The Lord Rutledge Awards 2014

So again we've found ourselves on the final day of the year. Congratulations to all of us for making it to the "mid 2010s"! Tomorrow we will all look a little different. I traditionally entertain myself on this particular holiday with a variety of annual rituals such as timing myself in the 40-yard dash, arranging my collection of Lou Diamond Phillips movies in order of their artistic merit, and convincing close relatives that I now prefer to be addressed as "Turk". I reflect on what I accomplished in the past year (learning how to correctly type "Cincinnati" without spellchecker, going through an entire football season without throwing anything at the television) and what I might wish to accomplish next year (read the entirety of Crime and Punishment, place top five in a pierogi-eating contest). If I get really crazy, I might go up to my walk-in closet and see if I still remember how to tie a tie. And of course it wouldn't be New Year's Eve in Rutledge Manor without my annual awards post - which I will now endeavor to complete if I can just manage to pull myself away from the Law & Order: SVU marathon on USA Network. 

It's been a long time since we've had as good of a year for punk, power pop, and rock n' roll music as we've had in 2014. I remember one year ago thinking that 2013 would be extremely hard to top, but there were probably twice as many great albums released this year as there were last year. And last year was a very good year. In just about every area of music that I like to cover ('77 punk, power pop, garage punk, pop-punk), I had plenty of quality music to write about. I already announced my top ten albums of the year a couple days ago, but there were also a number of outstanding EPs and singles to consider. So, then, without any further delay - let's get to the awards! 

Album of the Year:
The Cry!- Dangerous Game
You may remember that I reviewed this release on the first day of 2014 and predicted it would be album of the year. Little did I know how fierce the competition would be! Los Pepes, Mother's Children, and Sugar Stems all came really close to taking the top spot. But in the end, it came down to this: the first Cry! album is a modern classic, and Dangerous Game is even better.

Short Form Album of the Year:
Gino and the Goons- Shake It!
We all know that 4 songs are an EP and 12 are an album. But what about eight songs? Is that an LP or an EP? I don't know! What I do know is that Gino And The Goons' Shake It! is one of the hottest rock n' roll records I've heard in a long time - and surely deserving of its own category.

EP of the Year:
The New Trocaderos - Kick Your Ass
When Geoff and Brad from The Connection got together with Kurt Baker last year to record a couple songs penned by their friend Michael Chaney, The New Trocaderos proved to be every bit the super group I hoped they'd be. They returned this year with Craig Sala on drums and Kris "Fingers" Rodgers on keyboards and delivered an EP so good that it even beat out that awesome Lovesores 10" for this award. If you enjoy power pop and traditional rock n' roll, The New Trocaderos ought to be your new favorite band!

Single of the Year:
Barreracudas- "Promises" 
This was a fine year for singles - with the likes of Ricky Rat, Terry & Louie, Nasty Rumors, Neighborhood Brats, The Plain Dealers, The Connection, Jenny Dee, and late entrants The Mandates all receiving consideration for the big prize. But I had to give it to Barreracudas - because "Promises" was the one single I played this year more than any other. In what kind of sick world do we live in where this song is not a massive hit?!


Song of the Year:
Sugar Stems- "Some Might Say"
From my #2 album of 2014. I still can't stop playing this song! 


Album of the Year (Masters Class):
Real Kids- Shake Outta Control
This award goes to the best album released by a band that's 25 years or more into its existence. This was a very good year for punk rock oldtimers. '77 punk greats like The Boys and Buzzcocks produced excellent LPs, and Stiff Little Fingers turned out a really solid album as well. But the big prize goes to the Real Kids - who came through in classic form on a proper second album that was 37 years in the making.

Label of the Year:
Taken By Surprise Records
Three albums in my top ten (The Cry!, Mother's Children, Neighborhood Brats) plus another great one from Piss Test and some killer singles to boot (Piss Test, The Mandates). Tonight I gladly raise a glass of fine Bavarian pilsner in honor of this outstanding German label!

