Bambies - "Dirty Taint"

I first wrote about Bambies back in 2019 when the Montreal trio released "Red Guitar" -- the second-ever release on Reta Records! From the start, I was absolutely floored by this band's super fun mix of punk, pop, and high energy rock and roll. Now Sami, Franki, and Feli are back with "Dirty Taint", a new single that teases their forthcoming album Summer Soon. According to the band, the song is about "answering the call of invisible forces, internal chemistry or whatever it is that brings you to the right place, at the right time to have a perfect night". That's a vibe I can totally dig! "Dirty Taint" is the kind of song you crank up loud when you want to feel really great about being alive. It's rare to hear a band sound this poppy while still maintaining an aggressive punk rock and roll edge. But that's exactly what Bambies have pulled off here! Summer Soon is due out in August on Spaghetty Town and Wanda Records -- and somehow Bambies manage to be a perfect fit for both labels! I am so pumped for this album!

-L.R.

https://thebambies.bandcamp.com/track/dirty-taint
https://www.facebook.com/lesbambies

The Idolizers - ConCretins

The Idolizers are back! Less than a year ago, this New York City based punk group released a terrific debut EP on Rum Bar Records. ConCretins, the follow-up, builds off of The Idolizers' foundational sound but also shows considerable growth. Paired down to a power trio (MikeDee ThrillSergeant on bass and lead vocals, Jon Pozzuto on guitar, and Tommy Brimstone on drums), The Idolizers continue to exemplify New York style punk rock and roll. Out on Rum Bar Records, ConCretins features seven tracks of gritty, high energy rock and roll steeped in the sounds of '77 and its musical progenitors (Stooges, New York Dolls, MC5). From the opening strains of "Action!", it's apparent that The Idolizers remain faithful congregants of the church of the Dead Boys and Johnny Thunders. However, this release finds the band branching out a bit and incorporating some power pop influences into its glam/punk/rock and roll attack. Songs like "Riot Radio" and "Until Then" are hooky, sing-along numbers with plenty of hop in their step. Elsewhere, the band brings the thunder on the blistering "All the Way" and tears into some timeless old style punk rock on "All Night Long". The very essence of New York City comes oozing out of every note these guys play. This, my friends, is real deal punk rock and roll. Crank these tunes loud and let the world know that you are not to be messed with!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/concretins
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.facebook.com/IdolizersNYC/

The Checkered Hearts - Joystick

Now here's a true super duo for you! In the modern world of melody-driven pop music, Lisa Mychols requires no introduction. She's a legend of the Los Angeles pop scene as both a solo artist and a member of too many bands to mention. Hillary Burton fronts honeychain -- one of my favorite power pop bands of recent memory. Mychols and Burton have been friends since meeting in junior high and most recently performed as the duo NUSHU. Now they have reassembled as The Checkered Hearts and released their debut EP Joystick on Chicanery Chick Records/Golden Robot Records. Joystick is a collection of covers that ought to delight anyone who geeks out over classic power pop. As the title and cover art suggest, all the songs date back to the 1980s and late '70s. The songs covered include The Cars' "My Best Friend's Girl", Housemartins' "Happy Hour", Phil Seymour's "Precious To Me", Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know", and The Knack's "Good Girls Don't". There's also an original number called "So Long, Maybe" thrown in as a bonus track! This is a true collaboration. Mychols and Burton trade off on vocals and various musical instruments. These are all really great covers. Obviously, you can't beat the source material. But these two amazing talents infuse these classic tracks with plenty of their own delightful personalities. How can you not love this EP?! If you dig what you hear, be sure to also check out The Checkered Hearts' covers of 10cc's "I'm Not In Love" and Shocking Blue's "Love Buzz"!

