New album: Thine Retail Simps || Strike Gold, Strike Back, Strike Out

Album numbers three is a thrilling ride through Retail Simps' Garageland

By / / Blues & Roots, Funk & Soul, Garage Rock, Psych, Punk / Leave a Comment

The opening line of the new Retail Simps LP hits you straight away: “We’re a garage band, we’re from Garageland.” But make no mistake, this isn’t your typical garage band. Beyond the shifting names — from Tha Retail Simpson on their 2022 debut, to Theee Retail Simps on their 2023 follow-up, and now Thine Retail Simps, the group from Montreal stands out for its creativity and ability to concoct exhilarating blends from whatever they’ve got lying around in their sonic garage. I’m going for garage-punk-R&B-psych-and-soul, just to be done of with, because really, this is one of those records you need to experience and just make your own mind up on what to call it.

Strike Gold, Strike Back, Strike Out is a wild, chaotic trip through Garageland, where anything goes, and the biggest sin is being boring. Thine Retail Simps push the edges of familiar soundscapes, smashing them together into a potent cocktail that might be too intense for some but downright thrilling for others. Count me in the latter group for sure!

The band loops back to their opening line on the album’s closer, Duckland $imps (Out) — a loose and playful track on an album full of them. They thank the listener, saying, “We put a lot of hard work into this record and we hope you like it.” Honestly, it feels unnecessary after the impressive collection of songs that came before. Still, it adds to the charm of a band that not only put in the effort but clearly had a blast doing so.

LP out today on Total Punk Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Stereo Deathray || Psycho

Madness meets fun on disturbing but cool debut

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Stereo Death Ray are a new garage punk duo hailing from Vienna, Austria, featuring Mario Grimm and Michael Wolfram. They debut with the six-track Psycho EP, for which they are inspired by the 60s but never sound dated. The tunes are raucous and spirited, with disturbing lyrics, cool guitar riffs, thumping beats and powerful raw vocals. And as if that isn’t cool enough, the battle between fun and madness leaves a mark.



The Psycho EP is out digitally (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New: Geishas Of Doom || Jur

Geishas Of Doom honor a local legend with their raw, psychedelic hardcore

By / / Psych, Punk / Leave a Comment

Geishas Of Doom (G.O.D.), the masters of chaos in the Dutch underground, dedicate their latest album to Jur Scherpenzeel, the man behind the iconic Amsterdam blues venue Maloe Melo – described by the band as “one of the last men standing in the Dutch cultural live scene,”

Jur has been a pillar of the community —just like G.O.D. themselves. While some might say G.O.D. represents the last of a dying breed, I’d rather view them as role models. They, along with figures like Jur, are proof that the underground scene isn’t dead — it’s alive and kicking, and a welcoming place for anyone who wants to contribute. Their passion shows that whether you’re playing in a band, booking gigs, or just sharing music, there’s always room to make a difference.

But let’s get back to the music. Jur is a wild, psychedelic hardcore album filled with raw energy and love for the craft. It’s got 9 intense tracks, capped by a final song longer than the rest of the album combined. If you’re looking for an album to lose yourself in, this is it. Check it out, and if you can, catch them live. As the band themselves say: “GOD is love, and JUR forever.”


Add to Wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: GOLD || Psychedelic Days

Back after a dormancy break of three decades, still young inside

By / / Psych / Leave a Comment

“When we first met // In the city of lights // Back in the days // Things were all bright // And the stuff that we made // And the stuff we played // We will play it again // In a different way.” In title song Psychedelic Days, Swedish psych rockers GOLD look back on their early days, over 30 years ago. Their 1991 debut LP Magic Power is finally getting a successor, with all original band members – Per Svensson (vocals, guitar, organ), Magnus Paulsson (guitar), Mårten Eriksson (bass) and Johan Bomberg (drums) – on board. “Still Young Inside” according to themselves, and that’s how it sounds. The lyrics of the six tracks here – 32 minutes in total – contain more of such appealing references, as titles like Pure Energy and Hard To Beat already reveal, but it’s the mighty vocals, heavy riffs and mean solos that make this return glorious.