Garage Punk Album of the Year:
Rev. Norb & The Onions- self titled
An absolute smasher of an album from the great American Midwest. 

Pop-Punk Album of the Year:
The Bat Bites- self titled
Holding off formidable competition from The Putz, this long awaited debut from The Bat Bites is probably my favorite pop-punk album of the last several years. 

Power Pop Album of the Year:
Sugar Stems- Only Come Out At Night
How does this band manage to keep improving upon perfection?!

Album I Regret Not Yet Hearing:
Flesh Lights - Free Yourself
Hopefully that will be rectified soon.

Best Cover Song:
Scantron - "Shot Down"
If The Sonics were the proto punk version of Little Richard, then there's definitely some genius in taking a signature Sonics song and making it sound like Little Richard himself could have recorded it!


Best Song Of 2013 That I Didn't Hear Until 2014:
honeychain - "Lucky One" 
This was like the best new Muffs song in 15 years until The Muffs actually made a new record!


Producer of the Year:
Ed Valauskas
You might know Ed Valauskas from his playing with The Gravel Pit, The Gentleman, and Graham Parker. As a producer, he's worked with a variety of Boston greats such as Andrea Gillis and Muck and the Mires. He's also a band member and producer for his wife's group, Jenny Dee & The Delinquents. Electric Candyland, the band's new record, sounds absolutely stunning in every way. Somehow this album recalls the late '70s productions of Jeff Lynne and sounds thoroughly modern.

The Patrick Bateman Prize For Excellence In Music Criticism: 
Dale Merrill - Smashin' Transistors
I can't remember if I've ever honored Dale with this award before. At the very least, I know I haven't since I started this particular blog. When it comes to writing about rock n' roll, he's probably the best guy in the business. And on top of that, he does beer reviews as well - a feature I've long considered adding to this blog but have never had the guts to follow through with. For a sample of his work, check out this killer piece he did on Sick Thoughts.

Radio Show Of The Year:
Jazzed Up And Bonkers!! 
If you could somehow combine Dr. Demento with Little Steven's Underground Garage, it would sound like this.

Comeback of the Year:
Charles Matthews
Sometimes people construe "comeback" to mean some sort of return to form after a prolonged period of decline. But in this case, I'm referring to Charles Matthews literally coming back to the world of music after a decade spent writing toilet paper jingles and wrestling bears in the wilderness. It had been nine years since the former Dimestore Haloes singer had officially released music, and his presence had been greatly missed. The Cheap Cassettes, a duo he formed with longtime bandmate Kevin Parkhurst, did not disappoint with their long-awaited debut long player (my #7 album of the year). Think a more power pop Dimestore Haloes. Or maybe Wham! with better haircuts. 

Vault Treasure of the Year: Gun Fury - Complete Studio Recordings
Gun Fury was a very important band in my musical life - a local group from my younger days that heavily influenced me getting into '77 punk. It always bothered me that this band was never really known outside of central Pennsylvania. And since most of my '90s record collection is no longer in my possession for a variety of reasons, the music of Gun Fury had long existed only in my memory. But thanks to the magic of modern technology, Gun Fury's entire recorded output lives again. And it sounds just as good as I remembered!


Blog of the Year:
just some punk songs
I've always thought that F & L would be a much better blog if I didn't, you know, write so much. Mick Fletcher's just some punk songs is a blog I'd like to emulate - featuring similar styles of music but with much shorter write-ups that allow the music to speak for itself. Plus he posts new stuff just about every day - so there's always something for me to look forward to when I click into the Internets every morning. I like the fact that he promotes new punk music and classic punk music with equal fervor. And his on-going feature of having individuals from the punk world listing their ten favorite songs is something I enjoy very much.

