Trevor Blendour - Falling In Love

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Trevor Blendour has released the ultimate album for pop lovers...and all other kinds of lovers! Trevor Treiber has been fronting Iowa-based pop-punk band The Blendours for over a decade. Falling In Love, his solo debut, leans deep into power pop and early rock and roll in a way that's hardly surprising. Over the course of 13 tracks, he covers all the bases: falling in love, being in love, having your heart broken, losing the girl, winning back the girl, getting dumped, and finding love again. These have been fundamental themes of songs since the beginning of time, but they are especially tied to the golden age of rock and roll. The influences behind Falling In Love are not hard to spot. Treiber wears his love for Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, early Beatles, doo-wop, and late '50s/early '60s teen idol pop on his sleeve. He builds his songs on a foundation of silky-smooth harmonies, candy-sweet melodies, and lyrics that appeal to the eternal teenager in all of us. And those are things that will never ever go out of style. 

Falling In Love is full of original songs that could easily pass for covers of forgotten oldies. And while there are plenty of pop-punk acts that incorporate classic pop and rock and roll influences, this album feels more like the reverse of that. As Niek from Add To Wantlist has astutely pointed out, Treiber comes off like an early '60s rocker who magically stumbled upon a Green Day record from the future. Some of that is because he vocally resembles a young Neil Sedaka. But a bigger part of it is his marvelous execution of this musical style. In writing timeless two-to-three minute pop songs with a pinch of modern pop-punk influence, he's created an album I can recommend to music fans aged 9 to 90. Perhaps I'm just a sucker for love and romance, but Falling In Love is an album that puts a smile on my face. It exudes a joyfulness and innocence that are all too often missing from modern music and modern life in general. I will be eagerly awaiting to see if this album receives the Poppy Robbie seal of approval!

-L.R.

https://trevorblendour.bandcamp.com/album/falling-in-love
https://www.facebook.com/trevorblendour
https://blendours.bandcamp.com/

Klazo - 'Demik Dementia

Holy smokes, do we ever have a ripper here! Brace yourself! London, Ontario duo Klazo plays fast & ferocious punk rock that meets at the intersection of early hardcore, post Reatards garage-punk, and old school Rust Belt punk rock. A co-release between Big Neck and No Front Teeth Records, its new album 'Demik Dementia is a goddamn classic upon arrival. This is truly a vintage Big Neck Records release! The one-sheet summarizes it as "blaster tracks with compulsive yelling amplified by fire, alcohol and carbon monoxide poisoning," and it would be futile for me to try and come up with a better description. How can just two people kick up a racket this enormous? On this release, Rob and Jesse tear through 11 tracks that smash everything in their path. And while the sheer force and manic energy of the music are undeniable, what separates Klazo from so many other bands of this style is that they've got songs. And I love how the band complements all the killer original material with unbelievably awesome covers of a couple of classics: PACK's "Nobody Can Tell Us" and Electric Eels' "Jaguar Ride". Those cover selections give you excellent reference points for what Klazo is all about, and the band totally crushes both songs. 

'Demik Dementia is reminiscent of a whole lot of great records that came out in the early-to-mid aughts. But as the title suggests, it's fully imbued with the anxiety, despair, and rage of this unprecedented moment in our existence. If you love garage trash, Killed By Death comps, or just great punk rock in general, you need to be all over this release!

-L.R.

https://klazo.bandcamp.com/album/demik-dementia-lp
https://bigneckrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/demik-dementia
https://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/klazomania/
https://www.facebook.com/bigneckrecords

Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders - "Tell Us All a Story"

