Miss Georgia Peach - "The Hockey Song"

In honor of the two-time Walter Cup champions The Minnesota Frost and the gold medal–winning U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey team, Miss Georgia Peach has released her own version of Stompin' Tom Connors' iconic "The Hockey Song"! This single is backed by a cover of Sonny James' "A Little Bit South of Saskatoon," a song featured in the movie Slapshot. So we've got ourselves a fully hockey-themed release here, and it was recorded in Eveleth, Minnesota, home of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame! This Travis Ramin production features MGP on lead vocals, Baby Grant Johnson on lead guitar, John Ewing on guitar, Mike Bennett on bass, Ramin on drums, Steve Sokola on piano and accordion, and Germaine Gemberling on background vocals. MGP and her medal-worthy teammates make "The Hockey Song" their own, giving it a full-on country feel with a touch of upper-Midwest chill. Of course the vocals are stellar, and overall this is a wonderfully robust rendition of a classic. MGP took a shot from the point and really sniped it! This makes me wish I could have a six-pack of Surly Hell! If you've worn out your copies of Aloha from Kentucky and Class Out the Ass and are still left wanting more of that '60s/'70s country music magic, "A Little Bit South of Saskatoon" will be everything you want. This is a fun single that arrives at the perfect time, as its release came just one day after the U.S. Women captured Olympic gold — and just two days before the U.S. men play for Olympic gold. A special shout-out must go out to Kendall Coyne Schofield, Lee Stecklein, Kelly Pannek, Grace Zumwinkle, Britta Curl-Salemme, and Taylor Heise — who play for the Frost and the Olympic team! A vinyl release of this single is in the works. In the meantime, the digital release is available from Rum Bar Records just in time for the NHL stretch run. Now that Georgia and Travis have proven themselves masters of the novelty record, perhaps we can convince them to cover "Go Joe Charboneau" one of these years!

-L.R.  

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-hockey-song-ep
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fmYErr1YHg3VpwiVGkcZb
https://travisraminproducer.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords/
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

Beebe Gallini - Begged, Borrowed and Stealed

Beebe Gallini is a band I've been writing about since 2016, so I was kind of amazed when I realized that the newly released Begged, Borrowed and Stealed is its very first studio album. Of course there was a pandemic that had a lot to do with that, but the point is that this is a very exciting release for fans of the American Midwest's #1 frat rock garage band. It's out on the iconic Soundflat Records, and it was recorded at the legendary Kay Bank Studio in Minneapolis with sound engineer Tom Herbers. 

The original concept for this project was for Beebe Gallini to record new versions of some Minnesota garage rock standards in the very same studio where these classic tracks were originally laid down back in the '60s. The band chose to record The Gestures' 1964 single "Run, Run, Run," The Accents' 1964 cover of Lonnie Mack's "Why," The High Spirits' 1966 single "I Believe," and The Kan Dells' 1965 single "Cry Girl." Some of the band's famous garage rocker friends joined in the fun, and if it had stopped there, the world would have been treated to a killer EP. But then Soundflat Records had the good sense to request a full album. The project was expanded to include some of the band's favorite covers and one of its original songs, and now here we are. Begged, Borrowed and Stealed is the frat rock/garage/soul blockbuster we've long been expecting from the one-and-only Beebe Gallini.

Begged, Borrowed and Stealed features a lineup of Miss Georgia Peach on lead vocals and guitar, Amy Larson Pearson on bass, and Travis Ramin (who also produced the album) on drums. On top of that, Keith Patterson (The Funseekers, The Spectors, The Conquerors) plays lead guitar on "Run, Run, Run" and "Why." Melanie Vammen (The Pandoras, The Muffs) plays keyboards on "I Believe." Russell Quan (The Bobbyteens, The Dukes Of Hamburg, The Countbackwurds, The Mummies, etc.) sings lead on "Cry Girl." That's an impressive cast, and the resulting album does not disappoint. I hate to sound like the cranky old man running some punk kids off his lawn, but there is something to be said for recording rock 'n' roll music in a real recording studio — in particular one with a rich history like Kay Bank Studio. Especially since a lot of people are going to be listening to this album on a vinyl record, it's fitting that it sounds like it could have been produced in the 1960s. It sounds warm and clean, but there's no unnecessary polish. This is just the sound of a great band doing great versions of great songs — with styles ranging from upbeat party rockers to garage/soul stompers to aching ballads. Highlights include Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich's 1966 single "Hold Tight!," the Wilson Pickett/Chris Kenner number "Something You Got," The Ohio Express's "Beg, Borrow and Steal," Otis Redding's "That's How Strong My Love Is," Amy Larson Pearson's original "Hey Honey," and "Kvar  I Min Bil," an obscure Swedish song written by Per Gessle of Roxette. Some of these songs have been Beebe Gallini favorites since the very beginning. It goes without saying that Miss Georgia Peach kills it on lead vocals, and the musical performances on this record are nothing short of first rate. Although this is not a live album, it does bring a live band energy. I can easily imagine the impassioned "Why" bringing down the house in a live setting. The upbeat "Hold Tight!" is a sure-fire cure for whatever might ail you. "Beg, Borrow & Steal," which the band rearranged, just feels like a party. If you didn't know "Hey Honey" was an original, you might assume it was a cover of some obscure garage rock nugget. 

Fans of the music Miss Georgia Peach and Travis Ramin make together have been happy campers this year. Three months after the release of MGP's Class Out the Ass, we get this absolute gem of a record from Beebe Gallini. Begged, Borrowed and Stealed is to garage rock what Class Out the Ass is to country. It's celebrates the Twin Cities' rock 'n' roll legacy and also re-asserts the timeless appeal of high energy, soulful garage rock. Even if you live far, far away from Minnesota, you can listen to this album and truly understand what Beebe Gallini is all about. If you feel compelled to dance around the house in your underwear or start air drumming with kitchen utensils, no one will judge you. I also love that the band went all-out with the packaging. The Cliff Mott front cover art is just so awesome, and the back cover looks so authentically like an actual record from the '60s that some people might be fooled! Whatever you have to pay for this LP is 100% worth it!