Psychedelic Days, produced by Jörgen Wall and GOLD, is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Sound Effect Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Sound Effect

New album: Log Flume || Splash Hit!

From hooky geek rock anthems to big guitar moments, Log Flume delivers on killer debut album

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

Chester County (PA) quartet Log Flume make a splash with Splash Hit!, their debut album that’s way easier to love than it is to Google. Speaking of which, did you know the first modern log flume ride, El Aserradero, opened at Six Flags Over Texas in 1963?

Back to the music! Log Flume blend breezy ’90s power pop with contemporary indie punk in a way that’s bound to melt the hearts of power-pop fans and give geek rockers a confidence boost worldwide. Their sound is polished but packs a punch, with palm-muted guitars trading off with huge, anthemic riffs. The hooks are impossible to escape, and the vocal harmonies will make you want to join in, even if you, like me, are tone-deaf.

Hit play on OMIT and you’ll stumble upon a rockin’ guitar pop anthem that feels timeless. This gem lands early on the album, right where the band fully hits its stride. It’s preceded by the alt-pop standout At Your Leisure, and after it comes another highlight in Wilted Dream.

By the end of the record, even though theme parks aren’t my thing, I’ve become a full-fledged Log Flume fan. A second listen reveals all the nuances — like how opener Angel’s Flight nails the Bandwagonesque-era Teenage Fanclub sound, or how DB Cooper is a punky power-pop delight. The 90-second Rom Pom Pom builds tension for a full minute before delivering its cathartic payoff, and Elevator Up wraps up Splash Hit! with an explosive finish.

Fun band, killer debut!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Maharajas || Ride The Wylde Mammoths

Ten electrifying covers dedicated to the memory of the late Peter Maniette

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Swedish rock ’n’ roll graduates The Maharajas have been proving their ability to write strong songs for over twenty-five years, so they can justify a trip to a cover album. Moreover, Mathias Lilja guitar, harp, lead vocals), Jens Lindberg (guitar, vocals), Ulf Guttormsson (bass, backing vocals) and Jesper Karlsson (drums, percussion) are not just doing this for fun, but they have a good reason for it. The ten tunes here are not random covers, but new versions of songs by The Wylde Mammoths, their compatriots who made waves in the garage rock revival in the second half of the 80s—the record is a tribute to the late Peter Maniette, the frontman who passed away last year. It’s perfectly executed garage beat in a 60s tradition, less lo-fi than the originals but just as straightforward and exciting. It also happens to be quite a bit of fun.

Ride The Wylde Mammoths, recorded by Nils Mikaelsson, is out now digitally and on 10″ vinyl through Chaputa! Records, with cool cover art by Rui Ricardo. All songs are written by Peter Maniette and originally recorded and released by The Wylde Mammoths.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Chaputa!

New EP: Hakan || EP#2

One of Italy’s finest pop punk bands drops a short and sweet new EP in anticipation of their fifth album

By / / Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Good news #1: Italy’s pop punk heroes, Hakan, have a new record on the horizon (yet to be announced).
Good news #2: They’ve just dropped a fresh 7″ via Madrid’s Jarama 45RPM Records!

Hakan has never been one for fancy titles. Their four albums are simply named Hakan, Hakan II, Hakan III, and Hakan Manifesto. Their latest EP follows suit with the minimalist moniker EP#2, because, well, it’s their second EP (following their 2020 Drunk Dial entry).

EP#2 packs six explosive, minute-long pop punk bursts, delivering everything you love about Hakan. Tracks like Living In America and the earwormyRocco Baroque are quintessentially Hakan, while the other four songs keep things catchy but take a slightly slower pace. Not sure if these six songs are leftovers from their upcoming album sessions, but if they are, Hakan V is shaping up to be an absolute banger!


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Cinéma Lumière || Wishing It Was Sunday (Extended Edition)

Filipino indie pop outfit brings back summer

By / / Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

Cinéma Lumière are an indie pop five-piece from Manila, Philippines. Two months ago they released their first full-length album Wishing It Was Sunday via local label Catshelf Records. It is one that also fits perfectly into the vein of Subjangle – the reliable label that like no other loves anything that jangles – who are now giving the record an extra life and a bigger audience, through an extended edition on CD with three extra tracks.

