All hail Ana Lucia!

Well! How's this for ending the year in style? Ana Lucia - lead singer of the late, great Busy Signals - has made her first solo album. And our old friend Travis Ramin is her producer/collaborator/bandmate extraordinaire! Needless to say, it sounds unbeatable on paper. Everything Travis Ramin touches turns to gold, and no doubt the Busy Signals were one of the very finest punk bands of the mid-2000s. You have to own this, right? Is The Pope Catholic? Do I like beer? The sales pitch promises a blend of Dangerhouse Records style punk rock and new wave power pop, and that turns out to be remarkably accurate. Recorded at Geza X's Satellite Park Studios by the legendary Paul Roessler (45 Grave, The Screamers), this album boasts enough star power to make the Los Angeles Angels envious. And it does not disappoint. Ana Lucia's got a rich, powerful voice, and in many ways she's a throwback to the classic punk/new wave frontwomen of yore. If anyone's got the attitude and pipes to pull off this Blondie meets The Bags type deal, it is she.

A la her work with the Busy Signals, Ana Lucia's solo debut is the good kind of pop-punk. The songs pack a mean punch, and the hooks are massive. A couple tracks (like the sublime leadoff smash "Mad Man") are typical of a Travis Ramin production. But for the most part, this record is more hard candy than bubblegum. Songs like "Take Take Take" and "Hush Hush" are near perfect specimens of buzzsaw punk infused with tasty pop melodies - and lord knows I have a great weakness for that sort of thing. Across the board, the material is top-notch. "Mess Around" may be the best song Debbie Harry never wrote, and even the spooky "Watcher" (featuring Roessler guesting on keyboards) is hugely infectious. Plus all you punk historian geeks will really appreciate inspired renditions of Sado-Nation's "Gimme You" and The Zips' "Take Me Down"!

With Ramin and Matt Castore (The Pinsch, Condominium) ably backing her, Ana Lucia has delivered an album that ought to make her a star. It sounds as fresh and appealing today as it would have in 1980. Not only is Travis Ramin a genius producer, but he always manages to work with the most talented singers out there. Ana Lucia is certainly in that category. You can stream "Mad Man" over at the Ramo Records Facebook page, and I highly encourage you to do so immediately! I guarantee you'll love it. Vinyl is out on Ramo, and the CD is available from Base Records out of Tokyo. Get excited!

-L.R. 

http://www.facebook.com/ramorecordsmusic

Neighborhood Brats are back!

It's kind of cliche to maintain that a certain band sounds like it just stepped out of a time machine. But sometimes, ya know, it's true! California's Neighborhood Brats have nailed that VKTMS/Legal Weapon femme-fronted hardcore punk sound so perfectly that you could easily pass off their recordings as unearthed treasures from thirty years ago. In a day and age in which new punk rock modeled on old punk rock too often sounds like a pale imitation, Neighborhood Brats could legitimately stand toe-to-toe with their musical heroes. I could put 'em on a mix with The Avengers and Black Flag, and they'd fit right in. Latest single "Ocean Beach Party" is the best thing the band has released yet - a quick blast of archetypical California punk rock that totally leaves me wanting more. The A-side is fast and furious and instantly classic. Don't be fooled by the title. For sure, it's not that kind of beach party! What I've always loved about old-school California punk is that winning combination of catchy melodies and a decidedly dark tone. Neighborhood Brats have that going on here - particularly on the ominous, surfy "Shark Beach". We've been hearing from this great band in very small doses over the last couple of years, and every time they've brought the heat. Will 2013 perhaps be the year we get a full album? Let's hope!



-L.R. 

http://www.facebook.com/neighborhoodbrats
http://neighborhoodbrats.bandcamp.com/music

The Ills kill again!

I first reviewed The Ills early this year, and in my usual manner I got pretty excited. I recall running around the house shirtless and frightening the cats. Fireworks were brought out of storage. The neighbors complained I was writing too loud. And, so, having had almost 12 months to get myself fired up for the Iowa City band's debut full-length, I had enormous expectations for Tuning Out. And still, somehow, I was blown away by the thing. What a great freakin' record!