-L.R.

https://travisraminproducer.bandcamp.com/album/beebe-gallini-begged-borrowed-stealed
https://open.spotify.com/album/4vg22s08edvH3KDRWuuGRM
https://www.soundflat.de/punkrock-en/beebe-gallini-begged-borrowed-und-stealed-lp
https://beebegallini.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBeebeGallini/
https://www.instagram.com/beebegallini/

Miss Georgia Peach - Class out the Ass

Holy smokes, they pulled it off! Miss Georgia Peach, Travis Ramin, and the Nashville Pussy/Nine Pound Hammer gang joined forces three years ago to bring us Aloha from Kentucky — which I recently proclaimed to be one of my four favorite albums of the decade. These folks had such a blast making Aloha from Kentucky that they decided to assemble once more and make another country record. Luckily, getting the band together went a lot better for Miss Georgia Peach than it did for Doyle Hargraves. Class out the Ass, out today on Rum Bar Records, is that rare sequel that's even better than the original! If you want to hear some great country music with a rock 'n' roll edge, stop reading my drivel and go listen to this album! 

Backing Miss Georgia Peach on Class out the Ass is a true super-group. In addition to producing, Travis Ramin is on drums. Ruyter Suys is on lead guitar. Blaine Cartwright is on rhythm guitar. Mark Hendricks is on bass. Earl Crimm is on guitar. A.J. Srubas is on fiddle and pedal steel. Heather Parrish is on backing vocals. Suys, Cartwright, and Scott Luallen all make appearances on vocals. All that formidable talent is a big part of what makes this record such a treat. Another big part is the song selection — which is absolutely bulletproof. In terms of cover choices, this album leans more to deeper cuts. As was the case with Aloha from Kentucky, Class out the Ass largely draws its material from the 1960s and '70s glory days of country music but also ventures into some pleasantly surprising territory. "Shut Up And Drink Your Beer," a punched-up take on Norman Wade's mid-'80s country hit, is a perfect album opener that establishes the swaggering vibe of this record. Other standout covers include Ira Louvin's "Who Throw Dat Rock?" (you know I'm always a fan of dark humor!), a blistering take on Janis and Her Boyfriends' "Bang Bang," the wonderfully snarky Bobby George/Bonita Stevens number "Take Your Guitar and Git," and a stunning version of the Mike Nesmith/Stone Poneys classic "Some of Shelly's Blues." And I have to say it was a genius move to include a Pat Todd song ("Somewhere Down the Line") on a country album! As was the case last time, the duets alone justify the price of admission. Suys joins MGP on a spirited rendition of the Richard Dobson song "Baby Ride Easy" (a hit for Carlene Carter and Dave Edmunds). Luallen plays the perfect two-timer on the Nat Stuckey–penned "Sweet Thang." Cartwright and MGP are an absolute hoot as they do their best Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn on "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly." Two MGP original songs, "Dusty" and "Honeywagon," fit perfectly on the record. The former, of course, is a new arrangement of an old Beebe Gallini favorite. The latter is clever as hell and such a gem that I assumed it was a cover of some lost classic the first time I played the record!

Now that I've absolutely loved not one but two Miss Georgia Peach solo albums, I'm trying to put a finger on what it is about these records that I find so delightful. Obviously, a lot of that comes down to the lead artist here. MGP is simply a fantastic singer, and the country genre really suits her talents well. Whether she's channeling a fed-up bartender or the frustrated girlfriend of a wannabe musician, tapping into the depths of heartbreak, playfully engaging with her duet partners, or taking us to church on the Elvis live favorite "Let Me Be There," she's equally in her element. Beyond that, the joy that all these individuals put into making this album is palpable. You can truly feel the love in these performances. This is simply a fun album to listen to. While I would describe this music not as alt country but rather as country, period, there's an efficiency to these songs that has the spirit of punk or garage rock. 11 of 14 songs clock in at under three minutes, and the ones that don't only miss the cut by a little. There's no waiting around for the good parts on these songs. Every tune gets right down to business. If you love country music, you'll be reminded why. And if you don't, perhaps this record will have you softening your stance. The album title says it all, doesn't it?

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/class-out-the-ass
https://open.spotify.com/album/4iqs5sZeWezQ4TAqqkmuvk
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords/

Tina and the Total Babes - She's So Tuff (20th Anniversary Vinyl Release!)

Just a quick public service announcement: the 20th anniversary reissue of Tina and the Total Babes' classic album She's So Tuff is now available on the LP format! If you want to own one of the greatest power pop albums ever made on gorgeous 180-gram vinyl, hop on over to the Surfin' Ki Records webstore and order away! While supplies last, the album is available on black, gold, blue, clear orange, and clear yellow vinyl. You can also order a test press with a pink cover. Super-super-fans might want to spring for the full bundle: all six versions of the record for 89.99€! I know for my American friends, postage on this thing is gonna be murder. But man, what an incredibly cool release this is! This is perhaps THE most significant album of the modern power pop revival, and you know these LPs are gonna go fast. CD and digital are still available from Rum Bar Records!

-L.R.

http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/tina-the-total-babes-she-s-so-tuff-lp-20th-anniversary-remastered-edition
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/tina-the-total-babes-she-s-so-tuff-lp-collector-bundle
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https://www.instagram.com/surfinkirecords/

Tina and the Total Babes - She's So Tuff (20th Anniversary Reissue)

How do I even begin a review of my favorite album of this century? I suppose I begin by saying it's my favorite album of this century! I can't quite believe that it has now been 20 years (actually 20 and a half!) since Tina and the Total Babes' She's So Tuff came out on Sympathy For The Record Industry. I remember seeing an ad for the album in Hit List and totally flipping out. At the time, Tina Lucchesi was fronting one of my favorite bands, The Bobbyteens, and running the illustrious Lipstick Records. Travis Ramin was fresh off producing a pair of modern classic singles by Candygirl. This was a musical match made in power pop heaven. Decades later, these two remain two of my favorite people in all of music. It was a joyous day when She's So Tuff became available in the Underground Medicine mail order catalog and an equally joyous day when the album showed up in my mailbox. I was a huge punk rock guy who also loved Holly and the Italians, Nikki and the Corvettes, and Josie Cotton. Tina and the Total Babes were the best of both worlds! 