Mary Yeung (keyboards, vocals), Jon Tamayo (guitars, vocals), Tan Evangelista (guitars), Zed Bernardino (bass) and Manny Gallo (drums) play dreamy twee pop with jangly guitars and hazy vocals, radiating a vibe that brings back summer. The ten original tunes are as charming and appealing as can be, well produced and with an ear for details (those bells!). The titles placed one after the other read like a poem (Wishing It Was Sunday // Cotton Candy Clouds // Write Your Name In The Sky // Like A Dream // Longing For You, etc.), revealing the theme of life and love, heartache and hope. Closing track Act Happy has been renamed Melancholy here, followed by three new cover songs that jangle even louder, as icing on the cake.



Wishing It Was Sunday (Extended Edition), produced by Cinéma Lumière and RJ Mabilin, is out now digitally and on CD through Subjangle.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Being Dead || EELS

A quirky and timeless ride through garage pop and beyond

By / / Country & Folk, Garage Rock, Indie Pop, Psych / Leave a Comment

After last year’s strong debut, Texas duo Juli Keller and Cody Dosier (aka Falcon Bitch & Shmoofy) return with their sophomore LP, EELS – and are joined by Nicole Roman-Johnston. The record is highly enjoyable, largely thanks to the band’s fearless experimentation with different sounds and vibes while still making the whole album feel like a cohesive collection of timeless pop songs.

I’d categorize this as garage pop, but it’s a delight for fans of surf, psych, and sunshine pop too. Plus, if you’re into boy-girl harmonies, EELS delivers some of the finest and sweetest in recent memory. Tracks like Blanket of My Bone and Big Bovine are standout examples. But there is much more to like. Nightvision starts with a dreamy, choir-like 50-second intro before exploding into an indie pop banger. Then there’s Rock’n’Roll Hurts, which is so catchy it’ll make you laugh and feel a little melancholic at the same time, seamlessly transitioning into the indie-punk hit Love Machine. On EELS, a fresh, exciting tune is always waiting just around the corner, ready to surprise you.

LP and CD out now on Bayonet Records.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New compilation: Various Artists || Hit Mania Rok ’24

Exciting things are happening in the Italian garage-punk scene

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

You would almost forget it if you were to judge by the streaming behavior of the average Spotify listener, but a lot of exciting things are happening underground, almost everywhere in the world. Wild Honey Records gave Wilson Wilson – singer/guitarist of the great Bee Bee Sea – free rein to put together a compilation to show a wider audience what’s going on in the wild and weird garage-punk scene in Italy. That led to Hit Mania Rok ’24 (subtitle: Rok sounds from Spaghettiland), a collection of unreleased songs by fourteen young Italian bands with illustrious names: Five Bucks, The Bad Plug, WWWILSON.IT feat. TEGI, DADGAD, SNÜFF, Sleap E, Brioss, FREEZ, Teo Wise, Siouxie & the Skunks, A/LPACA, (+39) 375-649-94-64 My Telephone Number, YUZZ, and of course Bee Bee Sea with the closing track.

The tunes have in common that they are raw and straightforward, quite lo-fi, and with ‘ROK’ in the title, even when that is not necessary (as in the cover of Misfits’ Hybrid Moments by FREEZ, here renamed Hybrid Moments ROK). Wilson explains: “If you’re wondering what the word ‘ROK’ means, I’ll admit that I’m not entirely sure either. I just know that at some point, the words ‘rock’ and ‘rock n roll’ started to feel redundant. I think it was years ago when someone—probably Perthe, the guitarist in Yonic South—wrote ‘ROK’ in the description of a Facebook event or in Ig stories or whatever. From then on, we started using ‘ROK ‘ more and more until it became something we can’t live without and that now belongs to everyone.” Nevertheless, this is so much fun that any country where a counter-voice is needed, should have an album like this released every year.

Hit Mania Rok ’24 is out digitally and on cassette through Wild Honey Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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