-L.R.

https://thecheckeredhearts.com/home

https://www.facebook.com/TheCheckeredHearts/

https://dielaughingrecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-checkered-hearts-joystick

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7YzMlaoKgV7ykAGRw03pEg

https://www.facebook.com/ChicaneryChickRecords/

https://lisamychols.bandcamp.com/

https://honeychain.bandcamp.com/

Neighborhood Brats - Confines of Life

We've arrived at that time when the great full-lengths albums of the year are really starting to pile up. And while I've struggled to keep up with all of them, my intention is to make sure I hit all of the most essential titles sooner or later. It sometimes feels like I've been writing about Neighborhood Brats forever. It's actually been just short of ten years. It's kind of hard to believe, then, that the band's new LP Confines of Life is only its third full-length album! Out on Taken By Surprise Records in Europe and Dirt Cult Records in North America, Confines of Life is the Neighborhood Brats' most stylistically diverse album yet -- and also its most urgent! On this release, vocalist Jenny Angelillo, guitarist George Rager, drummer Nick Aguilar, and bassist Mike West continue to operate under the influence of first wave California punk and early '80s punk/hardcore -- while also adding elements of pop, surf, post-punk, and modern punk rock. Angelillo and Rager -- who have kept this band going through multiple lineup changes over the years -- have found another dynamite rhythm section in Aguilar and West. 

Confines Of Life, which blazes through 12 tracks in 22 and a half minutes, matches its furious musical power with a message that comes through clear as day. Neighborhood Brats aren't pulling any punches: they have no patience or tolerance for racism, sexism, transphobia, xenophobia, fascism, the patriarchy, or misogyny. On this album, they rage against many of these things while lamenting a world besieged by environmental crisis, systematic oppression, and economic inequality. Songs like "Who Took The Rain" and "Transitional Housing" find the band embracing a pop sensibility like never before, while "Migraines" is a perfect example of what "post-punk" music ought to be. "Signs and Semantics", which is all at once dark, melodic, and intense, is the kind of song that nobody could pull off quite like Neighborhood Brats do. And with this being a Neighborhood Brats album, you know to expect your fair share of raging and pissed-off hardcore tracks. "FFBF" and "Harvey Weinstein Is A Symptom" are two of the best songs this band has ever done in that vein, and they should be played excessively loud while you scream along to every lyric. 

Is there a better punk rock band in existence than Neighborhood Brats? Honestly, I can't think of one! This band has it all: musical chops, a powerhouse singer/lyricist, excellent songwriting, and something (actually lots of things) to stand for. While Neighborhood Brats have not veered far from their original musical blueprint, they have continually progressed through their early EPs and each of their full-length albums. Confines of Life manages to be a vintage Neighborhood Brats album even as it finds the band taking another step forward. Even with all of the wonderful styles of music that exist in this world, there are times when nothing but kick-ass punk rock will do. If you find yourself in that situation, I highly recommend Confines of Life.

-L.R.

https://neighborhoodbrats.bandcamp.com/album/confines-of-life
https://takenbysurpriserecords.bandcamp.com/album/confines-of-life-lp
https://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/confines-of-life
https://www.facebook.com/neighborhoodbrats

Kid Gulliver - Gimme Some Go!

Following its amazing run of singles in 2020-21, Kid Gulliver has finally given us a bigger taste of its musical talents. The Boston-based pop group has released a four-song EP called Gimme Some Go! on Red On Red Records. What I like about this release is that it shows multiple sides of Kid Gulliver. It leads with a cover of the Bee Gees' classic "I Started A Joke". It's pretty ballsy to take on a song as perfect as "I Started A Joke", and I have to hand it to Kid Gulliver here. Rather than try to top the original (impossible!), the band chose to completely transform it. If you were not aware of the Bee Gees version, you could easily mistake this for a Kid Gulliver original! It's got a new wave/power pop feel to it, and Simone Berk's approach to the lead vocal is unexpected in the most wonderful way. This, my friends, is how you do a cover song! The video for the song (embedded below) is a real hoot. It's a throwback to all of those old school "performance clip" music videos, and there's a very special guest star appearing on bass! 

Having set such a high bar for the rest of the EP, Kid Gulliver follows through with three excellent original songs. The haunting "Lila Dreams" brings to mind early '80s U.K. indie rock and weaves a sad tale of quiet despair. The interplay between David Armillotti's guitar and Lee Harrington's bass on this track is nothing short of stunning. "Gimme Some Go!" is the real surprise of this release. Who knew Kid Gulliver could do ska --  and do it well?! To close out the EP, "Stupid Little Girl" is a jangly power pop number that you might describe as "vintage" Kid Gulliver. Let it be said that the world can always use more pop songs which illuminate the imprudence of falling in love with a serial killer. Being a particular fan of well-crafted dark humor, I find myself in awe of Armillotti's lyrics and Berk's matter-of-fact treatment of them. In a just world, this song would be all over the radio! 