A 20th Anniversary reissue of She's So Tuff is such a spectacular event that it has required the involvement of three of the best record labels in existence. Rum Bar Records released the CD version today. Surfin' Ki Records will be releasing the vinyl edition. The legendary Wizzard in Vinyl is doing a CD release in Japan. It seems odd to be speaking about this album in an historical context when it still seems like yesterday that it first came out. But there's simply no doubting that it directly or indirectly influenced countless bands today that draw from the combined inspirations of punk rock, power pop, and '60s girl groups. And the connections to the modern-day Rum Bar Records family are numerous. Travis Ramin (drums, songwriting, production) and Miss Georgia Peach (backing vocals) are of course in The Short Fuses and Beebe Gallini. Johnny O'Halloran (bass) is in The Lemon Drop Gang and is one of Malibu Lou's dearest friends. Ramin co-wrote and produced Natalie Sweet's superb album Oh, By the Way. It was a no-brainer for She's So Tuff to receive the proper Rum Bar reissue treatment. 

As I've spent time listening to this album in recent weeks, I've had two general impressions. One is that it still holds up, and the other is that I wish it were longer. And isn't that the highest praise you can give an album when you complain that it's too short? She's So Tuff is a perfect album and in my book an all-time top ten power pop LP. The original material is first-rate (it is my belief that any songwriter who can write a hook as golden as the chorus to "Christy" deserves to be living in a mansion). The covers are amazing as well. If I point out that the title track blows away The Demons' 1977 original, that's no slight to the original. Who can deny that Tina Lucchesi was born to sing this song? It's like her life story in two and a half minutes! Holly and the Italians' "Tell That Girl To Shut Up" is another slam-dunk choice that does not disappoint. 

She's So Tuff, packed with tough & sticky-sweet songs about hot boys and heartbreak, is everything a power pop album should aspire to be. Original power pop hits like "Tongue Tied" and "Why Do I Like You" are perfectly complemented by homages to girl groups ("Tragedy"), bubblegum ("That's The Way I Want It", a reworking of The Messengers' "That's The Way A Woman Is"), and arena-sized glam rock ("It's Tina Time"). Whether you recall She's So Tuff fondly and want to own it again or are encountering Tina and the Total Babes for the very first time (you lucky dogs!), I cannot recommend this album enough. This is, as advertised, a benchmark album in the modern power pop revival. If you enjoy this album, do yourself a favor and check out Travis Ramin's Bandcamp page where you can find many more of his fabulous productions. And make sure to like Surfin' Ki Records on Facebook if you haven't already. When She's So Tuff comes out on vinyl, you know it's gonna sell out fast! 

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/shes-so-tuff
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Beebe Gallini - "You Ain't Getting Nothin"

In addition to being one of the best garage rock bands going, Beebe Gallini is well-known for its ability to cover the hell out of a song. So of course you could expect this band to turn out a first-rate Christmas single! Teaming up with local legend Cindy Lawson, St. Paul's finest rock and roll outfit has gifted us with a double shot of holiday goodness on Rum Bar Records. Listening to the garage ripper "You Ain't Getting Nothin", you would never in a million years guess that this was a Goo Goo Dolls song. Miss Georgia Peach takes full ownership of the song with her usual powerhouse vocal, and simply put this tune freaking rocks! You would swear it was written decades ago! On the virtual flipside, the band is right in its element with a truly excellent rendition of the Stevie Wonder classic "What Christmas Means To Me" (featuring MGP and Lawson on co-lead vocals). The girl group and Motown vibes are strong and undeniable. Given my reluctance to overshare Christmas music this time of the year, I've adopted a standard where I'll only review holiday releases that are simply too good to ignore. This one sure falls into that category. Who am I kidding? Beebe Gallini could cover the Dallas Cowboys fight song, and I'd still be writing a rave review. This band never disappoints!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/you-aint-getting-nothin-b-w-what-christmas-means-to-me
https://beebegallini.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBeebeGallini/
http://beebegallini.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Beebe Gallini - Pandemos

Pandemos is the long-awaited debut album from Beebe Gallini -- a band I've been exceptionally fond of going back to those ancient times of five years ago. The band recorded these songs in December 2019 strictly as demos. But then 2020 happened. Live shows and even proper band rehearsals were suddenly out of the question. Life gave Beebe Gallini lemons, and Beebe Gallini went ahead and made delicious lemonade! An album's worth of demos were sent off to Geza X for mastering. And today, Pandemos releases on the mighty Rum Bar Records! 

First thing's first: Pandemos absolutely sounds like a "real" album. Sometimes "demo" translates to "rough" or "unfinished", but in this case the rawness of the recordings gives them a live (and lively!) energy. The lineup for this particular album is Miss Georgia Peach on vocals and guitar, Amy Larson Pearson on bass and vocals, and Travis Ramin on drums and lead guitar. These tracks were originally recorded as a way to share material with new guitarist Monet Wong. Now the whole world gets to enjoy them! 

What's exciting to me is that I finally get to hear a large selection of original songs from Beebe Gallini. To this point, this band has been best known for its fantastic cover versions of garage and rock and roll songs from the '60s. Pandemos certainly does not lack for crackling cover tunes. The band's version of Randy and the Radiants' 1965 Donna Weiss-penned single "My Way of Thinking" is rock and roll at its most joyful and electrifying. And after hearing the band's take on the Bee Gees classic "To Love Somebody", the only response my brain could muster was wow. But can these folks write originals to rival the covers? You bet they can! Pandemos features six songs written by Miss Georgia Peach and another three written by Amy Larson Pearson. Running the gamut from high energy garage rock ("Little Sister") to glammy hard rock ("Mean Mama") to hopped-up rhythm & blues ("Busy Izzy") to straight-up red-hot rock and roll ("Danny"), these original songs fit in so well that you might suspect that they are covers! This is an album that builds on Beebe Gallini's previous musical identity. Of course you can throw on this album once it's safe to host your next garage rock house party. But I like how some of these songs reveal added dimensions to the Beebe Gallini experience. The heavy rocker "Bad Man" could almost be a Short Fuses song, while "Dusty" fully engages the band's pop side. And I love the way the album ends, with the sweet & heartwarming "Poppington Station" flowing straight into the band's thundering version of Roz Rogoff's anthem of empathy and acceptance, "Nobody Loves the Hulk".   