Pat Todd teaming up I-94 Recordings is what you'd call a match made in heaven. Here we have two veritable institutions of great American rock and roll collaborating to bring you an essential slab of wax. Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders have been going strong now since 2004 and recently released another great full-length album called "…There's Pretty Things In Palookaville…" Out now on I-94, new single "Tell Us All a Story" is vintage Pat Todd: a blistering no-frills rocker that condenses that last 67 years of rock and roll into two minutes and 44 seconds of pure sonic energy. And while Todd and his bandmates are an absolute musical powerhouse, it should not be ignored that the lyrics to this song are remarkably profound -- cutting to the essence of everything that's messed up about the world today. You get bang-on social commentary and a rocking good time in one shot. That's the way to do it! I-94 has adopted a cool format for its 7" releases: an original song on the A-side and a cover of a Detroit artist on the flip. For this release, Todd chose to cover "Prison of Love" by late '60s/early '70s garage band Früt (nee Früt of the Loom). Todd had been wanting to cover this track since the '70s, so it was an easy choice when he signed on to cut this record for I-94. He and the Rankoutsiders rock the hell out of this number while still showing great love for the original. 

Pat Todd never writes a bad song. "Tell Us All a Story" is an especially inspired tune that's perfect for the 7" format. It's available now on black, red, and glow in the dark vinyl. Head on over to I-94's web site and snag yourself a copy! 

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/pat-todd-the-rankoutsiders-tell-us-all-a-story-7-vinyl
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004
https://www.facebook.com/pattoddrankoutsiders

Rum Bar Records Presents: Early Times

Early Times, the new free digital compilation from Rum Bar Records, is exactly what the title suggests. It compiles tracks from Rum Bar's earlier releases along with songs Malibu Lou released with his previous labels Abbey Lounge Records and Melted Records. In that respect, this is an early history and a pre-history of the best record label out there. And this will be the easiest studying you've ever done: just grab yourself a tasty beverage, hit play, and enjoy 27 premium shots of garage, punk, and underground rock and roll hand-picked by the man himself! Hearing Watts' "Flash of White Light" and The Connection's "Don't Talk To My Baby" brings back fond memories of my earliest days of reviewing Rum Bar releases (hard to believe that was eight years ago!). Also turning up are tracks from many of the label's flagship artists (Muck and the Mires, The Dirty Truckers/Tom Baker, The Cheap Cassettes, Shanda and the Howlers, Indonesian Junk) as well as overlooked gems by the likes of Los Breakdowns, The Phantoms, and ZipGun Bomber. A big draw for me are the additional selections from the Abbey Lounge (The Dents, The Marvels, The Downbeat 5, Coffin Lids) and Melted (The Heartdrops, The Young Hasselhoffs, Electraluxx, 30 Amp Fuse) catalogs. Obviously, Rum Bar diehards will be familiar with most of this material and already own much of it. But with there being 27 tracks here dating from 1996 to 2017, there are sure to be some songs in the bunch that you might have missed (as Lou puts it) "the first, second or third time around"! And for those of you who are not yet familiar with this label and its 172 titles currently available on Bandcamp, this free sampler will be a perfect point of entry. Class is in session for Rum Bar 101: just download Early Times, and you get an A!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/early-times-free-bandcamp-download-compilation
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Ryan Allen - I'm Not Mean

While we eagerly await a new Extra Arms album (which is coming this summer!), Ryan Allen has continued to treat fans to some truly excellent home-recorded solo releases. What I've enjoyed about these releases is that they have allowed Allen to dive deep into his multitude of musical influences. Song Snacks Vol. 1 was a nod to some of the sprawling indie rock epics of the 1990s. What A Rip was a love letter to 1960s pop and rock and roll. Digital Hiss celebrated the loud/fuzzed out side of indie rock. And now on his latest release I'm Not Mean, Allen finds himself inspired by the heyday of jangly indie pop. Without copying any artists in particular, he taps into the general vibe of The Smiths, early R.E.M., and the collective output of Sarah and Slumberland Records. It has been well-established that Ryan Allen can rock with the best of 'em, but these four tracks are all about finesse. From the guitar tone to the harmonies to the general fidelity of these recordings, the devil is in the details. "Count With Me" is as warm and bright as spring sunshine. Simply put, it's perfect pop. "To Be A Journalist" doubles down on the jangle but still sounds like a vintage Ryan Allen song with amazing lyrics and indelible melodies working hand-in-hand. Allen goes full twee on the title track, melding simplicity and sheer beauty like he's the second coming of Bobby Wratten. 