Best New Band:
The Shanghais
Every year, I hope to discover that one new act that immediately cracks my top ten list of favorite bands. Two years ago, it was Livids. Last year, it was L.A. Drugz. And this year, it's The Shanghais from Oakland, California - who burst on the scene with two super awesome EPs. Runner-ups: Scraps and Lexxi Vexx & The Modern Gentlemen.

Compilation of the Year
Jake and the Stiffs - The Singles
Long before the '77 punk/powerpop thing was even remotely "in", Delaware's mighty Jake and the Stiffs were making amazing records that only a handful of people gave a damn about. Finally this year, Randy America remixed and remastered all of those original singles from 1993-97 and released them on one brilliant collection. With just a few clicks of a mouse, classic songs like "Jennifer", "All I Said", and "Scrappy Come Home" can be yours today! Given the inflated prices of adult magazines, The Singles is the greatest reward you will ever get out of $6.

The Championship Belt:
The Cry! 
This title is annually awarded to my current favorite band. Something Fierce has held the belt since its inception. But given that we've been waiting a couple of years for Something Fierce to release new material, I thought it was only fair that they surrender the belt and perhaps regain the title next year when they blow my mind with their new album. In the meantime, The Cry! just can't be denied. If I had to name the best five albums that have come out since I started this blog, The Cry! would have two of them! 

Alright, that's another great year behind us! Hopefully an equally great one awaits. Happy New Year, everyone! Be safe tonight, and I'll see you in 2015!

-L.R.

My Top Ten Albums of 2014

And now it can be told! I'm so obsessed with my annual album of the year list that I literally start composing it 11 months before I ultimately publish it. Once I get to the latter part of the year, the list is revised, re-ordered, and thoroughly reexamined on a daily basis. I meditate at length on my choices and often seek the counsel of highly qualified professionals. Not even Santa Claus is as meticulous with his list (I mean, come on, he only checks it twice?). This year's top ten, like last year's, is absolutely stacked. Consider that The Muffs made their best album in nearly two decades and still missed the cut. I think I liked this year so much because it was such an incredible year for power pop. But with bands like Neighborhood Brats and The Gaggers coming through with absolutely phenomenal albums, punk rock ruled the year as well. So here, then, is my painstakingly thought-out top ten. As I did last year, I've included links to all of these selections so you can listen for yourself. Most of these albums can be streamed for free.


10. (Tie) The Number Ones - self-titled
The Solicitors- Blank Check
For a while this year, I was referring to a "summer of power pop". But really, it turned out to be the year of power pop. And these two albums (full-length debuts in both cases!) had a lot to do with that. I couldn't bear to leave either one out of my top ten, so they share the #10 spot. In almost any other year, both would have easily made the top five.

9. Needles//Pins- Shamebirds
Prior to 2014, you would have had every right to ask me, "Why in the hell have you never written about Needles//Pins?!" I can't say I accomplished much this year besides the on-going cycle of working and going to the gym and watching TV and writing record reviews. But I can say that in 2014, I finally got hip to this great band from up north. That's an accomplishment, right? Needles//Pins now hold a prominent spot in my personal top ten list of favorite bands. Yeah, I know: I have a problem with lists.

8. Maniac - Demimonde
This time last year, I identified Maniac's then-forthcoming debut as a contender for 2014 album of the year. And Demimonde did not disappoint! 
 
7. Cheap Cassettes - All Anxious, All The Time
This album was so many years in the making that even Axl Rose complained. But it was definitely worth the wait. Great power pop meets scruffy rock n' roll from ex Dimestore Haloes heartthrobs Charles and Kevin. Somebody put this thing out on vinyl!

6. Neighborhood Brats - Recovery
This was another album I'd been waiting on for a couple of years, and boy did Neighborhood Brats ever kill it! As good as a lot of the classic early '80s California punk albums that inspired it. 

5. The Gaggers - Blame You
Belongs on your record shelf next to all your classic '77 UK punk albums. 
 
4. Mother's Children- Lemon
Being the best band in Canada is like being the best hockey player in Canada - it's pretty much the highest honor you can receive. Lemon rockets Mother's Children to the top of the Canadian punk charts.

