The Smart Shoppers - SHOP AMONG US

One great album could have been a fluke. Two definitely established a trend. But after three great albums, it's irrefutable that you're dealing with a truly great band. Such is the case with Green Bay, Wisconsin's shrewdest consumers, the almighty Smart Shoppers. On SHOP AMONG US, they don't just match the weirdo surf-punk-pop new wave brilliance of their previous output — they outright surpass it! 

The band that invented the musical genre of dorkwave has now fully mastered it, and SHOP AMONG US is an album that will have you thrashing about, singing along, shaking what you've got, and geeking out to your heart's content as you fervently peruse the aisles of your favorite retail outlet. In this economy, it has never been more important to shop smartly. So this is not just the album we want. It's the album we need. Having already committed deeply to song title alliteration on 2023's LEFTOVERS FROM TOMORROW, The Smart Shoppers have gone to the obvious next level: every song title on SHOP AMONG US starts with the letter S. You have to be a really brilliant band to pull off an idea that stupid, and sure enough, The Smart Shoppers make it work to the point where you wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Not only has this band more fully realized its sound over the course of three albums, but it has also upped the quality of its songwriting with every new release. The 16 tracks comprising SHOP AMONG US are the band's catchiest, best-crafted, and (yes) smartest songs to date, weaving together the best parts of old school poppy punk, oddball new wave, nerdy indie rock, and contemporary garage punk in a manner that no other band could even attempt to duplicate. Much credit goes to front man Joey Shops for managing to find that perfect level of dorkiness where any more would be annoying and any less would even more annoying. Meanwhile, Aaron, Norby, and Jash have got the right chops to create this wonderful music that hits the sweet spot where fun and danceable meet genuinely original and wonderfully weird. This is easily one of the best albums of the year. It's streaming now with a vinyl and CD release coming soon!

-L.R.

https://thesmartshoppers.bandcamp.com/album/shop-among-us
https://open.spotify.com/album/5gDISdZViONzzhX5s5pWu0
https://www.facebook.com/SmartShoppersBand/
https://www.instagram.com/smartshoppersband/

Daniel James Gang - Darkness Over This Town

Daniel James, who has been responsible for some of my favorite records of the past decade, is back with an absolutely smoking new Daniel James Gang EP/maxi single titled Darkness Over This Town. Alongside Logan Stang, Johnny Cyanide, Geoff Palmer, and Miski Dee, Daniel tears through four tracks of grimy old school Midwestern punk 'n' roll with mega-tasty pop hooks. Is there anyone out there who does this sort of gutsy punk rock with a bleeding power pop heart better than Daniel James? Daniel's songs aren't just catchy and super-tough —they're also passionate, soulful, and totally fierce. As great as all those Indonesian Junk records were, this new stuff might be at a whole other level. The EP would be worth the price of admission just for "Misery" — one of the best tracks of 2024. "Darkness Over This Town" and "Lies" are every bit as good. 

I can't look at a song title like "Darkness Over This Town" and not think about how fitting it is for present-day America. I suppose you could say the exact same thing about "Misery," right? Even if these songs are more personal than political, they certainly capture the zeitgeist of 2025. To me, the vibe of this record is what solo Stiv Bators might have sounded like if he had gone in a more straight-forward punk rock direction but still retained his love for The Raspberries. I dig how "Lies" sounds huge and melodic but also totally raw in the very best way. And of course Daniel's lead guitar work is pure fire. Wait? Did Daniel cover a New Model Army song? Fuckin' right, he did! Now there's a band that never gets enough love! Darkness Over This Town is available now on compact disc from Bandcamp, or you can stream it from all the usual platforms. This is my favorite release of 2025 so far. If you love it too, you have impeccable taste.

-L.R.

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-over-this-town
https://open.spotify.com/album/3VNztHRzQHzEtiSF3EtwKQ
https://music.apple.com/us/album/darkness-over-this-town-ep/1785303927
https://linkin.bio/danieljamesgang/
https://www.instagram.com/xdanieljamesx/
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk

Geoff Palmer- "Exit Wounds"

Heck yeah: we've got new music from Geoff Palmer to start the new year! "Exit Wounds" is Palmer's brand-new single, and it will be the opening track on his forthcoming EP Kodak Flash. This is the first new material Palmer has released since October of 2023, and it sounds awesome! The bonus for me is that my favorite lead guitar player, Daniel James, plays on this record along with Tyler Spatz, Paul Kennedy, and Zack Sprague. "Exit Wounds" is a vintage Palmer tune — an upbeat, catchy-as-hell pop-punk rocker that will stick to your skull like bubblegum. Coming in at just one minute, 49 seconds, this song definitely fits into the category of leaving us wanting more. But isn't that the whole point? Now we have something to look forward to as we await the full EP, which is coming out April 1st on Stardumb Records. Now this is the way to kick off the new music of 2025!