Had Beebe Gallini chosen to sit on these '19-'20 winter demos, we certainly would have gotten a debut album eventually. But no doubt the band played back these tracks and knew it already had an album the world would want to hear. And it certainly it didn't hurt that the band had Geza X on hand to work his mastering magic! The old joke about a singer being so good that you would listen to them "sing the phone book" certainly applies to Miss Georgia Peach. But luckily, there was already an album's worth of material in the can. I can't imagine how big that Twin Cities phone book must be. It would probably take a box set to get all of that down on tape. Pandemos is a royal treat for fans of garage rock and rock and roll in general. All the kids are telling me that these tunes have a good beat and you can dance to 'em. Let us look forward to future recordings from Beebe Gallini's current lineup and eventually live shows. In the meantime, be sure to check out the Pandemos release party event this Sunday night! And dig the amazing music video (embedded below) for "My Way of Thinking" created by Wendy Norton from Norton Video. If we ever need to explain rock and roll to visitors from another planet, this video will do the trick!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pandemos

https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

https://beebegallini.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBeebeGallini/

http://beebegallini.com/

Beebe Gallini - "Dusty"

It was just a month ago that I wrote about the release of Beebe Gallini's terrific digital EP East Side Story. In addition to making this EP available to the listening public, Beebe Gallini has also been working on a new album called Pandemos. This album started as a way for the band to share demos of original tracks with its new guitar player. As more and more demos were recorded and the pandemic shut down live shows and full band rehearsals, the band decided that they had themselves an album! Pandemos will be out on this spring. In the way of a preview, the band has released the single "Dusty". The "pandemic" version of Beebe Gallini functions as a trio with Miss Georgia Peach on vocals and guitar, Amy Larson Pearson on bass, and Travis Ramin moving from guitar to drums (they'll be back to a foursome when life returns to normal). Given that almost all of the band's recorded tracks to date have been covers, it's going to be very exciting to hear a bunch of Beebe Gallini originals! If "Dusty" is any indication, Pandemos is gonna be one of 2021's must-hear albums! On this track, the band tears into some great high energy rock and roll with a pop sensibility. "Dusty", an ode to a girl who just can't stay home, hits you with a killer hook literally within two seconds! And my god, Miss Georgia Peach can flat-out sing! But you knew that already, didn't you? If the latest Short Fuses album is a little "too rock" for your tastes, you may find Beebe Gallini far more to your liking. Look for Pandemos in March on Rum Bar Records!

P.S. - that cover art is the best thing ever! 

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/track/dusty-free-digital-download-single
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
http://beebegallini.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBeebeGallini

Beebe Gallini - East Side Story

 

If it seems like I've reviewed Beebe Gallini's "East Side Story" before, well that's because I have. "East Side Story" was originally released as a 7" record on Ramo Records back in March of 2018. It was the vinyl debut from Twin Cities garage rockers Beebe Gallini. The band at the time consisted of Miss Georgia Peach on vocals & guitar, Travis Ramin on lead guitar, Amy Larson Pearson on bass, and Chris Audette on drums. Miss Georgia Peach and Travis Ramin also make up two-thirds of the mighty Short Fuses - who recently teamed up with Rum Bar Records to release the must-have long player Dawn of the Deaf. Now through a partnership between Ramo Records and Rum Bar Records, "East Side Story" is getting a deluxe digital reissue that expands it from two songs to five!

The title track, of course, is a cover of a song that was a regional hit for Bob Seger back in 1966. The vinyl B-side here, "The River Flows", was written by Amy Larson Pearson and is the only original song on this release. I once referred to this song as a "psychedelic spiritual", and I will happily stick with that description. It still gives me chills. The "bonus material" here consists of killer cover versions of lesser known later '60s garage rock sides. "Open Up Your Door" was originally recorded by New Jersey based Richard and the Young Lions in 1966. "Hipsville 29 BC (I Need Help)" was a minor hit for Texas garage band The Sparkles in 1967. "Nobody Loves the Hulk" was written by Roz Rogoff and recorded by The Traits in 1969. Beebe Gallini's version was recorded in 2018 as a tribute to Stan Lee and a celebration of the original song's message of empathy and acceptance. 

In my mind, I like to think of Beebe Gallini as America's premier cold weather garage rock party band. I picture them playing to packed crowds at ski lodges, ice skating rinks, and winter festivals as fans dance the night away and double fist hot chocolate. Sadly, there will be no Beebe Gallini live shows anytime soon. But you can still get in the spirit by downloading this EP, donning your best winter hat, and having your own private cold weather fest. "The River Flows" is amazing, and all of the covers are as crackling as the Midwest winter wind. If you're a garage rock fan, you need some Beebe Gallini in your life!

 

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/east-side-story

http://beebegallini.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBeebeGallini

The Short Fuses - Dawn of the Deaf

Can I get a Hell yeah!? One of the most monstrous rock and roll records of recent years finally gets a physical release! The Short Fuses unleashed their raging comeback album Dawn of the Deaf in April of last year. It was their first new album in nearly 16 years. And holy smokes, did this thing ever rip! Travis Ramin, Miss Georgia Peach, and Justin Staggs re-assembled as a trio and flat-out rocked it. Inspired by 2016 election rage and a fascination with horror that was a rite of passage for almost any 1980s East Coast punk kid, the band was revved-up to make the resistance rock record of 2019. And now it becomes the resistance rock record of 2020! Dawn of the Deaf is out today on the mighty Rum Bar Records. This just might be the hardest-rocking thing Lou has ever released. Not playing it loud ought to be against the law. In my quarter-century of reviewing records, I don't know if I've ever heard a more successful merging of hard rock and punk influences. And then you've got Georgia's powerful, soulful vocals taking it over the top (is there a more underappreciated singer in all of rock?). If you were raised on a steady diet of the MC5, Motörhead, the Dead Boys, and The Misfits, these 12 thundering tracks ought to be right up your alley. From the powerhouse opener "Baby Got Bat Wings" to the face-melting "Rock Yo Self (Until You Wreck Yo Self") to the resistance anthems "Furiosa" and "No" to the arena death rock of the title track to the epic instrumental "High Score", Dawn of the Deaf is an unrelenting force! Heck, there's even a cover of Jakkpot's "You Ain't Shit (Without a Leather Jacket)" that gives the original a serious run for its money! 

