Les Lullies - Mauvaise Foi

Woooooo! On Mauvaise Foi, their second full-length album, French punks Les Lullies rip it up with ten of the catchiest, most rocking tracks you'll hear all year. Out now on Slovenly Recordings, Mauvaise Foi finds this Montpellier-based foursome in truly fine form. If you're offering my ears some old school punk rock and roll with hints of power pop, you know I'm always going to be receptive. And Les Lullies execute this style better than most. From the opening chords of the title track to the final strains of "Animal," Les Lullies bring the energy, the attitude, and hooks to spare. It matters little that I have no idea what they're singing about most of the time. I still wanna bob my head up and down, sing along, and make a mess around the house just for the fun of it. If your favorite '77 punk bands were the ones that just essentially played rock and roll faster and more furiously, tunes like "Mauvaise Foi," "Soirée Standard," and "Zéro Ambition" will be music to your ears (literally). "Station Service" reminds me of first album Clash, you know I'm not complaining! A cover of the Jackie DeShannon classic "When You Walk in the Room" is totally excellent and quite complementary to the album's original tracks. You've probably been hearing quite a bit about Mauvaise Foi lately from the finest blogs and radio programs. You wanna know why? Because it's freaking awesome!

-L.R.

https://leslullies.bandcamp.com/album/les-lullies-mauvaise-foi
https://www.instagram.com/leslullies/
https://www.slovenly.com/
https://www.instagram.com/slovenlyrecordings/
https://www.facebook.com/slovenlyrec

Nervous Jerk - Ugly Losers Club

It was way back in September 2019 when I raved about a punk trio out of Christchurch, New Zealand called Nervous Jerks. I know that was less than four years ago, but it seems like an eternity on the pandemic time scale. Fortunately, no pandemic could kill Nervous Jerk. The band is back with a new album called Ugly Losers Club that builds on the promise of its prior releases. Coming in at a lean ten tracks, Ugly Losers Club is the kind of top-quality straight-up punk rock and roll record that I'm always pumped to encounter. I really dig the band's crackling energy and simple yet skilled songwriting. If we're having a conversation about all the fantastic punk groups coming out of Australia and New Zealand these days, Nervous Jerk needs to be in the discussion. Not content to be pigeonholed into any particular sub-genre, Tom, Brad, and Johnny show they can do it all on this smashing new full-length. "Mission" is killer catchy punk rock that will get your toes tapping and fist pumping. "Bad Babysitter" hits that sweet spot where early punk meets the dawn of hardcore. "Rips" is quintessential modern-day garage punk and fully lives up to its title. Also living up to its title is the raw & energetic "Short Song." "Coco Monday" is kind of poppy without necessarily being "pop-punk." Elsewhere, the band channels early '90s slacker rock on the brilliant "U.R." and cooks up a Saints meet western vibe on the powerful closer "Hard Come, Easy Go." All in all, this is an incredibly impressive album that is sure to be one of my highest-rated punk long players of the year. Get it from Dust Up! Records while supplies last!

-L.R.

https://nervousjerk.bandcamp.com/album/ugly-losers-club
https://www.instagram.com/_nervousjerk/
https://www.facebook.com/jerknervous/

Kurt Baker - "Anchors Up"

Summer has not yet arrived, but I've already got a reason to look forward to the fall! Kurt Baker's new album Rock N Roll Club will be releasing September 29th on Wicked Cool Records. The album's first single, "Anchors Up," came out yesterday — and it's pretty terrific! The single is accompanied by an absolutely brilliant music video which Baker's guitarist Wyatt Funderburk conceptualized and directed. 

"Anchors Up" started out as an upbeat pop song written during lockdown days. Baker took some honest feedback from Steven Van Zandt about the song being too "happy" sounding and collaborated with Geoff Palmer to rewrite it. What results is something quite extraordinary. "Anchors Up" uses a variety of nautical references as metaphors for navigating a life full of pain and hardships. It's a very serious, reflective song, yet it's still rocking and hook-laden in that distinctive Kurt Baker way. This is really relatable stuff from Baker and Palmer. Sometimes life deals you drunk captains, and you have to figure out for yourself how to stay afloat. This track features the talents of one of the planet's finest power pop rock and roll bands: Baker on bass, Funderburk and Palmer on guitar, Kris Rodgers on keyboards, and Craig Sala on drums. All these guys do their part to make "Anchors Up" a bona fide hit. Having already had a successful go at a disco song last year, Baker now has his yacht rock anthem! 

Available now in digital form, "Anchors Up" will also be released on blue vinyl this summer. Non-album B-side "Sweet Alice" was co-written by Mark O'Flaherty (Baker's bandmate in The Gold). It's a glammy pub rocker featuring a wonderfully surprising bridge and some righteous guitar soloing. Backing Baker on this track are O'Flaherty and Ola Ersfjord on guitar and Jesus Alonso on drums. Pre-orders for "Anchors Up" are now open via Bandcamp. And be sure to check out the "Anchors Up" video. It will have you ready to set sail!

