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New album: Monte Del Oso || Son Los Demás Los Que Están Equivocados

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

Monte Del Oso is a Spanish indie rock band of three. The band has been releasing music since 2015, and just released their fourth record: Son Los Demás Los Que Están Equivocados (It’s the others who are wrong).

It’s a strong outing from the band. To my ears, Monte Del Oso operate somewhere between underground US pop/rock of the ’80s, altpop from the ’90s and emo tinged punkrock of the late ’90s early ’00s. The songs are melodic but in an understated manner, making them all the more powerful. Son Los Demás Los Que Están Equivocados is the kind of record where I discover a new favorite song with each play. It’s a rewarding record, a reminder that it pays off to give records more attention than a quick scan.

Son Los Demás Los Que Están Equivocados is out now on Underhill Records and Farmway Records.


Add to wantlist: Monte Del Oso

New album: No Monster Club || Deadbeat Effervescent

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

Time for some new music that is quirky and puts a bigger smile on my face with each play. Deadbeat Effervescent is the seventh (I think) full length by Irish three piece No Monster Club. It’s a delightful mess of styles and sounds that’s hard to pinpoint.

In a way the record reminds of me of Architecture In Helsinki’s In Case We Die. It has that same energy and varied instrumentation. Other mid 00’s bands come to mind as well, like The Spinto Band and The Boy Least Likely To. But No Monster Club is more bubblegummy, more glammy and more garagy, I believe. Or like the press release describes it: “At times on this LP, No Monster Club come across like the improbable missing link between ABBA and Daniel Johnston.”

You see, this record is kinda weird and that’s what makes it so much fun. Songs like Waterfight!, Black & White, Case By Case Basis and Save The Circus are here to brighten your mood any time, all the time. Deadbeat Effervescent is out now on Emotional Response.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Emotional Response

Gimme 5! Mickey Leigh Shares Five Records He Fell In Love With In Anticipation Of His Solo Debut

By / / Garage Rock, Power Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

With ‘Gimme 5!’ we take a peek into the collections of artists we admire. The premise is simple: artists WE like share 5 records THEY love.

Mickey Leigh’s musical career commenced early. He started his first band in 1964 at the age of 10, and by the age of 14, he was in a band with Joey and Tommy Ramone. He has been an instrumental figure in the New York punk scene ever since, including founding The Rattlers, Sibling Rivalry (with his brother Joey Ramone), and STOP.

Five decades in his career, Mickey Leigh is about to release his first solo full-length release as Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music. The record is called Variants of Vibe and will be out this Friday on Stevie van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records. Variants Of Vibe is a rock’n’rolling record that oozes punk rock attitude and the emotional depth of the highs and lows of many lives lived. Put differently, the records sounds fun and feels real. And songs like Little Christine, No Fun Anymore, Spanish Eyes, and Standing In The Dark are instant classics. [post continues below]


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New single: Stefan Eno || This Is Great

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

Stefan Eno (Stefano Lumetta from Italy) used to play in Stardumb Records alumns The Popsters, a melodic pop punk outfit with Descendents leanings. Eno also played in Tough and other acts.

Nowadays, Stefan releases music under the moniker Stefan Eno. His latest single is titled This Is Great, which basically sums up my feelings about the three songs on the single. This Is Great has everything I like about poppy punkrock. Plenty of punch and pace, strong melodies, and a little rough around the edges.

I’d like more of this, Stefan! RIYL: Stardumb Records, Samiam.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Zhoop || Lust

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

After releasing a split with the mighty Smirk and a minor hit on the Bandcamp charts (WWIII), Zhoop (Hammond, Indiana) returns with a Valentine’s EP.

In all fairness, sonically, the four hardcorepunk songs on the Lust EP sound more like breaking stuff with blunt force than sweet declarations of love. But with song titles as Lust, Valentine and Love & Hate, I guess it fits the Valentine’s theme just the same.