-L.R.

https://geoffpalmer.bandcamp.com/album/kodak-flash-ep
https://open.spotify.com/album/2iAkNLnTeGlKqrvrijadUn
https://www.instagram.com/geoff_palmer/
https://www.facebook.com/GeoffPalmerMusic
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXHtVwKD_vrE046_zpFz_Rw
https://bsky.app/profile/geoffpalmer.bsky.social

Boris the Sprinkler - Gets A Clue

A punk rock EP based on the board game Clue sounds like a totally ridiculous idea, so of course I love it. Out on Rum Bar Records, Gets A Clue is, to the best of my knowledge, Boris the Sprinkler's first release in the EP format in two decades. There are at most five bands in the world that could properly pull off a Clue-themed mini album, and BtS is one of them. This is the band's first new music to be released in five years, so I will welcome any concept. A tribute to Don Majkowski? A rock opera about Taco Bell sauce packets? A Metal Machine Music cover album using only kazoos and toy drums? If Boris is putting it out, I'm buying it. In my book, Boris the Sprinkler is certainly the most underrated and no doubt one of the very best of all those '70s-style punk bands that formed in the '90s. As the world pauses to reflect with awe on the 30th anniversary of the release of Boris's debut album 8-Testicled Pogo Machine, I can't think of another band that was more important in informing my musical tastes and opening the gateway to so many staples of my record collection. And if the best record label on the planet saw fit to release this group's Clue-themed EP on compact disc, you should be ordering now and asking questions later. 

You may wonder who in the world would want to hear Boris the Sprinkler playing songs about characters from Clue. Well, the target demographic is simple. It's 99 percent Boris fans and 1 percent people who take the game of Clue more seriously than life itself. And of course the people who love the band and the game (which I'm guessing is the majority of Boris fans) will be going nuts for this thing. Musically, this is vintage BtS goofball '77 punk-pop. The band's classic lineup is on board and sounding totally hot. If you're a Boris fan, these songs will remind you why you got into the band in the first place. Tracks like "I Wanna Dance Like Professor Plum" and "No One Loves Mr. Green" are totally giving me Saucer to Saturn/Mega Anal vibes. I must say the execution of the concept is top-notch. This is a fun and wildly entertaining collection of songs that I keep on listening to over and over. Of course there's no other lyricist in the universe like Norb, and here his creativity in writing about the iconic Clue characters is the stuff of delight. This is probably the first BtS release that's appropriate for children, so full family listening parties are not out of the question. Paul #1 never gets enough credit for being one of the true guitar superstars of modern-day pop-punk. Once you solve the mystery of who offed Mr. Boddy, you can get busy trying to figure out if any theft of classic punk riffs has occurred. Ric Six and Paul #2, the unsung heroes of Boris the Sprinkler, are in fine form as well. 

Gets A Clue is available now from Rum Bar Records. Next week, Boris the Sprinkler hits the road with Egghead. and The Ergs! to play tour dates in Somerville, Brooklyn, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. That, my friends, is the holy trinity of geek punk all in one place. History shall be made!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/gets-a-clue
https://open.spotify.com/album/4YBd59oWZ6IE3KJNCOkqJ6
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_koaytURElJh7fwb8DRlbt7PMBNkwpjuHA
https://boristhesprinkler.com/
https://www.facebook.com/boristhesprinkler/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.instagram.com/rumbarrecords/

