of Columbus and surrounding communities! Angry Cougars hits local store shelves tomorrow for Record Store Day! Every copy was personally hand screened by Mr. Pat Dull himself! You can find the album at Elizabeth's Records, Spoonful Records, Lost Weekend Records, Used Kids Records, Records Per Minute, and Magnolia Thunderpussy Records. Also out on Break-Up tomorrow is the 2016 edition of the Columbus Blood series - a compilation LP featuring 12 standout bands from the Columbus independent music scene. Head on over to Facebook for further details!

 
-L.R. 

https://angrycougars.bandcamp.com/music 
https://www.facebook.com/AngryCougars 

Pagans v. The Guillotines!

Holy fucking hell! If you long for the days when American punk rock was dirty and dangerous, I've got a record that's gonna blow your head off! Set for release on Just 4 Fun Records out of Sweden, this is a split 7" teaming up the almighty Pagans with Houston, Texas's The Guillotines (a new-ish band featuring former Pagan Bill DeGidio {aka Robert Conn} on guitar and lead vocals). 

You may recall that Mike Hudson regrouped the Pagans a few years ago and made an excellent album called Hollywood High (the first Pagans full-length in 31 years!). Working with a revolving cast of supporting players, Hudson continues to grow the Pagans legend. And on this split, we get the appropriately titled "Hopped Up". Featuring the blistering guitar work of Richie Duguay (The Hellhounds, Duff McKagan) and Capt. Ben Reagan (The Feederz, Richie Ramone), this old-style smasher sounds 100 percent like CLASSIC Pagans. Close your eyes, and you'll be instantly transported to the mean streets of Cleveland circa 1978! Hudson sounds like a man who's traveled to hell and back and lived to tell the tale. He's a one of a kind performer and a true national treasure. Long may he reign! 

DeGidio/Conn did multiple stints with the Pagans back in the day, and he's also well-known as a member of Cleveland punk greats like The Defnics and AK-47's. He eventually relocated to Houston, and a couple years back he formed The Guillotines with Jewels (Chelsea Hotel) on vocals and bass, Curtis De Gidio (Chrome Kickers, The Velostacks) on guitar and vocals, Glenn Gilbert (Vanity Crimes) on lead guitar, and Stevie Ryder (Root) on drums. The Guillotines are very much in the spirit of the Pagans but are by no means a straight copy. Instead think of a modern version of 1970s Cleveland/New York punk rock. The band's contributions to this split, "8-Pack Day" and "She's All Alcohol", are from the soon to be released album Heads Are Gonna Roll. And, boy, do they ever rip! If you like sleazy, high energy rock n' roll formed from the primordial ooze of The Stooges, MC5, and (of course!) the Pagans, you're gonna go wild for these songs!

The digital release of the Pagans/Guillotines split EP is available now from Just 4 Fun's Bandcamp. Don't miss out. This is one of the most killer punk records I've heard in a long, long time. The vinyl releases next month, and you can place your pre-order here!



-L.R.

https://just4fun2.bandcamp.com/album/pagans-the-guillotines-split-ep
http://just4funrecords.bigcartel.com/product/pagans-guillotines
https://www.facebook.com/pages/JUST-4-FUN-RECORDS/122469534451395

Angry Cougars are back!

Back with their third and fourth singles, Betty Machete and The Angry Cougars just keep on killing it. For Record Store Day 2015, these Columbus, Ohio maulers are offering up an ace new single called "Guts" along with a split with hometown mates Hexers. "Guts" finds BMAC slowing the pace down a little but hitting even harder (if you can imagine that!). Think less hardcore punk and more straight-up ferocious rock n' roll - with thundering guitars and a positively menacing vocal from Ms. Machete. The brilliance of this song is that you can't tell if it's a metaphor or if she literally intends to disembowel someone. And as always, this band really excels at coming up with that perfect little hook that you never see coming until it's already stuck in your head. If you soon find yourself horrifying friends and neighbors by repeatedly singing the line, "There's no escaping/Because I love your guts!", take comfort in knowing you won't be the only one.

"Guts" is backed with an absolutely raging cover of The Soft Boys' "I Wanna Destroy You". If you've been waiting all these years for an angry punk rock version of this alt-rock classic, BMAC have finally made that a reality. Seriously, this rendition eats the Circle Jerks' version for breakfast! From the first note, this is a band hell bent on destruction. That "I'll come picking at your bones" line, coming out of Betty Machete's mouth, has never sounded more convincing.

On the BMAC/Hexers split, the two bands take turns covering one of the other's songs. Hexers re-imagine "Damnation" as a saxophone-driven r & b shaker. I bet you never knew this was a party song! BMAC tackle "Kill For Fun" and definitely make it their own. The way the band blasts through this hard/fast ripper, it seems impossible to believe that they didn't write it! The download that comes with the record also includes the original versions of both songs - allowing you to appreciate both bands' formidable interpretations.

If you live in or around Columbus, you will find both of these new singles at area record shops starting tomorrow. Buy or be sorry!



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/AngryCougars