-L.R.

https://kurtbaker.bandcamp.com/album/anchors-up-b-w-sweet-alice
https://kurtbakerwcr.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/album/2FenhzgiZ5UjmXI5q8fi2I
https://orcd.co/anchorsup
https://www.facebook.com/KurtBakerMusic
https://www.facebook.com/WickedCoolRecords
https://www.instagram.com/kurtmiltonbaker/

The Trouble Seekers - "Crazy"

Back with their sixth single and third of this year, The Trouble Seekers have unleashed their most "pop" song yet. Of course I'm not talking about power pop or pop-punk or Taylor Swift (not that I don't enjoy all those things). But I could be talking about early '80s California punk/new wave or the soundtracks to Pretty In Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful. You know: that kind of pop. When I first heard this song, the words "John Hughes movie soundtrack" started running through my head. Kevin has confirmed that that was indeed an influence. I can practically smell the hairspray. With this single, Kevin and Hillary continue to hone their vision for a genuinely new sound influenced by old sounds. With its moody feel and controlled pace, "Crazy" manages to rage without going a million miles an hour. This is a definitive slow-burner. Some may be surprised to hear Kevin properly singing on the early verses — although by song's end, he works himself up to his usual state of fury. Hillary's chorus is an absolute earworm. Long after the song stops playing, that lyric "Every time you talk/You turn me off" will be running through your head. As always, the way Kevin and Hillary play off of each other vocally takes the song to another level. This is brilliant stuff from a truly dynamic duo. If you dig moody pop with an edge, you will be well-served to seek out The Trouble Seekers.

-L.R.

https://thetroubleseekers.bandcamp.com/track/crazy
https://www.instagram.com/thetroubleseekers/
https://www.facebook.com/TheTroubleSeekers/

The Melmacs - "Balls"

Back with their second new single in three weeks, The Melmacs continue to kill it with their great new track (and music video) "Balls." The Melmacs have been one of my favorite bands for a while now, and their new tunes suggest that they're only going to rise in my personal rankings. What I love about The Melmacs is that they never waste an opportunity to say something important in a song. With every new single they release, there's a message to the song which is clearly explained in the video description. In the case of "Balls," the band is raging against the scourge of toxic masculinity and rejecting the notion that gender roles have to be binary and traditional. The band's passion for this topic is palpable, but first and foremost this song is a total banger. With The Melmacs, the music is never secondary to the message. "Balls" is an exciting & irresistible number that blends the band's patented powerpop/punk style with some old school riff-driven hard rock and roll. This song has something quite serious to say, but it's still a whole lot of fun. With its killer riff, driving beat, pounding piano, and girl gang backing vocals, "Balls" is a ball of fire in a musical sense. And how fierce is Bimmi's lead vocal? The song's music video is a work of art in its own right. I'll reiterate what I've said before: If you're not into The Melmacs, you're missing one of the best bands out there right now!

-L.R.

https://themelmacs.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/album/7hQ5Y6FtYlZ0yaXXJkvp7M
https://www.facebook.com/TheMelmacs/
https://www.instagram.com/themelmacs/
https://linktr.ee/themelmacs

Taxi Girls - "Sunshine"

Today is a date I've had circled on my calendar for months: debut single release day from heavily-anticipated Montreal punk sensations Taxi Girls. Jamie, Vera, and Lynn have taken Montreal by storm in recent months. Today, they emphatically introduce themselves to the whole wide world. Spoiler alert: you're gonna love 'em! Clocking in at less than a minute and a half, debut single/video "Sunshine" is a leave-them-wanting-more type tune by design. And indeed, this song will have you begging and pleading for additional tracks from Taxi Girls. Luckily, this song is part of a full EP titled Coming Up Roses that will be releasing in July. For now, you can just keep hitting that repeat button and take pleasure in what is a truly perfect summertime punk-pop song. If you like super high energy punk rock and roll with irresistible hooks, "Sunshine" is sure to be your jam. The track sounds great too, with guitars blasting at full force and my favorite rhythm section on the planet turning in a truly crackling performance. Jamie plays the coolest Mike Dirnt style bass line of recent memory, and Lynn literally crushes her drums. What an incredibly catchy song — and the band's exuberance is totally infectious! Having written this song in the midst of a brutal Canadian winter, Vera was able to imbue this upbeat number with a healthy dose of aggression and frustration. Wanna fall in love with punk rock music all over again? Just push play. 

-L.R.

https://taxigirls.bandcamp.com/album/coming-up-roses
https://www.instagram.com/taxigirlsmontreal/
https://www.facebook.com/taxigirlsband

The Sensibles - Dino Nuggets

Finally out after many years of fan anticipation is The Sensibles' mini-album Dino Nuggets! Based out of Milano, Italy, The Sensibles were one of the best pop-punk bands of the 2010s and are honestly one of the best pop-punk bands I've ever heard. Dino Nuggets was recorded back in 2015 and partially released in the form of a couple 7" records in 2015-16. Now the whole album is available from Spotify, Bandcamp, etc., and it's an absolute delight! Featuring songs about animals, food, friends and life, this album is an essential purchase for pop-punk fans aged 4 to 84. Clocking in at just under 17 minutes, Dino Nuggets is a quick listen that will leave you wanting more. Heck, this band's entire discography has left me wanting more! To me, The Sensibles are everything that's great about pop-punk as a musical genre. And Dino Nuggets perfectly exemplifies that. If you're into sugar-sweet melodies with a hard candy crunch, amazing vocals, and super-endearing lyrics, this is the album for you. This is music that puts a smile on my face and makes me feel proud to be a human being. In my book, "Bibi" is a modern classic of pop-punk. Hearing it with fresh ears in 2023, I love it more than ever. "Ice Cream Man" is pure aural joy, and who can't appreciate "Strawberry Cake"? You simply won't hear music catchier than this — or with more heart. If you missed out on this band the first time around, now is a great time to get caught up. And if you fondly recall The Sensibles' releases, Dino Nuggets will make you a very happy human.

-L.R.

https://thesensibles666.bandcamp.com/album/dino-nuggets
https://www.instagram.com/the_sensibles/
https://open.spotify.com/album/4zMGfhZxwzJvImtYBrFE3j