3. Los Pepes - Los Pepes For Everyone   
If you, like me, can never get enough of your Buzzcocks, Boys, and Undertones records, here's a new band you ought to be listening to.

2. Sugar Stems - Only Come Out At Night
A masterful power pop album that proves that "maturity" doesn't have to be synonymous with "boring". Betsy Heibler, without a doubt, is one of the finest songwriters working today.

1. The Cry! - Dangerous Game
I consider The Cry!'s first album to be a modern classic of punk/powerpop. It arrived on my radar too late for me to include it in my 2011 album of the year list. But if I were to re-do that list today, The Cry! would be top two for sure. Dangerous Game, released this past March, is an even better album than its predecessor. It's a perfect mix of power pop, '70s glam/punk, and oldies rock n' roll. I recently declared The Cry! to be the best band going right now, and I'll gladly stand by that statement. These kids are throwbacks to a time when succeeding in rock n' roll was about having genuine talent and writing incredible songs. And like so many bands these days, they're doing it 100% DIY. Having revamped its lineup, The Cry! is poised to record new material in 2015. Might they make a run at back-to-back albums of the year? We shall see!

Just missed the cut:
The Keefs - Better Late Than Never
Sonic Avenues- Mistakes
Piss Test - Biggest Band In Europe

So there you have it. If you're keeping score at home, that's five American bands, two from the U.K., two from Canada, and one each from Ireland and Australia. Truly an international list! If I re-did last year's top ten, I'd probably slide The Connection into the top three behind Radioactivity and Night Birds. But generally, I still pretty much agree with what I wrote a year ago. How will I feel next year about this year's list? That's an interesting question - since I debated with myself at length as to how I should order my top four. I just know that 2014 was an awesome year for music, and I fully expect 2015 to be one as well!

-L.R.

Watts rock!

Flash Of White Light is the third album from Watts - and it's the kind of record that will make you wish you could catch these Boston rock n' rollers live! I love that this album makes zero concessions to the past 35 years of "progress" in popular music. It's exactly what we need more of in today's world - straight-up rock n' roll full of hot licks, high-powered riffs, and superbly-crafted hooks. Imagine if you could edit down your local classic rock station so that it only played the good stuff (Rolling Stones, Faces, AC/DC, early Aerosmith). Watts would fit right in on that channel!

When it comes to the current generation of no-frills rock n' roll, you have your bands with swagger and you have your bands with songs. It's rare to hear a band that's got both, and that's why Watts really stand out. John Blout and Dan Kopko, who tear it up on lead and rhythm guitar like a modern day Mick Taylor and Keith Richards, also excel in the singing and songwriting departments. And with drummer Johnny "Rock" Lynch (Neighborhoods/Dirty Truckers) and bassist Tim McCoy rounding out a phenomenal lineup, it's hard to find a better current rock n' roll band than Watts. Flash Of White Light sounds like it could have been issued in 1978 - not just for stylistic reasons, but also because it recalls a time when there was no shame in aspiring to write a hit song. In the case of Watts, the band has basically aimed for a whole album of hit songs! I would go so far as to say that you could easily slip a track like "Wasted Angels" or "Rocks" in between Cheap Trick and KISS on just about any rock oldies station, and people would be like, "This song is great! Why haven't I heard it before?" But I'm hesitant to use a word like "retro" to describe Watts, because that would imply that their music sounds out of time in the modern age. I prefer the term timeless - especially when you consider that real rock n' roll has never gone away no matter how widely it's been ignored by the mainstream in recent decades. And now more than ever, we need music like this.

