Niek

New album: The Media || Blink Of An Eye

There is no lack of articles about the media, but not so much on the UK band by that name. The Media is one of those late 70’s bands who only released a couple of singles that go for a week’s pay nowadays. Fortunately, Love Child Records released a more affordable anthology of the band’s output last year. And with new attention came new energy I guess, because the band decided to write and record a new album with the original line up. It’s called Blink Of An Eye, and is out now on Detour Records. In the past, the band was sometimes described as ‘too punk for the mods, and too mod for the punks.’ But in 2021, I’d like to believe such boundaries are less strict: Blink Of An Eye will appeal to fans of powerpop, mod, punk and glamrock. My biggest compliment to the band is that the album actually sounds like it could have been written and recorded 40 years ago. Fun stuff!

Add to wantlist: Detour Records || Discogs

New album: Hurry || Fake Ideas

Fun fact. Hurry frontman Matt Scottoline (formerly of the amazing Everyone Everywhere) once drew a picture of me. Back in 2018, he promised to draw a picture of anyone who pre-ordered the band’s album Every Little Thought. He made good on that promise further endearing my liking of the band. This week marks the release of the band’s third album Fake Ideas. For a band called Hurry, a three-year period since their latest release feels slightly ironic. Fortunately, Fake Ideas was worth the wait. Fake Ideas succeeds Every Little Thought (2018). Guided Meditation (2016) , Everything/Nothing (2014), and Hurry (2012) and it is a safe bet that if you like one, you will like them all. At its core, Fake Ideas offers more of the upbeat yet melancholic power pop of Hurry. But still, my gut feeling right now is telling me that this quickly will become my favorite Hurry record. It feels a tad punchier than the previous output of the band, and I quite like that. Doomsday, for example, may be the fastest Hurry songs to date. Slogging Through Summer (I love that title) is another uptempo and upbeat song that I instantly fell for. But in all honesty, that applies to at least half of the songs here – other songs I really been enjoying so far are It’s Dangerous, A Fake Idea, Keep Being Yourself, and Oh Whitney, with the latter sounding very nada surf-esque. I pretty sure I’m going to buy this Hurry record as well.

“If you’re feeling bored || I feel that way all the time || I Don’t Mind”



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Lame-O Records

New album: 2nd Grade || Wish You Were Here Tour Revisited

I tried to get Pete Gill, who is the mastermind behind 2nd Grade, to do a Gimme 5 for our site in anticipation of his new record. I loved 2nd Grade’s previous album that included the smash hit Velodrome, and I was intrigued by the backstory to the new album which technically is not so new, hence the ‘Revisited’ part in the album title. About that backstory: The songs on Wish You Were Here Tour Revisited have their origins in the summer of 2018; A year in which Gill rented Swan boats on the Delaware River, listened to the Beach Boys all day every day, and wrote a crazy number of songs – to his own estimate, somewhere around 150. Out of this motherload and over two weekends, Gill picked a number of songs and recorded them to Garageband, never expecting to release it. Fast forward three years, and with a succesful record in the books, Gill decided to remaster some of the original recordings (14 songs) and rerecord eight additional songs together with members of Remember Sports, Friendship and 22 Degree Halo. Together, these songs make up Wish You Were Here Tour Revisited, which is an extremely enjoyable record full of powerpop and indiepop gems. Gill’s ability to write short and catchy pop songs makes me envious and makes me want to pick up a guitar and write songs myself. It’s like the Beach Boys minus the surfvibes, although there are also subtle hints of Weezer in some songs, like the title track and The Bad Boys Of Rock And Roll. I also like the set-up of the record which allows you to hear the difference between the original versions and the reworked versions. Although the demo versions are decidedly more lo-fi, they illustrate the songwriting prowess of Gill, and his ability to write memorable melodies.

The 2nd Grade Gimme 5 ultimately did not happen, which is our loss, because Gill ended up doing a similar feature for Brooklyn Vegan where he shared not 5 but 10 records that influenced this album. Seven of his picks are Beach Boys albums, and it’s arguably a great read. So yeah, Pete Gill is the one that got away. No hard feelings though, just keep on writing songs this good, Pete!


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Double Double Whammy

New album: Massage || Still Life

In our Gimme 5 feature with Massage, the band shared 5 albums that influenced their sophomore album Still Life. Today marks the release of the record, and although I sorta kinda already reviewed it in the Gimme 5 (“There is a warmth, vulnerability and delicateness to the music of Still Life that, in combination with the band’s songwriting chops, gives these songs that little extra that helps to distinguish a lovable record from a likeable record…I have no doubt Still Life will end up in many AOTY lists.”), I’d like to add some words if only to remind you of the sheer quality of this one.