Wasted Pretty - self titled

Twins Ginger and Joey formed Wasted Pretty in Marinette, Wisconsin four years ago in response to boredom with pandemic lockdown and online high school. By the summer, they had released their now-classic debut single "Sucks Being Underage" b/w "Don​'​t Care." The pandemic eventually died down, but Ginger and Joey's passion for punk rock did not. After going through more drummers than Spinal Tap, the twins finally found their permanent third piece in current thumper Joe. No longer teenagers, Ginger and Joey have grown their 2020 lockdown project into one of the most exciting young punk rock bands of the present day. They just released their long-awaited debut album, and it's a proverbial breath of fresh air. You don't run into a lot of 20-year-olds who would cite the likes of The Runaways, Stooges, Sex Pistols, and Romeo Void as musical favorites or have named their band after a Figgs song. Yet there's something distinctive about the way a band of this age interprets old school influences. The attitude and energy can be traced back to recordings from decades ago, but Wasted Pretty is putting a modern, fresh twist on the style. Ginger as a lead singer is both the quintessential punk vocalist and a genuine original. Simply put, she's bad-ass. The album was produced by pat mAcdonald, a legendary figure in Wisconsin rock music. Impressively, mAcdonald's production is light-handed and shows a tremendous understanding of the kind of music Wasted Pretty wants to make. He doesn't try and polish away the band's raw edge like so many big-name producers might have. Clocking in at just under 19 minutes, this ten-track album exemplifies teenage (or post-teenage) punk rock. Songs are simple in structure and carried off with tremendous force and enthusiasm. There' s a bit of an Alice in Wonderland theme at play here — another reminder that the twins have an appreciation for the classics. I imagine if you were a tween or teen and heard this record, it would make you want to pick up a guitar or drum sticks and start your own band. And for the rest of us, it's nice to be reminded of why we came to love punk rock in the first place.

-L.R.

https://wastedpretty.bandcamp.com/album/wasted-pretty

https://wastedpretty.band/
https://www.facebook.com/wastedpretty.band/
https://www.instagram.com/wastedprettyband/

https://open.spotify.com/album/6e4yAWDpUdLCBgE3eF6Lq9

The Daniel James Gang - "Misery"

It has been over three years since I reviewed Indonesian Junk, one of my favorite bands of recent times. While I'm sad to say that IndoJunk has called it a day, I'm happy to report that Daniel James has revived their solo project The Daniel James Gang. New single "Misery" features Daniel teaming up with Logan Stang and Miski Dee, and it's an absolute monster of a song. It was originally written for Indonesian Junk, so you have some idea of what to expect. This is power pop for people who love glam-punk — or is it the other way around? This tune blends face-melting energy with ultra-catchy guitar hooks and powerful vocals that fully capture the anguish of the lyrics. Daniel sings the hell out of this song and rips it up on guitar as always. The vibe is a little like the Dead Boys and Johnny Thunders getting together to play power pop, and I am here for it! More singles are to come from The Daniel James Gang, so stay tuned!

-L.R.

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/misery
https://open.spotify.com/album/6f4J39lKd6nWr9ZfT36tzz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PTiTMZ-aqA
https://www.instagram.com/danieljamesgang/

Wisconsin Anger Team - Archie

Wisconsin Anger Team is a band that's quite mysterious to me. The band has no social media presence as far as I can tell, and I have no knowledge of who's in the band or exactly what part of Wisconsin the group hails from. But I can tell you that the band has released four excellent albums in less than four years. A rave review from Nick on Add To Wantlist drew my attention to the band's new album Archie, and I was instantly hooked onto the full Wisconsin Anger Team catalog. Stylistically, this band is generally in poppy punk territory, yet its sound is a little rawer and noisier than what usually passes for "pop-punk" these days. I'm sensing influences of '80s melodic punk and old East Bay punk, yet at the same time there's something distinctly Midwestern about Wisconsin Anger Team (go figure, right?). If you dig tuneful, well-crafted punk songs with a DIY edge, Archie should be very much to your liking. From what I can gather, these 12 songs essentially comprise a biography of Archibald Butt — a military advisor to Presidents Roosevelt and Taft who famously died in the sinking of the Titanic. As far as ideas for concept albums go, this is about as original as it gets. This is almost like a punk rock Hamilton, and the story is every bit as interesting. Yet what I truly appreciate is that all these songs are excellent in their own right even if you remove them from the larger narrative. Archie (along with the rest of the WAT catalog) is a free download from Bandcamp. It's a terrific album from a band more people ought to be talking about!

-L.R.

https://wisconsinangerteam.bandcamp.com/album/archie

Chinese Telephones - Outta My Hands

Back with their first new material since 2007, Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Chinese Telephones are in top form on their new EP Outta My Hands. These four songs live at the intersection of punk rock and power pop: always a sweet spot for me and many of you reading this right now. Lead track "Radianna" is vintage ChiTels poppy punk — a punchy and super-catchy tune with hooks for days. "Come and See Me" finds the band sliding fully into power pop territory in a most successful way. "Tamping Down My Soul" has a bit of a Marked Men feel to it, and I'm not complaining. "Loyola" is a killer rendition of The Dictators' classic. It couldn't have been easy for Justin and company to revive this band after a decade and a half, yet Outta My Hands absolutely recaptures the old magic and then some. If you like pop and punk but don't necessarily identify as a fan of pop-punk, you would be well-served to check this EP out. All the players — Justin Telephone, Daniel James, Andy Junk, and Logan Stang — totally rock it out. And with Amos Pitsch recording and mixing these songs, it's no shocker that Outta My Hands sounds like a million bucks. Dead Broke Rekerds and Bloated Kat Records have teamed up to release the vinyl — which is limited to 200 copies on black and 100 on pink. This one is not to be missed!