In order to ensure that Dawn of the Deaf was as awesome of a rock and roll record as humanly possible, The Short Fuses enlisted a production team of legendary proportions. Daniel Rey produced the album. Adrian Popovich from Tricky Woo mixed it. Geza X mastered it. With all of that talent involved in the creation of this album, you had to know it was going to sound amazing and massive. More than a mere satisfying comeback, Dawn of the Deaf is The Short Fuses' best album by far. You can feel the passion, conviction, and energy that went into this record. And rather than overshadowing the message, these killer tunes make it all the more powerful. These songs were written and recorded well before the events of 2020, but their re-release at this exact moment in time could not be more fitting. If you're outraged by injustice in the world, this album ought to be your personal soundtrack to fighting the power. Crank up the volume, rock out righteously, and don't let the bastards grind you down!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dawn-of-the-deaf

https://theshortfuses.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheShortFuses/

https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Natalie Sweet - Oh, By the Way​ it's.​.​.Natalie Sweet

Oh, what a day for Rum Bar Records! Today Malibu Lou has launched not one, not two, but three great albums back into orbit! My last but most definitely not least Rum Bar post of the day concerns the first American release of Oh By the Way​ it's.​.​.Natalie Sweet. Originally released in Europe last year on the fabulous Surfin' Ki Records, this was my #2 album of 2019. And I sometimes lose sleep over not having made it #1! This is the debut solo album from Natalie Sweet, formerly of The Shanghais and The Control Freaks. It's kind of like The Shanghais album that never was, but it's also a vintage Travis Ramin production (see also: Candygirl, Tina and the Total Babes). Oh, and Morten Henriksen of the legendary Yum Yums is on guitar. Sweet basically assembled a power pop super group for this album! I won't get too deep into a review since I've written about this album before. But I'll just say that it finds Sweet and Ramin fully embracing their shared love for new wave power pop, girl groups, '50s doo-wop and rock n' roll, and the almighty Ramones. After Ramin completed work on Oh By the Way, he teased it as a "slammin' power pop album somewhere between Rocket to Russia and Parallel Lines". And I must say that his description was spot-on! If you can never get enough of your Josie Cotton, Holly and the Italians, and Nikki and the Corvettes records, be sure to add this one to the rotation. Vinyl still available here!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/oh-by-the-way-its

https://nataliesweet.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

The Short Fuses - Dawn of the Deaf

Well that didn't take very long! Remember when I told you that The Short Fuses' "comeback" single "The Pink" was a teaser for a brand-new full-length album? I bet you didn't think the tease would only last two weeks! The Short Fuses just couldn't be cruel enough to make you wait several months for Dawn of the Deaf. Out digitally today on Ramo Records, this is the Minneapolis trio's long-awaited fourth album - and first since 2003's Dutchess Hustle.

I will admit that I'm always suspicious when any reviewer proclaims a longstanding band's latest album its "best yet". It's usually a load of crap. And given my involvement in writing some of the press info for Dawn of the Deaf, you would be doubly advised to approach this review skeptically (I would probably suggest that for all of my reviews!). But as a fan, I 100% believe this is The Short Fuses' best album. And it's not even close. The irony is that I'm a notoriously "pop" guy, and this is by far the least pop thing the band has ever done. There were always hints of pop lodged in there with the rock and soul on previous records. Dawn of the Deaf, on the other hand, is a fully focused hard-rocking record made by three individuals who sound like they're on a mission to pummel anything in their path. To recap the origins of this record, The Short Fuses had not recorded or played together since 2003. In the intervening years, Miss Georgia Peach and Travis Ramin had played in 1,000 bands combined (I exaggerate; it was only 999). Justin Staggs was, among other things, painting, making movies, and directing music videos. At some point not too long ago, Justin was writing some new songs that seemed perfect for The Short Fuses. He realized he missed playing with his good friends Georgia and Travis. The feeling was mutual. And just like that, a band was reborn. Travis, who'd been working on a large number of power pop projects, was really itching to rip some guitar. And riding a surge of 2016 election rage, The Short Fuses were energized to make their most powerful sonic statement yet. The band called in the big guns. Daniel Rey (Ramones, Nashville Pussy, Misfits) was enlisted to produce Dawn of the Deaf. Adrian Popovich from Tricky Woo was brought in to mix the record. The legendary Geza X was tapped for mastering duties. All stops were pulled out to ensure that this album would melt faces. Did it work? Well, I would definitely recommend donning protective headgear before clicking play.

I am a fan of the entire Short Fuses' catalog. But to me, Dawn of the Deaf sounds like the album this band has been trying to make for 20 years. Sometimes there's no substitute for that veteran know-how. And the band's excitement over making this record is palpable. It doesn't hurt that Georgia sounds amazing. Her voice is just so full of power and soul and a conviction that is undeniable. In that respect, she's perfectly in sync with the entire band. The Short Fuses have unleashed a resistance rock record for 2019, and they could not sound any more fired-up and raring to fight! You can hear the group channeling its inner Motörhead and MC5 more than ever. There's also a discernible Misfits/Danzig flavor to a lot of these songs which reflects the band members' East Coast upbringing. If you prefer your heavy rock with a sniff of the supernatural, the title track and "Galloping Ghost" ought to hit you just where you like it. Meanwhile, songs like "Baby Got Bat Wings" and "Rockford Getaway" demonstrate how to properly do scorching rock and roll with a soul influence. If you're not already pissed about the present state of things, "Furiosa" just might push you over the edge. A song titled "Rock Yo Self (Until You Wreck Yo Self)" promises something very epic...and proceeds to deliver exactly that!

I think most of us would have been perfectly happy with ANY new music from The Short Fuses. I would gladly have taken instrumental covers of Gaga hits or a concept album about the life and times of Ralph Malph. But lord almighty, has this trio ever crushed this reunion! Dawn of the Deaf is the ultimate "crank-it-up-loud and rock-the-fuck-out!" raging guitar record. The riffs are roaring, the solos are fire, and Miss Georgia reminds us that she is one of the true powerhouse singers in rock. And from a songwriting perspective, the band has never delivered a more compelling batch of tunes. If you've been waiting a while to have your ass kicked by a rock and roll record, HERE YOU GO!