Like so many of those great rock albums of yore, Flash Of White Light finds that perfect mix of sing-along rockers (the crackling title track), melodic mid-tempo numbers ("The Mess Is The Makeup"), and genuinely good ballads ("Better [For A Girl Like You]"). Of course the guitar work is electrifying, but it's a credit to the band that it never overshadows the songwriting. This is definitely one of those albums where every song is a little different and not just a rehash of the previous track. And even the deep cuts are gold. "Flying Over With Bombs" is like the "Sweet Child O' Mine" of 2014, while the Stones-y "Sidewinder" brings to mind unsung greats of the recent past like The Dragons and Bash & Pop. And while the band has great fun pointing out the derivative nature of its music on album-closer "Trick", the song itself is a complete triumph and a textbook example of why Watts rule. I've never cared a lick if something I'm listening to is breaking new ground. I just want to rock, ya know?! Watts rock hard, write great tunes, and live for that moment when they get to hit the stage and fill a room with energy. Flash Of White Light is highly recommended not just to classic rock fans but to anyone who craves music that is exciting and vital. Get the CD from Rum Bar Records, and vinyl lovers can still pick up the "Flash Of White Light" 45 while supplies last!



-L.R.

http://kingyumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/flash-of-white-light-cd-koozie-combo 
https://www.facebook.com/wattsrock 
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords 

Introducing Blockhouses!

If you're a Figgs fan, Guy Lyons needs no introduction. Not only was he an original Figg, but he also wrote two of my favorite Figgs songs ever in "Bad Luck Sammie" and "Said Enough". He recently joined his former bandmates on stage for a live performance celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of one of the greatest rock n' roll records ever made - The Figgs' debut album Lo-Fi At Society High. Can you believe it's really been two decades since that album came out? Seems like only yesterday! 

Anyway, back to Guy Lyons. Last year he formed Blockhouses, a new band with bassist Christopher Peifer (The Kowalskis) and drummer Bill Wolf. With Jim Balga taking over on drums this year, the band's current lineup was set. Blockhouses just released a new single, "One More Time To Get Home" b/w "Little Sweetie". It's actually the New York City trio's third single this year, and of course it's totally killer! A band named after a fort should be rock solid, and that's clearly the point. Longtime Lyons fans will be pleased to know that he has not strayed a bit from the high energy power pop/rock n' roll he's known for. This single, as expected, delivers that perfect blend of muscular guitars and catchy melodies on a pair of high quality tracks. "One More Time To Get Home", once it gets in your head, is sure to stay there.

It goes without saying that Figgs fans will dig Blockhouses. And in fact, those two bands recently wrapped up a joint tour. While always one of rock's great sidemen, Lyons is a fine songwriter and singer in his own right. And again he finds himself fortunate to be part of an absolutely dynamite band. Check out all of Blockhouses' singles over at their Bandcamp - and let's hope for more from this band in 2015!



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/blockhousesmusic 
http://blockhouses.bandcamp.com/album/one-more-time-to-get-home-b-w-little-sweetie 

Meet Scraps!

One thing I love about the digital age is that I can read an interview over at Audio Ammunition and immediately discover one of my favorite new bands. That really just happened! Scraps are Liam, Bobby, and Kris - fellas you may already know from bands like The Gaggers and Miscalculations. This London trio recently released its debut 7" on No Front Teeth Records, and it's an absolute smasher! These lads play a raw and ripping brand of '77 style punk that reminds me a little of classic bands like Menace, Slaughter and the Dogs, and Eater. No doubt, these guys are inspired by some of the best music to ever exist (Ramones, The Clash, Dead Boys). But in no way are they trying to imitate those bands. They take the sound and spirit of '77 punk and put their own signature on it - aggressively pushing the tempos and infusing the darker tones of modern-day melodic hardcore. The energy and passion these guys put into their music is palpable in every note they play. And I love to hear a band in today's world that dares to fashion a punk anthem like "Time Has Come". We will always need more anthems, and we will always need more bands that genuinely have something to say. This is one of the best new bands I've heard in quite some time, and I will definitely be holding Scraps responsible if all of this violent head-bobbing eventually causes me physical harm.