-L.R.

https://chinesetelephones.bandcamp.com/album/outta-my-hands
https://bloatedkatrecords.bandcamp.com/album/outta-my-hands
https://deadbrokerekerds.bandcamp.com/album/outta-my-hands
https://open.spotify.com/album/2MHGRQ7egKiWyk3uyim1V5
https://www.facebook.com/chinesetelephones/
https://deadbrokedistro.com/chinese-telephones-outta-my-hands-7-ep-pink-preorder.html

The Smart Shoppers - LEFTOVERS FROM TOMORROW

Joey, Norby, Jash, and Aaron — collectively known as The Smart Shoppers  — are back with their second full-length album, LEFTOVERS FROM TOMORROW. Their debut album, DORKWAVE, remains a criminally underrated work of art. I mean, come on: it practically invented a new genre of music! LEFTOVERS FROM TOMORROW carries on in a similar vein. It walks the very fine line separating punk rock and new wave without ever crossing all the way over on either side. It's dorky and catchy and wonderfully weird and super fun and (of course) smart. Yet it's not a mere repeat of its predecessor. On this release, The Smart Shoppers broaden their stylistic palette with a really nifty Cars knock-off ("Party Girl"), a wink and a nod to proper garage rock ("Slacks"), and a satisfying stab at thrashing pop-punk ("Big Love"). And even when the band sticks to familiar terrain, its elevates its previous songwriting on brilliant numbers like "Store" and "Simpin' USA." One could argue that "egg punk, garage punk, diy punk, diy music, diy record label, indie rock, indie, weird, Nerd Rock, - Looking Glass" is perhaps the best use of 47 seconds ever by a non-hardcore band. Joey Shops, as always, is the perfect vocalist for this kind of band  — capable of pulling off the dorky/weird approach in a way that's unique and genuinely not annoying. The band's sense of humor remains compatible with mine, manifesting itself mostly in sharp social commentary and a formidable commitment to song titles starting with the letter "S." I have to love a band that can write a song like "Sex Organisms" that flirts with being absolutely stupid but ends up being anything but. These guys are way better musicians and songwriters than they'd ever let on, and ultimately that's what makes them the Bart Starrs of the egg punk universe. If punky new wave and new wavey punk are your jam and you nonetheless ignored my previous recommendation to purchase DORKWAVE, you have another opportunity to be a smart shopper.

-L.R.

https://thesmartshoppers.bandcamp.com/album/leftovers-from-tomorrow-4
https://www.facebook.com/SmartShoppersBand/
https://www.instagram.com/smartshoppersband/
https://open.spotify.com/album/4TjKvFtAgu7sTDyFomWUaV

Beach Patrol - Festivus

The record shows that Beach Patrol has placed top ten albums on three of my last six year-end lists. Festivus, the band's eighth album, is destined to crack this year's top ten as well. I've had the privilege over the past 16 years to hear Domenic Marcantonio grow in his craft from a promising young talent in the power pop universe into a great American songwriter. Like 2020's Making Waves, Festivus was recorded in Domenic's basement and captures the feel of a band playing live rock and roll. This unvarnished approach to recording would not work for every band, but it has become a huge part of Beach Patrol's appeal in recent years. I love being able to close my eyes and feel like the band is right there in the room with me. And minus any slick production touches, everything hinges on the quality of the songs. In the case of Festivus, that's a very good thing. If basement rock is a genre unto itself like garage rock, Beach Patrol ought to be its poster band! 