-L.R.

https://theshortfuses.bandcamp.com/album/dawn-of-the-deaf
https://www.shortfuses.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/TheShortFuses/ 

The Short Fuses - "The Pink"

They're back! 16 years after The Short Fuses called it a day, they have returned with a new single that teases the shortly forthcoming full-length Dawn of the Deaf. It's not like the individuals in this band haven't kept busy over the past decade and a half. There's not enough time in the day to adequately review the musical resumes of Travis Ramin and Miss Georgia Peach. And Justin Staggs has done wonderful things as a filmmaker and painter. But something special happens when these three get together to play rock n' roll. The Short Fuses' reunion has produced the band's most ferocious material to date, and these two new songs ought to whet your appetite for the monster LP that is soon to come. Inspired in part by 2016 election rage and in part by Travis needing to cleanse his musical palette after working on so much power pop stuff, this incarnation of The Short Fuses is a pure rock n' roll experience. The trio sounds fired-up and focused, and they've really pulled out all of the stops to ensure that faces will be melted. These songs were produced by Daniel Rey, mixed By Adrian Popovich (Tricky Woo), and mastered by Geza X. Now that's a lot of star power! Not surprisingly, the band sounds awesome. "The Pink" is thundering heavy rock a la MC5/Hellacopters. The riffs are mighty, the leads are screaming, and Georgia belts it out big time on vocals. If you love a song you can wail along with on air guitar, this track will have you in your glory. On the B-side, the band really picks up the speed with the scorching "Furiosa". This one is all fire and fury, and it's the perfect rallying cry for 2019. I've got plenty more to say, but I'm saving that for the album review. Ladies and gentlemen, THIS IS HOW YOU ROCK!



-L.R.

https://theshortfuses.bandcamp.com/album/the-pink 
https://www.shortfuses.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/TheShortFuses/ 

Natalie Sweet - Oh By the Way...it's

Super Sunday? You bet it is! When Travis Ramin described Natalie Sweet's solo debut as a "slammin' power pop album somewhere between Rocket To Russia and Parallel Lines", you had to know my ears perked up! Especially given my fondness for Sweet's past musical endeavors and all of Ramin's productions, I knew this was something I needed to hear. Yet not even that kind of build-up could have prepared me for the OH MY GOD! moment of actually hearing this record. My jaw dropped to the floor within the first 30 seconds of the opening track. Soon I was dancing around my basement in joyful celebration. The whole album left me feeling like a little kid on Christmas morning. If I could have dreamed up the perfect power pop album and had an unlimited budget to hire the best people to make it happen, I still couldn't have topped this. 

I was a big fan of Natalie Sweet's previous band The Shanghais, and I was kind of bummed that that they were no more. Thankfully Sweet's solo debut retains a lot of the qualities of The Shanghais (and some of the songs as well). For this solo release, Sweet has assembled a veritable power pop/punk all-star team. Ramin produces and plays drums, Morten freaking Henriksen (!) plays guitar, and Devin Clark Jorgenson (Color TV) plays bass. Sweet, so impressive as a snotty punk vocalist on the Control Freaks album, returns to a more pure singing style on this release. She's really the perfect singer for this kind of music. A la a Debbie Harry or Holly Beth Vincent, she's the ideal combination of tough, tender, and just straight-up cool. You believe her tales of heartbreak, and you want to join her when she's out there having fun. Her collaboration with Ramin on this project is so strong that you can hear both of their signature styles all over this record. And that's no surprise considering their long friendship and many shared influences (new wave power pop, girl groups, '50s doo-wop and rock n' roll, the Ramones). Comparisons to previous Ramin productions like Candygirl and Tina and the Total Babes are not unwarranted, yet this could equally be described as the great Shanghais full-length that never was. Production-wise, this album sounds like a million bucks (although I feel like that number may need to be adjusted for inflation). It is tailor made for radio airplay, or at least radio airplay in 1980. Seriously: are those backing vocals not to die for?!

Kicking off with the best new wave pop song in decades, "Lip Service", Natalie Sweet's debut album is a must-own item for any fan of punky power pop. Shanghais fans will recognize "Good Love", which has been given the old TravoRamo makeover for this release. I'm usually not one for trying to fix what isn't broken, but damn if they didn't find a way to make this song even better! "I Still Want You" exquisitely channels the pure pop side of the Ramones (Dare I say more Road To Ruin than Rocket To Russia?). "I Don't Want To Need You (Tonight)" takes on the always welcomed Shangri-Las gone punk theme and totally knocks it out of the park. "Do The Shanghai" would not sound out of place on the Nikki and the Corvettes album. "Pizza Man" is a cover from National Lampoon's Lemmings (penned by Christopher Guest!). Yet in the hands of Sweet, Ramin, and co., this song doesn't mock the silliness of '50s teen tragedy songs so much as it fully embraces it. 

Is it too early to hand Natalie Sweet album of the year for 2019?! This one's gonna be hard to beat! Probably the only person who freaked out more than me upon hearing this album was Carlo from Surfin' Ki Records. So it's hardly a surprise that Surfin' Ki will be releasing it on vinyl. The CD is coming out in Japan on the legendary Wizzard In Vinyl - rebooting a label that has been inactive for over a decade! Pop people, rejoice!



-L.R.

https://nataliesweet.bandcamp.com/album/oh-by-the-way 
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/natalie-sweet-oh-by-the-way-lp 
https://www.facebook.com/surfinkirecords/ 

Beebe Gallini - "East Side Story" b/w "The River Flows"

A lot has happened since I first reported on Beebe Gallini back in those innocent times of 2016. The band has gone through some lineup changes, and its fine debut recording has mysteriously disappeared from cyberspace. The wonderful news is that the band now has a really spiffy web site and has just released its first single that you can listen to on a record player! The always amazing Miss Georgia Peach is still out front on guitar and vocals, and boy is she sounding great! Our man Travis Ramin, who needs no introduction, is now on lead guitar. Amy Larson Pearson (Brits Out of America, Strumpet, Mexican Taxi, Brownstar) is on bass, and Chris Audette (Karma Sluts, The Goochers, Devil's Kettle) is on drums. So what we have is a new lineup but still the same Beebe Gallini. If you're in the vicinity of the upper Midwest and want to catch some goodtime garage rock with soul and girl group inspirations, this band needs to be on your must-see list.

