New album: The Goods || Goodbye Summertime

Sunshine, with a chance of melancholy on The Goods' most ambitious record to date

By / / Indie Pop, Jangle Pop, Power Pop, Psych / Leave a Comment

The weather forecast: plenty of sunshine, partly cloudy, an unexpectedly fine late-summer day, with a chance of melancholy.

It’s hard not to think about the weather while listening to the second LP from The Goods. This is the weather my brain recreates. It’s in the title, the warmth of the sound, the timeless pop melodies, the crisp guitars, and the sequencing, which ebbs and flows between quieter moments and faster ones. We loved The Goods’ debut LP, released less than a year ago, but Goodbye Summertime displays a level of ambition and sonic richness that’s remarkable. The Goods stretch beyond power pop, bringing in jangle and psych-pop influences and moving further into Lemon Twigs territory.

Rob Good is in a period of his life when his output is insane in both size and quality. Earlier this year, he was part of that fantastic new Yea-Ming And The Rumours LP, and he often lends his talents to recording or playing with his other Bay Area scene buddies. And still, he finds the time to work on The Goods.

Goodbye Summertime came together during a particularly creative, and emotionally complicated, moment in Good’s life. I imagine him living in his studio, surrounded by favorite records from the ’60s and ’70s (or perhaps from the ’90s as well), constantly picking up his guitar, putting thoughts on paper, and demoing bits and pieces. Then cutting the bad parts and sharpening the good ones. The result has the incredible ease of a record that its artist has worked hard to construct so carefully that we barely notice the effort it takes to write songs this good.

Few guitar-pop records this year start as strongly. Lazy and Love You More sound like hits that AM radio could slide in easily between The Beatles and The Beach Boys, while Summer’s Almost Gone is classic Bay Area jangle pop. Wing takes an unexpected turn (spoiler alert) into a very Beach Boys-esque interlude. There are so many songs here that sound like stone-cold classics, but the real achievement is how naturally they sit together. The clouds may roll in, but Goodbye Summertime leaves you with plenty of sunshine. It is out today on Dandy Boy Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Vinny Peculiar || The Curse of You Know Who

Tall tales from the edge of reason

By / / Alternative Rock / Leave a Comment

The Curse of You Know Who, the sixteenth album by British singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Vinny Peculiar aka Alan Wilkes, takes a decidedly sideways look at the stories we choose to believe. Twenty years in business, yet fully in the here and now.

In twelve fascinating alternative rock songs, truth and fantasy happily blur into one another, as childhood memories and modern absurdities become the raw material for imaginative wayward wordplay. As in the telling opening track The Curse: “Profiteers and harlequins // On a dark foreboding night // Blinded in the shadows // From a single LED light // And the ability to feel wrong about every right // That’s the curse.” Just as easily we hear about Katy Perry in Space, an AI Girlfriend, the Flat Earth, New Dark Ages, or the Moon Landing, turning the bizarre into something intriguing. It’s all wrapped in chunky guitars and distinctive vocals, authentic and relentless.



The Curse of You Know Who—produced by Dave Draper—is out digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Shadrack and Duxbury Records. Featuring Alan Wilkes (all instruments and vocals), with Dave Draper (bass, guitar, drums), and Eve Shamm (backing vocals) contributing on select tracks.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Vinny Peculiar 

New album: The Naggs || The Naggs Generation

Garage power pop ’n’ roll, with excellent taste

By / / Garage Rock, Power Pop / Leave a Comment

On their 2023 debut EP, I described The Naggs as Germany’s answer to the Pale Lips. Three years later, the Düsseldorf band make their full-length debut. That description still holds, which makes sense given that 80% of the EP appears on the LP. But it’s probably best to call them what they are: a classic garage power pop ’n’ roll band.

In practice, that means roughly 50% Naggs and 50% songs by other people they love dearly. Among the eleven tracks are covers of Teenage Head’s Picture My Face, The Meanies’ It’s True, The Sidewalks’ Nice Guys and Protex’s Don’t Ring Me Up. My absolute favorite reconstructed song, though, is their take on Les Calamités’ Toutes Les Nuits. What a hit!