I must concur with Ralph Rivera -- Kid Gulliver somehow manages to get better with every new release! Gimme Some Go! is full of pleasant surprises and truly splendid songs. Armillotti and Berk as a songwriting and vocal tandem are on some kind of roll. More, please!

-L.R.

https://kidgulliverred.bandcamp.com/
https://kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kidgulliver
https://www.facebook.com/redonredrecords/

Randells - Kicks

It seems appropriate that The Randells would release an album just in time for the summer. This trio from the south of Sweden creates an eternal summer with its music. Even if it's below freezing outside, a Randells record always transports you to a world of warm weather, abundant sunshine, picturesque beaches, and pretty girls. Following a great run of singles in 2020, The Randells have hooked up with the labels Monster Zero, Waterslide Records, and Memorable But Not Honorable to release a dynamite full-length album called Kicks. Over the course of 12 tracks, The Randells execute their patented mix of pop-punk, bubblegum, and surf to ear-pleasing perfection. You know what you're in for: buzzing guitars, sticky-sweet melodies, and lyrics ranging from sentimental to silly. The legendary Perry Leenhauts mixed and mastered the album, so of course it sounds like a million bucks! 

When I think about my longtime fondness for European pop-punk, bands that immediately come to mind are Travoltas, The Yum Yums, and The Hawaiians. I'd put Randells in the same category. The influence of the Ramones and Beach Boys is obvious, but this band offers its own fresh take on that storied musical tradition. Kicks really is a perfect pop-punk album -- satisfying on both the pop and punk sides of the equation. It's on the bubblegum side of pop-punk, but for sure it absolutely rocks! Play it now as you soak up the summer. And when the temperatures turn cold and the sky grows dismal, this album will take you back to the beach in spirit.

-L.R.

https://monsterzerorecords.bandcamp.com/album/kicks
https://www.facebook.com/randellstheband
https://randellstheband.bandcamp.com/album/kicks-2
https://www.facebook.com/MonsterZeroPunkrock

French Girls - self titled

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, French Girls are fronted by Che Beret (aka Chela from The Peeps and Hell on Heels). Chela is an alumnus of some of the coolest record labels this planet has ever known: Bomp!, Dionysus, Sympathy for the Record Industry, and Lipstick Records. You can now add Rum Bar Records to that formidable list. Out today on Rum Bar is the first full-length album from French Girls -- which kicks out ten tracks of exhilarating garage punk in just 21 minutes. Joining Chela (bass, vocals) are guitarist Jean Jacques Clouseau III, guitarist Michel Ouioui, and drummer Chiffon Baton (let us take a brief moment to applaud the sheer brilliance of those stage names!). Musically, this band totally hits that sweet spot where garage rock intersects with punk rock. That may seem like an obvious definition of garage punk, but these days you can't be too sure. French Girls bring us the real deal stuff: simple trashy pop tunes that are full of energy and attitude and straight-up fun to listen to. This band doesn't believe in any sort of musical excess. None of these tracks go too far past two minutes, and you never have to wait long for a hook. My first thought after popping this disc into my car player was, "This sounds like it could have come out on SFTRI a couple of decades ago!". The modern-day garage scene is sorely missing more bands like this, and I will gladly deign to cliché and call this album a breath of fresh air. "No Morals" is an instant garage punk classic. "Summertime" merits permanent placement on your "essential summer songs" playlist. "Aerobicise", re-recorded from the band's 2013 debut EP, is one minute and 45 seconds of pure energy and excitement. These ten tracks always fly by in what seems like a flash, and then I just push play and re-start the fun! If you, as I, fondly recall the late '90s/early 2000s heyday of garage punk, this debut long player from French Girls will be music to your ears.

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/french-girls
https://frenchgirlsphx.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/frenchgirlsphx
https://www.instagram.com/frenchgirlsphx/
https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/french-girls