I like this debut single because it highlights the band's dual mastery of crowd-pleasing covers and first-rate original songs. A-side "East Side Story", of course, was the first regional hit for a fella named Bob Seger way back in 1966. Beebe Gallini's version here is mostly faithful to the original, but Georgia's powerhouse vocal definitely adds a lot. This is some straight-up dirty garage rock to get you up and moving, and that guitar solo is wicked! On the flip, "The River Flows" is an original number penned by Amy Larson Pearson. It really slows down the tempo and works the band's soulful side. This is a really unique sounding song for a garage band - almost like a psychedelic spiritual or something like that. The band shows off some hot chops, and I believe every word of that vocal. The song is so well-written that I wouldn't have argued if you'd told me it was some long lost gem from 1967. But that's essentially the appeal of Beebe Gallini - they make '60s covers sound fresh and write original songs that sound like they could be '60s covers! I highly recommend this single and also suggest perusing the band's web site. I love that they're selling Beebe Gallini pom pom hats - truly a brilliant idea for a band based in frigid Minnesota!

$1 gets you the digital version of this first single from Beebe Gallini. Buy the actual record, and you also get a download card for a couple bonus tracks! Either way, it's a win for everyone. Dance!



-L.R.

https://travisraminproducer.bandcamp.com/track/eastside-story 
https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBeebeGallini/ 
http://beebegallini.com/

It's here! The Motorgirl double 7"!

I fondly recall 1999 as the year I both pondered imminent apocalypse and basked in the glory of one of the ten greatest power pop singles ever made - Candygirl's "Oh, Jacky Boy!". Candygirl was the creation of our pal Travis Ramin: songwriter extraordinaire, talented multi-instrumentalist, producer to the stars, radio personality, Pro Bowl placekicker, celebrity pitchman, and one-time captain of the Love Boat. While Candygirl would release only one more single, Travis Ramin would go on to play on and/or produce many of the finest power pop recordings of the 2000s and beyond. You can find most of them here!

For years, rumors abounded of Candygirl's bad girl rocker cousin who was going to do for glam rock what Candygirl had done for power pop. Word on the street was that Motorgirl's debut EP would be a Travis Ramin production and arrive in the form of a double 7" with a gatefold. It was two-and-a-half years ago that I shared a TV ad teasing the arrival of this highly anticipated recording. The songs eventually turned up on-line, but there was going to be a bit of a wait for the actual record. Long delayed by a series of events so unfortunate and improbable that even Axl Rose doubted it would ever see the light of day, the Motorgirl double gatefold 7" is finally out and can be yours for €9.99! Available from Italy's Surfin' Ki Records, this is four songs of wham-bam glam rock written and produced by Travis Ramin and performed by Alana Amram. "Oh Jacky Take a Ride" and "Motorgirl" are responses to the songs on the first Candygirl single (that Jacky still has a way with the ladies after all these years!). "Teenage Tiger" is pure Champan/Chinn inspired gold, while "Periwinkle Blue" proves that even tough girls have a soft side. If Genuine Parts are the new Runaways, then Motorgirl is definitely the new Suzi Quatro. Hit up Surfin' Ki for the ordering details and get your mitts on these sizzling slabs of wax! This one was totally worth the wait!



-L.R.

http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/motor-girl-s-t-double-7
https://travisraminproducer.bandcamp.com/album/motorgirl 

Introducing Beebe Gallini!

Hello, world! Meet Beebe Gallini - your new favorite garage/soul girl group! Formed by longtime friends Sally Sweet (The Blue Up?, The Cave Gurls, Runes Av Vaskeri, Sally and the Sallycats) on organ and Lynn Zecca (Moody Daughters, Kinda Kinky) on bass, this Twin Cities foursome is rounded out by Emily Cahill Ruiz (The Jim Ruiz Set, Walker Kong and the Dangermakers, Wild Things, The Latchhook) on drums and the fabulous Miss Georgia Peach (The Gloo Girls, Speedway, Rhinestone Chassis, The Short Fuses, Nikki Corvette and the Stingrays) on guitar and lead vocals. That's one heck of an impressive lineup, and the band does not disappoint! The original Beebe Gallini may have been a real piece of work, but her rock n' roll namesakes just want to show you a good time!

Beebe Gallini formed in January of last year - cultivating a live repertoire focused on garage, girl group, mod, and bubblegum favorites of the '60s. The band sticks to that niche on its debut album Need All The Help I Can Get. These ladies tackle (mostly) covers of soul classics, garage rock obscurities, and girl group standards - paying homage to the original source material while also putting their own signature on it. MGP is a total powerhouse on lead vocals, and this band suits her talents so well. If you don't make a regular practice of dancing around your house like a maniac, this release just might compel you to start! And ya gotta love that organ! Standout numbers include the Lee Hazelwood penned title track (first recorded by Suzi Jane Hokom in 1966), the Ohio Express/Rare Breed shaker "Beg, Borrow, and Steal", O.V. Wright's "That's How Strong My Love Is" (famously covered by both Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones), Lesley Gore's 1965 B-side "No Matter What You Do", and The Equals' should-have-been smash "Softly Softly".

Need All The Help I Can Get was mixed by the great Travis Ramin, and it's a name your price download over at his Bandcamp page. If you've played your Girls In The Garage and Nuggets compilations to death, Beebe Gallini is definitely the band for you. Who says that nothing good in life is free?!



-L.R. 

https://travisraminproducer.bandcamp.com/album/beebe-gallini-need-all-the-help-i-can-get 
https://www.facebook.com/Beebe-Gallini-989988974348602/ 

Juvie: the debut album!