In terms of the evolution of Beach Patrol's sound, Festivus picks up where Making Waves left off. While still very much at home in the worlds of power pop and pub rock, the band adheres to no particular genre or musical conventions. The album draws on influences ranging from rhythm & blues to pop to folk to country to traditional rock and roll. And while Domenic is as adept as ever at writing a catchy tune, his continued growth as a storyteller and observer of the human condition has become the centerpiece of his craft. Listening to Making Waves made me feel like a wiser, more enlightened human. Festivus -- with its lyrical mix of life philosophy, relatable stories, and personal reflections -- has the same effect. While a couple tracks ("Jung-er Than Yesterday", "Don't Concern Myself") recall the Beach Patrol of old, I love that Domenic has begun to excel outside of the box of the three-minute pop song. The songs "Bad Actress" and "Every Time I Watch The Jerk" (undeniably two of the best songs on the album) demonstrate that while Domenic can still turn out great hooks, he's not always in a rush to get to them. "Bad Actress," a bitter recounting of deceits endured, takes its sweet time (five minutes and 45 seconds, to be precise) unfolding a devastating extended metaphor. "Every Time I Watch The Jerk", which celebrates the enduring brilliance of Steve Martin's signature film, is so joyful and infectious that it leaves me wanting more even after five minutes. Elsewhere, "Ballad of Phineas Wheelock" and "Thanks Coach" stand out as some of the most powerful and profound songs that Domenic has ever written. As was the case on Making Waves, Damien Montana Dias steps up to add his own singing and songwriting presence. "Greek Circus Top," his contribution to the album, is a feelgood number of literally epic proportions. 

I can still remember Beach Patrol's first album showing up in my mailbox back in 2006. I had never heard of the band before (although I must admit that the Green Bay return address gave me high hopes!). I popped that CD into the car player, and I was a fan by the time I got to the end of the street. In retrospect, I can acknowledge that that debut pales in comparison to later releases. But isn't that the way it's supposed to be? Bands start out good and get better. They grow, and you get to grow with them. I was barely old enough to be president when I first encountered Beach Patrol; now I'm eligible for AARP membership. I've had the fortune to watch (or better yet, hear) a good band become great. On "Jung-er Than Yesterday," Domenic Marcantonio sings the lines "Won't be remembered for the things I left behind/But for doing what I done out of love." You know he means every word of that, and that tells you everything you really need to know about Beach Patrol.

-L.R.

https://beachpatrolwi.bandcamp.com/album/festivus
https://www.facebook.com/beachpatrolwi

Hue Blanc's Joyless Ones - self titled

After a decade in hibernation, the illustrious Bancroft Records has been reestablished in Durham, North Carolina (this label goes from one beer mecca to another...is Germany next?). I always associate this label with a golden era of Midwestern garage and punk (although not all of its acts were Midwestern or American at all!). Algoma, Wisconsin's Hue Blanc's Joyless Ones would have fit right in with the Bancroft roster back in the day. They were even set to do a 7" with the label -- which for various reasons never materialized. No worries, though. All these years later, Hue Blanc's Joyless Ones remain one of the finest musical acts in all of the American Midwest. And their self-titled fourth album (and first full-length in seven years) has turned up on the relaunched Bancroft imprint. All is right with the world! 

Hue Blanc's Joyless Ones are a very difficult band to describe. It's a cliché to say a band "has its own sound", but it's 100 percent true in the case of HBJO. There's literally no other band out there that sounds like this. Think bluesy garage rock meets pre-punk meets post-punk meets psychedelic rock meets non-pretentious poetry meets straight-forward Midwestern rock and roll featuring two songwriters with contrasting and complementary styles. If this were 30 years ago, we could just call it "indie" and be done with it. But in the world of 2022, I'm going to side with Goner Records and categorize this as "mutant rock." It doesn't fit into any box, and why would you want it to? While it has its share of quality rockers (check out the opening 1-2 punch of "Black Charms" and "Winter Palace"), the new album is at its best when it unfolds in surprising and interesting ways. This album is a big-time grower (there I go with the clichés again!) that sucks me into a musical journey that's unpredictable but always enjoyable. The songs are fantastic all the way through, and "All Dale Merrill's Party Stores" has to win the award for song title of the year. This is the kind of release that ought to exist on vinyl; I'm thrilled to report that it does! Get your copy straight from Bancroft Records. Also available is the new album from Zurich Cloud Motors. I'll have more to say about that very soon!

-L.R.

https://hueblancsjoylessones.bandcamp.com/album/hue-blancs-joyless-ones
https://bancroftrecords.bigcartel.com/product/hue-blanc-s-joyless-ones
https://www.facebook.com/Hue-Blancs-Joyless-Ones-109660445742590/
https://www.facebook.com/bancroftrecords/

Meet Wasted Pretty!