That many covers may be a bit much for some, but to my ears they sit comfortably alongside The Naggs’ own material. And honestly, I don’t think The Naggs are interested in being original at all. Somehow, they still sound like true originals.

The Naggs Generation is available from Pomegranate and Soundflat. While the record is not on Bandcamp yet, You’ll should be able to stream it on the service you subscribe to.

Add to wantlist: Soundflat

 

Album review: Pokey LaFarge || Rent Money

Good-time music for bad economic times

By / / Blues & Roots, Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

After a few notes in opening track The Thing you feel that you are in for an entertaining listen once again. When after fifteen seconds that characteristic voice of Pokey LaFarge joins in, you know for sure. His latest long-player Rent Money makes it happen, rummaging through a treasure trove of vintage rock ‘n’ roll, country, gospel, blues, soul, jazz, and ragtime. Ostensibly it led to a cheerful atmosphere, but the swinging rhythms and sunny choruses go together with lyrics that expose a darker reality, casting a wary eye over the mess we’ve made of modern life.

After two decades of going his own way, the American troubadour makes it sound easy, with eleven new songs that don’t miss a beat. Yes, he has skilled friends and a rich instrumentation around him, but everything here has the unmistakable Pokey LaFarge stamp that gives this record so much character. Still, there are some surprises that take it to the next level, such as the poppy funk in Stick Together, the heartfelt reggae in Work, and the beautiful soul in Told You No. Amazing.


Rent Money—produced by Elliot Bergman—is out digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Boxer Boy Records. Featuring Pokey LaFarge (vocals, guitar), with Addie Hamilton (background vocals), Erik Miron (guitar, trumpet background vocals), Alex Hall (drums , percussion, tambourine, marimba, tympani), Beau Sample (electric bass, upright bass), Elliot Bergman (drums, background vocals, handclaps, percussion, bass, sax, organ, clarinet, flute), Hank Mehren (piano, organs, background vocals), Ben Lumsdaine (percussion), Nicholas Baker (congas, percussion), and Natalie Bergman (background vocals).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Pokey LaFarge

New album: LEATHERS || PLATANO MACHO

Chris Mitchard and Ed Calvert go bananas

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

An all-caps attitude, a warped take on Andy Warhol’s famous banana cover (also a reference to the plantain from the album title), and a sleazy sound that makes zero concessions: Bristol-based troublemakers LEATHERS know exactly how to rattle around in your brain. The duo’s new record, PLATANO MACHO, delivers nine tracks of primitive proto-punk, stripped of all unnecessary fuss. It’s just guitars, drums, and vocals, with the occasional funky organ jab. Chris Mitchard and Ed Calvert have a rough-and-ready chemistry, growling over repetitive riffs and hypnotic grooves, built for dancing wildly like no one’s watching. It’s raw and trashy, but above all, SMOKIN’HOT!



PLATANO MACHO—written, performed, and recorded by LEATHERS—is out digitally, on cassette and CD, through KMRECORDS. Featuring Chris Mitchard (vocals, guitar, keys) and Ed Calvert (drums, vocals).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || KM

New album: Botox || Botox

Botox puts the wrinkles, bruises, and filth back in punk

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

After our good friends Jay and Josh already raved about it, it’s time for us to throw another log on the Botox fire. Because that debut Botox LP on No Front Teeth? It’s pretty fantastic!

Botox, who are from London, play late ’70s punk with a double shot of KBD punk. Jay’s review is spot on in saying that in 2026, a record like this is EXACTLY what we need. In a world that becomes more artificial, efficient, and frictionless by the day, with people striving for perfect bodies and streamlined lives, we could all use a little kick in the nuts, the possibility of losing some teeth in actual physical contact at a punk show, and some filth under our nails.  A little punk-rock ugliness feels downright therapeutic.

Which makes the Botox LP worth it to begin with. You’d almost forget how rare it is for a band to sound this much like the real deal. This is essential stuff. And they’re just getting started.