While Ryan Allen is no stranger to home recording, I'm Not Means finds him really stepping things up in terms of production and arrangements. Listening to this EP, it's not in any way obvious that these tracks were recorded at home by one guy with two microphones. Of course it doesn't hurt to have a formidable talent like Justin Pizzoferrato on hand to mix and master the recordings! If Allen's intention was to craft an homage to jangle pop, I'd say he fully nailed it. And as he always does, he manages to fold those inspirations into his own distinctive style as an artist. Whatever the specific influences may be, a Ryan Allen record always sounds like a Ryan Allen record. Whether you're a jangle junkie or simply a fan of melodic pop music, I'm Not Mean is highly recommended!

-L.R.

https://extraarms.bandcamp.com/album/im-not-mean-ep
https://www.facebook.com/ryanallenandhisextraarms

The Suttles - Stories

Stories, the second album from Paris trio The Suttles, could not be any more up my alley. It meets at the intersection of power pop and '77 punk rock with additional touches of mod and new wave. You may recognize Fred, Julian, and Max as three-fifths of Jon & the Vons. And these guys have been in plenty of other cool bands such as Opération-S, Protokids, Les Braqueurs, and Les Terribles. These three formed The Suttles in 2019 and have already gotten two full-length releases out the door. Stories follows the same blueprint as last year's self-titled debut on Les Disques à Rebours. The songs are tuneful and energetic, and they're influenced by all of your favorite records from 1977 through 1980. "I Wanna Get That Girl" is quintessential punky power pop and a great tone-setter for the whole album. "First Time" is not a cover of The Boys' song, but it sure reminds me of The Boys! "Papercut" and "Arrête de Penser" are straight-up '77-style punk bangers. "It's Alright" is textbook power pop. "Seul" is bang-on Jam worship. "Bad Time" is a killer cover of the classic tune by the old British beat group The Roulettes. Punk/powerpop is always a go-to genre for me, and The Suttles have once again totally nailed that sound. Order Stories now from Topsy-Turvy Records!

-L.R.

https://thesuttles.bandcamp.com/album/stories

https://www.facebook.com/The-Suttles-136765567788102/

https://www.soundflat.de/punkrock/punkrock-lp/suttles-stories-lp

The Sad Tomorrows - self titled

Now here's a true New Jersey punk rock super group! The Sad Tomorrows are Jeff Schroeck, Mike Hunchback, J Nixon, and Brian Gorsegner. That lineup encompasses membership in Night Birds, Psyched To Die, Black Wine, Hunchback, Nervous Triggers, The Ergs!, and too many other bands to mention. With this band, these Garden State scene veterans have honed in on a musical aesthetic that's near and dear to my heart: the intersection of punk-pop and late '80s/early '90s indie/alternative rock. The Sad Tomorrows are in many ways similar to Character Actor, Schroeck and Gorsegner's excellent indie-pop project from a few years back. The Sad Tomorrows refine the concept of Character Actor, introducing a new favorite band for those who can't get enough of Husker Du, the Lemonheads, Soul Asylum, ALL, early Goo Goo Dolls, etc. The band's debut EP has already sold out a full pressing of 100 cassette tapes but is still available in digital form from Don Giovanni Records. Recorded by Chris Pierce and mastered by Stephen Egerton, this EP sounds like it could have come out on cassingle on a major label 30 years ago. It recalls that brief but glorious moment of indie rock leaping into the mainstream before it all turned to shit. I especially like the crisp melodic punk of "Long Vibration" and the vintage '92 alt rock power pop of "Unsustainable Practices". Any time Jeff Schroeck is writing and singing songs, I am here for it. With this band, he and his pals are really hitting a sweet spot for me. Fingers crossed for more Sad Tomorrows!

-L.R.

https://thesadtomorrows.bandcamp.com/album/the-sad-tomorrows

https://www.facebook.com/thesadtomorrows