I'm definitely late to the party on Marinette, Wisconsin's Wasted Pretty. But there's never really a bad time to discover cool new bands! Wasted Pretty (you can never go wrong taking a band name from a Figgs song!) came into existence in response to 2020 pandemic life. Bored with COVID isolation and online school, twins Ginger and Joey decided the best solution was to start a punk rock band. By the summer, they had already released their debut single (mastered by legendary engineer Brooke Delarco!). Three more releases have since followed, and twice the band has received airplay on Rodney on the Rock! Wasted Pretty, to me, is what punk rock is all about: kids picking up guitars and writing songs about their real-life frustrations....and having great fun doing it! "Sucks Being Underage" is an instant classic of adolescent punk rock -- the kind of song that only real kids could convincingly pull off. "Where Are You?" poses a musical question that has puzzled the world for five decades: what really happened D.B. Cooper? "Cherry Bomb" is a robustly punked-up rendition of the Runaways' signature song. "Vampires and Lip Gloss" and "Look Out" represent the new generation of horror punk. I dig this band's enthusiasm, energy, and sheer personality. But these kids also possess considerable talent along with an innate flair for making a decades-old musical style feel fresh and exciting. They are currently working on a debut album with Wisconsin music legend pAt mAcdonald. Be sure to check out Wasted Pretty's YouTube channel channel which features cool animated videos for several of the band's songs!

-L.R.

https://wastedpretty.bandcamp.com/
http://wastedpretty.band/
https://www.instagram.com/wastedprettyband/

Smart Shoppers - DORKWAVE

Here it is: the long-awaited debut album by Green Bay, Wisconsin's Smart Shoppers! When I last checked in with Joey Shops, Aaron Smart, and Jash Thrift nearly two years ago, they had recently released a debut 7" and added local and intergalactic legend Rev. Norb to their lineup. The four-piece Smart Shoppers now make their recorded debut with DORKWAVE -- a 16-track long player that's set to spin at 45 RPM once the records finally come off the presses. And because these guys are such staunch advocates of smart shopping, they've also made the album available on CD for the bargain price of ten bucks. Smart Shoppers continue to cultivate a sound that's the perfect mix of goofy, hyper, and just plain weird. And I mean that as a supreme compliment. As you listen to these songs, you might find yourself wondering what in the world you're listening to. Is it punk rock, or is it new wave? The answer, of course, is yes! 

Because I've already internalized it as a modern classic, "Bevo (Out Of Bounds)" seems like it's been in my life for 42 years instead of just two years. Newer tracks like "Smart Kart", "Subscription", and "Auto Naughts" are of the same caliber. With songs covering a range of topics from strange vehicles to impossible inventions to devout bargain hunting, this is the album that the supermarket robots dance to at night when no one is around. Vinyl should be available in November. Shop smart and get the digital tracks with your pre-order!

-L.R.

https://thesmartshoppers.bandcamp.com/album/dorkwave-2
https://www.facebook.com/SmartShoppersBand/

Indonesian Junk - Living In a Nightmare

On its fourth LP, Milwaukee's Indonesian Junk continues to blend the best parts of punk, glam, power pop, and arena rock into one singularly awesome sound that no reasonable human being could possibly resist. IndoJunk singer/guitarist Daniel James wrote Living In a Nightmare in May and June of last year. He and his bandmates Johnny Cyanide (bass), Mike Mattner (drums), and Adam Turetzky (guitar) recorded the album over a weekend in October with Shane Hochstetler at Howl Street Recordings in Milwaukee. 

The timing of this album's creation might lead you to believe that the title is a reference to 2020 and the Coronavirus. But the nightmare being referenced here is systematic racial inequality in America -- and the grim realization that half of the country either denies its existence or simply doesn't care. For this release, James has written a pair of powerhouse protest anthems in "Livin' in the USA" and "Policeman". Both songs rage furiously against this unacceptable state of a nation. Yet what makes them so riveting is that they are killer tunes first and foremost. "Livin' in the USA" is a scorching punk tune that for some reason reminds me a little of Demolition 23. And "Policeman" is the very definition of an anthem -- its catchy sing-along chorus doubling as a rallying cry against injustice. It takes a skilled songwriter to craft an album where tales of heartbreak can logically co-exist with songs addressing important social issues. Yet James has pulled off that very thing here. And it feels so authentic to him. He's a passionate guy, and Living In a Nightmare is essentially his heart on a plate. 