First things first. We need to talk about how perfect of a pop song Made Of Moods is. Remember how Bill Murray woke up to I Got You Babe every day in Groundhog Day to his increased frustration? If that alarm clock song would have been Made Of Moods, he at the very least experienced three and a half joyful minutes each day. It’s one of those songs that I enjoy each and every second of, with it’s jangly guitars and hushed vocals that almost have a Beach Boys vibe, especially in the verse. Truly, it’s a song for the ages. But the best news about Still Life is that it offers eleven additional underground pop gems. If I had to list everything I like about this record, I would get no work done today. But let me randomly point out two other highlights as a quick sample. Sticks & Stones has a great chorus with lyrics that warm your heart (“And I know || There is nothing I can say || There is nothing I can do || There is nothing I would change || About you”). And then there is Michael Is My Girlfriend, a song that has everything I liked about the first Massage record – still rooting for a repress of that one by the way. It’s a short and simple and straightforward delightful jangle pop hit. Okay, final thought: this record keeps getting better with each play. So make sure you do at least a couple of spins before you make up your mind about it.



Half Life is a co-release between Mt. St. Mtn., Tear Jerk and Bobo Integral Records and is out now!
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Spud Cannon || Good Kids Make Bad Apples

Last month, Spud Cannon shared 5 albums that influenced their new record Good Kids Make Bad Apples on our site. In that feature, I gave my first impression  of the album, describing it as energetic and celebratory indiepop’n’roll with plenty of bite and having the raw energy and authenticity of a live show. Today marks the actual release of the record, and I am writing this post as a reminder that this record is worth your time. If you miss those early zeroes indierock releases, you’ll enjoy this one. If you feel down, this record will lift you up. If you miss going to shows or festivals, the songs on this record are absolute made to be experienced live.  Album openers Juno and Supersonic may be the best songs on the record, and I can see songs like You Got It All (NOT), Na Na Na do particularly well with live audiences. There is a sense of anarchy, joy and fearlessness to Spud Cannon, a band who won’t ask permission to record their album at your local squash court or play live shows at your rooftop.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Beat Up || Satisfied?

The band name, the cover art, the palm muted guitars in the opening seconds of the record…they set me on the wrong foot in terms of what to expect from Beat Up’s new record Satisfied? But isn’t music all about messing around with the expectations of the listeners? At the same time, I am not sure whether Beat Up care all that much about expectations. Probably they just play what they like. They clearly found their own niche that harbors elements of punk, indie rock, post punk and alternative music, sometimes all in the same song. The vocal melodies of Beat Up also are quite unique. It’s like Robert Pollard (of GBV) has been listening to street punk and celtic punk bands a lot. I am even hearing some Dag Nasty influences in album opener Us Vs. Them.  In the end, the question mark in the album title almost reads like Beat Up want to taunt listeners out of their comfort zone. They even close out the record testing our attention span with three 5 minute songs, that are actually quite great. Satisfied? I’d say mission accomplished.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Jimmy Vapid || Killmatic

Jim Reed aka Jimmy Vapid recently played drums on Full Moon Fever, a record by fellow Ontarian and Vapids bandmate Matt Ellis I very much enjoy. This month, Jimmy released a new solo album ominously titled Killmatic that is also worth diving into. It has 14 punk rock anthems that are infused with sleazy rock-‘n’-roll influences. Fast and catchy, straightforward and tight, Killmatic is a record that doesn’t let up, and offers plenty of tempo changes, hooks and variations to draw you in and satisfy your short attention span.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Gap Year || Flat Out

Gap Year are a 5-piece from Perth. Their debut-album Flat Out offers an intriguing mix of ’80s jangle pop and modern breezy guitar pop bands. Flat Out open strongly with Dot And Tarlene which sounds like a hybrid of Real Estate and The War On Drugs. Bon Soir is another great track and sounds like the best song The National wrote in the past decade. What a strong and pleasant debut this record is. It is like a cool breeze after months of simmering heat.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Blue Grey Pink

New album: Las Penas | Sin Dolor

Las Penas are a trilingual (Spanish, French & English) 5-piece from the San Sebastian region in Spain. The band’s psychgarage sound is informed by a love of ’60s and ’70s music. The eleven cuts (10 originals and one cover of No Exit by the Grassroots) on Sin Dolor are short, sweet, and make it near impossible to sit still. What makes Las Penas particularly stand out is their knack for writing strong melodies and memorable choruses.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Roselawns || Songs For Christina Argentina

Remember that Strum and Thrum compilation by Captured Tracks full of American underground guitar pop? If you liked that one, here is a new band to dive into. Roselawns is a duo (Sam Setzer and Antonio Gualco) from California who play the kind of jangly powerpop that is all about the music and less about the rock-‘n’-roll attitude. On Songs For Christina Argentina, Roselawns almost effortlessly churn out understated pop gems. I know they wrote this album for Miss Argentina, but they make it so easy to fall for this record with instant classics like Mexico Breath, Pretty Bad, and This Way. And those are just the first three songs on the record. It’s not just American underground pop, I hear a lot of British ’80s and ’90s influences, like the standout nods to Teenage Fanclub in You Miss Me and The Same, and the very britpopesque Next Week In Capitola. Roselawns also reminds me of the Waltones, a late ’80s Manchester band I really like. Clearly, Setzer and Gualco have great taste in music. Oh, and they expertly managed to channel those influences on their debut LP. More of where this came from, please!




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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