My original take on The Ills referenced the glory days of Rip Off Records and classic bands like The Spastics and Loli and the Chones. And while I won't disavow those associations, over the course of a full album I'm also getting a strong late '70s/early '80s California punk vibe and even a touch of early '90s Olympia. The Ills take a little bit of a horror punk angle on quite a few tracks, and on others they suggest what might have happened if the Angry Samoans had mated with X. The formula, perfect from the beginning, has not been tampered with. No songs run longer than a minute and a half, and the band tears through each one with an awesome mix of ferocity and tunefulness. Dynamo lead Singer Erika E. Bola has got a lot of names on her shit list, and she's not exactly shy about speaking her mind. You may have guessed that "Nominate U to Die" is not a love song. And "1-2-3 Hate U", a master stroke of bratty punk rock, has even cheery old me reveling in misanthropy! 

Tuning Out - with its varied blend of hate, horror, and tacos - reminds me why I fell in love with punk music in the first place. It's fun and loud and brilliantly simplistic. The songs, often over in less than a minute, waste little time in getting to the good part. If I were 15 and heard this record, it would totally inspire me to go out and start a band tomorrow. The Ills have achieved something that's a lot more difficult than it seems - delivering an album as thrilling and satisfying as their debut EP. The newer songs - like "Delete U", "Somewhere Not Here", and the title track - positively smoke. There was a time when great straight-ahead punk records like this were commonplace. Sadly, they are not anymore. Perhaps The Ills will ignite a renaissance. Vinyl coming soon on the legendary Big Neck Records!



-L.R. 

https://soundcloud.com/user2866573/sets/the-ills-tuning-out
http://www.facebook.com/theillsrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/theills

My Favorite Things

If it works for Oprah, why not for me? Here are a few of my favorite things.

Jack Black Beard Lube
This shit rules. I can go a week between shaves, and the beard still comes off smoothly and easily. If you see me sneaking out of an Ulta with a small bag in my hand, the loot is Beard Lube.

Flying Dog The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale
The greatest pumpkin ale ever made. This is my beer of the year runner-up. The winner is being kept secret for a few weeks.

New No Tomorrow Boys video


Kurt Baker
The new king of power pop. He's delivered my album of the year and is in the running for EP of the year. He has cool hair. What can't this guy do? 

American Horror Story: Asylum 
Going into this year it was like, "How can AHS stop last season?" Now it's more like, "Holy shit, last season was nothing!" 

Yogi Bedtime tea 
I love this tea so much that it's cutting into my beer drinking. 

Smashmouth football
Screw four-wide formations and high-scoring games. I want to see power runs, bone-jarring hits, and ferocious goal line stands. After watching quarterback-driven teams rule the NFL for years, it's great to see the 49ers kicking ass this year with a violent defense and a dominant running game. Hell, even the Patriots are pounding the ball between the tackles! And in college, the top two teams nationally in total defense are going to the BCS Championship. Nice.

Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
If there was any doubt that he's the best actor of the last 25 years...

Gaspari Myofusion Probiotic
The only whey protein I'll ever need. I always get the chocolate flavor.

Jabber 
Yeah, I just reviewed them the other day. I'm still loving their EP!

A Feast of Snakes by Harry Crews
Why am I touting a 36-year-old Southern Gothic novel? Because it rules. 

Little Caesars Hot-N-Ready
I've been hearing all kinds of nonsense about how I should boycott Papa John's for political reasons. The only reason I'm boycotting Papa John's is because its product is overpriced crap. For one third of the price, I'll gladly opt for the Hot-N-Ready.

SiriusXM Soul Town
My morning ritual: turn on Soul Town, slather my face with Beard Lube, and make myself pretty. Classic soul. Motown. What more does a man need?

New album from The Ills
So freaking good. Review coming soon!

Sweet potato fries
Regular fries will one day be obsolete.

Kick Out The Jams
A cool blog - even if it's entirely in Spanish.

Grand Traverse Pie Company
Can I say a potential proximity to this establishment is not a factor in my intention to relocate to Michigan? No, because that would be a lie.  

Kevin Love
Currently averaging 19.4 points and 14.4 rebounds per game, the big man is back and spearheading my fantasy team, The Funk Machine. The guy's a beast.

Doomsday Preppers
A fixture on the Fitzledge DVR. The fun part is not quite knowing if these are the least sane people in America - or the most.

-L.R.

Cold Warps score once more!

