The Cynz - Little Miss Lost

The Cynz, a New Jersey/New York–based rock 'n' roll band, release their fifth album today — and their first with the illustrious JEM Records. The Cynz are probably best known for their electrifying live performances which revolve around the chemistry and charisma of lead singer Cyndi Dawson and guitarist Henry Seiz. It may have been a slight surprise when this '70s punk–influenced, full-throttle rock band signed to JEM. But anyone who hears Little Miss Lost is sure to conclude that The Cynz fit in perfectly on the JEM roster. This is the kind of record that is timeless to me — a big, hooky rock album packed with songs that would be radio hits if they still played real rock 'n' roll on the radio. It has a distinct '80s feel yet still sounds modern, and it highlights the tremendous songwriting talents of Dawson and Seiz. 

While not fully a concept album, Little Miss Lost is semi-autobiographical. It finds Dawson revisiting a difficult time in her life — when she struck out on her own at 17 and had to make her way in New York City. In addition to crafting rocking and immensely catchy tunes, Dawson and Seiz really poured their hearts and souls into these songs. What results is an album that delights from start to finish. At a time when so many bands attach themselves to narrowly defined musical styles, it's a breath of fresh air to hear a band that just wants to make a great rock album. "Crow-Haired Boys," Dawson's reminiscence of frequenting New York clubs as a teen, is so anthemic that it sounds like it could be the grand opening number in a rock musical. The title track is pure hard rock without irony. "When We Were In Love" is the definition of pop bliss — featuring a chorus that straight-up gives me chills. "Just a Boy" and "Narrow Hips" demonstrate that The Cynz can do power pop as well as anyone on the JEM roster. "The Only One" is classic '60s pop with raga rock touches. "Fall Away," the album's emphatic closer, is a punky, kick-ass rocker. Covers of Holly & The Italians' "Tell That Girl To Shut Up" and The Smithereens' "Room Without a View" do justice to the originals but infuse plenty of that distinct Cynz style. 

The press release for Little Miss Lost talks about how these songs "might" be Dawson and Seiz's strongest material to date. Well that's the understatement of the year! I can't imagine any fan of the label not enjoying this album. It brings to mind the "cooler" side of '80s AOR without sounding dated. And while The Cynz are certainly inspired by many greats of the past, their music is more the product of their two songwriters' unique talents and personalities than it is of any specific influences. Little Miss Lost is an absolutely fantastic album and one of JEM's very best releases in recent years.

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1KRbTp8eBcOT0t36WqHsgD
https://music.apple.com/us/album/little-miss-lost/1725034912
https://www.facebook.com/TheCynz/
https://jemrecordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Jem-Records-100063542772461/

Tambourine Girlfriend - Tambourine Girlfriend's Easter Parade

Wait! Has Tambourine Girlfriend gone and covered all of Irving Berlin's songs from the classic musical film Easter Parade? Not quite. Instead they've taken all the song titles and turned them into original songs — in essence creating an Easter-themed indie pop album. Is this one of the most ridiculous concepts for an album I've ever come across? No doubt. But do I totally love it? Abso-freaking-lutely! Tambourine Girlfriend are Mike and Rusty from the wonderful holiday podcast Snow in Southtown. Tambourine Girlfriend's Easter Parade was conceived as a joke on the show, and then it became a real thing. It was originally created as bonus content for the show's short-lived Patreon. Now the album is available for the listening enjoyment of the whole wide world. 

I've been known to review Christmas, Halloween, and even Thanksgiving-themed releases before, but this is certainly my first time writing about an Easter album. If you can get past the absurdity of the concept, you will discover in Tambourine Girlfriend's Easter Parade a delightful and legit-good pop record. The album may have started out as a goof, but Mike and Rusty put tremendous love and care into these songs. As they do on the air, Mike and Rusty complement each other really well. Rusty's whimsical, endearingly geeky indie rock numbers alternate with Mike's melody-driven pop earworms, creating a flow that's enjoyable to the ears. In some of these cases, the songs turn out even better than their Easter Parade counterparts (I'm not above a little blasphemy during Holy Week). Of course I've reviewed Mike's band Vista Blue three or four times, and a few of these tracks could pass for Vista Blue songs. "I Want To Get Back To Michigan" is like a bonus Vista Blue single, and "The Girl on the Magazine Cover" actually appears on an official VB release. But Mike breaks from the pop-punk style on a lot of his contributions to this album — showing sides of himself we don't often hear on Vista Blue releases. He channels Oasis on "We're a Couple of Swells," one of the best tunes he's ever written. "It Only Happens When I Dance With You" is a dandy little baroque/indie pop gem. "Better Luck Next Time" makes it clear that a Mike Patton acoustic album would be a must-buy. Rusty's songs are equally good. "Happy Easter" immediately rises to the level of a holiday standard. "Beautiful Faces Need Beautiful Clothes" sounds like the best song Bobby Wratten never wrote. "Drum Crazy" is truly beautiful and sure to touch the heart of any music lover. 

As a writer, I find the whole premise of taking existing song titles and turning them into new songs an utterly fascinating exercise. Sometimes a funny idea can open the door to true inspiration. Don't let these jokers fool you: they are way more talented than they'd ever let on. Even if you have little interest in baskets of chocolate, giant bunnies, or the salvation of humanity, Tambourine Girlfriend's Easter Parade has plenty to offer you. And if you're a fan of holidays, pop culture, and holiday pop culture, I highly recommend adding Snow In Southtown to your podcast rotation. Happy Easter!