The takeaway here: Make love & moshpit, not war.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Trevor Blendour || Falling In Love

By / / Power Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

I may need to call my dentist, because I’ve been spinning a record on repeat today that is so sugary sweet, I wouldn’t be surprised if the damage to my teeth is permanent. Was it worth it? I guess so, in a “I didn’t need to finish that bag of chips but I probably will do so again next week” kind of way.

I’m talking about Falling In Love by Trevor Blendour. Blendour usually releases acoustic tunes as The Blendours. Falling In Love is more electric. Or should I say electrifying? It is an highly entertaining and extremely catchy record. If you like how Masked Intruder integrates doo wop and ’60s pop influences in their pop punk, this record is a must listen for you. Although with Blendour it’s the other way around. He sounds more like a ’50s rock’n’roller or a ’60s Beatlemaniac who just discovered Green Day’s Kerplunk record – listen to songs like Lost A Girl and Cold Heart for example. It’s kinda crazy, perhaps even criminal, how effortlessly Trevor Blendour mixes those styles, how he adds sweet harmonies and make this record sound like a golden oldies covers album.

The weekend is here, Valentine’s Day is coming up. Falling In Love is a timeless, yet timely record which sure will steal some hearts!




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: All Away Lou || Things Will Change

By / / Indie Rock, Punk / 1 Comment

It’s easy to root for someone who is still passionate about playing punk rock three decades in her career. It becomes self-evident when that person wrote and played a kickass record all by herself.

I’m talking about Lou Hanman, who is best known as the singer of Caves, but also played in RVIVR, Worriers, Queen of Jeans, Katie Ellen, Mikey Erg’s band and Thin Lips. Aside from technical and production support by Kyle Pulley (Thin Lips) and Jackie Milestone, Things Will Change is all Lou Hanman. Or, should I say All Away Lou, which I assume is a reference to her move from the UK to Philadelphia six years ago.

Anyhow, Lou wrote all the songs and plays all the instruments on Things Will Change. The record is a must for fans of Caves of course, but also for fans of indie punk in general. Expect a diverse albums of pop punk bangers, indie rockers and headboppers, where Hanman’s vocal melodies shine bright. There is no lack of highlights on the record, but may I suggest a taste of Looks Right, Try As I Might, The Point, and the gorgeous Joyful Life? I think you’ll like it.

Things Will Change is out now on Specialist Subject Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Specialist Subject

New EP: Bedbugman || Sentimental Cowboy

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

Somewhere in Cape Town (South Africa) lies the Bed Bug Studio. Even though I can’t seem to find it online, it’s where Sean Baron (of Runaway Nuns) writes and records garage pop nuggets under the moniker Bedbugman. And I have to say, his songs range from pretty good to pretty exceptional.

In the past two months, Bedbugman dropped three releases on Bandcamp. The first is a collection of songs from 2020. The second is a four song EP called Temper Tantrum. His third, and most recent EP features one of my favorite songs of late: Whistling By. It’s a garage pop ballad reminiscent of Jacuzzi Boys, full of heartfelt and nostalgic sentiments. It’s as bittersweet as it’s a killer track, and hopefully a sign of things to come.

Keep an eye out for Bedbugman. He may be flying solo, but his powers are not to be underestimated.

“I remember living my life || Now I think I’m wasting my time || Life’s so different, I’m done”



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Hooper Crescent || Best In Town/Instant Lawn

By / / Indie Pop / Leave a Comment

Hooper Crescent are a band of five from Brunswick (Australia). The band released a double A-side single on Spoilsport Records last week. Of course, in objective terms there is no flipside when a single is digital only. But if there was a physical release, either song could have been on the A-side.

Hooper Crescent plays a form of artsy indie pop or poppy postpunk that is scrappy yet melodic. The DIY video of Instant Lawn is as sweet on the eyes as this single is on the ears.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Stiff Drinks || New Anxiety/Crashing

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

Here’s a new band I’m adding to my watchlist. Stiff Drinks are a new outfit from Maryland, whose love for mod, powerpop and garagepunk shines through in their songs. Their 2021 demo showed promise, but this single is definitely a step up. Both tracks are a lot of fun, and I am particularly fond of the rock’n’rolling Crashing Down.

Keep an eye/ear out for more from this band!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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