Woo! On the heels of the great Travis Ramin assembling a treasure-laden Bandcamp page late last year, we have more exciting news from Travisland! His latest band, Juvie, has just released its first full-length album! It's called You Ain't Gonna Rock And Roll No More, and it's out on Italy's Surfin' Ki Records. Ramin (Tina and the Total Babes, The Fevers, The Short Fuses, Nikki Corvette and The Stingrays) has been a shining star of the garage and power pop scenes for two decades. And Juvie is up there with the very best of his bands. This Minneapolis outfit takes its primary inspiration from '70s music that sounded like '50s music (think Dave Edmunds, Gary Glitter, Sha Na Na). I've always had a soft spot for that "'50s in the '70s" genre of rock n' roll, and Juvie totally does it justice on this cookin' slab of wax. Stylistically, the album hops back and forth between bubblegum glam ("53rd & 4th"), power pop ("Love Crunch"), and good old rock n' roll ("Something Ain't Right"). And the songwriting is so spot-on that any of these tracks could pass for a cover of some forgotten golden oldie. Dave Edmunds himself would be proud to call "Hot Lisa" his own. "Tomahawk" and "Greaser's Fraud" just might launch a worldwide revival of the rock n' roll instrumental. "Little Diane" sounds like a track Shadow Morton might have cut with Dion or Del Shannon. "Go Wild, Go Really Wild" comes off like a number that got cut from the Grease soundtrack for being a little too dangerous.   

Seriously: how can you not love a band that comes up with a song called "You're Gonna Look Like A Monkey When You Get Old"?! The key to succeeding with this kind of music is to tap into the spirit of the '70s rock n' roll revival without crossing over into the dreaded novelty band category. That's no easy feat, but Juvie nails it. Of course the band is setting out to have great fun, but these songs are just too damn good to be dismissed as cruise ship nostalgia. Juvie, I'd say, fits perfectly on a label roster that includes the likes of Radio Days and Baby Shakes. The band's debut album is by no means an attempt to bring back rock n' roll. Rather it's an assertion that it never went away in the first place! Somewhere Bowzer is flexing his arm in admiration.

Note: order the album here! Surfin' Ki, hilariously, prices its Bandcamp downloads at over $1,000 each!



-L.R. 

https://surfinkirecords.bandcamp.com/album/you-aint-gonna-rock-and-roll-no-more
http://surfinkirecords.bigcartel.com/product/juvie-lp-preorder
https://www.facebook.com/Juvie-431066283764201
https://www.facebook.com/surfinkirecords
https://travisraminproducer.bandcamp.com/

Travis Ramin: now on Bandcamp!!

Woo hoo! The great Travis Ramin now has a Bandcamp page! As both a producer and performer, he's been responsible for some of the most enduring power pop, garage, and girl band recordings of the past 20 years. If I had to come up with a short-list of individuals most responsible for the modern day resurgence of power pop, he'd be on it! Most of his notable productions have gone out of print and become nearly impossible to find. Now - with just a few clicks of your mouse - you can own classic late '90s/early 2000s releases by Candygirl, Tina And The Total Babes, Nikki Corvette, and The Short Fuses! And if you still haven't heard more recent Ramin productions like the self-titled Ana Lucia LP (my #7 album of 2012!) or Holly Beth Vincent's "Hey Boy" 7", now's your chance! Download prices are very reasonable ($7 for albums, $3 for EPs), and there's also a merch section where you can order hard copies of the releases Travis still has in stock.

Do yourself a favor and check out all the good stuff Travis has made available for download. That Tina And The Total Babes LP is one of my five favorite power pop albums of all-time. I'm so psyched that a whole new generation of fans will now get to hear it! Remember Sundaegirl, the bubblegum "kid sister" band to Candygirl? You can check out that EP as well - along with a brand-new offering from Candygirl's bad girl cousin, Motorgirl! And nobody's digital music collection is complete without the Travis solo hit, "Right Hot Dog, Wrong Bun". Have at it, my friends!



-L.R.

https://travisraminproducer.bandcamp.com/ 

Jazzed Up And Bonkers!!

Being a child of the '70s and '80s, I grew up in the days when listening to the radio was still awesome. And while concentrated corporate ownership and automated playlists have essentially sucked the soul out of commercial radio in recent decades, so-called "alternative" formats have really picked up the slack. You've got college radio, satellite radio, community radio, Internet radio, podcasts....lots of places to find great tunes played by individuals who are passionate and knowledgeable about music. One of my favorite current radio programs is Jazzed Up And Bonkers!! - hosted by that dynamic duo of Travis Ramin & Dan Henry. It runs on KFAI- a community radio station in Minneapolis/St. Paul. You can stream episodes right off of the station's web site.

As the name of the show suggests, Jazzed Up And Bonkers!! is pure, crazy fun. Imagine a cross between Dr. Demento and Little Steven's Underground Garage. Travis and Dan engage in amusing banter, play lots of funny retro audio clips, do a few comedy bits, and of course bring you tons of great music. If you're even an occasional follower of this blog, you will love the selection of songs they play. I'm talking punk, garage, power pop, classics and rarities from the '60s, old country and rhythm & blues, novelty songs...basically everything that's good! The most recent episode (#25) features everyone from The Remains to Connie Francis to the Devil Dogs to Louis "Blues Boy" Jones to the Marked Men to Jimmy Dean. The theme of the episode is the 45th anniversary of the release of Kick Out the Jams. And my favorite rock n' roller, Tina Lucchesi, calls in for an interview with the fellas.  

I think what I like best about Jazzed Up And Bonkers!! is the way Travis and Dan combine their encyclopedic knowledge of music with a genuinely creative take on the radio show format. It's just fun to listen to these guys sit there and talk about music (well, I assume they're sitting - for all I know, they could be bouncing on trampolines or playing Nerf basketball). I totally connect with spontaneous conversations about The Undertones being The Searchers of the '70s or the mystery of why The Figgs left "Lynette" off their first LP. And since my pet peeve in radio is when people try way too hard to be funny (e.g., any morning drive show on the air today), I like that these two guys really are funny!

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that Jazzed Up And Bonkers!! is the only radio show in the history of time to play Ariane's "Tu Voudrais 'que Joublie" and Cactus's "Parchment Farm" back to back. Listen at work and enhance the quality of your day. Or better yet: call in sick, make yourself a big sandwich, shut off your phone, and enjoy the best radio program out there! Trivia question: what does this post have in common with my last post?

-L.R.

http://kfai.org/jazzedupandbonkers
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jazzed-Up-And-Bonkers/135567716500601
http://www.mixcloud.com/JazzedUpAndBonkers/