-L.R.

https://tambourinegirlfriend.bandcamp.com/album/tambourine-girlfriends-easter-parade
https://www.facebook.com/snowinsouthtown/
https://snowinsouthtown.wordpress.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5oyXtio6NEO3fPrtGrv7eX

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

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

-L.R.

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

Itchy & the Nits - Worst Of

Itchy & the Nits' demo tape was one of the most exciting debut releases of last year, and thankfully we did not have to wait long for more music from this Sydney-based garage punk trio. Total Punk Records has compiled the seven demo tracks with five brand-new cuts to form a proper debut album for Itchy & the Nits called Worst Of. This, my friends, is an instant classic in the garage punk world — sounding like something that might have come out on Radio X in 1996. These ladies understand what great rock 'n' roll is all about, and the simplicity of their musical approach is the stuff of genius. If you like your budget punk raw, primitive, catchy, and fun, Worst Of will hit you just the way you like it. Give credit to Total Punk for realizing that the demo tracks were already perfect and needed to exist on a record. The five new songs fit right in. None of these songs come close to hitting the two-minute mark, and the whole album clocks in at under 17 minutes. Itchy & the Nits know how to get in, get out, and leave you wanting more! If this is your first exposure to Itchy & the Nits, smash hits like "Goner," "Crabs," and "Beat It Bozo!" are sure to be stuck in your head for weeks. New cuts like "Dreamboat" and a fab cover of The Gizmos' "Tie Me Up" justify the purchase price even if you already own the demo tape. Mick Fletcher has already certified this album gold, and who's gonna argue with him? Sadly, the vinyl is already sold out, but I know you resourceful types will find a way to score a copy!

-L.R.

https://totalpunkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/worst-of
https://open.spotify.com/album/3ewCh1BzqsT402EQGNrChx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKXDJ_G3l6c
https://itchyandthenits.bandcamp.com/album/itchy-and-the-nits
https://www.instagram.com/itchyandthenits/
https://www.facebook.com/itchyandthenits/
https://totalpunkrecords.com/

CB Kiddo - "Feeling Fine"/"So It Goes"

Wasn't I just talking about how I knew the demise of Phone Jerks would have a silver lining because former members' new projects would ultimately multiply the awesomeness? The awesomeness continues to multiply! CB Kiddo is Emily's home-recorded pandemic project. And while there is much controversy and debate surrounding various aspects of Phone Jerks (What was their best record? Which band did they rip off the most? Which song should they have covered? Which song should they not have covered? Who had the best hair?), I think fans would unanimously proclaim Emily as their favorite Phone Jerks singer. So the idea of Emily singing on another project was going to be warmly-received even if she just sang hockey scores over top of jazz flute. But far better than that, CB Kiddo turns out to be a lo-fi rockin' poppy punk thing that's gonna have you all going nuts. Its worldwide debut features a pair of unmastered demo tracks that you'll love even if you're too bougie to like Phone Jerks. Both of these songs — "Feeling Fine" and "So It Goes" — are stone cold bangers with killer hooks and freaking awesome lyrics. Seriously: "Feeling Fine" could be an A-side right now. Holy cannoli, what a debut! And it's a free download, so you've got no excuses for sleeping on it! 

-L.R.

https://kiddo27.bandcamp.com/album/cb-kiddo

White Wires - Singles and Rarities

One thing I regret about my nearly four-year sabbatical from music reviewing that pre-dated this blog is that I missed most of an incredible run by The White Wires. I caught the tail end of that run and loved the album WWIII. But when I went back and listened to their early singles and first two albums, I was floored. There's no doubt about it: had I been reviewing music circa 2008-2010, The White Wires would have been one of my most highly touted bands. So I relish the opportunity to be able to review this Ottawa-based trio one more time. Singles and Rarities is exactly what it sounds like: a collection of the band's singles and compilation cuts which essentially forms a fourth White Wires album. There's even a previously-unreleased track included! If you want to hear one of past decade's greatest punky power pop garage bands in top form, Singles and Rarities is a must-listen. 7" sides like "Crazy Crazy" and "Pogo 'til I Puke Tonight" are up there with the best of the band's songs, and covers of The Nerves ("Letter to G") and Poppees ("I Need Your Love") are totally aces. The unreleased track, "Spy," is quite good and will be a real treat for fans. You can stream this compilation now and look forward to a vinyl release from It's Alive Records!

-L.R.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIASQ-j15uc&list=OLAK5uy_mwF9W9eCZbHdwh6Ilopa22d1JitmC-D-A
https://open.spotify.com/album/3RuiabpH6uPHCQxY3oUd7Y
https://www.facebook.com/thewhitewires
https://thewhitewires.bandcamp.com/

Pleasants - Rocanrol In Mono

Here come the Aussies again exerting world domination over modern-day punk rock! Pleasants hail from Perth and have released several notable singles over the last couple of years. Out now on Under the Gun Records, Rocanrol In Mono is the band's long-awaited full-length debut. This whole record was written, performed, recorded, and mixed by one individual, Mr. Al Uminium. Blending the raw energy of Aussie garage punk with egg punk-ish elements and a classic punk approach to songwriting, this nifty long player more than lives up to the promise of the singles. These songs are catchy as hell, odd in the best possible sense, and just really damn good. Rocanrol In Mono joins a rapidly-growing list of great punk albums released so far this year. When it comes to budget punk (or is it budget rocanrol?), Pleasants are here to show us how it's done! 

-L.R.

https://pleasants77.bandcamp.com/album/rocanrol-in-mono
https://utgrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rocanrol-in-mono
https://utgrecords.com/products/copy-of-total-sham-lp