-L.R.

http://scrapslondon.bandcamp.com/album/scraps-st
https://www.facebook.com/scrapslondon

New Mandates single!

Mandates, a foursome out of Calgary, had one of my favorite punk rock LPs of 2013. In fact, I'd say it's one of the most underrated albums of the last couple years. The Canadian punk scene continues to blow my mind with its unceasing awesomeness, and Mandates are definitely one of the best bands going up north. So when I saw that these guys had a new single out, I was pumped! And let me tell you: "Suspicion" does not disappoint! While not too much of a departure from the '77 punk meets rockin' power pop vibe of the album, the title track dials up the rock n' roll in a major way. Think early Cheap Trick with AC/DC's guitars - with all the hooks and livewire energy you'd expect from such a combination! It's just pure excitement, and it's almost criminal for recorded music to be this much fun! Be ready to pump your fist and show off your air guitar skills! On the B-side, "Wastin' Time" is another awesome mix of punky powerpop and straight-up rock n' roll. I know it's a cliche to pull out the "double A-side" description, but I genuinely believe that either song could be considered "the hit". I wonder if they flipped a coin! Again Mandates enlisted the great Pat Kearns for mixing and mastering duties, and surely these tracks benefit from his Midas touch. After the year-and-a-half wait for new material from Mandates, this single comes through in a major way. A new album should be out early next year, and I can't wait!



-L.R.

http://mandates.bandcamp.com/album/suspicion-b-w-wastin-time 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mandates/197923143559474 

Jenny Dee is back!

You may recall my review of Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents' most recent single, "Don't Tell Me". In what has been a truly phenomenal year for music, "Don't Tell Me" is one of the best singles I've heard all year. So it's hardly surprising that Jenny, Ed, and the gang have now delivered a full-length album that's also one of the year's finest. What I enjoy about this album is that it seamlessly combines every phase of Jenny Dee's musical progression into one delightful and unified package. Given that this encompasses everything from Motown & girl group inspired R & B to rootsy rock n' roll to turn of the '80s new wave pop, Electric Candyland can be counted on to offer plenty of variety. Yet it all flows together beautifully - a testament to Jenny's compelling vocal presence and formidable songwriting chops.

About half of Electric Candyland carries on in the direction of recent singles - suggesting what Blondie might have sounded like if they'd recorded with Jeff Lynne for the Xanadu soundtrack. Ed Valauskas is a truly amazing producer, and his skillful integration of strings, synthesizers, and lush background vocals is nothing short of majestic. If you liked the "Getaway" and "Don't Tell Me" singles, you'll be happy to know that both songs reappear here along with like-minded tracks such as "Bite Your Tongue" and "Livin' Alone". Yet by no means does it seem like you're listening to a different band when the action shifts to upbeat rockers like "Lookin' For Clues" or show-stopping soul numbers such as "Wake It Up". If there's one thing that unifies the different musical eras and styles that inspire Jenny Dee, it's the importance of great singing - both lead and backup. And this album is loaded with great singing. There aren't a whole lot of lead vocalists today who can hold a candle to the likes of Gladys Horton or Debbie Harry. But Jen D'Angora is definitely one of them. Listening to the stunning doo-wop ballad "That Moon Was Low", it's easy to understand why Graham Parker gave her that song to record.

How many times have you heard a band roll off a hot streak of singles, only to disappoint when it was time to make an album? Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents have avoided that fate, and it's no accident. Electric Candyland supplements a wealth of existing material (five of the six single sides are on the album) with some fantastic new songs. And it doesn't hurt that The Deelinquents are a red-hot band! This is not really a "garage" album or a "soul" album or a "new wave" album. It's a Jenny Dee album - and a worthy purchase for anyone who appreciates great music of all kinds.



-L.R.

http://jennydee.bandcamp.com/album/electric-candyland 
https://www.facebook.com/jennydeemusic 
http://jennydeemusic.com/