So leave it to me to not review Cold Warps' Halloween single until Christmastime! No matter: like any Cold Warps record, "Don't Haunt Me, OK?" is going to sound great 365 days a year. Look up "pop" in the dictionary, and you just might be directed to this Canadian foursome's Bandcamp page. Once again they've mined the middle ground between the Beach Boys and Ramones. And once again, they've demonstrated that you don't need fancy production when you can write perfect songs. Perhaps the tunes pack a little more punch this time out, but the recording is far from hi-fi. The ghostly title track is a tad creepy but mostly funny, and of course it's pop gold. B-side cut "Stuck On An Island" may be even better. It's classic Cold Warps: lo-fi power pop evoking the fuzzy-scuzzy side of beach bliss. I don't think garage-pop could get any catchier without the written consent of the Center for Disease Control. Given the brilliance of this band's previous output, you might wonder if A) this release is up to the group's usual standards and B) it's necessary to buy yet another Cold Warps record that's so stylistically similar to the others. Surely you know me by now. My answer to both questions is obviously going to be yes. Cold Warps are one of the best bands on the planet. Everything they release is essential. If you're a pop person like me, it's a great time to be alive.


-L.R.

http://coldwarps.bandcamp.com/album/dont-haunt-me-ok-7inch
http://www.facebook.com/coldwarps

More from Miss Chain!

How about a brand new Miss Chain & the Broken Heels single for an early Christmas present? Please and thank you! A teaser for an LP due out early next year, "Rainbow" is everything you'd expect and more from Astrid Dante and her exceptionally talented band-mates. It's out now on the one-and-only Bachelor Records. As I'd hoped, it continues the melodious pop bliss of 2010's wonderful On A Bittersweet Ride. And if these two tracks are any indication of what's to come, the new album will be the band's best yet!

Miss Chain & the Broken Heels have pulled off quite a tricky feat - they've managed to "mature" as a band without sacrificing any of the qualities that made them great in the first place. While so many power pop-ish bands wear their influences on their sleeves, Miss Chain & the Broken Heels have arrived at that place where they only sound like themselves. "Rainbow" is a twangy pop song with a bouncing beat and extraordinary guitar work. Miss Chain has never sounded better, and the melodies pour forth in sweet abundance. You can still hear hints of garage and '60s pop, but all in all there's a timeless singer/songwriter vibe at play. I like how the lyrics tell a story - and that they're delivered with such passion.

On the flip, "Searchers" is a little more of a straight forward power pop song. It's catchy and upbeat. I love the harmonies, and there's a perfect little hook that'll get you every time. The song is a great mix of the old Miss Chain and the new Miss Chain - reminding us that the difference between the two is more stylistic than qualitative. For the lack of a better term, the band's newer stuff is clearly more "sophisticated" than their early power pop by-the-book singles. But even with an amazing-sounding analog recording and a musically-accomplished band, the real goodness remains in the melodies and the hooks. This is a band that continues to pursue the perfect pop song. Miss Chain is one of my very favorite vocalists, and she and her songwriting partner Disaster Silva have again delivered beautiful and infectious material. Once "Rainbow" gets stuck in your head, you're going to want it to stay there for a very long time. Good times! I wholeheartedly recommend this band to anyone who loves great music.



-L.R. 

http://www.facebook.com/misschainandthebrokenheels
http://misschainandthebrokenheels.bandcamp.com/album/rainbow-7-2

Meet Jabber!

Oh boy! It took me only a few seconds to go completely bananas for Jabber. From the opening strains of "Maybe Next Year", it was absolute pop bliss of the highest order. And from there, I just knew it was only going to get better.

I've always had a weakness for super-catchy pop-punk with female vocals. Jabber - featuring Danny from The Pillowfights! and Kristia from Dead Ringer on dual lead vocals - are perhaps the next great band in this mold. They just formed in September and have already recorded an amazing EP called Too Many Babes. Of course they have songs that will be stuck in your head all day long. But they also have harmonies to die for and some of the catchiest guitar leads I've ever had the good fortune to hear. And both singers are so wonderfully likable that you just have to root for them. Isn't that what pop-punk music is all about: totally relating to someone else's ups and downs in love? Feeling their pain and sharing in their triumphs? Like some sublime mixture of Discount, the Unlovables, that dog, and Josie and the Pussycats, Jabber takes a tried-and-true musical formula and makes it feel fresh and new. And even when the lyrics tackle the anguish of longing ("Talk To You") or unrequited love ("Girlfriend"), there's such a joy and optimism to Jabber's music that it's bound to brighten your day no matter what. If a line like "I don't want to teach the world to sing/I can barely even play this thing" doesn't make you instantly fall in love with this Bay Area supergroup, you're a tougher customer than I. Yay, Jabber! 



-L.R.

http://jabberpop.bandcamp.com/album/too-many-babes
http://www.facebook.com/jabberpunx