Add to wantlist: No Front Teeth || Discogs

New album: Defecting Grey || Pivotal

Loud guitars, big melodies from New Jersey

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock / 1 Comment

New Jersey trio Defecting Grey released their new album on Fake Chapter Records this week. I’m fairly certain this is the first record of theirs I’m hearing, but they already have a debut album and a couple of EPs in their discography. Anyhow, Pivotal? That’s a pretty cool record.

Defecting Grey play like they grew up on college rock and punk rock, then decided to steal Bob Mould’s blueprints for writing powerful alternative rock. They also admit to liking their AOR and power pop, and true to their name, those influences color their music in unexpected ways.

RIYL: loud guitars, melody, and an undying passion for keeping guitar music alive.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Album review: The Buttons || Medication

Psychedelic sunshine with a Madchester groove

By / / Garage Rock, Psych / Leave a Comment

It’s a good week for garage psych fans (more to follow), and in that context we should definitely highlight The Buttons, the vivid music project from Glasgow-based singer-songwriter David Walsh. Medication, their fifth album (and second of 2026), digs into the trippy side of the 1960s, but adds Madchester grooves and a shoegaze-y wave of noise. The ten new songs are packed with jangling guitars and sun-drenched melodies, but also know how to delight the dance floor (there are hooks everywhere here, and sooner or later, one of them is going to catch you). The substances in She Plays A Tambourine are the most addictive, a banger made for the repeat button.



Medication is out digitally, on CD and vinyl LP (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Elastic Stage

New album: Unity || Comes Back To You… / Was There Ever Unity?

Unity from Oakland, here to satisfy that itch for scrappy underground guitar pop

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

To avoid confusion among the hardcore kids: yes, this is a new Unity record. But it’s not the one you’re thinking of.

This is Unity from Oakland, a band featuring members of Meat Market and Unity Skateboards founder Jeffrey Cheung, who is also a visual artist and zine maker. Rather than blistering hardcore, this Unity plays scrappy noise, indie pop and rock. Their new record arrives a decade after the previous one, and listening to these sixteen songs, I can’t help feeling that Unity are several bands in one. They seem less interested in coherence than in following their intuitions. The result is a record with plenty to discover, and one reassuring constant: they don’t overcomplicate things, and they always find room for an insanely catchy part.

Window channels The Vaselines and Pains of Being Pure at Heart, while Walk Away and Comes To You are energetic, unpolished guitar-pop songs that will charm the hell out of listeners. The Bug Club also comes to mind: that same knack for making scrappy, slightly off-kilter songs feel ridiculously immediate.

Sixteen songs might sound like a lot, but Unity keep things loose and lively. Comes Back To You… / Was There Ever Unity? is less a neatly unified statement than a collection of good instincts, catchy turns and welcome surprises. And that’s a pretty good reason to spend some time with this Unity, even if you came here looking for hardcore.

Out now on LP at Smoking Room Records.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Blackbird Mantra || 2AM

Late-night thoughts in full colour

By / / Garage Rock, Psych / Leave a Comment

Hamburg, Germany-based garage psych quartet Blackbird Mantra return with their sophomore full-length album, titled 2AM, following 2020’s High And Dry. The cover art depicts one half of a matching card game, as seen in the video for the title track. It serves as a nice metaphor for the mosaic of these nine diverse songs, which nonetheless click together like pieces of a colorful puzzle. Moreover, it somehow fits well with the music’s vintage feel.

From cinematic instrumentals, via rock and surf influences and grooving experiments, to atmospheric balladry, it is all there, always with masterful guitar playing as the driving force. And when, towards the end, the subdued standout track Silhouettes sings about “memory”, it feels as if you have managed to collect all the pictures during this listen.



2AM—recorded by Velvet Bein—is out digitally and on vinyl LP through La Pochette Surprise Records. Featuring Timo Grimm (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Thies Lingner (guitar), David Gradl (bass), and Helge Schritt (drums).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || La Pochette Surprise

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