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New album: Mala Vista || Fun Time

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

Finding the sweet spot between punk, garage, power pop and rock-‘n’-roll is like hitting the dopamine jackpot. Once experienced, you’re hooked, always on the hunt for that next hit. NYC’s Mala Vista already proved they know how to get there with their 2022 album Ruthless & Toothless, and they are doing it again on their new 9-song LP Fun Time – out today at Spaghetty Town Records.

Keeping the spirit of Johnny Thunders alive, Mala Vista wield sleazy and dirty guitar riffs and combine them with contagious choruses, punk attitude and rock-‘n’-roll rhythm on Fun Time. I love how this band doesn’t hide their influences, but still make it into something of their own, transitioning into a pubrock version of the Ramones in one song (Don’t Owe You), and then dialing it back to full-blown powerpop-and-roll in Juana La Cubana, and next kick it up a gear or two to rock out in glammy punk rock fashion (Die Waiting). Mala Vista stand out not just because of the quality of their songwriting, but because they show so many different faces. Going from bratty to snotty, and from fiery to super sweet, this band makes it near impossible to sit back and nod along. You’ll want to dive right into Fun Time and let the good times roll!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Porcine || Porcine

By / / Indie Pop / 1 Comment

Porcine (Barsnley, UK) may like their indie pop and shoegaze from decades past – most notably the ’80s and ’90s, but they give those influences a contemporary twist on their self-titled debut LP. With dreamy vocals and pleasantly strummed guitars, Porcine knows how to shimmer, chime and shine. Stop The World (see video below) and Time Never Moves will offer a smooth entrance point to the sonic universe of Porcine. It’s a sound that’s as cozy as your favorite sweater yet as fresh as a breeze on a summer’s day.

You need not be a surfer to ride Porcine’s waves of melancholy and melody. A warm and welcoming debut released by the fine people of Safe Suburban Home Records!

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Virvon Varvon || Four Bars Of Hate

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

The first Virvon Varvon song I heard was the demo version of Mind Cancer. It’s a four dimensional wall-of-noise punk song that activates all your senses and sends your heart racing. The song made a lasting impression, fueling my curiosity for each subsequent release. Officially, Virvon Varvon are a London band, but in truth its members are from USA, South-Africa, Finland and Portugal, and have a past in The Jazz June, Black Time & Candy Highway – read more about the enigmatic band on this recent piece at 53 & 3rd.

Four Bars Of Hate is the outfit’s latest release, although admittedly, three of the 8 songs were released on an EP last year. Voices, the title track of that EP is one of the more poppy songs on Four Bars Of Hate, alongside Useless with its hooky chorus. But for what essentially is a wild ride of an album and a raw and unadulterated lo-fi document that keeps you on your toes, most of it is pretty accessible from the get-go.

Cool band, cool music, out now on cassette at Girlsville!


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Apollo Ghosts || Amethyst

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop / 1 Comment

I am unfamiliar with the back catalogue of Vancouver’s Apollo Ghosts, but they’ve been around for over 15 years. It’s rather nice though to be able to dive into their new record (Amethyst) without any assumptions or expectation though, especially when it turns out to be this thoroughbly enjoyable.

At 7 songs, and staying just below the 20-minute mark, Amethyst is in that grey area between full length and EP. The brevity of the mini-album turns out to be a strength rather than limitation. The record pack a punch and Apollo Ghosts keep listeners on their toes with their intricate, upbeat, jangly and melodic indie/college rock. For extra appreciation, I recommend playing the tunes alongside the lyrics – delivered by alternating hushed vocal and talksinging parts. They are fun(ny), earnest and train-of-thought like, and you can find them on the band’s Bandcamp page.

Amethyst is out now on You’ve Changed Records. To say it is a pleasant surprise would be an understatement. Are all of their records this good?



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Total Sham || Total Sham

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

They started out as DYE in 2021, then rebranded to Total Sham one year later. Their tagline on Bandcamp is “not here to change the world,” but one might think otherwise given the havoc they’re poised to unleash with their latest LP for Under The Gun Records.

Hailing from Kansas City, these punk provocateurs play primal and unapologetic hardcore. Their self-titled LP is a 17-minute tornado that will spit you out, determined to drag you back into its chaotic vortex for another round. Disclaimer: Wear protection.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Spiral Heads || ‘Til I’m Dead

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

Let’s drop some names. Spiral Heads are from Brooklyn and feature Jim Carroll (American Nightmare, The Hope Conspiracy, The Suicide File), Simon Doom (Amazing Baby; also a touring member of MGMT and Modest Mouse) and Q (aka Michael Quartulli of Doomriders). Their new album ‘Til I’m Dead is produced by the legendary Walter Schreifels (Youth Of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Rival Schools etc.), and oh, The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn helped out with the lyrical arrangements.