Living In a Nightmare, to me, is the best Indonesian Junk album because it gives you a little bit of everything that makes this band so cool. It's a record full of big hooks, catchy tunes, loud guitars, and ripping solos. "Type of a Girl" and "One More Try" is an opening 1-2 punch that would be the envy of most power pop bands. "I Don't Mind" sounds like the best song that Richard Hell and the Voidoids never wrote. "Tracy" could be a long-lost Joneses song. At nine minutes plus, "Bawlin' My Eyes Out" is the epic closer every great album ought to have. Whether you're a punk lifer, a glam rocker, a power pop geek, or just someone who waits patiently for Thin Lizzy or Cheap Trick to come on when the Boomer FM channel is playing, there's something on this album for you. It releases today on compact disc on Rum Bar Records. Vinyl will be available this summer on Spiderbite Records!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk

Indonesian Junk - "One More Try" (Song Premiere)

Today I am honored to premiere a new song by one of my favorite bands! "One More Try" is a brand-new track from Indonesian Junk, a band I've had the pleasure of writing about for the last seven years. "One More Try", featuring a guest appearance on backing vocals by the illustrious Kurt Baker, will appear on IndoJunk's forthcoming album Living In a Nightmare. It's one of the most "pop" songs yet from these Milwaukee-based glam-punks, who are now a foursome with the addition of guitarist Adam Turetzky. In an era in which great pop songs on the radio are all but a distant memory, Daniel James still endeavors to write old-fashioned radio hits. "One More Try" meets at the intersection of classic power pop and the Ramones circa Road To Ruin. In one single song, it takes on two of the greatest themes in guitar pop: the despair of love gone bad and the high hopes of old flames revived. This, my friends, is what you call an earworm! And that guitar solo is sheer majesty. As the title suggests, Living In a Nightmare will be Indonesian Junk's magnum opus about 2020. Preorders are open today from the Indonesian Junk and Rum Bar Records Bandcamp pages. Digital album releases March 19th. Vinyl coming this summer! 

-L.R.

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

The Haskels - Taking The City By Storm

Not content to tell half a story, Splunge Comminications is back with a second volume of rare and unreleased recordings from legendary Milwaukee punk band The Haskels. 2019's The Haskels compiled 14 unreleased tracks recorded by the original incarnation of the band in 1979. This was essentially the "lost" album by The Haskels, who broke up at the end of 1979 without having ever released any music on record. But this was far from the end of The Haskels. Post-breakup, Richard LaValliere and Guy Hoffman formed a new band called The Oil Tasters. Presley Haskel, meanwhile, rebooted The Haskels with bassist Bobby Mitchell and drummer Vodie Rhinehardt (and briefly, original guitarist Gerard LaValliere). While this newer, considerably more pop-inclined version of The Haskels proved to be short-lived, it did self-release an EP titled Taking The City By Storm in 1980. This EP, highly sought after by collectors for the past 40 years, forms the foundation of this 14-song compilation that bears its name. 

In addition to the four songs from the EP, Taking The City By Storm features ten unreleased tracks culled from demos and live performances. This is the Haskels release that a lot of fans have been waiting for. The tracks from the EP, remastered for this project, hold up tremendously well and should excite fans of old school poppy punk. The title track is hands down a Midwestern punk classic. "Body Language" and "Baby, Let's French", songs you may recognize from the previous collection, sound stronger and more fully realized here. The previously unreleased portion of the album is no slouch either. "Stay Up All Night" and "Can I Call You?" ride the fine line between punk rock and power pop. "In Between Girls" is a more than passable stab at reggae influenced new wave. The excellent live cut "Strictly For The Uncommercial" was slated to be the title track on a follow-up EP that unfortunately never got made.  

Splunge Comminications has co-released Taking The City By Storm with the venerable Bachelor Records. The album, of course, is of great interest to any Midwestern punk history buff. It completes the process of introducing the world at large to a band that's been beloved in Milwaukee for decades. More specifically for the readers of this blog, it offers a fine example of what pop-influenced punk rock ought to sound like. And with an original copy of the EP likely to set you back hundreds of dollars, this new album is definitely the way to go! Whether you're interested in the history or just the tunes, The Haskels are well worth looking into.

-L.R.

https://thehaskels1.bandcamp.com/album/taking-the-city-by-storm
https://splungecomm.com/
https://shop.bachelorrecords.com/Haskels-LP-2
https://www.facebook.com/bachelorrecords/

Indonesian Junk - "Type of A Girl"

Now this is how you start off a month in style! Indonesian Junk is back with its first new material in over a year, a brand-new digital single on Rum Bar Records called "Type of A Girl". It's also the band's first release featuring Adam Turetzky on rhythm guitar. This is a vintage IndoJunk track: a classic three-minute pop song that will leave the power poppers and glam punkers equally satisfied. As always, Daniel James sounds like the spirits of Joey Ramone and Stiv Bators are co-residing within him. "Type of A Girl" has the feel of a song that could have been a radio hit circa 1980. It's got hooks galore, and that guitar solo is nothing short of glorious! If you're brokenhearted or just like songs for the brokenhearted, this will be music to your ears. New album coming soon!

