Niek

New album: The Feeders || Kerchoo

Here is a new release that brings me an equal amount of excitement and melancholy. Kerchoo is the debut full-length of The Feeders, featuring Chicago scene veterans Sam Vicari, Eli Caterer (Smoking Popes) and John Perrin (NRBQ). The sense of melancholy hit me immediately. It’s hard not to think of the late Kim Shattuck while listening to Kerchoo. But that sense of melancholy quickly makes room for excitement, because Kerchoo is so much more than a throwback to the Muffs. The altpop of the Feeders is catchy and punchy, a bit like Superchunk channeling Teenage Fanclub, or Superchunk playing good Weezer songs.

Shoutout to music writers who’ve already submitted their AOTY lists. You are missing out on this one. Quite the year for Eccentric Pop, who brought us the new Dan Vapid And The Cheats this week, and earlier this year that awesome Evening Shadows record.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Eccentric Pop

New album: The Last Mile || Respect The Frequency

The Last Mile are a must listen if you like your pop punk and punkrock grounded in ’90s, but also appreciate how the orgcore scene put their own spin to that sound in the ’00s. On Respect The Frequency, The Last Mile operate somewhere in the middle of those two scenes. Admittedly, the record didn’t fully click with me on the first spin, but there was one song that made me return. That song? SCCS, a killer punkrock anthem with cool use of a saxaphone. From there on, this record quickly won me over. The Last Mile provide strong and powerful choruses, awesome vocals and above average songwriting. They make me wish I was cool and brave enough to skateboard.

The Last Mile consists of veterans of the Canadian punk scene: Chris Snelgrove (Prevenge, Whiskey Trench, Offside), Stephanie Cole (Answers), and Josh Carothers (Chilton, Ifarm, Funbox). Their combined experience helps to explain why Respect The Frequency is such an accomplished record and why the band sounds much, much bigger than a three-piece – though admittedly, some of the songs feature guest musicians.

Respect The Frequency is out now on Rad Girlfriend.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Rad Girlfriend Records

New album: Dan Vapid And The Cheats || Escape Velocity

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Dan Vapid probably needs no introduction, having played in pop punk hall of famers Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, The Methadones, The Mopes, and The Queers. His latest release is his fourth with The Cheats. It’s called Escape Velocity and is a mighty fine collection of mid-paced catchy pop punk tunes. Dan Vapid and The Cheats sound silky smooth on the record, effortlessly churning out hooks and ear worm melodies. A song like Burning Questions is an immediate addition to the pop punk canon.

Espace Velocity had a tough delivery, with the band deciding to stop recording due to the pandemic, only to resume 18 months later safely vaccinated. The band then had to face another setback: vinyl plants that can’t keep up with demand. That’s why for now you can only stream the record online, or buy it on cd. The vinyl release will arrive sometime between spring and summer in 2022.

You’ve got to feel for the band, but Escape Velocity is the kind of rewarding record you willingly add to your wantlist, patiently waiting for its arrival in your collection.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Eccentric Pop

New album: Crabber || Who Let The Ducks Out?

Jigsaw Records is absolutely spot on by describing their latest release as a dead ringer for Washington DC’s Dot Dash with a touch of Comet Gain. Like Dot Dash, the music of Crabber (Hamburg, Germany) is influenced by a lot of the good elements of ’80s music. Call it janglepunk or reverb- and guitar heavy powerpop, Crabber sounds punchy and melodic. Timeless tunes destined to be overlooked of course, because this kind of music is unlikely to be regarded as hip or fashionable. Let’s hear it for bands that don’t care and write music like this regardless of current trends.
Oh, and don’t be fooled by the title, Crabber are no jokesters. This seriously is good music.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Gee Tee Vee || Halloween 21

“Wartmann Inc. Giving you everything you don’t want.” Wink wink.

Tee-Vee Repairmann is a project by Sydney based Ishka Edmeades (Research Reactor Corporation, Set-Top Box, Satanic Togas, G.T.R.R.C, Gee Tee). Earlier this year, Tee-Vee Repairmann released one of my favorite singles of the year. Last month, Edmeades joined forces with Kel Mason to record a couple of deranged catchy lo-fi punk rock’n’roll songs under the moniker Gee Tee Vee.

Opener Buddy Holly, Lives In My Basement alone is worth the purchase of this EP. But the other tracks are up to that standard as well. As a bonus, the EP includes a cover of The Boys classic tune First Time. Oh. Oh-Oh-Oh!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: James Sullivan || Light Years

The Stardumb Records logo essentially operates as a green light for blind purchases. If Stefan Stardumb decides to put out a record, you know it’s gonna be good. But whereas Stardumb once was home primarily to pop punk and ramonescore bands, in recent years we’ve seen the label broaden its horizons somewhat, for example with Local Drags, Lone Wolf and the most recent Geoff Palmer record. Stardumb’s latest addition probably is furthest yet from the typical Stardumb sound. James Sullivan’s debut LP Light Years is closer to Velvet Underground, Guided By Voices, and Paul Westerberg than to Groovie Ghoulies or the Apers.

James Sullivan is the frontman and guitar player of two excellent powerpop outfits (More Kicks and Suspect Parts). To get himself going in the pandemic, he decided to set himself the goals of writing a song a day for ten days. He then recorded the songs at home in North Londona on his half-broken Tascam 8-track. Rather than choosing a specific direction for the songs, he took the opportunity to try out different styles. The result is a diverse record that’s decidedly different than Sullivan’s past work, while still showcasing his great songwriting skills.

Album opener Lea Bridge is one of the albums highlights. I love how Sullivan talksings with a heavy accent over a steady beat and a cool guitar riff. The gorgeous punkrock ballad You Kept My Heart Alive is another standout and may be my favorite track on the record. But rather than talking about individual tracks, Light Years works really well as an album. I really like the flow of the record. A significant proportion of the record is mellow, but I’m never skipping any of the songs. Sullivan draws you in from the opening seconds and will leave you content after each play of Light Years.

Light Years has a Stardumb Records logo on it. It’s out now. What are you waiting for? Buy it!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Stardumb Records || Discogs

New album: Cherry Cheeks || Cherry Cheeks

Cherry Cheeks is what happened when the pandemic caused Kyle Harms to spent countless hours behind his computer screen. His self-titled debut LP, a perfect fit with Portland’s primary punk label Total Punk Records, is exhibit A of how boredom, anger, and frustration often results in great music.

Despite the anger and frustration, Cherry Cheeks is not your average punk act. The songs are hyperactive and spazzy,  and the music is bass, riff and synth heavy. The record is a cathartic release of boiling frustration, and while Harms’ vocals sounds pretty pissed, there is a strong sense of melody throughout. Listen to the infectious chorus of Go Outside for example, or the bouncy headboppers Two Bugs and D.A.C. And what about Trickin’, a song that makes me want to turn the volume all the way up – sorry neighbors. Boxes is another standout track. Album closer Gone is the killer outsider track on the record. Here, Cherry Cheeks take the foot of the gas pedal, and play a glam rock guitar lick over a steady beat. What a track. What a record!

Cherry Cheeks is out now on tape, with the vinyl release facing some delays. Rumor has it that the next release will even better…kinda crazy.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Total Punk

New album: Chime School || Chime School

Believe it or not, but at some point this year I had the guts to complain about the lack of good indie pop records in 2021. Fast forward 7 or 8 months, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The amount of must-own modern jangle and twee classics released this year has become mind boggling – click on our jangle pop tag to discover all the Massage’s, Quivers, Telephone Numbers, Umbrellas etc who made this such a great year for the criminally underrated good kind of pop music.

Even late in the year, the modern classics keep coming in, with Chime School as the latest addition. Straight from the Bay Area to our Hearts, Chime School is the brainchild of Andy Pastalaniec (Cruel Summer, Seablite, Pink Films / Odd Hope).

The jangle pop on the self-titled debut LP by Chime School sounds instantly familiar and ready to be gobbled up by fans of ’80s indie pop and twee. But I expect the classic underground pop feel and the upbeat tunes likely will appeal to fans of power pop and college rock as well.

For me, Chime School is the kind of act that evokes a sense of gratitude, the kind of band that makes me want to share their music with any willing ear I cross paths with. Honest question: in recent history, has there been a better year for jangle pop than 2021? Chime School is out now on Slumberland Records. It is a no brainer, buy it.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Slumberland

New EP: Las Infrarrojas || Las Infrarrojas & Indy Tumbita

Whenever Spanish labels Hurrah! Música and Family Spree Recordings have new music out, they have my full attention. Their latest release is a joint one and might be my favorite release of theirs this year: Las Infrarrojas & Indy Tumbita. It is the latest single of Las Infrarrojas, an awesome foursome from Spain, and I can’t believe how I missed their first two 7″s.*

The sunshine pop of Las Infrarrojas is informed by many influences, from ’60s girl group and rock’n’roll to surf and psych. Here is a band that knows how to write timeless melodies. Their songs ooze major summer vibes, quickly washing any autumn dread away.

I’m not going to put a spotlight on any individual tracks, because this is a quadruple A-side single that I need to have in my collection ASAP.



* Fun Fact: all three Las Infrarrojas singles have an A-side with songs sung in English, and a B-side sung in Spanish.

Add to Wantlist: Bandcamp || Family Spree Recordings

New album: Evening Standards || Rainbow Shrimp

Basement Pop is the home of the collective musical projects of musicians Chris Mott & Daun Fields. It is also an apt description of the music of my favorite Basement Pop band: Evening Standards. Mott (guitar) & Fields (bass) take on dual vocal duties in Evening Standards, and are joined by Jacob Hamilton on drums. They play a kind of punkrock and indie rock that is hard to pinpoint. They don’t seem to care about speed, or attitude, or what is cool or happening. What they do care about is writing heartfelt tunes with a lot of melody. That show of heart, that emotional aspect, but also the dual vocals and harmonies give the songs almost an americana or alt country feel. While destined to be overlooked by many, Evening Standards are an easy band to fall for if you just give them a chance.

Rainbow Shrimp is the band’s third album, and if this is your first taste of the band, I highly recommend checking out the band’s previous output. Rainbow Shrimp builds on the previous records, but sounds slightly more lo-fi. It’s another great collections of songs that gets better with each play slowly crawling its way on your end-of-the-year lists. Enjoy the two Evening Standards’ basement pop tunes below, and get ready to develop warm feelings  for this band.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp 

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