Now, with a lineup like that, the pressure’s on, right? Rest assured, this new Spiral Heads LP is a case of cool people creating cool music. In a sense, that starts with the album art, which looks like a neon-black-and-white mashup of ’80s hardcore, post punk and new wave records and fonts. And the music? It’s like they’ve taken the tasty bits of ’80s new wave, ’90s alt-pop, and alt-rock, and thrown in a dash of late ’70s punk for good measure. Spiral Heads have a sweet tooth and a pop heart and it meshes well with their musical talent.

‘Til I’m Dead isn’t just about good vibes and strong melodies though. The record captures the mixed emotions and existential dread of the pandemic era. Yet, somehow, there’s a sense of joy underneath — a celebration of friendship and a homage to musical roots.

‘Til I’m Dead is out now on Academy Fight Songs & Trash Casual.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp 

New EP: F.A.N.T.A. || ME ABURRO (Vol​.​1)

By / / Punk / 1 Comment

If there is one thing you could hold against Barcelona trio F.A.N.T.A., it’s that their timing is off. I mean, their music is tailor made for Summer, not for grey, cold, windy and wet winters. Yet somehow, they put out their new ME ABURRO (Vol​.​1) EP in February, and it’s not their first Winter release either.

But perhaps F.A.N.T.A. are onto something? Do they intentionally unleash their sugar rush-inducing bubblegum pop-punk tunes precisely when the skies are at their gloomiest? It’s as if they’re aiming to chase away both the external clouds and the ones in your head. Well, these six new tracks certainly seem to have an effect on at least one of these fronts.

ME ABURRO (Vol​.​1) is out now on 7″ at Snap Records and CGTH Records. Hit up Grudda Records for the CD-version.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Follies || Permanent Present Tense

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Feel It Records, where do you keep finding these bands? Whether it’s angular post punk, quirky protopunk or classic punk and garage rock, this label consistently unearths bands with that elusive extra special something.

The Follies are the most recent revelation on the Feel It roster. The band’s debut LP Permanent Present Tense arrives with a strong pulse, a lively soul and its own character. This is garage pop-‘n’-roll played by punks who build on the 70s psychedelic rock, jangle and protopunk portion of their respective collections. Yet, beneath the surface, echoes of other decades of rock, roll, pop and soul add even more layers of depth. There is a familiarity to the sound of The Follies, but try to come up with direct comparable artists and it becomes pretty challenging.

Who are behind this marvelous debut? Take a look at the members and their past ventures and it starts to make a bit more sense why The Follies burst onto the scene like a roaring beast seemingly out of nowhere. The Follies are Evan Radigan (Vanity, Raw Meat), Michael Liebman (Vanity, Impediments, VEXX, Rik and the Pigs) Jess Poplawski (Survival, Twisted Thing) & Chris Bowman (Ajax).

Permanent Present Tense is one of those records that will elevate any record collection. Highly recommended!




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Feel It

New album: Phil & The Tiles || Double Happiness

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

The pulse of Legless Records beats strong early in the year, with ambitions as clear as day. Their mission? To roll our bank accounts with Australian brilliance, one release at a time. Just as I was catching my breath from the AOTY frontrunner sophomore Split System LP, along comes the certified fresh debut LP (Double Happiness) by Phil & The Tiles.

Phil & The Tiles are more pop and post punk-oriented than the average band on the Legless roster. They won’t huff and puff your barn down with raw power, but they will make a lasting impression with their distinctive sound. The band knows how to rock and they know how to roll, but do so in a unconventional manner. Their debut is a lively record that brings new rewards with each additional spin.

In barely 27 minutes, Double Happiness delivers a whirlwind of tempo variations, sharp rhythms and beat, intricate guitar work and synth parts, all underscored with deadpan vocal delivery. Don’t forget to breathe!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Bart And The Brats || Can’t Think Straight

By / / Punk / 1 Comment

In recent years, Ramonescore fanatic Bart De Vraantijk (Janitors, Pneumonias, Wild Zeros, Skeptics, Teenage Hearts) has focused most of his songwriting time on Bart And The Brats, a solo project that spits out new music a couple of times per year. Being prolific, of course, can be rather pointless if the hit rate is low. No need to worry in case of Bart And The Brats. All of his recent releases were worth sharing, including that highly enjoyable split with The Battlebeats, and this also applies to the new Can’t Think Straight EP.

The four songs on the EP are some of my favorite BatB songs yet. Not that there is anything fundamentally different than previous releases – De Vraantijk still writes with a three chord maximum and the subtlety of a bull in a china shop, but this EP feel inspired and with surprising turns like sound effects and guitar solo’s – listen to what happens at the half-way point of Clock-watcher for example.

Can’t Think Straight 7″ out now at Juvenile Delinquent and Take The City Records.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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