Surprise! Out of nowhere, Ryan Allen dropped a brand-new record of 11 catchy rockers last (Bandcamp) Friday. One Week Off is his eighth solo album and his second this year. His seventh might have been his best yet, so my first response was: are these the leftovers from those recording sessions? Absolutely not. Most of these songs date back to the early pandemic days, a couple came later, and opener Time Stealer is fresh out of the oven. It’s a hit right away, complete with the classic school-bell rock ’n’ roll intro that’s impossible not to grin at.

For longtime fans, One Week Off holds few surprises—just the best kind of consistency. Allen keeps proving how effortlessly he can turn out top-tier tunes, living and breathing poppy indie rock, punk rock, power pop, and alt-rock. He’s said these are songs for fans of Superchunk, Guided By Voices, and Buzzcocks, and that’s true—but at this point, they’re really songs for fans of Ryan Allen. Another armful of hooks to carry with you, another reminder that he’s one of the most reliable songwriters in the game.

One Week Off is out now on Setterwind Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp