Niek

New album: Jimmy Doyle || Going Gray

By / / Indie Pop, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

“Pub Rock, Power Pop, New Wave, whatever you want to call it was my inspiration for the sound of this record. Artists like Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Ted Leo, Squeeze & Blondie are huge influences of mine & I hope that even a shred of that comes through.”

After reading Jimmy Doyle (The Fad) describing these influences for his first solo record at Brooklynvegan, I was already halfway in. Then I heard the real thing and it doesn’t disappoint at all. If anything, Going Gray sounds more modern than I’d expected, but it’s full of heartfelt uptempo guitar pop hits, none of which hit the three minute mark.

Apparently, the record has been on the shelf for a long time, and we still have to wait until September for the vinyl to arrive. Going Gray was recorded right before the pandemic hit with a strong supporting cast consisting of Tim Hildebrand, Brittany Luna (both of Catbite, who we covered before), Ian Farmer (Modern Baseball/Slaughter Beach, Dog), and Eric Osman (Cherry, Lame-O Records). Let’s hope Doyle and friends wrote more songs in the meantime, because I’d like more of this, please!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Split System || Split System

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Any project involving Jackson Reid Briggs is worth checking out in my book. We’ve already covered his solo release and his full band release last year, and here’s his latest project. In Split System, Reid Briggs fronts a strong cast of characters from other cool bands like Stiff Richard, Speed Week, The Black Heart Death Cult and No Zu. Are you excited yet? Wait until you hear the four songs on their self-titled debut EP.

Split System’s brand of garagepunk absolutely rocks. It blows my mind that these songs were recorded remotely via e-mail. The amount of energy and aggression these dudes have injected in the recordings must have infuriated their neighbors. And it won’t be the last neighbors these Australians will drive crazy, because there is only one way to play this EP: LOUD!

7″ out now through Legless Records. WANT!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Clown Sounds || Born Under A Bad Sigh

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

When a band is called Clown Sounds, the best you can hope for is a case of underpromise and overdeliver. That is exactly what Clown Sounds do with Born Under A Bad Sigh. This shouldn’t come as a surprise I guess, given that the band consists of a crew of people associated with Recess Records, Toys That Kill, The Underground Road To Candyland, and Nos Da.

Born Under A Bad Sigh is a messy yet exciting collection of punkrock tunes that keeps you on your toes. Thoughout it all, Clowns Sounds make you feel part of their community and the fun they have together. Want to be a bigger part of their community? Pay $20 or more for this name your price and your name will be on the sleeve as an executive producer. Pay $40 (or more) and your likeness will be included in the comic insert that will be included in the LP release.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Bad Spring || Tape 1

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Power Pop / 2 Comments

Awesome new band alert! From Fresno, California straight to our hearts comes Bad Spring. If you like angsty college rock, dreamy powerpop, or rockin’ ’90s altpop, this should be on the top of your listening pile right now.

The biggest appeal of the two songs on Bad Spring’s debut single? The contrast between the heavy yet strummy and jangly guitars (so good!) and the dreamy Teenage Fanclubesque vocals and harmonies.

Bad Spring has arrived and I’m all in! Tape 1 is out now (on tape of course) on Forever Never Ends Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Forever Never Ends

New EP: Swerves || Pity Party

By / / Indie Pop, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

As soon as you put on Pity Party by Philly four-piece Swerves, you get why the band is often compared to Modern Baseball and Soccer Mommy. Although the title track is a drumless introspected acoustic track, the four remaining tunes are in a battle of indiepunk catchiness and pop sensibilities. The winner at any given moment may be Every Weekend, Imposter Syndrome, or noooo don’t peak in high school you’re so sexy aha.

What it comes down to with Swerves is that as soon as Karolina Ross starts singing, you are hooked. Pity Party is out now through Sockhead Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Paul Zinnard || Formula H

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

Veteran singer-songwriter Paul Zinnard lives in Madrid, but his new minialbum Formula H sounds very American. To add to the confusion, Zinnard’s real name is Carlos Oliver and he is actually from Mallorca. He used to play in The Bolivians and The Pauls, and has been releasing solo records for over a decade.

First thought that came up while listening to his latest record: Paul Westerberg goes Americana? Not sure if that is fair to either artist, but I’m thoroughly enjoying Formula H. It’s a laid back record and Zinnard has a great voice with just enough sandpaper to keep this from getting too polished. On Formula H, Zinnard wears his influences on his sleeve. In addition to Westerberg, there’s a bit of Dylan, and a lot of Petty.

Fun fact: the album cover photo was shot by Zinnard’s dad in 1971 in Mallorca.


Add to wantlist: currently for streaming only

New album: Dennis Augustsson || Under

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

Let’s start this week off right with Swedish singer songwriter Dennis Augustsson. And with singer songwriter I’m not referring to the folky kind. His new record Under is very much an electric project, and I have to assume Augustsson prefers Thunders & Westerberg over Simon & Garfunkel.

Under feels like a punk record. It’s full of attitude, energy and emotion and a lot of that comes from the voice of Augustsson. Sonically, it’s all over the place and some of the slower songs won’t be for everyone. But, Augustsson knows how to write a hook, and the best songs on Under are something special. Listen to Flottigt Hårs Historia for example, which sounds like a classic punk track from the late ’70s. Allting kvar, Så länge vi är vi, Blanka blad, and Det brinner en eld also standout.

Under is available for streaming now. Want to get in touch with Dennis Augustsson? Find him on FB or Instagram.


Add to wantlist: Ehm…streaming only for now I guess

New album: 錯乱前戦 (Sakuran Zensen) || Odd-Royo

By / / Garage Rock, Indie Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Sakuran Zensen’s I Am Sakuran Zensen was one of my overlooked records in 2020. The youngsters from Japan have just released the follow up, and I have to say that it tops their previous output.

What remained is the high energy rock’n’roll with its ramshackle charm. But the band shows a lot of musical growth on Odd-Ryo, a record that should transcend language barriers and crossover to an international audience. The band’s talent for creating viral worthy video’s won’t hurt neither – watch their video for the title tracks below.

What does hurt? The band announcing that this is their final record and that they are done being a band. I can only hope that this news is a joke somewhere lost in translation. But if not, let’s just sit back and appreciate the band for their short-lived career. Better to burn out…


Add to wantlist: Sakuran Zensen

New single: Cyanide Pills || The Kids Can’t Be Trusted With Rock ‘N’ Roll

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Power Pop, Punk / 3 Comments

Yes! New Cyanide Pills! And the band from Leeds provides exactly what you expect on their new two song single: late ’70s poppy punkrock like the past four decades haven’t happened.

A-side The Kids Can’t Be Trusted With Rock ‘N’ Roll is an instant classic. On the song, Cyanide Pills proof that Joey Ramone’s OH NO! OOOH NOOHOO! will never sound redundant when you write a kickass song. Flipside Do You Wanna Know is another winner. The bridge, that follows some sweet guitar work, is my favorite part. Singer Phil Privilige doing a fade out of Do you wanna know-know-know gets me everytime.

Single out now through Damaged Goods. Limited to 500 copies, so grab one quick. This one’s gonna fly out of record stores worldwide.


Add to wantlist: Discogs || Damaged Goods

New album: No Fix || Neon Dreamz

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

Don’t confuse No Fix with Nofx. The Windsor (Ontario) band does not play skatepunk, but snotty garagepunk. Living Casualties and Hell’s On The Inside are particularly great and sound like tributes to the songwriting of Jeff Burke (Marked Men and Radioactivity).

The four song Neon Dreamz is out now on Tetryon Tapes. Can’t wait for my next fix of No Fix.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Tetryon Tapes

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