-L.R. 

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/track/type-of-a-girl

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/type-of-a-girl

https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk/

https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Tim Schweiger & The Middlemen - "Red Coyote"

Here's a quick little post that you all ought to enjoy! Milwaukee-based rock and roller Tim Schweiger has been releasing cool tunes with his band The Middlemen for a whole lot of years now. New single "Red Coyote" is the third release this year from Schweiger & The Middlemen (not including the best-of collection The Good Stuff). I highly recommend checking out all of the band's releases. But "Red Coyote" is certainly a great place to start. If you're into rootsy Midwestern rock and roll with a pop sensibility, this swinging tune should be very much to your liking. Schweiger recorded this track in Pete Donnelly's home studio in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Schweiger sings lead and plays guitar and drums while Donnelly plays guitar and bass. You can tell these two had great fun rocking out this number in the studio. What a perfect slice of infectious rock and roll! For good measure, Schweiger called in Wisconsin indie/punk luminaries Justin Perkins (mastering) and Amos Pitsch (artwork) to add crucial touches to this dandy digital single. If you like what you hear, be sure to dive deeper into the full catalog from Tim Schweiger & The Middlemen!

 

-L.R.

https://timschweigerandthemiddlemen.bandcamp.com/track/red-coyote

https://www.facebook.com/schwimtiger

Toadskin - self titled tape

Toadskin's new cassette tape reminds me of old school indie rock/punk. This Milwaukee-based trio is made up of Jeff VanDreel (ex Beach Patrol) on guitar and vocals, Trevor Broskowski (bass/vocals), and Logan Byrne (drums). I'm getting an SST Records or old Sub Pop vibe from this six-song tape, which combines elements of stoner rock/metal, punk rock, psychedelic rock, and noisy indie rock. In another lifetime, we may have called this "grunge"! In a totally good way, this is some weird shit. I think it's neat that the songs range from less than one minute long to nearly seven. I'm seeing song titles like "Ice Age Trail", "Sediment", "Edge of the Lake" and thinking, "Earth science has never been so cool!". These are some heavy tunes from the woods of Wisconsin. I dig!

-L.R.

https://toadskinisreal.bandcamp.com/album/toadskin

https://www.facebook.com/ToadskinIsReal/

Indonesian Junk - A Life of Crimes (singles and rarities 2009​-​2018)

Well here's the compilation you were dying for! Indonesian Junk has been one of planet Earth's top punk rock rock and roll bands for several years now, releasing a trio of fantastic albums in Indonesian Junk (2015), Stars In The Night (2017), and Spiderbites (2019) on the always fabulous Rum Bar Records. The precursor to Indonesian Junk was the Daniel James Gang, who released two singles back in 2009-2010. In case you desired a one-stop shop for all of Indonesian Junk's non-album recordings as well as the super rare Daniel James Gang tracks, Rum Bar Records proudly presents the decade-spanning collection A Life of Crimes. This essentially functions as a fourth Indonesian Junk album. Like the other three, it's a killer mashup of street tough '70s punk, glam-inspired hard rock, and big hooky power pop with an additional touch of darkness and gloom. No other band gives you all of that at once!

The material on Life of Crimes spans the years 2009-2018. It features the entirety of the Daniel James Gang singles "Nothin' I Can Do and "In This City", Indonesian Junk's 2015 7" "Crimes", the KISS cover "C'mon and Love Me" from 2018's Darkness Calling EP, and four previously unreleased tracks. As is often the case with these kinds of collections, the cover songs are feature attractions. If your introduction to Indonesian Junk turns out to be a KISS cover, well that's kind of awesome! Daniel and company cut a great version of The Joneses' classic "Pill Box" back in 2017 which somehow was never released. Well now you finally get to hear it! There are also covers of "Situations" by Slaughter and the Dogs and "Outfit" by Starz. The fact that one band would cover KISS, The Joneses, Slaughter and the Dogs, and Starz tells you a lot about Daniel's musical vision! But don't sleep on the originals. "Crimes" is one of Indonesian Junk's signature songs. "Now That It's Over" blurs the lines between heartbreak and a complete mental breakdown. "Nothin' I Can Do" and "I'm So Bored" hold up as well as anything from the 2010 punk/power pop/rock and roll universe. If you're already a fan of this Milwaukee trio, A Life of Crimes is an essential purchase to complete your collection. And if you've yet to be inducted into the Junk Army, your next move should be to head on over to Bandcamp and explore the band's full criminal history!



-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/a-life-of-crimes-singles-and-rarities-2009-2018
https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords